Anointing the Most Holy: Sanctuary Consecration in Prophecy

Daniel 9:24

24 Seventy weeks are determined on your people and on your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

Daniel 9:24 refers to the anointing of the heavenly sanctuary at the start of Christ's high priestly ministry, which was typified by the anointing of the earthly tabernacle in Exodus 40:9-11 and is linked to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at PentecostJEO 85.4+1.

The Meaning of the "Most Holy"

The term "Most Holy" used in this prophecy is literally "Holy of Holies" in Hebrew, which is a plain reference to the sanctuary itself rather than a personJEO 85.4+1. In the Hebrew Bible, this expression (kodesh kodashim) applies to the most holy place in the sanctuary and is not used to describe a personDAR1909 237.1. Therefore, this event does not refer to the anointing of the Savior at His baptism, but to the consecration of the heavenly sanctuary where Christ began His ministrationJEO 85.4+2.

Connection to Exodus 40 and the Earthly Type

The anointing mentioned by Gabriel is closely connected to the instructions given in the book of Exodus regarding the inauguration of the earthly sanctuary service:

• A Preparatory Act: Just as the earthly sanctuary, its holy places, and all its sacred vessels were anointed before the Levitical ministration could commence, the heavenly sanctuary was anointed as a preparatory act for Christ’s ministry Exodus 40:9-11STTHD 199.1+2.

• The Shadow of Heavenly Things: Moses anointed the entire tabernacle, including the most holy and the holy place, as an example and shadow of the heavenly reality Hebrews 8:5+1HST April 17, 1844, page 87.11+1.

• Order of Service: Once the earthly building and vessels were sanctified by the holy anointing oil, the priests began their work, starting in the first apartment or holy place Exodus 30:25-29+1ARSH August 18, 1863, page 92.13+2.

The Role of the Day of Pentecost

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost is the event that signaled the successful dedication of the heavenly sanctuary and the commencement of Christ's service there:

• A Heavenly Connection: The Holy Spirit, descending on the day of Pentecost, carried the minds of the disciples from the earthly sanctuary to the heavenly, where Jesus had entered with His own blood Hebrews 9:12SR 386.1+1.

• Divine Demonstration: The tongues of fire witnessed at Pentecost were typified by the fire that appeared at the initial opening of the earthly sanctuary, proving that the way of access to heaven was now open Leviticus 9:24GCB May 25, 1913, page 132.9.

• The Early Rain: This manifestation of the Spirit was the "Early Rain," empowering the disciples to carry the gospel message to the world as a result of Christ being exalted at the Father's right hand Acts 2:333SP 270.3+1.

The Purpose of the 70-Week Prophecy

The period of 490 years mentioned in Daniel 9:24 was "cut off" or determined specifically for the Jewish people and the earthly city of JerusalemJEO 85.4+2. Its ultimate goals included finishing transgression, making an end of sins, and bringing in everlasting righteousness through the sacrifice and subsequent mediation of Christ Daniel 9:24CWCP 116.1+2. While the earthly sanctuary was left desolate at the end of this period, the heavenly sanctuary became the new "sanctuary of prophecy," where the work of our High Priest continues until the cleansing of the sanctuary at the consummation of the gospel dispensation Matthew 23:38JEO 85.4+1. 🕊️

Exodus 40

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 On the first day of the first month shall you set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

3 And you shall put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the veil.

4 And you shall bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order on it; and you shall bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof.

5 And you shall set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle.

6 And you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation.

7 And you shall set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and shall put water therein.

8 And you shall set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate.

9 And you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is therein, and shall hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy.

10 And you shall anoint the altar of the burnt offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar: and it shall be an altar most holy.

11 And you shall anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it.

12 And you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

13 And you shall put on Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister to me in the priest’s office.

14 And you shall bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:

15 And you shall anoint them, as you did anoint their father, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

16 Thus did Moses: according to all that the LORD commanded him, so did he.

17 And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.

18 And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fastened his sockets, and set up the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars.

19 And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above on it; as the LORD commanded Moses.

20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark:

21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as the LORD commanded Moses.

22 And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, on the side of the tabernacle northward, without the veil.

23 And he set the bread in order on it before the LORD; as the LORD had commanded Moses.

24 And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.

25 And he lighted the lamps before the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses.

26 And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the veil:

27 And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as the LORD commanded Moses.

28 And he set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle.

29 And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as the LORD commanded Moses.

30 And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash with.

31 And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:

32 When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near to the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.

33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.

34 Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud stayed thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:

37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.

38 For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

Hebrews 9

1 Then truly the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the show bread; which is called the sanctuary.

3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

4 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;

5 And over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

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:

9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh:

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator lives.

18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God has enjoined to you.

21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

23 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.

24 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:

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world has he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin to salvation.

The sanctuary was consecrated with both oil and blood because these elements represent distinct aspects of divine investiture and the legal requirement for the remission of sins. While Exodus 40 focuses on the initial dedication and preparation of the building and its ministry through anointing oil, Hebrews 9 explains that blood is the essential medium for purification and the removal of transgression in both the earthly and heavenly sanctuariesARSH June 17, 1858, page 33.19+2.

The Dual Consecration of the Sanctuary

The earthly sanctuary service was established as an "example and shadow of heavenly things," requiring a specific order of preparation before ministry could begin Hebrews 8:5S23D 72.6+1.

• Consecration with Oil: In the earthly type, Moses was commanded to take the holy anointing oil to anoint the tabernacle, the altar, and all the vessels to hallow them and make them most holy Exodus 40:9-11ARSH June 17, 1858, page 33.19+1. This anointing represented the granting of responsibility and the power of the Holy Spirit to carry out the sacred workBDOC 55.2+1. God sanctified the sanctuary by setting it apart for holy use through this ritual application of oilARSH June 17, 1858, page 33.19.

• Consecration with Blood: While oil prepared the structure and the priests, the actual dedication of the covenant and the purification of the sanctuary itself required blood Hebrews 9:18-21STTHD 200.2. Moses took the blood of calves and goats and sprinkled both the book of the law and all the people, as well as the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry Hebrews 9:19-21DAR1909 217.2.

Why Blood was Necessary

The transition from oil in Exodus to the emphasis on blood in Hebrews 9 is explained by the fundamental legal principle of the plan of salvation.

• The Law of Remission: There is no remission or forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood Hebrews 9:22. Since the sanctuary is the place where sin is transferred and dealt with, it must be purified by the same medium that secures the pardon—sacrificial bloodSTTHD 200.2+1.

• Purifying the Heavenly Things: It was necessary for the patterns of things in the heavens (the earthly sanctuary) to be purified with the blood of animals, but the heavenly things themselves must be consecrated with "better sacrifices," which is the precious blood of Christ Hebrews 9:23S23D 72.6+1.

• Atonement in Fact: While the blood of bulls and goats in the earthly sanctuary provided a ceremonial cleansing "in figure," the blood of Christ provides an actual transfer of sins to the heavenly sanctuary and secures true redemptionLOM, page 42.1+1.

The Fulfillment in Christ

Just as the earthly ministration began with anointing and blood, Christ's more excellent ministry followed this divine order.

• Starting the Ministry: The anointing of the heavenly sanctuary at the end of the 70 weeks prepared the way for Christ to enter the holy placesJEO 85.4+1.

• Entering with Blood: Christ did not enter the heavenly sanctuary by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption for us Hebrews 9:12LOM, page 42.1. This blood serves as the "one sacrifice" for repenting mortals and is the means by which our High Priest makes atonement in the sanctuary aboveLOM, page 42.1.

• The High Priest's Work: Christ now appears in the presence of God for us, using His blood to manage the record of sins until the final work of the investigative judgment and the cleansing of the sanctuary Hebrews 9:244SP 266.1+1. 🩸✨

The understanding that the sanctuary was consecrated with both blood and oil is not merely an inference, but a direct historical fact supported by tradition and the internal harmony of the ScripturesARSH February 18, 1890, page 110.10. While the initial account of the erection and dedication of the tabernacle in the writings of Moses emphasizes the anointing with oil, Jewish tradition and the testimony of the apostles confirm that blood was also employed in this sacred processARSH February 18, 1890, page 110.10.

The Historical and Scriptural Evidence

The requirement for blood in the consecration of the sanctuary is established through several lines of evidence:

• Correct Tradition: Although the book of Exodus records the anointing of the holy things with oil, it does not explicitly mention the sprinkling of blood in that specific passage; however, the Jews maintained a tradition that such was the case, and this tradition is regarded as correctARSH February 18, 1890, page 110.10.

• Apostolic Confirmation: Paul explicitly states that Moses sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry Hebrews 9:21LUJ 147.2. He clarifies that under the law, almost all things are purged with blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no remission Hebrews 9:22.

• The Nature of Sanctification: Bible scholars and dictionaries note that the Jewish tabernacle, temple, vessels, and priests were sanctified—meaning set apart for the service of God—by being ceremonially prepared through the sprinkling of blood, oil, or washing with waterARSH June 17, 1858, page 33.19.

The Necessity of Blood for the Antitype

The use of blood is a fundamental requirement because the earthly service was a "shadow" and "pattern" of the heavenly ministryS23D 84.3+1.

• Fulfilling the Type: As the blood of sacrifices was offered in the apartments of the earthly sanctuary, so Christ’s blood must be ministered in the heavenly sanctuary to fulfill the typeTTHDS 20.1.

• Purification of the Heavenly Sanctuary: It was necessary for the "patterns of things in the heavens" to be purified with animal blood, but the heavenly things themselves require the "better sacrifices" of the blood of Christ Hebrews 9:23LUJ 147.2.

• The Foundation of Remission: The burden of the scriptural argument is "remission," which is the removal of sinLUJ 147.2. Because the sanctuary is the place where sin is dealt with, its consecration and cleansing can only be accomplished through bloodDAR1909 645.2+1.

A Harmonious Record

The silence of one passage regarding blood does not involve a contradiction with another that mentions itARSH February 18, 1890, page 110.10. The anointing of the sanctuary at the commencement of Christ's ministration—referenced in Daniel 9:24—serves as the event preparatory to His work as our High Priest, just as the earthly sanctuary was anointed in both its holy places before the Levitical service beganJEO 85.4. Thus, blood and oil together signify the full legal and spiritual dedication of the place where Christ now appears in the presence of God for us Hebrews 9:24. 🩸🕊️