Holy Place vs. Most Holy Place in Sanctuary Visions

Numbers 2

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.

3 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.

4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were three score and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

5 And those that do pitch next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar.

6 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

7 Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.

8 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.

9 All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.

10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.

11 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

12 And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

13 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.

15 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.

16 All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.

17 Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the middle of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.

18 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.

19 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.

20 And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

21 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.

23 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.

24 All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.

25 The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

26 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were three score and two thousand and seven hundred.

27 And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.

28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.

29 Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.

30 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

31 All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.

32 These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.

34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.

(Numbers 2) provides specific instructions regarding the arrangement and movement of the camp of Israel around the tabernacle, which represented the dwelling place of GodPP 375.2+1. While this chapter focuses on the external organization of the tribes, the sanctuary itself consisted of two distinct apartments: the holy place and the most holy placeBIC 52.2+1.

The Camp and the Tabernacle

The tribes were commanded to pitch their tents around the tabernacle of the congregation, each under their own standard and ensign Numbers 2:2. The Levites were stationed in the middle of the camp, surrounding the sanctuary to serve it Numbers 2:17+1. This entire arrangement served as a symbol of God's desire to dwell in the midst of His people, with the law of God forming the foundation of His throne Exodus 25:8PTUK February 23, 1893, page 52.9.

The Internal Apartments of the Sanctuary

The tabernacle was divided into two main rooms:

• The Holy Place (First Apartment): This room contained the golden candlestick, the table of showbread, and the altar of incense Hebrews 9:2DAR1909 396.2. Services were conducted here daily throughout the yearSSP 369.2+1.

• The Most Holy Place (Second Apartment): Also called the "Holiest of all," this room contained the ark of the testimony, which held the Ten Commandments on tables of stone Hebrews 9:3-4BIC 52.2. Over the ark was the mercy seat, where the visible glory of God dwelt between two golden cherubim Exodus 25:22BIC 52.2+1.

Differences in Ministry

The distinction between these places is vital to the plan of redemption:

• In the earthly type, the priests entered the holy place every day to accomplish the service of God Hebrews 9:6.

• The high priest alone entered the most holy place once every year on the Day of Atonement to cleanse the sanctuary and make a final atonement for the people Hebrews 9:7CWCP 64.1+1.

• This earthly pattern pointed to the heavenly sanctuary, where Jesus first ministered in the holy place before entering the most holy place in 1844 to begin the work of investigative judgmentEW xix.3+2.

In summary, while (Numbers 2) describes the camp's relation to the "tabernacle of the congregation" as a whole, the most holy place is the specific inner apartment containing the ark and the glory of God, which the people were commanded to pitch their tents "far off" from Numbers 2:2+1.

Revelation 4

1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up here, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

3 And he that sat was to look on like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like to an emerald.

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and on the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightning and thunder and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like to crystal: and in the middle of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

9 And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who lives for ever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 4 describes the holy place, which is the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuaryS23D 87.1+1. This scene depicts our Lord’s position and ministry at the commencement of His work as our High PriestS23D 87.1+1.

The Location of the Throne

The vision John received in Revelation 4 centers on the throne of God located within the heavenly temple Revelation 4:2JEO 67.1.

• The Door of the First Apartment: When John saw a door opened in heaven, it was the entrance to the first apartment of the heavenly tabernacleS23D 87.1+1. The door to the second apartment, the most holy place, is not opened until the sounding of the seventh angel Revelation 11:19S23D 87.1+1.

• Presence of the Candlestick: John explicitly identifies "seven lamps of fire burning before the throne," which are the seven Spirits of God Revelation 4:5S23D 87.1+1. These seven lamps represent the antitype of the golden candlestick that God directed to be placed in the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary Exodus 40:24-25+1S23D 87.1+1.

• The Golden Altar: In connection with this throne room, John and the prophet Isaiah both beheld the golden altar of incense Isaiah 6:6+1S23D 87.1+1. In the earthly pattern, this altar was strictly located in the first apartment Exodus 40:26S23D 87.1.

Comparison with the Most Holy Place

The furniture and timing of the vision distinguish this scene from the second apartment.

• Absence of the Ark: Revelation 4 does not mention the ark of the testament, which is the defining feature of the most holy placeS23D 87.1+1. The ark is only seen later when the temple is opened further to reveal the "ark of His testament" Revelation 11:19CIHS 54.1+1.

• Continuous Ministration: The scene in the first apartment represents the place where our High Priest began His intercession, offering the prayers of the saints with the incense of His own meritsPr 117.2+2. This work corresponds to the daily ministration in the earthly type, whereas the most holy place was only entered for the work of the final atonement or cleansing of the sanctuary Leviticus 16:2, 34FEE 186.3+2.

The Glory of the Scene

John describes the majesty of the Father sitting upon the throne, surrounded by a rainbow that looks like an emerald Revelation 4:3ARSH June 24, 1862, page 28.4+1.

• Heavenly Attendants: Around the throne are twenty-four elders and four living creatures who rest not day and night, giving glory, honor, and thanks to Him who lives forever Revelation 4:4-9CIS 80.1+1.

• Worship of the Creator: The heavenly host falls down before the throne, casting their crowns and declaring that the Lord is worthy to receive glory because He created all things Revelation 4:10-11DAR1909 417.2.

• Center of Redemption: This first apartment is where the Lamb, appearing as though it had been slain, stands in the midst of the throne to begin His mediatorial work for fallen humanity Revelation 5:6EVRR334+2.