Understanding the Sanctuary Service and Plan of Redemption

The sanctuary service is a beautiful and comprehensive system of types and shadows designed by God to reveal the work of Jesus Christ in the plan of redemptionCIS 39.3+1. It illustrates the transfer of sin from the repentant believer to a substitute and ultimately to the sanctuary itself, culminating in a final cleansing that represents the judgmentTTHDS 15.2+1.

The Earthly Sanctuary as a Pattern

The earthly tabernacle was a perfect representation of the heavenly sanctuary, built according to a divine pattern shown to Moses on the mount Exodus 25:8-9CT 60.1+1. This sanctuary consisted of two apartments: the holy place and the most holy place Exodus 26:33-34LTJMB2 169.2.

• The Holy Place: Contained the golden candlestick, the table of showbread, and the altar of incense Hebrews 9:2DAR1909 396.2+1.

• The Most Holy Place: Contained the ark of the testament, which held the ten commandments, covered by the mercy seat and overshadowed by golden cherubim Exodus 25:16-22DAR1909 396.2+1.

The Daily Ministration

In the daily service, priests performed a round of ceremonies that represented the ongoing work of mediationTTHDS 15.2+1.

• Individual Confession: When a person sinned, they brought a victim to the door of the tabernacle, laid their hands on its head to transfer their guilt, and slew the animal Leviticus 4:27-29TTHDS 15.2+1.

• Transfer of Sin: The priest then took the blood of the offering into the sanctuary or placed it on the altar, symbolically transferring the sin of the individual to the sanctuary itself Leviticus 4:5-7TTHDS 15.2+1.

• Continual Offerings: There were also regular morning and evening burnt offerings and the burning of sweet incense, representing the prayers of the people ascending to God Exodus 29:38-42TTHDS 15.2+1.

The Yearly Service: The Day of Atonement

At the end of the year, a special service called the cleansing of the sanctuary took place on the Day of Atonement Leviticus 16:29-30TTHDS 15.2+1.

• Cleansing the Sanctuary: The high priest entered the most holy place with the blood of a goat to make atonement for the holy place and the people, removing the accumulated sins of the year Leviticus 16:15-16DAR1909 196.3+1.

• The Scapegoat: After the sanctuary was cleansed, the high priest placed all the confessed sins upon the head of the scapegoat, which was then led away into a land not inhabited Leviticus 16:20-22DAR1909 196.3+1.

• Typical Judgment: This annual event served as a type of the investigative judgment and the final purification of the universe from sinPK 684.4+1.

The Heavenly Antitype

The earthly service was a shadow of the true ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary Hebrews 8:1-2PK 684.4+1.

• Christ our High Priest: After His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus entered the heavenly sanctuary as our Mediator, ministering in the first apartment until 1844 Hebrews 9:11-12CIS 39.3+1.

• The Final Atonement: At the close of the 2300 prophetic days in 1844, Christ entered the second apartment, the most holy place, to begin the work of the investigative judgment and the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary Daniel 8:14CIS 39.3+2.

• Completion of the Plan: This work is the final phase of His priesthood, after which He will return to earth in power and glory to establish His kingdom Hebrews 9:28AA 228.3+1.

The Significance of the Service

The sanctuary service is the central theme that unites all parts of the Bible into a harmonious wholeCIS 6.1+1. It teaches that through the blood of Christ, we can find pardon for sin and the strength to reflect His character in our lives Hebrews 10:16-17CWCP 81.3+1. The sanctuary, the Sabbath, and the Spirit of prophecy have always been connected, guiding God's people in their understanding of His holy law and His closing work in heavenCIS 39.3+1. 🕊️✨