The Sanctuary... Let's Get Acquainted continued.

     In both the Old and New testaments, the sanctuary is the name given to the place where God lives. God asked His old testament church in the wilderness---the people of Israel---to actually build a literal sanctuary . He gave them the plans for it patterned after the sanctuary in heaven where His throne is.
     This Old Testament sanctuary---and the temple that later succeeded it ---illustrated how God saves us and deals with the problem of sin. In its architecture, sacrifices, and services, it pointed to Christ's work as our Saviour. 
     The priests of the Old testament sanctuary carried forward their work on Israel's behalf each day in the first room---called the holy place. But once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest entered the second room of the sanctuary---the most holy place---carrying the blood of a goat with which he symbolically cleansed the sanctuary of its accumulation of sins. this represented the work Jesus would do in reality.
     On the basis of the Bible prophecies in Daniel 8 and 9, Seventh-day Adventists believe that in the year 1844 Christ entered the most holy place of the real sanctuary in heaven and began there a special "Day of Atonement" ministry for us. This work is going on now and will continue until shortly before His second coming.
     Because Satan accuses Christ's followers of being great sinners who shouldn't be saved, Christ---before the whole universe---must defend not only His followers, but His right to save them. As both our Sacrifice and our high Priest, He is able to point out that the sins of His followers  are covered by His blood---that they are to be saved not because of their goodness, but His.
     Understanding the lessons of the heavenly sanctuary is by no means impossible, but it does require earnest study---particularly of  Bible prophecy. In this brief description, we can only touch the surface of this great truth---a truth which provides unparalleled views of Christ's work and character.


Please remember to click on the Verses below;

Exod. 25:8              Heb. 10:9-13        Rev. 14:6, 7
Exod. 29:38, 39      Dan. 7:9, 10         Rev. 22:11, 12
Heb. 8:1-13            Dan. 8:14             Lev. 16:1-34
Heb. 9:1-28            Dan. 9:24-27        Lev. 23:26-28