The Sanctuary's
Services
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Let's pray together:
Almighty God,
May the understanding of the symbolic meaning of the sanctuary's services be added to our
toolbox, so that we may better grasp the wonderful message You want to give us through
Bible prophecy.
May those services also help us to know You better, and to walk with You day after day.
In Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen.
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Psalm 73:16,17
When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful
for me, until I went into the sanctuary of God.
In this last of three lessons about the sanctuary, we will study the services
taking place there.
Just like its furnishings, the services of the sanctuary carry a wonderful symbolism
necessary to the understanding of Bible prophecy.
Before beginning, let's look at a short summary of the last two lessons.
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Exodus 29:38,39,42
Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs
of the first year, day by day continually.
One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight.
(...)
This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the
tabernacle of meeting before the Lord.
Two religious services were regularly performed in the sanctuary:
- the daily service;
- the annual service.
The daily service, described here, took place only in the courtyard and the Holy Place. It
consisted of sacrifices offered twice a day for the sins of the people.
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Leviticus 4:30
Then the priest shall take some of [the sin offering's]
blood with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and pour its
remaining blood at the base of the altar.
During this daily service, sins were transferred to the sanctuary through the
lamb's blood.
The sinner, having disobeyed God's law, was deserving death, but God accepted in his place
the death of an animal.
This service foreshadowed the death of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, for the salvation of
repentant man
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The sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb, is symbolized by the daily service:
«The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and
said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"» (JOHN
1:29)
«(...) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot.» (1 PETER 1:19)
«In the midst of the throne (...) stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having (...)
the seven Spirits of God.» (REVELATION 5:6)
«And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.»
(REVELATION 12:11)
«He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb
to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not his
mouth.» (ISAIAH 53:7)
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Hebrews 10:21,22
Having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw
near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an
evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
The first stage of Jesus' ministry, that is, His work of sacrifice, thus
corresponds with the first part of the sanctuary, that is, the courtyard.
Indeed, Jesus offers us the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins (the altar
of burnt offering), and then, He cleanses our heart (the laver of bronze).
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1 John 1:7
The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all
sin.
Romans 5:9
Having now been justified by His blood (...).
Hebrews 10:19
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest
by the blood of Jesus (...).
In a word, the first stage of Jesus' ministry offers us JUSTIFICATION,
erasing our sins and making us righteous before God.
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1 Chronicles 23:13
Aaron was set apart, he and his sons forever, that he
should sanctify the most holy things, to burn incense before the Lord, to minister to Him,
and to give the blessing in His name forever.
Hebrews 9:6
Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests
always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.
Besides the sacrifices of the daily service, the priest, through the offering
of burning incense, had to make intercession in the Holy Place.
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Matthew 27:50,51
Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice,
yielded up His spirit.
And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
At the very moment Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was sacrificed, the earthly
sanctuary became useless.
God clearly transmitted this message by tearing the veil of the temple at the moment of
Jesus' death.
The veil being torn, the work of intercession of the priest gave way to the work of
intercession of Jesus, our perfect High Priest.
This constitutes the second stage of Christ's ministry.
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Hebrews 9:11,12
Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come,
with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this
creation.
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy
Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
When He ascended to heaven, after His resurrection, Jesus became both our High
Priest and, as the Lamb of God, our atoning sacrifice.
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Jesus Christ now serves as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary:
«We have such a High Priest who is seated at the right
hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the
true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.» (HEBREWS 8:1,2)
«This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters
the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having
become High Priest forever.» (HEBREWS 6:19,20)
«For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the
true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.» (HEBREWS 9:24)
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1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and
men, the Man Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:34
It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who
is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Hebrews 7:25
[Jesus] is also able to save to the uttermost those who
come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them.
As our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, Jesus makes intercession.
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1 Timothy 2:3-6
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our
Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave
Himself a ransom for all.
Interceding for us in the Holy Place, Jesus desires that we «come to the knowledge of the truth». To do that, the furnishings
of the Holy Place are useful:
- the light of the Spirit (the lampstand and its oil);
- the study of the Word of God (the table of showbread);
- and prayer (the altar of incense).
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2 Corinthians 4:16
Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward
man is being renewed day by day.
As we grow in our Christian experience, the powerful work of God's Spirit
within us progressively brings about a change of our values, our priorities, our way of
seeing things.
We reflect more and more the character of Jesus Christ.
This continuous work of the Holy Spirit within us is called: SANCTIFICATION.
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Philippians 4:6,7
In everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Matthew 4:4
[Jesus] answered and said, «It is written, "Man
shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of
God."»
Let's remember: prayer, study of God's Word and the light of the Spirit within
us are the tools God gives us to favor our sanctification.
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1 Thessalonians 4:3
For this is the will of God, your sanctification.
Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no
one will see the Lord.
Justification and sanctification are two essential steps of salvation, possible
only through Jesus' grace within us.
But let's take courage: «Being confident of this very thing, that
He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.»
(Philippians 1:6)
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Leviticus 16:29-31
In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you
shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all (...).
For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be
clean from all your sins before the Lord. (...) You shall afflict your souls.
Now, let's look at the last service: the annual service.
As we have just seen, the people confessed their sins each day, transferring them to the
sanctuary.
It was therefore necessary, at the end of the religious year, to purify the sanctuary
during a service on the Day of Atonement.
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Leviticus 16:7-9
[Aaron the High Priest] shall take the two goats and
present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for
the scapegoat.
And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord's lot fell, and offer it as a sin
offering.
The first goat, representing Christ, was sacrificed as a sin offering.
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Jesus is definitely the sin offering symbolized in this annual service:
«[Jesus] Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and
not for ours only but also for the whole world.» (1 JOHN 2:2)
«God set forth [Jesus] to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate
His righteousness.» (ROMANS 3:25)
«Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy
Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.» (HEBREWS 9:12)
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Leviticus 16:10,21,22
But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat
shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as
the scapegoat into the wilderness. (...)
Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the
iniquities of the children of Israel, and their transgressions, concerning all their sins,
putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the
hand on a suitable man.
The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land.
The second goat, symbolizing Satan, bore the responsibility for the people's
sins (hence the expression «scapegoat»).
That goat was sent away into the wilderness, foreshadowing the exile of Satan on the
desolate earth during the millennium (this will be the subject of a future lesson).
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Hebrews 9:21,22
Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle
and all the vessels of the ministry.
And according to the law almost all things are purged with blood, and without shedding of
blood there is no remission.
The aim of the sacrifice of an innocent animal was to show the sinner the
horror of sin, and the amazing love of the Savior who was willing to die for repentant
man.
The Day of Atonement was thus the opportunity to examine one's conscience, each one having
to admit the gravity of his sins, and the price of God's forgiveness: His Son Jesus.
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Hebrews 9:6,7
The priests always went into the first part of the
tabernacle [Holy Place], performing the services.
But into the second part [Most Holy Place] the high priest went alone once a year, not
without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins.
These verses summarize well the two services of the sanctuary:
- the daily service, performed by the priests in the Holy Place;
- the annual service, performed by the high priest alone in the Most
Holy Place, on the Day of Atonement (also called Day of cleansing of the sanctuary).
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Hebrews 9:8-10
The Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the
Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.
It was symbolic for the present time (...) until the time of reformation.
Just like the other services of the earthly sanctuary, the annual service (the
only one giving access to the Most Holy Place) was given «while the
first tabernacle was still standing», «until the time of
reformation».
Which stage of Jesus' ministry is then symbolized by this annual service, this cleansing
of the sanctuary?
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Hebrews 9:21-23
Then likewise [Moses] sprinkled with blood both the
tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.
And according to the law almost all things are purged with blood, and without shedding of
blood there is no remission.
Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified
with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
First, let's note that, according to the Bible, the heavenly sanctuary has to
be purified too, just as the earthly sanctuary did.
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Daniel 8:13,14
«How long will the vision be, concerning (...) the
giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?»
[The angel] said to me,
«For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.»
Many centuries ago, the prophet Daniel had a vision concerning the cleansing of
the heavenly sanctuary: it is the prophecy of the 2300 days, which will be the subject of
a future lesson.
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1 Peter 4:17
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house
of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the
gospel of God?
Romans 14:10
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Hebrews 10:30
The Lord will judge His people.
The third stage of the ministry of Jesus, the cleansing of the heavenly
sanctuary, corresponds with a judgment work concerning the people of God.
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John 5:24
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and
believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment.
Hebrews 9:24
For Christ has not entered the holy places made with
hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence
of God for us.
Fortunately, Christ will act as an Advocate for all those who accept Him as
their Savior and Lord, thus granting them eternal life.
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Matthew 7:21
Not everyone who says to Me, «Lord, Lord,» shall enter
the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
On the day of the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary, each Jew who had
persisted in his sins was cut off from the people of God, even if he had sacrificed lambs
all the year long.
Likewise, many people claim to be converted and to follow Christ, but the judgment,
through the examination of each believer's case, will identify those whose conversion is
genuine.
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2 Thessalonians 1:11,12
Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would
count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and
the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in
you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus' work of judgment, the third stage of His ministry, will lead the
faithful believer to the third step: GLORIFICATION.
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Ephesians 5:25-27
Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it,
that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that He might
present it to Himself a glorious church.
These verses sum up Jesus' ministry and its effects on the Church:
1. Sacrifice (altar of burnt offering) and
cleansing (laver of bronze), giving us justification.
2. Intercession (incense) and teaching by
the Word (table of showbread), with the help of the Spirit (lampstand), giving us sanctification.
3. Judgment (ark of the covenant) and
grace (mercy seat), giving us glorification.
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Let's thank God for His presence among us:
Our good Father,
In times past, You asked men to sacrifice innocent animals for their sins, not because You
are a cruel and bloodthirsty God, but because You desired that people realize the horror
of sin, and Your great love for men, revealed in Jesus Christ.
We thank You for Your Son, who is not only our Lamb but also our High Priest, our Mediator
before Your throne.
We will be forever thankful for Your love, in Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Source of the Pictures of this Lesson
Screen 1: Picture Collection «Corel Gallery Magic» by Corel,
1997, CD #8, Photo Library 4, 603092.PCD. Screen 2: In: «Revelation
Seminars», Seminars Unlimited, 1986, lesson #14 («Dieu a Fixé une Date pour le
Jugement»), p.1. Screen 3: Models by GILLESAE, Andrew. «Altar of Burnt
Offerings (BURNT2)», «Laver (LAVER0)», «Table of Shewbread (SHEWBRED)»,
«Seven-branched Lampstand (LAMPSTD2)», «Altar of Incense (INCENSE2)», «Ark of the
Covenant with the Winged Cherubim on top (ARK4)». In: «Bible Picture Library of Photo
Art CD», Christian Computer Art, 1998. Table of Screen 3: BOHLMANN, S.E.
In: «Revelation 8-11: Trumpets, Tempests and Thunderings in the Temple», G.C.
Ministerial Association, 1976. Screen 4: ANDERSON, Harry. In: «Votre
Bible et Vous» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Press Publishing Association, p.104,105.
Table of Screen 4: BOHLMANN, S.E. In: «Revelation 8-11: Trumpets, Tempests and
Thunderings in the Temple», G.C. Ministerial Association, 1976. Screen 5: BOWER,
Maurice. In: «The Living Bible Encyclopedia in Story and Pictures, volume 3», New York,
H.S. Stuttman Co. Inc., 1968, p.336-d. Screen 6: BISHOP, Tom. «The
Earthly Sanctuary - Exterior» (detail). In: «New Pictoral Aid For Bible Study»
(BREADEN, Frank), Australian Division of Seventh-Day Adventists, 1970, chart #29.
Screen 7: First picture: unknown source. Second picture: STEEL, John. In: «La
Sentinelle» magazine (May 1993), Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.9. Composite
picture by Cyberspace Ministry. Screen 8: HEASLIP, William. In: «The
Bible Story, volume 9» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1957,
p.51. Screen 9: DELACROIX, Eugène. «Christ on the Cross» (1835),
Musée de la Cohue, Vannes. In: «Charlton Heston Presents the Bible», GT Publishing, New
York, 1997, p.231. Screen 10: BISHOP, Tom. «The Earthly Sanctuary -
Interior» (detail). In: «New Pictoral Aid For Bible Study» (BREADEN, Frank), Australian
Division of Seventh-Day Adventists, 1970, chart #30. Screen 11: MANISCALCO,
Joe. In: «Images from the Bible and Sacred History CD», Chosen Works, MLI Software,
JM028.BMP. Screen 12: In: «Revelation Seminars», Seminars Unlimited,
1986, lesson #14 («Dieu a Fixé une Date pour le Jugement»), p.4. Screen 13: PROVONSHA,
Clyde. In: «Votre Bible et vous» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing
Association, 1978, p.100. Screen 14: ANDERSON, Harry. In: «The Bible
Story, volume 10» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1957,
p.156. Screen 15: MANISCALCO, Joe. In: «Images from the Bible and Sacred
History CD», Chosen Works, MLI Software, JM036.BMP. Screen 16: In: «The
Watchtower» magazine (November 1, 1990), New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society,
p.4. Picture edited by Cyberspace Ministry. Screen 17: In: «The
Watchtower» magazine (February 1, 1991), New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society,
p.1. Screen 18: In: «Signs of the Times» magazine (January 1991),
Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.23. Screen 19: In: NEFF, Merlin
L. «The Bible Pageant - Conquering Heroes», Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1948,
p.110. Screen 20: MANISCALCO, Joe. In: «Images from the Bible and Sacred
History CD», Chosen Works, MLI Software, JM033.BMP. Screen 21: STUTZMAN,
Mark. In: «Canadian Adventist Messenger» magazine (January 1996), SDA Church in Canada,
front cover. Screen 22: MANISCALCO, Joe. In: «Images from the Bible and
Sacred History CD», Chosen Works, MLI Software, JM029.BMP. Screen 23: In:
«Prophecy Seminars», Seminars Unlimited, 1989, Daniel lesson #14 («What is the
Sanctuary?»), p.1. Screen 24: HEASLIP, William. In: «Uncle Arthur's
Bible Book» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1968, p.216.
Screen 25: MANISCALCO, Joe. In: «Images from the Bible and Sacred History CD»,
Chosen Works, MLI Software, JM028.BMP. Screen 26: MANISCALCO, Joe. In:
«Images from the Bible and Sacred History CD», Chosen Works, MLI Software, JM026.BMP.
Screen 27: COLLINS, Fred. In: «The Bible Story, volume 6» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.),
Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1955, p.62. Screen 28: In: «La
Sentinelle» magazine (February 1992), Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.10.
Screen 29: ANDERSON, Harry. In: «The Triumph of God's Love, volume 2» (WHITE,
Ellen G.), Pacific Press Publishing Association and Review and Herald Publishing
Association, 1950, p.416. Screen 30: In: «Prophecy Seminars», Seminars
Unlimited, 1989, Daniel lesson #9 («Daniel's Little Horn»), p.1. Screen 31: REMMEY,
Paul. In: «The Bible Story, volume 8» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), Pacific Press Publishing
Association, 1956, p.188. Screen 32: In: «Questionnaire Adulte de
l'Ecole du Sabbat», Pacific Press Publishing Association, First Quarter, 2000, front
cover. Screen 33: MANISCALCO, Joe. In: «Images from the Bible and Sacred
History CD», Chosen Works, MLI Software, JM232.BMP. Table of Screen 33: BOHLMANN,
S.E. In: «Revelation 8-11: Trumpets, Tempests and Thunderings in the Temple», G.C.
Ministerial Association, 1976. Screen 34: Picture Collection «Corel
Gallery Magic» by Corel, 1997, CD #8, Photo Library 4, 603005.PCD.
Any copyrighted images not bearing a statement of permission, are used
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The test of Lesson 14 is waiting for you!