The Sanctuary Service and Christ's Ministry

The sanctuary service is a beautiful, divinely ordained system of types and symbols designed to reveal the plan of redemption and the work of Jesus Christ as our MediatorCIS 24.3+1. It exists in two phases: the typical service performed in the earthly tabernacle and the antitypical service conducted by Christ in the heavenly sanctuarySH 101.3+1.

The Earthly Sanctuary and Daily Service 🏛️

The earthly sanctuary was built by Moses according to a pattern shown to him in the mount Exodus 25:8-9+1CCh 347.2+1. It consisted of two apartments: the holy place and the most holy place Exodus 26:33-34SH 101.3+1.

• The Holy Place: Contained the golden candlestick, the table of showbread, and the altar of incense Hebrews 9:2DAR1909 396.2+1. Here, priests performed a continual service every day of the year Hebrews 9:6JEO 73.2+1.

• The Transfer of Sin: When a person sinned, they brought a victim to the door of the tabernacle, confessed their sin over its head, and the animal was slain Leviticus 4:1-4DAR1909 196.3+1. The priest then took the blood into the sanctuary, figuratively transferring the guilt of the sinner to the sanctuary itself Leviticus 17:11LUJ 89.3+1.

• Symbolic Garments: God specified every detail of the priests' clothing, such as Aaron’s robes, to represent the neatness, modesty, and purity of Christ’s followers Exodus 28:2-4CG 413.2+1.

The Day of Atonement and the Yearly Service 🕯️

Once a year, on the tenth day of the seventh month, a special service called the cleansing of the sanctuary or the Day of Atonement took place Leviticus 16:29-30DAR1909 196.3+1.

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

• The Scapegoat: After the atonement was complete, the high priest placed all the confessed sins onto the head of a scapegoat, which was then sent into a land not inhabited, symbolizing the final removal of sin Leviticus 16:20-22DAR1909 196.3+1.

• A Work of Judgment: This annual service was a type of the investigative judgment, teaching that the sanctuary must be purified from the record of sin4SP 266.1+1.

The Heavenly Sanctuary and Christ’s Ministry ✨

The earthly service was a "shadow" of the "greater and more perfect tabernacle" in heaven where Christ ministers Hebrews 8:1-2+1SYNPT 29.2+1.

• Two Phases of Ministry: Just as there were two apartments on earth, Christ performs two phases of ministry in heavenSH 101.3+1. From His ascension until 1844, He officiated in the first apartment as our MediatorCIS 39.3+1.

• The Investigative Judgment: In 1844, at the end of the 2300 days mentioned in prophecy, Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to begin the work of judgment and the final cleansing of the sanctuary Daniel 8:14CIS 39.3+2.

• The Law of God: In the most holy place of the heavenly temple stands the ark of the testament containing the ten commandments, which remain the standard of the judgment Revelation 11:19CIS 39.3+2.

• Completion of the Plan: When Christ finishes His work in the heavenly sanctuary, the door of mercy will close, and He will return to earth to reward His people Revelation 22:12SR 403.2+1.

Spiritual Lessons of the Sanctuary 🙏

The sanctuary service teaches that God's way is holy and that He desires to dwell among His people Psalms 77:13+1RH February 4, 1902, par. 15+1. Every sacrifice pointed to the "Lamb of God," and every ceremony was intended to deepen the soul's appreciation for the compassionate Redeemer who gives His life to purge our consciences from dead works to serve the living God Hebrews 9:14+1Hvn 19.3+2.