What is the Sanctuary?
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while it lay in ruins in Daniel’s time—until its destruction by the
Romans, in A.D. 70.
This is the only sanctuary that ever existed on the earth, of which
the Bible gives any information. This was declared by Paul to be the
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sanctuary of the first covenant. But has the new covenant no sanctuary?
Turning again to the book of Hebrews, the seekers for truth found
that the existence of a second, or new-covenant sanctuary, was implied
in the words of Paul already quoted: “Then verily the first covenant had
also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.” And the
use of the word “also” intimates that Paul has before made mention of
this sanctuary. Turning back to the beginning of the previous chapter,
they read: “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum:
We have such an High Priest, who is set on 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 pitched, and not man.”
Hebrews 8:1,
2
.
Here is revealed the sanctuary of the new covenant. The sanctuary
of the first covenant was pitched by man, built by Moses; this is pitched
by the Lord, not by man. In that sanctuary the earthly priests performed
their service; in this, Christ, our great High Priest, ministers at God’s
right hand. One sanctuary was on earth, the other is in heaven.
Further, the tabernacle built by Moses was made after a pattern.
The Lord directed him: “According to all that I show thee, after the
pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof,
even so shall ye make it.” And again the charge was given, “Look
that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in
the mount.”
Exodus 25:9, 40
. And Paul says that the first tabernacle
“was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both
gifts and sacrifices;” that its holy places were “patterns of things in
the heavens;” that the priests who offered gifts according to the law
served “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things,” and that
“Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which
are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the
presence of God for us.”
Hebrews 9:9, 23
;
8:5
;
9:24
.
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The sanctuary in heaven, in which Jesus ministers in our behalf, is
the great original, of which the sanctuary built by Moses was a copy.
God placed His Spirit upon the builders of the earthly sanctuary. The
artistic skill displayed in its construction was a manifestation of divine