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The Great Controversy 1888
worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein
was the candlestick, and the table, and the show-bread; which is called
the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called
the holiest of all, which had the golden censer, and the ark of the
covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot
that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the
covenant; and over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat.”
[
Hebrews 9:1-5
.]
The sanctuary to which Paul here refers was the tabernacle built
by Moses at the command of God, as the earthly dwelling-place of the
Most High. “Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among
them,” [
Exodus 25:8
.] was the direction given to Moses while in the
mount with God. The Israelites were journeying through the wilder-
ness, and the tabernacle was so constructed that it could be removed
from place to place; yet it was a structure of great magnificence. Its
walls consisted of upright boards heavily plated with gold, and set in
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sockets of silver, while the roof was formed of a series of curtains, or
coverings, the outer of skins, the innermost of fine linen beautifully
wrought with figures of cherubim. Besides the outer court, which
contained the altar of burnt-offering, the tabernacle itself consisted of
two apartments called the holy and the most holy place, separated by
a rich and beautiful curtain, or veil; a similar veil closed the entrance
to the first apartment.
In the holy place was the candlestick, on the south, with its seven
lamps giving light to the sanctuary both by day and by night; on the
north stood the table of show-bread; and before the veil separating the
holy from the most holy was the golden altar of incense, from which
the cloud of fragrance, with the prayers of Israel, was daily ascending
before God.
In the most holy place stood the ark, a chest of precious wood
overlaid with gold, the depository of the two tables of stone upon
which God had inscribed the law of ten commandments. Above the
ark, and forming the cover to the sacred chest, was the mercy-seat, a
magnificent piece of workmanship, surmounted by two cherubim, one
at each end, and all wrought of solid gold. In this apartment the divine
presence was manifested in the cloud of glory between the cherubim.
After the settlement of the Hebrews in Canaan, the tabernacle
was replaced by the temple of Solomon, which, though a permanent