What is the Sanctuary?
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structure and upon a larger scale, observed the same proportions, and
was similarly furnished. In this form the sanctuary existed—except
while it lay in ruins in Daniel’s time—until its destruction by the
Romans, 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
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
[413]
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.” [
Exodus 25:9, 40
.] 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
.]
The sanctuary in Heaven, in which Jesus ministers in our behalf,
is the great original, of which the sanctuary built by Moses was a