The Hebrew Sanctuary

[Allan F]

Yes, brother Richard. The altar seems to represent the death of Jesus. When Jesus (the true lamb) gave his blood (and life), it became life for they who beleive in Him.

At the altar, there are two possibilities: Without Jesus, our walk through the sanctuary (our christian experience) would end at the very beginning, at the altar. Without the dead of Jesus, we would ourselves have to carry our sins, and thus be placed on the altar, and the gates to heaven would be for ever closed for our sinful race. But the glory of heaven was not attractive to Jesus as long as there was one sheep (read: planet) suffering in sin and sickness. Therefore Jesus came to our world, lived a perfect life and died for the sins of the world, so that we don't have to die the second, eternal death.

Therefore, at the beginning of the way through the sanctuary, we realize that a very high price has been paid for us, that we may receive eternal life. It relies totally on Gods love and grace. We could not have commanded God to save us.

The altar doesn't only symbolize what Jesus did for us, 2000 years ago. I also see a  personal experience involved at the altar.

How may we receive the blessings from the altar? I look forward to thoughts and comments.

Allan F

[Richard Myers]

As I understand the services and the altar, it appears that the offering that was burnt symbolized sin. We can say that sin will be destroyed, burnt with only ashes remaining.

Richard

[Allan F]

In the famous book "Steps To Christ" the author doesn't begin the book with the necessity of confessing our sins. Instead, Ellen White lead the readers attention to Gods love and how it is revealed through the nature, His word and specially through Jesus Christ. In all these revelations, God wants us to see his attitude toward us: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jer 29:11).

God knows that if man shall turn from his evil ways, it is the "goodness of God (that) leadeth to repentance" (Rom 2:4).
Therefore it is important to get to know God, his character. This will lead men to the altar in sorrow for the sins that have caused the death of Jesus.

Jesus gave us the key (his blood). Now, we must use it to open the door of forgiveness that leads to eternal life. This means confession of sin to the ones being hurt by me and to their Creator. This is fair, but not always easy to do.

When the person laid his hands on the head of the animal at the altar, he showed by this action that he didn't want to keep his particular sin. He wants it to be taken away both from the books of heaven and from his own heart.
This is the prayer God wants to answer the most. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1Jn 1:9).

(In our study, let us try to understand how God handles the sin problem. Who is involved, how does sin come into the courtyard and the sanctuary, and how does it get out at last? Maybe we through this can learn some important lessons about God and His character.)

Allan F

[jherbertthompson]

Brethren.  It appears that the Sanctuary and it's services were really an object lesson to the children of Israel as it were.  There shouldn't be any disagreement here?  The tone as set forth by God Himself on Mt.Sinai was one of wishing for man a restored relationship.  The Alter of Burnt Offering was, I think, the vehicle by which this principle was to be taught?

Regarding the thought of how God addresses the sin problem, the alter, with all of its offerings and sacrifices did not *cleanse* the people from their sins...It did, however, provide a means where the children of Israel might understand -- and even teach other nations that although God hates sin, He loves the sinner.

Your brother in Christ.

[Allan F]

Yes brother, the sanctuary service was really an object lesson to the jews.

I agree with you that the altar is the place in the sanctuary that most clearly tells us that God loves us, every one, and also how much He was willing to do in order to save you and me.

But he still hates sin. I think we can learn an important lesson from just this fact. I feel that many people today have problems to seperate condemnation of a particular sin from a condemnation of the sinner. It is strongly beleived by many (also christians) that in order to accept and love a sinner, you must accept his sin (take for instance homosexuality which the Bible condemns).

This kind of love is not God's love. He wants to seperate sin from the sinner and He is the only one who can do that. Neither can Allah, Buddha, nor any other God.

But God says: "Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye" (Eze 18:31,32).

Allan F

[Allan F]

When we ask God of forgiveness of a particular sin (symbolized by what happened at the altar) God takes away that sin from the books of heaven and from our heart. The latter is symbolized by...

The LAVER
The laver was the second main furniture which was placed in the courtyard. The laver was filled with water. What was the water for? It was not for drinking, but for cleansing. Before the priests went into the tabernacle, they should wash their hands and feet.

What may the laver symbolize? Is there any text in the Bible that talk about a cleansing symbolized by cleansing by water?
Yes. In Ezek. 36:25-27 we read: "Then I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements and do them."

This is what takes place at the laver. This was also what Jesus had in mind when he said to Nicodemus: "Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (Jn 3:5).

Paul described it as the "washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus christ our saviour" (Tit 3:5,6).

This is also symbolized in the baptism, where we rise into a new life. In fact the baptism is the strongest symbol (maybe the Sabbath) of creation. The earth that we live on today, came into existence by a word of God and rose out of the water. It really resembles the baptism. No wonder that Satan wanted to change the form of baptism. He has also been succesful in changing the creation story too.

The results from a new birth is quite visible, even though we cannot see the work that the Spirit do. The fruit is: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Gal 5:22,23).

This is the kind of people God want to inhabitate the new earth with. The courtyard experience means to come back to Gods original plan in truth and in spirit. By this we are standing just before God. Let us therefore take faith and walk into the sanctuary, "having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water" (Heb 10:22,23).

Allan F

[Allan F]

As we now walk into the tabernacle and the holy place, let us try to sumarize what took place out in the courtyard.

The courtyard symbolizes Jesus' activity on the earth. He died and rose from the grave, symbolized by the altar and the laver (Rom ch. 6). At the altar He offers us forgiveness and in this way He makes up for the past. At the laver He does something with our present condition, by creating a new heart. But this is not all. He is now in heaven to be our high priest and has promised to guide and help us in the future christian life.

While the symbols in the courtyard show us how we may receive eternal life, the holy place shows us how this life is.
In other words, we may say that in the court yard we are born into eternal life. The holy place is where this new life is to be lived. Here we grow in grace.

There were 3 main furnitures in the holy place: The table of shewbread, the altar of inscense and the seven branched candle stick.

To go from the courtyard into the tabernacle makes a radical change. Imagine that you are going from the altar where you have confessed your sins and killed an innocent lamb and into the special atmosphere in the tabernacle.

Inside the holy place there is a peaceful silence. The walls are covered by gold, and they reflect the light from the candle stick. From the most holy place the light which rests over the ark of the covenant sends in a wonderful light. What a sight for the eye!

But God has also made preparations for other senses. A sweet aroma of inscense fills the tabernacle, and the smell of the shewbread almost makes you hungry.

The burdens which were put off at the altar are now replaced with peace and happiness.

Let us begin our study with THE TABLE WITH THE SHEWBREAD

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger" (Jn. 7:35).
"Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God" (Luk. 4:4).

As physical food strengthen our body and help us to stay healthy, spiritual food will strengthen our soul. We are what we eat, some says. That's true both in the physical and spiritual life. In my short experience (not passed 30 yet) I have found that as the physical breakfast is the most important meal during the day, in the same way it is important to begin the day with a good spiritual breakfast.

To go a little further with the parallell we can say that as bread is the most important food item (at least where I live), our main spiritual food item should be "the bread of life", a study of the life of Christ. I don't think it was pure chance that Jesus, "the bread of life" was born in a manger (where the food for the animals was laid) in a town called Betlehem, which in hebrew means "the bread basket". I beleive God gave us an important lesson by doing this.

When we read the Bible it would be good to "chew" it well. Take time to enjoy it and beleive in it, because when the word was preached to the Israelites it "didn't profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it" (Heb. 4:2). To be surrounded by food doesn't help anyone. Only when we eat the food it will do its work.

Jesus knew this. Therefore he ate every word that came from the mouth of God. But his purpose for eating was not just because he wanted to be healthy and because it tasted good (some times it didn't taste good at all). He strengthened himself by Gods food because He had some important work to do. He lived for the purpose of rescuing others. For this important work He needed the very best "food".

Allan F

[jherbertthompson]

Brethren.  I'm not sure I follow this conversation at some points...However, as a matter of testimony, I would like to present what I think some of you are saying...

As, amoung other things, a smoker for more than fourty years; God through His Holy Spirit convicted and cleansed me from this habit [and others as well]...Because God "loves the sinner" but "hates the sin", I can clearly see that this very principle is at work in my life today...God has in fact "forgiven" and "cleansed" my sin; He cannot [with I think the exception of a miricle] take away the "consequences" of my sins...My point being, that there seems to be two -- widening ditches in the "Principles of Righteousness".  On the one side there is "Grace" to an extreme; and to the other there is "Law" to an extreme.

Which is it?  Grace -- Law?  Illistration or Substitution?  Or a combination of all in so perfectly balanced manner that finite man will never throughout eternity be able to fully understand it's [the story of redemption] meaning...

I think we all agree that God "hates sin"!  And, He "loves the sinner"!  God's "law" has been broken -- and yet death as a means to an end seems to "judicial" or "forensic" to many so we "wrap" it up in "pretty" dressing and try to sell it to one another as "grace".  On-the-other hand; we are at "penalty" to the Law...are we not?  Therefore, because we have "broken the rules" of the "Big Boss"; someone has to pay...and, because Jesus "loves us so much", God the Father must place His Son in our place and "kill Him" in our stead...

So, I ask you dear brother's, which is it?  Or, is there, as in Ps. 85:10; a meeting of both "justice" and "mercy" at the cross?  And, in what way was this presented to the children of Israel in the "sand-box model"?

Sincerly your brother in Christ.

[jherbertthompson]

Good morining Brethren.  Brother Alan.  The following is a snip-it from your next-to- last post.

"When we ask God of forgiveness of a particular sin (symbolized by what happened at the altar) God takes away that sin from the books of heaven and from our heart. The latter is symbolized by..."

I wish to challenge this concept.  The "sins" of the people, individually or corporately were never taken "away"...At least in the earthly sanctuary.  [Isa. 1:11; 56:7; Jer. 6:20; Eze. 43:18; Amos 5:22;
Heb. 10:7 (at: Ps. 40:6,7); Heb. 10:16 (at: Jer. 31:33; and finally Heb. 10:17 (at:
Jer. 31:34...]

The "washing of hands" at the Laver symbolized the "cleansing of the Priest" prior to his entry into the temple...[Ex. 30:17-21] There is nolo contendre here.  Or in any further aspect of this presentation.
---------------------------------------------     -----------------------------------

In the following paragraph, however, I would challenge.

"As we now walk into the tabernacle and the holy place, let us try to sumarize what took place out in the courtyard. The courtyard symbolizes Jesus' activity on the earth. He died and rose from the grave, symbolized by the altar and the laver (Rom ch. 6). At the altar He offers us forgiveness and in this way He makes up for the past. At the laver He does something with our present condition by creating a new heart. But this is not all. He is now in heaven to be our high priest and has promised to guide and help us in the future christian life."

By-virtue-of library conditions, I will only make a brief statement with the following two (2) statements:  DA, pp. 589,590; and, 3SP, pp. 20-23...

My contention is this.  Although the Life of Christ, on this earth was represented in the Outer Couryard; it appears by Mrs. White's writings that it additionally represented the years leading up to the Life of Christ [OT].

As well put in your next statement, "while the symbolism represented in the Courtyard show us how we may receive eternal life; the holy place shows us how this life is."  It is my belief that the outer court yard, then, made two representations:  [1] it pointed the eyes of Israel to a coming saviour; [2] it also opened the light of the First Angel's Message which began at Pentecost...This is not in any way contrary to the teachings of the early pioneers of our church nor of the church today...I'm sure that there will be a great deal of dis-agreement regarding this...I am, however, prepared to show evidence(s) of this position if anyone is really interested.

Regarding the three main pieces of furniture in the Holy Place, it will be a pleasure to get to these also; perhaps in their time...

Sincerely your brother in Christ.

[Allan F]

Good evening brother Thompson

Thank you for the comments. Just feel free to do ask question, but the more comments and questions I get in every post, the longer my answers will be...
But together we want to find the main message and the meaning of the items that we find in the sanctuary.

Before I go on I want to say, that in our effort to find the true meaning of the symbols, we must first go to our real world and ask ourselves what is the function of the particular symbol. I have found this very useful in my study of this topic. Next we must look for texts in the Bible that explain the meaning of the particular symbol (eg. the lamb = Jesus: Jn. 1:29).

In this way we will be able to put the pieces together. By the way, a study in the sanctuary resembles a study in the books of Daniel and revelation which also have many symbols.

Now to your comments:
- It is evident from the symbolism at the altar and from the first chapters in leviticus that at the altar the israelite received forgiveness from his sin, that means there was an atonement. By this, he was no longer carrying his own sin. Jesus, the true lamb is the sin bearer (Jn. 1:29). The sin does no longer stands against us in the records of heaven.

Of course did not the blood of the lamb take away any sin, but this pointed to Jesus as the one who is the only one who can give us forgiveness. Remember that the sanctuary only served as a copy of the true, heavenly one. The real sanctuary service has been going on for 2000 years now. This, many christians have not known.
We must not get confused here. Adam, Noah, David and Isaiah did all receive forgiveness for their sins. Jesus died for every one of them. But there was one time in the history that he did that. Strict legally, Adam had to wait ca. 5000 years before he was truly forgiven by the blood of Jesus for his sin in Eden.

Total atonement for our sins only occurs at the day of aytonement, "For on that day shall the priest make atonment for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord." Why it is so, we will discuss when we begin the study of the most holy place.
But at the altar we receive forgiveness and we do no longer carry our confessed sins. Jesus has taken them away.

Some of the bible vesers that you refer to reveal another important fact. Among others you mentions Jer 6:20 were we read: "Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me." Why?
Let us read Hosea 6:6: "For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."

God does not only free us from the condemnation of sin, but also from its power. The offerings were not to the honour of God because they would not allow God to change their hearts.

- I am sorry that I had problem to understand your comments on my explanation of the laver.
"There is nolo contendre here. Or in any further aspect of this presentation."
What does this "nolo contendre" expression mean?

- That the courtyard also symbolizes the years up to Christ is an interesting thought. But I have problem to see it clearly, right now. Maybe you can help me?

- You also mentioned that the courtyard may symbolize "the opening of the light of the first angels message". It would be interesting to get this explained a little more. I am looking forward to it  

Sorry for the length of this post. I will try to write shorter answers next time...

Allan F

[Allan F]

TABLE OF SHEWBREAD (cont.)

The 12 bread that were placed on the table every sabbath, were to remind the priest and the people about Gods love and mercy. Both in our spiritual and physical life we are dependent upon Gods power. As He gives us spiritual life through his Word, his only begotten son, we are also totally dependent upon him in receiving physical life. He makes the seed grow, the sun shining,  and in many unknown ways he protects us from different dangers.

The israelites were in a special way reminded upon their dependence of God during their journey in the wilderness, when God sent supernatural food.

God cares for his children in every aspect, and want to give all men "life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (Jn 10:10).

There were 12 cakes on the table. That symbolized one for every of the 12 tribes of Israel. God doesn't make difference between people. He wants all people to receive what they need. God wants his word to be spread to all his church, and then He wants his church to take it to the whole world. For long times only priests had access to Gods word. That was not Gods intention. Gods word is for all people.

Further, it is interesting to know that the bread consisted of these ingredients: grain, oil and salt. Is there not a symbolism in this? In the Bible these items have a special meaning (Jn 12:24; Matt 13:18-23; Zech 4:2-6).

When Jesus gave spiritual bread to the people, he put all the ingredients into it. But the pharisees did not do that. They presented the word without oil (The Holy Spirit) and salt (the right. of Christ). Of this reason their message became dry and tasteless. Of course the Israelites were undernoursihed!

But Jesus was himself the bread of life and presented his message with all the ingredients, so that the people would have the oportunity to receive all the essential ingredients they needed.

How do we present the Word of God? Do we put all the ingredients into it, or do we present a dry and tasteless testimony to the world?
May God help us to give a whole message to the world.

Allan F

[Richard Myers]

Amen, Brother Allan.  The twelve loaves of bread were indeed enough for all to partake of. There was provision for each of the twelve families of Israel. The bread was a symbol of what?

Jesus said: "Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven: but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.... I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.... Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth may flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me." Jesus explained what He meant by eating His flesh and drinking His blood. He meant that His disciples were to partake of His Word. He said, "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

Richard

[Allan F]

Thank you for the text from the gospel of John, Richard. Yes, Jesus is the true bread of life, and it is important that we "eat of this bread" in order to receive and maintain eternal life.

The CANDLESTICK

In the tabernacle, there was also a seven branched candlestick, made of pure gold. On top of every arm there was a lamp, filled with olive oil.
What does all this symbolize?

Let us go to the Bible and find texts that talk about what light symbolizes:

1) "I am the light of the world", Jesus said (Jn 8:12). As the sun came on the fourth day in the week of creation, so did Jesus come to our world after four thousand years with sin. The sun of righteousness came to the earth in its darkest period of time (DA p.x?). Satan had done everything in the book to degrade the human race. But Jesus came for totally other purposes. He came to save the world. Not just by dying on the cross, but also by showing men how God is. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men" (Jn 1:4). And it is our privilege to be in the light. "He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (Jn 8:12). The life of christ and the life that resembles his life is what lightens up the world today.
Therefore Jesus said:

2)"Ye are the light of the world. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven." This is the main purpose of being light. "The fruit of the light consists in all GOODNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH (Eph 5:9).

In Rev. ch. 1 we are told that the candlesticks symbolized the church. And the church today consists of you and me. And it is our purpose and privilege to light up a spiritually dark world. But in order to be light we need both oil (the holy spirit) and someone who have the spark to give light to the candlestick (the priest = Jesus).
- We do not have the light in ourselves.
This is the first important lesson to learn from this symbol.
- The second lesson which I find important is this: It is not living for itself. A candlestick is totally dedicated for the purpose of giving light to others.
- The third important lesson: The only reason for having a candlestick is because it shall give light. In other words, the only purpose for Gods church is to lighten up the world (see parable in Matt 25:1-13). If it fails to do this, God can not use it. That is why God gives this message to the church in Ephesus: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Rev 2:5).

The candlestick was made of ca. 35 kg pure gold and where probably the most valuable item in the sanctuary. Today its value would have been about 280.000 USD (taken the gold prices of today in account).
Gods church, you and me, are extremely valuable in the eyes of the Lord. He has an everlasting love toward us and has bought us with an infinite price, by sending the light of the world to the earth that we may have the possibility to also become lights in this world.

The candle stick is in a way the opposite symbol to the table of shewbread. We are not only to study the Bible and receive the blessings from the Lord. We do also have a work to do. We are to be his witnesses by how we are, what we do and through our words. This will in its turn strengthen our faith and our walk with Jesus.

"He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him" (1Jn 2:10).

Allan F

[Richard Myers]

Amen!!

And the oil used in the lampstand represents the source of the light. We see a reference to oil in the parable of the ten virgins. It is that which, we as a people have been counseled to buy of Jesus. It is called "eye salve" also. Is not the oil a representation of the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit. This is our need and His promise!

Richard

[Allan F]

Yes Richard. I see the oil as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. In fact I beleive we through the items in the holy place we can see all the three persons in the godhead in activity for our sanctification (Jesus as the bread of life, the Holy Spirit as the oil and God the Father who is the one we send our prayers to).

The Altar of Incense

The third main furniture in the holy place was the altar of incense. The altar was covered by gold and it was the item closest to the most holy place.

What does this item symbolize?
Let us first seek to find the meaning of the incense. In Rev 5:8 and 8:3 we find incense used as symbol of prayer. Let us read the two verses:

"And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints."
Revelation 5:8

"And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne."
Revelation 8:3

In Rev 5:8 incense symbolizes the prayers of Gods people. David says in Psalm 141: "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense".

Incense is assosiated with worship. In ancient times when the early christian church was persecuted, many of the captured christians were forced to choose between either to lay incense in front of the heathen idols or to die in the faith of God (Jahve) as their only God. What a test for Gods people! There was no doubt about what this act symbolized, and many refused to worship these idols, with fatal results.

The last thing many of these people saw in this life were these false gods. But when they open their eyes at the second coming, they will have the privilege to look into the eyes of the only true God and saviour. Then they will receive the reward.

Prayer lifts us up to a heavenly atmosphere. The altar of incense was placed as near as possible to the most holy place, the throne of God. Through prayer we come very near to God. He listens to us and wants to do the very best for us:

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matt 7:7-11).

In Rev 8:3 we see another aspect of prayer. There, incense is added to the prayer of the saints. This may be understood as symbolic of the ministration of Christ for His people (see Rom 8:26; Heb 7:25). Christ, as intercessor, mingles His merits with the prayers of the saints, which are thereby made acceptable with God.

Through prayer we receive the vital power from God. If we begin the day by kneeling before the ruler of the universe, we may stand honestly and frank before whoever we may meet during the day.

Allan F

[Richard Myers]

Amen, Brother Allan. The prayers, the praise, the penitent confession of sin ascend from true believers as incense to our heavenly Father, but they are so defiled that unless purified by blood, they can never be of value with God. Our prayers must be mingled with the spotless righteousness of Christ. They are perfumed with the merits of Christ's suffering and death; they come up before God wholly and entirely acceptable because of what Jesus has done for us. We deserve death, but Jesus gives us life. Our heavenly Father accepts our prayers because of the goodness of His Son.

Richard

[Allan F]

The Holy Place - a review

- As it was expressed in another topic here on TRO, the main symbols of the sanctuary seem to have a double meaning. First, they show Gods work in the plan of salvation. Secondly they also show our part in this.

Take for instance the altar. The altar symbolize the death of Jesus, "the lamb of God". By His death he has provided forgiveness. This is His part. But the altar also symbolize our part, to give our sins to Jesus and receive forgiveness through accepting Him as saviour and confession of our sins.

The next step is the laver were we are renewed in our mind and heart by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, symbolized by the water has the ability to cleanse, but there must be somebody to cleanse.
Through the sanctuary we see this double meaning and the close cooperation between God and His children. We need to walk through the sanctuary in faith and have trust in the plans God has for us.
What takes place in the sanctuary is all of grace. Through the symbols we see so clear how miserable we are without divine help. We need God in order to be forgiven, cleansed, receive physical and spiritual strength, in order to be lights and communicate with God. Who can say that the OT teach salvation by works? Yes, salvation from sin is by works. Gods works for us and in us.

- Briefly, we can say that in the courtyard we are told how to receive eternal life, or how to enter into the covenant with God. The holy place shows us how to live the christian life and how to stay in the covenant and grow as christians. Usually we call the first 'justification' and the latter 'sanctification'. What is needed in order to enter the tabernacle, is the same that is required in order to enter heaven: Forgiveness and cleansing. Even the thief on the cross experienced this. He was truly forgiven and truly cleansed. This was all that was required of him. But of course if he had survived the cross he would have had to stay in the covenant (sanctification) in order to be in a saving relationship with his saviour.

- As the laver, which symbolize cleansing from sin, stood outside of the tabernacle, we must be cleansed before we enter the tabernacle (sanctification). The laver is the only place for cleansing. The holy place (sanctification) is the place for growing. And before we can grow, we must be born. Born of water and of the spirit. The love we receive from God which is "the fulfilling of the law" (Rom 13:10), must be created in us before we can enter the tabernacle.

- The items in the holy place symbolize how to grow and stand firm in the covenant.
The table of shewbread symbolizes that God communicates with us trough His word. At the altar of incense we communicate back to God through prayer. The third item, the candle stick symbolizes us, communicating light to the world.
We also see the activity of the Godhead through these items. We pray: "our Father in heaven"; Jesus is the "bread of life" and he mingles his righteousness with our prayers, and The Holy Spirit (oil) makes it possible for us to be lights for others, etc. In all this we see the cooperation between both the Father, The Son and the Spirit and also cooperation between God and man.

Allan F

[Claudia Marie]

Allan,

You said:

- As the laver, which symbolize cleansing from sin, stood outside of the tabernacle, we must be cleansed before we enter the tabernacle (sanctification). The laver is the only place for cleansing. The holy place (sanctification) is the place for growing. And before we can grow, we must be born. Born of water and of the spirit. The love we receive from God which is "the fulfilling of the law" (Rom 13:10), must be created in us before we can enter the tabernacle.

================

What you said made me think of Isaiah and the sanctuary. Wasn't the coals from off the altar a thing used for cleansing too though?  Here's the Spirit of Prophecy quotation Im thinking of:

Gospel Workers page 22
Chapter Title: Called With a Holy Calling

"As God's ministers look by faith into the holy of holies, and see the work of our great High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, they realize that they are men of unclean lips, men whose tongues have often spoken vanity. Well may they despair as they contrast their own unworthiness with the perfection of Christ.

"With contrition of heart, feeling wholly unworthy and unfit for their great work, they cry,"I am undone." But if, like Isaiah, they humble their hearts before God, the work done for the prophet will be performed for them. Their lips will be touched with a live coal from off the altar, and they will lose sight of self in a sense of the greatness and power of God and His readiness to help them. They will realize the sacredness of the work entrusted to them, and will be led to abhor everything that would cause them to dishonor Him who has sent them forth with His message."

This is a place that has always made me wonder about the idea of having to be cleansed before entering the sanctuary. It almost makes me think that people really arent "clean" and that its more the realization of our own uncleanness that prepares us to receive the humility of heart which would enable God to help us get rid of self altogether, which would then prepare us for ministry, or to be a light to the world.

I wonder if this has any significance? or am I just misunderstanding? Im thinking that it would be important to realize this (if it is true, that is), because if we dont, then we will go around believing ourselves to be cleansed when maybe we are not? and lead us to think more highly of ourselves than we should?

It seems like the two main thoughts I get from this quotation are that only by knowing whats in the most holy place, can we really see and know the total perfection of Christ, and thereby realize how we dont measure up to that perfection. We realize how unclean we are. And the other idea I get from it is that it is then that we realize our complete inability to cleanse ourselves of sin and then we see though how God has all the power to do it and the willingness to do it.

Maybe you were just talking about the Holy Place though, I couldnt bring myself to read through all the 7 pages on this subject, so I couldve missed that.

Claudia

[This message has been edited by Claudia Marie (edited 10-15-2001).]

[Richard Myers]

Sister Claudia,  good thoughts and right to the point.  The priests were the ones who had to cleanse their hands before they entered the sanctuary. What can this mean? How could one who is not abiding in Christ lead others to Jesus. The minister is not to begin ministry until he knows that he is converted. His hands must be clean, cleansed in the great fountain of grace that flows from Christ. This is most serious.

The congregation of course has responsibilities, but not as great as the ministers. Moses was laid to rest because he thought to teach the people without having first cleansed his heart from self, or rather allowing Jesus to cleanse it.    Hope this helps some.

[Allan F]

Hello Claudia

Happy to see someone who makes comments to my post. It should not be a monologue.

My last post which you made comments on, was a review of far we have come into the sanctuary. We have not yet talked about the Most Holy place, but we will soon continue, with this last section of the tabernacle.

Thank you for the reminding of the verse from Isaiah ch. 6. From this text we see how serious it is to be a preacher of the Word. Even the ministers and the preachers may fall, and speak with unclean lips. This hurts Jesus, but if we humble ourselves he will touch our lips with coal from the altar, as was done to Isaiah. By this act, "the iniquity is taken away, and the sin is purged" (Isa 6:7). This a wonderful picture of the transformation which takes place when we humble ourselves in Gods presence. The coal from the altar represents the purifying and refining power of divine grace. This work was necessary before Isaiah could start his work as Gods messengers.

As you wrote, it is of vital importance that we humble ourselves when God wants us to work for him.

To have right thoughts and feelings are not something way down the line. We can through divine power have right feelings and thoughts today. It is therefore no excuse for sin. Through sanctification the character is stabilized, and we grow in the fruits of the spirit through divine power.

We may walk into the tabernacle unaware of the sabbath, the health laws etc., but we cannot go into the tabernacle with anger and unpatience in the heart. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal" (1 Cor 13:1).

This was only some few thoughts from me.
Please feel free to make comments on this.

Allan F