“Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8. “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?” Psalm 77:13. The Sanctuary is God’s dwelling place; also a place where God draws us back to Him, to redeem us from our sins.
Moses was given a pattern of the sanctuary that was in heaven. “According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” Exodus 25:9. God gave Moses all the measurements and form of how it should be presented with exactness of the “patterns of things in the heavens” Hebrews 9:24, 23. Building the sanctuary would cost much, but God being gentle is not forceful, and required only willful offerings (Exodus 35:21-35).
The building (sanctuary) was divided into two parts, the first being The Holy Place which consisted of the Seven Golden Candlesticks, Table of Shewbread, and the Alter of Incense; and then you have the second which is The Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place) which consisted of the Ark of the Covenant. Inside the Ark holds the Ten Commandments (Exo 25:15), and placed in the side of the Ark is the book of the law (Moses law Deut 31:26). The Mercy Seat sits on top of the ark; this is where God dwells (Exo 25:21). The outside of the building (sanctuary) is called the Outer Court which consisted of the Alter of Burnt Offerings and the Laver, and all together you have what’s called the Tabernacle. The Veil separates the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies (Most Holy Place). The colors that ran throughout the sanctuary were red, blue, purple, and white. Red represents the blood (Heb 9:11-12), Blue represents the law (Num 15:38-41), Purple represents royalty (Mark 15:17-18), and White represents purity (Rev 19:8).
The tabernacle was placed at the very center of the tribes making God the center of attention amongst the camp. (Num 2:17)
Now let’s looks at some of the furniture in the sanctuary and see what they are used for.
-Point to Christ- OT
(Redemption)
Alter of Sacrifice-Cross
(Justification)
Laver- Cleansing
(Purification)
Table of Shewbread- The Truth
7 Golden Candlesticks- The Way
Alter of Incense- The Life
(Perfection/Glorification)
Ark of the Covenant-Judge
-US- NT
(Redemption)
Alter of Sacrifice-Repentance
(Justification)
Laver- Baptism
(Purification)
Table of Shewbread- Word of God/Bible
7 Golden Candlesticks- Witness/Holy Spirit
Alter of Incense- Prayer
(Perfection/Glorification)
Ark of the Covenant-Victory/Judgment
Alter of Sacrifice-(1Cor 5:7, 6:19-20; 2Cor 5:17:21; Col 1:19-22; Rev 1:5-6) Laver-(Rom 3:6, 4:24-5:2, 9, 18; Eph 2:14; Titus 3:5) Table of Shewbread-(Matt 4:4; John 6:63) 7 Golden Candlesticks- (Zec 4; Rev 1:4, 20, 22:17) Alter of Incense- (Psalm 141:2; Rev 5:8, 8:3-5) Ark of the Covenant-(Dan 7:9-10, 8:14; Matt 10:32; Rev 11:19, 14:6-7)
Now let’s looks at the function and how it relates to our time.
“Almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these [the blood of animals]; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these” (Heb 9:22, 23), so with the blood of Christ.
During the earthly sanctuary day by day the High Priest would minister in the holy place once a year (Lev 9) and on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16) would the High Priest enter into the Most Holy Place for the cleansing of the sanctuary. Day by day the repentant sinner would bring an offering to the door of the tabernacle and place his hands upon the lamb to confess his sins over it and then was the animal slain. The Law of God (Ten Commandments) demands life of the sinner, but instead received the lamb in its place. The blood was then carried into the holy place and sprinkled upon the veil unto the Day of Atonement where then it would be cleansed. One the Day of Atonement two kids of the goats were brought “one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat” Lev 16:8. The lot for the Lord was the sin offering for the people, and was to be sprinkled upon the Alter of Incense. The lot for the scapegoat was to bear all the sins of the people and be sent into the wilderness forever Lev 16:21-22.
These ceremonies were preformed “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things” Heb 8:5. What was done in the earthly sanctuary is now done in reality in the heavenly sanctuary. “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.” Heb 9:24. It is Christ blood that is now shed on our behalf instead of an animal. Christ is now performing the last division of His work to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary. As Daniel foretold “..Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Dan 8:14. The cleansing of the sanctuary involves a work of investigation (judgment) 1 Peter 4:17. When Christ by the use of His own blood, removes the sins of His people from the heavenly sanctuary at the close of His ministration, He will place them upon Satan, who, in the execution of the judgment, must bear the final penalty. The scapegoat (Satan) will be forever banished from the presence of God and His people will be blotted from existence in the final destruction of sin and sinners.
“For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Rev 6:17
