God commanded Moses, “Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8. The sanctuary was built according to the pattern given by God to Moses Hebrew 8:5. This pattern was identical to “the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” Hebrews 8:2. The earthly sanctuary was patterned after the heavenly sanctuary. Surrounding the tabernacle was an area called the “courtyard,” bordered by a beautiful linen fence. This courtyard, where the animals were slain, represented the earth where Jesus was to die. The congregation could see the tabernacle over this courtyard enclosure which had one doorway at the eastern end. This singular doorway represented Christ as the only means of entering into a covenant with God (John 10: 9).
The tabernacle itself, which was located within the enclosure, had two rooms, the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:33). The Holy Place, or first apartment contained certain pieces of furniture:
a) Golden candlestick represented the work of the Holy Spirit and the light of life manifested through God's church
b) Table of shewbread represented Jesus as the bread of life (John 6:51, 33).
c) Altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-7) represented the continual fragrance of Jesus’ intercession
The Most Holy Place or second apartment also contained special furniture, however, only the High Priest officiated in this apartment. There was the
Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:10-22) contained: Two tables of stone on which God Himself had written the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 10:4, 5). Mercy Seat (Exodus 25:17-21), symbolizes the mingling of God’s mercy with His justice.
On ascension to heaven, Christ began His intercessory ministry in the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, where, for over 1800 years, He offered the merits of His blood as an atonement for all confessed sins. Daniel 8:14 states “And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Accordingly, in 1844, Christ entered the second and final phase of His ministry in the most holy place to cleanse it from the sins of the repentant sinners. This work is also called investigative judgment.
Daniel 7:9-10 says “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands upon thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Although the lives of all who have their names written in the Book of Life, both from among the dead and the living, are to be examined, only the ones who have confessed and forsaken their sins will have their names retained in the Book of life and their sins blotted out from the books of record.
Revelation 20:15 “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 3:5 “He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments, and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.”. The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. For many years this work has been in progress. When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been sealed, this way or that – everlasting life or death.
Dr. Ashwin Drummond