Tag: sanctuary

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 24

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 11)

The Table of Showbread:
“And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without [outside] the veil. And he set the bread in order upon it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.” Exo. 40: 22, 23, KJV.

“The show-bread was kept EVER before the Lord as a PERPETUAL OFFERING. Thus it was part of the DAILY sacrifice. It was called show-bread, or ‘bread of the presence,’ because it was ever before the face of the Lord (Exo. 25:30).

It was an acknowledgement of man’s DEPENDENCE upon God for both temporal and spiritual food, and that it is received only through the MEDIATION of Christ [not Mary or dead saints or ancestors, etc.]. God had fed Israel in the wilderness with bread from heaven [manna], and they were still dependent upon His bounty, both for temporal and spiritual blessings.

BOTH THE MANNA AND THE SHOW-BREAD POINTED TO CHRIST, THE LIVING BREAD who is ever in the presence of God for us. He Himself said, ‘I am the living bread which came down from heaven’ (see John 6: 48-51).” E. G. White, Patriarch & Prophets, p. 354.; See also Ibid. Early Writings, p. 251.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 23

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 10)

Incense Burned on Earthly Altar:
“And Aaron [the first typical high priest] shall burn therein sweet incense EVERY MORNING when he dresseth the lamps [on the seven-branched golden candlestick], he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps AT EVEN [evening, he shall burn the incense upon it, a PERPETUAL incense before the Lord throughout your generations.” Exo. 30: 7, 8, KJV

“In the holy place was the candlestick, in the south, with its 7 lamps giving light to the sanctuary both by day and by night; on the north stood the table of shewbread; and before the veil separating the holy from the most holy place was the GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE, from which the cloud of fragrance, with the prayers of Israel [corporate], was DAILY ascending before God.” – Great Controversy, p. 412.

Incense Offered in the Heavenly Altar Antitype:
“And I saw the 7 angels which stood before God; and to them were given 7 trumpets. 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 the saints upon the GOLDEN ALTAR which was before the throne.” Rev. 8: 3, 4, KJV.

“The solemn service of the sanctuary typified the grand truths that would be revealed through successive generations. The CLOUD OF INCENSE ascending with the prayers of Israel REPRESENTS CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS that alone can make the sinner’s prayer ACCEPTABLE to God.” – Patriarchs & Prophets, p. 367.

A precious lesson:
“In Christ’s name our petitions ascend to the Father. Christ [not Mary or dead saints, etc.] intercedes in our behalf, and the Father lays open all the treasures of His GRACE for our appropriation, for us to enjoy and impart to others. ‘Ask in My name,’ Christ says. I do NOT say that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father Himself loves you. Make use of My name. This will give your prayers EFFICIENCY, and the Father will give you the RICHES of His grace [not material wealth]. Wherefore ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.’” – Ibid, Testimonies, Vol. 8, p. 178.

(To be continued) Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 22

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 9)

The Golden Altar In the Earthly Sanctuary: God commanded Moses:
“Thou shalt make an ALTAR TO BURN INCENSE UPON: of shittim [acacia]wood shalt thou make of it . . . . And thou shalt overlay it with PURE GOLD, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about. And two golden rings shalt thou make unto if under the crown of it. . . . And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. And thou shalt put it before the [second] veil that is before the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.” Exo. 30: 1-6, KJV.

The Golden Altar in the Heavenly Sanctuary:
“And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the 7 angels which stood before God: and to them were given 7 trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the ALTAR, having a golden censer, and there was given to Him much INCENSE, that He should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the GOLDEN ALTAR which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” Rev. 8: 1-4.

Here’s encouragement from the heavenly altar of incense: “Jesus knows the circumstances of every soul. You may say I am sinful, very sinful. You may be; but the worse you are, the more you need Jesus. He turns no weeping, contrite soul away. He does not tell to any all that He might reveal, but He bids every trembling soul take courage.

Freely will He pardon all who come to Him for forgiveness and restoration. . . . He is today standing at the ALTAR OF INCENSE [in the heavenly sanctuary], presenting before God [the Father] the prayers of those who desire His help.” -E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 568.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 21

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 8)

The Seven Lamps in the Earthly Sanctuary Type:

“For there was a tabernacle made; THE FIRST, wherein was the CANDLESTICK, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.” Heb. 9: 2, KJV. “And thou [Moses] shalt make the SEVEN LAMPS thereof: that they may give light over against it (see verses 31-36).

“In the holy place [of the earthly sanctuary] was the CANDLESTICK, on the south [side of the sanctuary], with its SEVEN LAMPS giving light to the sanctuary both by day and by night; on the north stood the table of the showbread; and before the veil [the second] separating the holy from the most holy [‘apartment’ or ‘place’] was the golden altar of incense, from which the cloud of fragrance, with the prayers of Israel, was DAILY ascending before God.” – Great Controversy, 1911 ed., p. 412.

Seven Lamps of Fire in the Heavenly Sanctuary: Rev. 4: 5; EW 251. In vision, God’s last-day messenger says: “I was shown what did take place in heaven at the close of the prophetic periods in 1844. . . . I was then bidden to take notice of the two apartments of the heavenly sanctuary. The curtain or ‘door’ was opened, and I was permitted to enter.

In the first apartment I saw the CANDLESTICK WITH SEVEN LAMPS, the table of shewbread, the altar of incense, and the censer. All the furniture of this [first] apartment looked like purest gold and reflected the image of the one who entered the place.”

• E. G. White, Early Writings, p. 251.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 20

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALvATION (Part 7)

The Two Apartments of the Heavenly Sanctuary

“For Christ [at His ascension] is not entered into the holy places made with [mortal human] hands, which are the FIGURES [or shadows] OF THE TRUE; but into HEAVEN ITSELF, now to appear in the presence of God [the Father] for us.”Heb. 9: 24, KJV.

“The sanctuary is heaven, in which Jesus ministers in our behalf is the GREAT ORIGINAL, of which the sanctuary built by Moses was A COPY. . . .The matchless splendor of the earthly tabernacle REFLECTED to human vision the glories of that heavenly temple, where Christ our forerunner ministers for us before the throne of God.

The abiding place of the King of kings, which thousand thousands minister unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before Him’ (Dan. 7: 10), that Temple, filled with the glory of the eternal throne, where seraphim, it’s abiding guardians, veil their faces in adoration, could find, in the most magnificent structure ever reared by human hands, BUT A FAINT REFLECTION of its vastness and glory.

“Yet important truths concerning the HEAVENLY SANCTUARY AND THE GREAT WORK THERE CARRIED FORWARD for man’s redemption, were taught by the EARTHLY SANCTUARY and its services.

“The holy places of the sanctuary in heaven are represented by the two apartments in the sanctuary on earth. As in vision the apostle John was granted a view of the temple of God in heaven, he beheld there ‘seven lamps of fire burning before the throne’ (Rev. 4: 5). He saw ‘an angel having a golden censer; and there was given unto Him much incense, that He should offer it with all the prayers of the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne’ (Rev. 8: 3).

“Here the prophet was allowed to behold the FIRST APARTMENT of the sanctuary in heaven: and he saw there the ‘seven lamps of fire,’ and the ‘golden altar,’ REPRESENTED by the golden candlestick and altar of incense in the sanctuary on earth. Again, ‘the temple of God was opened’ (Rev. 11:19), and he looked WITHIN the inner veil, upon the HOLY OF HOLIES. Here he beheld the ‘ARK OF HIS TESTAMENT,’ represented by the sacred chest constructed by Moses to CONTAIN THE LAW OF GOD.” – E. G. White, Great Controversy, 1911 ed., pp. 414. 415.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 17

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION (Part 6)

Type and Antitype: the earthly sanctuary a “shadow”
of the heavenly sanctuary:

“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.

For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of a necessity that THIS MAN have somewhat also to offer. For if He [this ‘MAN’] were on earth, He should not be a priest, [why?] seeing that there are priests that offer gifts [and sacrifices] according to the [ceremonial] law, who serve unto the EXAMPLE and SHADOW OF HEAVENLY THINGS, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the TABERNACLE: See, saith He [God] that thou make all things according to THE PATTERN showed to thee in the Mount (Sinai).” Heb. 8: 1-5, KJV.

Two Apartments or Places in the Earthly (or ‘worldly’) Sanctuary of the Old Covenant and the furniture found in each. “Then verily the FIRST COVENANT had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly [earthly] sanctuary, for their was a TABERNACLE made; the FIRST [apartment of place], wherein was the [seven-branched] candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread, which is called the sanctuary.

And after the second veil, the tabernacle [apartment of place] which is called the HOLIEST OF ALL [or most holy place]; which had the [1] the golden censer and [2] the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [3] the golden pot that had manna, and [4] Aaron’s rod that budded, and (5] the tables of the covenant [the two tables of stone upon which God wrote with His own finger]. And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.” Heb. 9: 1-5, KJV.

Here we have irrefutable Bible proof of the existence of the heavenly sanctuary, God’s dwelling place, as shadowed forth by the earthly sanctuary which He commanded Moses at Sinai to build as His abiding place with His people on earth.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 15

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 4)

There were only four earthly temples/sanctuaries/tabernacles as follows:

1. The first mobile tabernacle (or “tent of the congregation”
   built by Moses and accompanied Israel throughout their 40 year wilderness journeys and rigid into earthly promised land.
2. Solomon’s grand Temple was ransacked in 539 B. C. during Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian conquest.
3. Zerubbabel’s Temple. After Babylon was conquered by Medo-Persia, Cyrus, king of Persia began allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem to start rebuilding their desolated temple.

This prophesied rebuilding and restoration was completed under three successive Persian kings, Cyrus, Darius, and finished under Artaxerxes, It began with Zerubbabel, grandson of Jehoiachin king of Judah and Joshua the high priest who lead about 50,000 Jews who returned to Jerusalem to begin the work.

The second and third phases were led by Ezra the scribe, and Nehemiah the king’s cup-bearer, respectively. Since this Temple, inferior to that of Solomon’s Temple, i.e., only in terms of size and physical grandeur, was built under the leadership of Zerubbabel, it is frequently called ‘Zerubbabel’s Temple.’

NOTE: “Zerubbabel was the first governor of postexilic Judah. He was appointed c. 537 B.C. and was still in office by 515 B.C. at the time of the Temple dedication (Zech. 4: 9, 10; cf. Ezra 6: 15).

Thus he held office for more than 20 years. It was fitting that the first postexilic leader of the country and the rebuilder of the Temple should be a representative of the Davidic line, and one who also was in the direct line of the ancestry of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1: 6, 12, 13; Luke 3: 27, 31).” (From the SDA Bible Dictionary).

4. Herod’s Temple. This was the Temple existing in Christ’s time toward which He told His disciples would be desolated so that “not one stone would be left upon another.” Forty years later Christ’s prophecy was fulfilled when the Roman armies led by Titus returned and desolated Jerusalem, slaughtered over a millions Jews and took the rest as slaves and spoils war to Rome.

The Temple desolated was the last ever existing on earth. At Christ’s death at Calvary the veil separating the holy from the most holy in the Temple was rent from top to bottom.

The eyes and faith of Christ’s disciples and followers hence were directed to the antitypical Temple in heaven where Christ would ascend to and become our merciful High Priest, Mediator, Intercessor, and Advocate.

(To be continued) Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 14

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 3)

Before proceeding further in our quest to understand the purpose of the sanctuary and its services, designed by God and given personally to Moses in Mount Sinai (during the 40 days he went without food and water while being in an actual physical one-soul audience with God himself), let us establish a firm and sound foundation of the meanings of these two key words:

1. SANCTUARY
   The Hebrew miqdash, ‘sacred place,’ ‘sanctuary,’ ‘holy (things).’ both from qadash, ‘to set apart,’ that is, to separate from common use; the Greek hagion (often in the plural),‘what is holy,’ ‘sanctuary.’ A place consecrated to the worship of the true God, especially the TABERNACLE erected at Mt. Sinai (Exo. 25: 8, etc.) and the TEMPLE later constructed at Mt. Moriah (2 Chron. 3: 1; 20: 8, etc.).”

I hope to share with you the services connected with the sanctuary, namely, the daily, the yearly, the five sacrifices or offerings (the burnt, meat/meal, peace, trespass, and sin offerings, and the special sacrifice/offerings of the yearling red heifer, and the living bird sacrifice—as time and opportunity allows by God’s permission and provision.

2. TEMPLE
   “A rendering of:
   1) Hebrew and Aramaic ( a loan word from Sumerian-Akkadian ekkalu, borrowed from the Sumerian E-GAL, ‘palace,’ ‘temple,’ literally ‘great house,’), used also of the ‘tabernacle’ at Shiloh (1 Sam. 1: 9: 3: 3) and of God’s heavenly abode (2 Sam. 22:7).

2) The Hebrew bayith, ‘house,’ ‘temple,’ either that of a pagan deity (Judges 9: 46; 2 Kings 10: 21; etc.), or the Temple of God in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6: 2-10, etc.). A temple was considered primarily a dwelling place of the deity, and only secondarily a place of worship.

3) Greek hieron (Matt. 4: 5; 12: 5, 6, etc.).

4) Greek naos (Matt. 23: 16; etc.). Strictly speaking, hieron applies to the whole Temple complex, with all its auxiliary buildings and courts, whereas naos designates the sacred shrine, or the Temple building, consisting of the ‘holy place’ and the ‘most holy place.’ . . .

“Although the Old Testament says very little about the pagan temples in Canaan [the promised land!], it gives detailed descriptions of the Temple of Solomon and of the IDEAL temple of Ezekiel’s vision [which was never built], and also some information of Zerubbabel’s Temple. Herod’s Temple, the scene of Christ’s ministry, is described in detail in the writings of [the Jewish historian] Josephus [‘The Antiquities of the Jews’] and the Mishnah.” – SDA Bible Dictionary, Complete with Atlas, Commentary Reference Series, Vol. 8, 1960, Review & Herald.

NOTE: The Mishnah is the traditional doctrine of the Jews as developed primarily by the decisions of the rabbis before the third century A.D; the collection of Halakoth, the basis of the Talmud.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.