The Investigation of the Sanctuary

By John Thiel

John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Are you yearning the eternal life?

“This is life eternal,” Christ said, “that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3. Why is it that we do not realize the value of this knowledge? Why are not these glorious truths glowing in our hearts, trembling upon our lips, and pervading our whole being?  {COL 133.3}

If Christians are interested in life eternal what will they be doing?  Where did Jesus turn the attention of the disciples in reference to himself?

Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms, concerning me. 4:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Jesus is the centre of Law of Moses.

Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9 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].

Everything to do with the law of Moses was to do to the sanctuary.  Knowledge of God = God dwelling in us.  Was everything fulfilled at the cross?

Psalms 73:1 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God [is] good to Israel, [even] to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, [when] I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalms 73:12 Behold, these [are] the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase [in] riches.

Psalms 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end.

Psalms 73:19 How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

Where are we living in history?  Is it not the time of the end?  Just before the vials of God’s wrath are to be poured out?  What should be occupying our minds?

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.

Revelation 16:17 And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. 19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

The vials of God’s wrath will be poured out.

Jeremiah 25:15 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

Jeremiah 25:30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread [the grapes], against all the inhabitants of the earth.

Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour’s mediation should permit nothing to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God. The precious hours, instead of being given to pleasure, to display, or to gain-seeking, should be devoted to an earnest, prayerful study of the Word of truth. The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative Judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise, it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time, or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill. Every individual has a soul to save or to lose. Each has a case pending at the bar of God. Each must meet the great Judge face to face. How important, then, that every mind contemplate often the solemn scene when the Judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, when, with Daniel, every individual must stand in his lot, at the end of the days.  {GC88 488.2}

All who have received the light upon these subjects are to bear testimony of the great truths which God has committed to them. The sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ’s work in behalf of men. It concerns every soul living upon the earth. It opens to view the plan of redemption, bringing us down to the very close of time and revealing the triumphant issue of the contest between righteousness and sin. It is of the utmost importance that all should thoroughly investigate these subjects and be able to give an answer to everyone that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them.  {GC 488.3}

How important is this subject?  It is impossible for us to be saved unless we engage.  It comes through from the cross right down to the close of time. Do you want to be saved at this end time?  I need to be conversant. I need to have this sanctuary message as the predominating influence in my life.  It is of utmost importance.

The intercession of Christ in man’s behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. By His death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in heaven. We must by faith enter within the veil, “whither the forerunner is for us entered.” Hebrews 6:20. There the light from the cross of Calvary is reflected. There we may gain a clearer insight into the mysteries of redemption. The salvation of man is accomplished at an infinite expense to heaven; the sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands of the broken law of God. Jesus has opened the way to the Father’s throne, and through His mediation the sincere desire of all who come to Him in faith may be presented before God.  {GC 489.1}

Was it all fulfilled at the cross?  Not at all.  What is involved in that? You need to be participant.  This section of what we have read should be considered frequently to catch me from losing focus.  Do not these words arouse in you a sense of, what have I been doing? How easily we get distracted.  Let us now take an overview.  When Jesus came to the cross, in the terms of the sanctuary?

Leviticus 6:25 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This [is] the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it [is] most holy. 26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Here in the sanctuary, there was what is termed a sin offering where an animal was killed before the Lord. Let us see how Jesus comes into this segment of the sanctuary.

Hebrews 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

here is a vast scope of the sanctuary detail.  The sin offering which is Christ sacrificing himself at the cross.  Then at the end, the judgment, then Christ appearing the second time without sin unto salvation.  In the beginning of that scope, the sacrifice for that sin offering was the death of Jesus on the cross.  As that was the beginning of the sanctuary work, what was the next detail that was to take place after a Jesus had sacrificed himself at the cross?  Many people teach and believe today it was all done at the cross, was it? The sin offering was the first sacrifice. Christians today are saying it was all done at the cross, but what else has to be done?

Hebrews 8:1 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; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Since Jesus was sacrificed on the cross as the sin offering, what did he do next?  A high priest, what did the priest do with the sin offering?  He ate it and took the blood.  Let us investigate more as we look into this life giving message.  Here we see that Jesus on the cross was the sin offering, then he became a high priest, in the sanctuary, that the Lord pitched and not man.  That Jesus continued on a different level.  All needs to be fulfilled.  The service on earth was a picture of the real one.  This is what is not being taught today and occupying the minds of the people.

Exodus 25:9 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].

God showed Moses a pattern of the sanctuary he was to build.  Where did he show it to him?

Exodus 25:40 And look that thou make [them] after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.

Here was Moses on Mount Sinai and God showed him the pattern on what he was to build on earth.  What was the pattern?  After the pattern of the tabernacle. Jesus was not a Levitical priest, he was a priest after the order Melchisedec.

Hebrews 8:4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.

Do you notice that this text tells you, the tabernacle that Moses built the earthly one which was a shadow of the one in heaven. The tabernacle that Moses was to build, was shown him in the heavens.  We need to establish this so you can give an answer for your faith.  Unless you are prepared to meet it, you’ll be confused. Here are the reasons from the scripture.  Don’t let anyone take it away.  The sanctuary built by Moses was a copy of the pattern shown in the mount.  A miniature copy.  The things that are written there or are in the Hebrew sanctuary were a display of the function of the work of Jesus as a sin offering and the priest working in the heavenly sanctuary.  After Jesus died on the cross, his work continued as it was not all fulfilled at the cross.  The earthly sanctuary with its two apartments was a shadowy work of a second phase work that takes place in heaven as the plan of redemption. The sanctuary conveys the plan of redemption.  It is essential for us to follow that plan of redemption through.  This is how we come to know God.  If you recall a previous study of God in the sanctuary as somebody craving our relationship.  My unity with him, and with one another through him that we really engage in this exercise. The two phase work, the realities.

Leviticus 4:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD [concerning things] which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: 3 If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin offering. 4 And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the LORD. 5 And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation: 6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the LORD, before the veil of the sanctuary.

This is one of the sin offerings. If you go through chapter four, there are different sin offerings for different classes of people and in each case, the sin offering was slain in the outer court, here at the altar of sacrifice, the sinner, laid his sin upon the sin offering.  He placed his hands on there and confessed his sins, then the animal was slain and burnt there.  The blood was caught and carried by the priests to the alter of incense, he sprinkled the blood before the veil here before the second apartment.  There he sprinkled the blood, which was the vehicle of the sins which had been confessed, the priest took the blood and sprinkled it before the Lord.  That is what the priest did in the earthly sanctuary.  This work needed to be fulfilled in the heavenly sanctuary.

Hebrews 9:24 For 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:

Here it is again, where did Jesus go?  Into heaven to appear before God for us.  The earthly sanctuary is a ‘figure’ of the heavenly one.  Now Jesus fulfils the work of the priest, after he has been slain as our sin offering.  Now Jesus goes into the heavenly sanctuary and stands there before God in the heavenly sanctuary.  The animal blood was sprinkled in the presence of God before the veil.  This was the work of Jesus after his ascension to heaven.

Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And [having] an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Remember the priest took the blood of the sacrifice and put it there. We are to come boldly into the heavenly sanctuary by the blood of Jesus.  The sinner has confessed his sin on Jesus and the blood of Jesus takes his sin with him through the veil.  A new and living way, not the symbolic way, but a new and living way.  By his flesh.  When the priests went into the sanctuary, they first had to wash themselves in the laver, their bodies had to be washed and then they could go in.  We are to follow Jesus and be washed.

The earthly sanctuary has to do with your and my understanding of what I must do in participating in the plan of salvation.  We have a high priest in the house of God, we must draw near with a true heart.  How important these words are, how few people practice this. We are to draw near with a true heart.  Here is the reality of the sanctuary work.

Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Examine your life is what is portrayed here.  Let my sins be purged out of my life, by what?  By studying the sanctuary.  The true sanctuary, understanding precisely what Jesus is doing, draw near with a true heart.  Be engaged. How often do we do it?  How often does a sin come up in your conscience?  We are to be become engaged in this all important subject.  See where Jesus is engaged in the heavenly sanctuary.  When you open your mind in the study of the sanctuary and you live it in your conscious by faith, you can conquer, you can feel a deep sense of knowing, this is real, I’m no longer under the gall of bitterness.

Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto  Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Where was Jesus?  Where the golden candlesticks are.  In the first apartment.  Gods people during all that time, went there where Jesus was.  John sees him there.  He was there in the first apartment, presenting his blood before the father among the candlesticks, near the table of shew bread. Here was Jesus doing his work in the heavenly sanctuary in that apartment.  According to the work of the priest in the sanctuary on earth, that was to be done all through the year.

Hebrews 9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service [of God]. 7 But into the second [went] the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and [for] the errors of the people:

Once a year the priest went on from there, went through this third veil.  The high priest went once a year into the most holy place, into the second tabernacle. There to present before the Lord not without blood for the errors of the people. Let us turn to the heavenly sanctuary and see whether there is a change of Christ’s work like the priests changed. For 1810 years he was in the first apartment, then he did something else.

Revelation 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Psalms 73 Until I went into the sanctuary, there I understood their end”.

I nearly gave up, I was feeble, and I was distraught as others did so well but not me.

Psalms 73:12 Behold, these [are] the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase [in] riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart [in] vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend [against] the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, it [was] too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end.

Remember Philadelphia was the period of 1833 to 1844.  What did Jesus do in that period?

Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Very fascinating.  I have opened and no mans shuts, what did he open?  He opened the temple of God in the which he saw the ark of his testament.  That was opened and could be seen.

Revelation 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

Those who are to follow Jesus by faith in his work in the heavenly sanctuary, could enter by faith into the most holy place.  In prophecy you have it exactly the same concerning himself.

Daniel 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. 9 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. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

This is the horn power of Rome, the papacy.  He beheld when the thrones were put into place.  Here is the heavenly throne.  Now, we have what we read in Great Controversy, the judgment that took place long after the cross.

Revelation 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.

Until I went into the sanctuary, then I understood their end.  Jesus the son of man came with the clouds of heaven, he opened into the temple of the tabernacle.  With all the angels around him.  That is the prophecy concerning Jesus.  This is a vast activity of Jesus.  This is life eternal, that you may know God and Jesus.  The activities of Jesus right to the end and where we must fit in. You have little strength, you are a poor people.  Here is what we focus on, remaining loyal to everything to be uttered by God.  Even in Gods church there are people that don’t stand on every point of God’s word.  A weak people, you’re only security is to be hidden in the temple of heaven. Jesus comes to the judgment scene into the presence of the father, when, after the papacy has lost its power.

Daniel 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

This was during the dark ages.  If it had not been for Gods mercy, all would have been slain.  Until the ancient of days came in judgment.  The papacy continues to persecute Gods children until that point in time.

Daniel 7:25 And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy [it] unto the end.

Its talking about the Papal rule who will rule for 1260 years until 1798 when the pope was taken prisoner.  Then 1844, 46 years after, he opens and its finished.  Now the judgment continues.  We are living when?  2008.  The more you study this subject, the more it awakens you, how sleepy the Christian church is, how blind, how out of harmony of what is going on in heaven.  Everyone gets caught up with this, that and the other, and not concentrating on this work. We are now living in this time.  We turn to another prophecy, where it is specifically laid out in sanctuary terms;

Daniel 8:11 Yea, he magnified [himself] even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily [sacrifice] was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 12 And an host was given [him] against the daily [sacrifice] by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered. 13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain [saint] which spake, How long [shall be] the vision [concerning] the daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

Here is another prophecy involving the papacy and Rome.  First Rome which is called the daily.  Rome under its daily where pagan Rome persecuted the Jews, then the swap over, when the Roman power became a desolating transgressing power.  How long is this going to go on for?  The question is asked.  2300 years, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. There Jesus goes into the most holy place, to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary.  There is one more investigation, the heavenly sanctuary.  Does the heavenly sanctuary need cleansing?  All year round this blood sprinkled there.  Is heaven dirty and filthy?  Does heaven have some dirt up there?  Indeed it has.

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

What did you read just then?  The earthly things needed cleansing and the heavenly things also need cleansing.  Heavenly things need cleansing as our sins have all been recorded in the heavenly sanctuary.  God has books there.  The books were opened.  There in the heavenly sanctuary are the descriptions of the sins of Gods people.  It says that our sins are before God, they are all recorded before him.  They are placed there as a terrible record of ugly character defects.  They need to be removed and cleansed out of heaven.  It is for us to study carefully into the truth of these details so we can cooperate with God and his Son in their work for us.

As we near the close of this world’s history, the prophecies relating to the last days especially demand our study. The last book of the New Testament scriptures is full of truth that we need to understand. Satan has blinded the minds of many, so that they have been glad of any excuse for not making the Revelation their study. But Christ through His servant John has here declared what shall be in the last days, and He says, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.” Rev. 1:3.  {COL 133.2} “This is life eternal,” Christ said, “that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3. Why is it that we do not realize the value of this knowledge? Why are not these glorious truths glowing in our hearts, trembling upon our lips, and pervading our whole being?  {COL 133.3}

We look for any excuse for not making Revelation our study.

In giving us His word, God has put us in possession of every truth essential for our salvation. Thousands have drawn water from these wells of life, yet there is no diminishing of the supply. Thousands have set the Lord before them, and by beholding have been changed into the same image. Their spirit burns within them as they speak of His character, telling what Christ is to them, and what they are to Christ. But these searchers have not exhausted these grand and holy themes. Thousands more may engage in the work of searching out the mysteries of salvation. As the life of Christ and the character of His mission are dwelt upon, rays of light will shine forth more distinctly at every attempt to discover truth. Each fresh search will reveal something more deeply interesting than has yet been unfolded. The subject is inexhaustible. The study of the incarnation of Christ, His atoning sacrifice and mediatorial work, will employ the mind of the diligent student as long as time shall last; and looking to heaven with its unnumbered years he will exclaim, “Great is the mystery of godliness.”  {COL 133.4}

Is the book of Revelation essential for our eternal life?  What must we do?  The character of Christ and his mission must be dwelt upon.  Have you experienced that?  Why do I become distracted by human interferences in my life?  You want to do this time and time again.  I can hear people say, oh we’re going through the sanctuary before, and I know that already.  I yearn that we do it time and time again.  if we don’t do it, what happens, we start to complain about that brother or that sister and we lose our focus and we go astray. We stop to look at human problems and at myself and say, where am I?

Satan is striving continually to bring in fanciful suppositions in regard to the sanctuary, degrading the wonderful representations of God and the ministry of Christ for our salvation into something that suits the carnal mind. He removes its presiding power from the hearts of believers, and supplies its place with fantastic theories invented to make void the truths of the atonement, and destroy our confidence in the doctrines which we have held sacred since the third angel’s message was first given. Thus he would rob us of our faith in the very message that has made us a separate people, and has given character and power to our work.–Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, p. 17. (1905.)  {CW 53.3}

In the word of God warnings regarding this are plainly given, yet fanciful representations and interpretations of truth have been stealing in step by step, unperceived by men who ought through a clear understanding of the Scriptures, to be prepared to see the danger and sound a note of warning.  {SpTB07 17.4}

Has this happened?  How many Adventists have said, I’ve been in darkness all this time’ and then we study it and they say it again.  Why?  Satan is removing the presiding power of this method from the heart. We know our memory is so short, we know what has touched us in the past we can lose.  We have been side tracked, the presiding power has been removed.  We want to recapture the presiding power so that we will remain very loyal to all that God wants me to do.  So I will never deviate so small here or there, so I will follow through all the sanctuary message conveys to us.

Amen.

Further reading – http://sabbathsermons.com/category/the-sanctuary-series/