Tracing the Sanctuary

I Introduction

My search for the sanctuary started soon after I joined the Seventh-day Adventist church after reading The Great Controversy by Ellen White in 1994. I understand William Miller had a misconception on the sanctuary in Dan. 8:14, mistaking the earth for the sanctuary, a popularly accepted concept at his time, and experienced the great disappointment in October 22, 1844. I also know the story how Hiram Edson, F.B. Hahn and O. R. L. Crosier went across the cornfield the next morning and eventually had an article entitled "The Law of Moses" published on DayStar Extra, Feb. 7, 1846, which unlocked the mystery of the great disappointment, "opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious". The discovery of the heavenly sanctuary and its services "ultimately had a profound impact on Adventists and provided the theological foundation for the establishment of the Seventh-day Adventist Church".

As my experience in Adventism grew over the years, I cannot say I have read extensively, but I have to admit I did read considerable articles, paper and books, also listened and even preached many sermons on the subject of the sanctuary. I understand pretty well, as a general rule, our presentation or exploration on the sanctuary normally starts with what LORD told Moses on the mount, "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." (Ex. 25:8). And we usually quote the book of Hebrews to prove there is a heavenly sanctuary, such as "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) I understand that Christ has entered into the most holy place and begun the investigative judgment at the very end of 2300-day prophecy, namely, 1844. When Christ comes out of the sanctuary, He is to return gloriously to take His faithful followers from Adam all the way to the very end of the world to Himself, and bring them to heaven.

However, there is still some uneasy feelings regarding the normal presentation on the sanctuary, something seem to be missing. It is not that I do not believe in our sanctuary message, I do and I dare say I am a strong defender of our sanctuary message in my circle. But somehow, I just feel there is something is not quite altogether. All the concepts are there, just not quite together.

Let me be a little more specific. The true tabernacle is in heaven. It was pitched by the Lord not by man. (Heb. 8:2; 9:24). But it is not clear when and where was it pitched? How did it make it to heaven?

I understand the earthly sanctuary in the wilderness was built according to "the pattern" shewed to Moses in the mount (Ex. 25:9, 40; Heb. 8:5). And I know the heavenly sanctuary was the pattern. Most, if not all, of our teachings on the sanctuary focus on the specific diagram and structure of the earthly sanctuary. Some of our experts can go into almost every little details of the wilderness tabernacle. But when it comes to the real thing, we have much less to say. Some of the reaction goes from the wide range of denying of the heavenly sanctuary all way to spiritualizing everything in connection with it.

I am familiar with this type of approach. You see, I took theology courses on different levels in the seminary in the States before, and know a little bit about systematic theology or integrated theology. What seems strange to me is that these so-called systematic or integrated theology did just the opposite. It does not systematize, but rather itemize and separate everything. It explains to the great details of each and every parts, but can hardly put it back together. To me, it breaks the system. No, at least that is not kind of "integration" I grew up with, coming from a Chinese background and am exposed to holistic integrated imagery thinking all the time in all lines of real life.

You see, a normal man walks normally without the aid of crutches. But when he breaks his leg, let's be merciful, just one, not two legs. He would need to put on plasterboard and crutches. As recovery comes along the way, he gradually takes off the plasterboard and eventually the crutches, and back to walk normally again. Similarly, when water is pure and clear. You do not use filters. You put filters on because you need to purify the water. Suppose the water is back to pure and clear state again and forever. You take off your filters, back to "normal".

The earthly tabernacle is a sanctuary with purification system for sin. It is the water system with filters, or a man with plasterboard and crutches. It cannot be the original design, for originally man was pure and sinless. There was no need for purification system for sin. And it cannot be that way forever, for sin will eventually be destroyed and will never rise again.

So, how was the wilderness tabernacle model made after the pattern again? What did the original pattern look like? What is the pattern anyway?

I know Christ's two phases of ministries in the sanctuary, the daily service and the yearly ministry in the day of atonement as shown in the earthly type. As a matter of fact, as a Chinese, I really did not learn these concepts from the Jewish system, because these services have been handed down in the Chinese history for more than 4,000 years. Morning and evening services are normally performed in each and every family by the head of the household. However, once a year the sacrifice to the God of Heaven, the Creator of heaven, earth and man and everything, was offered by the kings or emperors only, outside of the capital city, traditionally known as "Border Sacrifice". Of course, the Hebrew record is more clear. It makes great sense to apply these services to the ministries of Jesus, "the desire of all nations" (Hag. 2:7).

I understand Jesus has been interceding for his people in both apartments of the heavenly sanctuary ever since His ascension. Through Him, we are related and connected to the heavenly sanctuary. But how are we related to the heavenly sanctuary after He finishes the final atonement and comes out of it? Moreover, how will we relate to the sanctuary in eternity?

As we all know, the Bible starts off with the garden of Eden in Genesis, and ends with the New Jerusalem, the city of God, coming down from heaven in Revelation. We are encouraged to seek for the kingdom of God and His righteousness first. How is our sanctuary message related to the Garden of Eden, the kingdom of God and the New Jerusalem? Where is the final destination for the redeemed?

When it comes to the sanctuary, our situation is kind of like we know A, and we also know B and C. But we are not quite sure how A and B, and C are related? Are they the same or are the different? Or it can be even more ironically exaggerated, you knew a common object, say, salt. But when you started to learn about NaCl and its structure in chemistry class, then forgot sodium chloride is just another name for salt. It could sound ridiculous. In our case, the word "sanctuary" is more or less an academic name. There might be some common names for it. But we may have just done the same thing, learned the more educated name and could not put it back to its common names.

The bottom line is, do we really know what exactly is the sanctuary? What was its original design and what will it look like forever?

II Starting from Exodus

When talking about the sanctuary, Adventist normally start off with Ex. 25: 8-9. God told Moses to make a sanctuary so He could dwell among the Israelites. But it needs to be made after "the pattern" shewed to him in the mount.

Unknow to some of us, Ex. 25: 8 is not the first time the word "sanctuary" is mentioned in the Bible. As Gilbert rightly points out that its first appearance is in Ex. 15:17, which may well serve as the pattern for the wilderness tabernacle. It reads as follows,

Exodus 15 records the song of Moses after the Israelites miraculously crossed the red sea, and Pharaoh's army was buried in the water. It is the song of deliverance. Moses was supposed to take the Israelites to the land of Canaan. However, under inspiration, Moses voiced out the final destination is not the earthly Canaan, but the "the mountain of thine inheritance", the place for God's own dwelling, the Sanctuary, "which thy hands have established".

As a matter of fact, the sanctuary concept already appeared even before verse 17. In verse 13, it reads, "Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation." (Ex. 15:13).

With this song of deliverance, we can safely derive a definition for the sanctuary. It is, 1) God's "holy habitation", 2) His own dwelling place, 3) His hands "have established". 4) Its outlook is like a mountain. 5)The sanctuary is also a place God built to be with His "inheritance", the covenanted people of God.

The book of Hebrews gives us a glimpse of the dreams of the patriarchs, from Abel, Enoch, Noah, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. All had an understanding that they were "strangers and pilgrims on the earth", seeking a country, "a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city." (Heb. 11: 14, 16).

To them, the dream destination is "a better country", a heavenly city, God "hath prepared for them". By comparison we know that the sanctuary and "the heavenly city" is one and the same place, prepared by God for His people.

A question would naturally arise, when and where did God prepare or establish such a place for His people? This question would take us back to the book of Genesis to find the answer.

III Back to Genesis

Genesis 1 is an overview of the creation of God. Genesis 2 presents the three most important items, namely, Sabbath, the creation of man and the woman and the setup of the garden of Eden. Right after the creation of man in Gen. 2:7, the Bible describes how the Lord set up the garden of Eden (Gen. 2:8), "even as the garden of the LORD". (Gen. 13:10).

IV The Setup of the Garden of Eden

"And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed....And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads." (Gen. 2:8,10).

The garden of Eden was planted by the Lord, it was certainly "pitched" by the Lord, and is called "the garden of the Lord"(Gen. 13:10). From the garden flows the water which became the source of four river heads, showing the garden of Eden must be on "the high places of the earth"(Isa. 58:14). "And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden" (Gen.2:15), so it can also be called "the mountain of thine inheritance."

In the beginning, the garden of Eden was the only place where there was man. Naturally, it was the capital city of the earth. It was where God met with His created man. In fact, an inspired writer of the Bible actually confirms that "A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary." (Jere. 17:12). It does not take a prophet to see the garden of Eden carries all the characteristics of the sanctuary as defined and derived from Exodus 15, as shown above.

In his narrative on the fall of Lucifer, Ezekiel borrowed "the Eden the garden of God" to describe the place where Lucifer used to serve (Ezek. 28:13). Notice the prophet also used "the holy mountain of God" (Ezek. 28:14), "the mountain of God" (Ezek. 28:16) to refer to the same place. Moreover, the prophet continued to say the multitude of Satan's iniquities "hast defiled thy sanctuaries" (Ezek. 28: 18), making an equation that Eden-like mountain of God in heaven was actually the sanctuary where Lucifer used to serve.

It is, therefore, evident that the garden of Eden is the sanctuary on earth from the beginning.

It should also be noted that there are two special trees "the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil." (Gen. 2:9) We shall come back to these two trees for their special significance as we go along in our exploration. Suffice it is to point out it is the tree of life that is in the midst of the garden, and the specific location of the tree of knowledge of good and evil remains unknown, "away from the focal point of the garden, so that temptation and danger were far removed". Ellen White also confirms that "God would not permit Satan to follow the holy pair with continual temptations. He could have access to them only at the tree of knowledge of good and evil." If Adam and the woman obeyed God's command, they would remain safe.

V The Hidden Sanctuary Service in Eden

An important principle of the plan of redemption was revealed through Paul. He wrote, "Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen." (Rom. 16:25-27)

According to this passage, the gospel was a mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, not only a mystery to the Jews who appeared after the flood, but to all humanity ever since Adam, but was made manifest on the cross. In other words, the light from the cross will unlock the mystery kept secret from the beginning. The world began with the creation. So it seems to be reasonable to look for the mystery in the week of creation, especially, in the garden of Eden.

The Bible did not give a specific timing for the planting of the garden of Eden although its location was identified. However, if the order of the new heaven and new earth can be used as a reference, it is the New Jerusalem that is located first and then the new earth (Rev. 21:1-2). It becomes more interesting if we start to consider the foundations of the earth. The holy city is one with foundations. (Rev. 21:14; cf. Heb. 11:10). "Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands." (Ps. 102:25; cf Pro. 8:29). "Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever." (Ps. 104:5). Would it be possible that the garden and the earth share the same "foundations"? Genesis 2 was not written chronologically. The Sabbath was made on the seventh day. Adam and the woman were created on the sixth day. It seems to be reasonable that the garden of Eden was planted before Adam was created so he would be placed in the garden as soon as he was created (Gen. 2:15). Just like one could build a garage first before he goes out to purchase a car and pull it in there, not to build the garage after the car is purchased. That is just the common sense.

It is well understood that the plan of salvation is illustrated in the sanctuary. Given the fact that the garden of Eden is the sanctuary, it would be reasonable to expect the plan of salvation be delineated in the events that took place in the garden, even though it would be hidden. As it is known that Adam "is the figure of him that was to come" (Rom. 5:14), we should be able to draw some parallels between Adam and Christ.

Adam was made from the dust (Gen. 2:7). But "a body hast thou prepared" for Jesus (Heb. 10:5). Adam was created in the image of God (Gen. 1: 26, 27). Jesus was "the express image" of God (Col. 1: 15; Heb. 1: 3).

It should be noted that Adam was made outside of Eden, and he was placed in the garden of Eden after he was made (Gen. 2: 7, 15). Since Eden was placed on a high mountain as mentioned above, Adam was carried to the garden sinless. In like manner, Jesus ascended to heaven sinless, offering Himself as the sacrifice for the world.

The Bible uses the imagery of a woman to represent the church (Rom. 7:1-6; 2 Cor. 11:2, Eph. 5:23-32; Gal. 4:21-31; Rev. 12:1-17). Technically, the church becomes the body of Christ after going through death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-8), which is symbolized by baptism.

More ink was poured in the narrative of the creation of the woman in Genesis 2. Different from man, the woman was made right in the garden. The Bible records the steps taken in the creation of the woman. Immediately after Adam was told the command concerning the tree of knowledge of good and evil, the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; and I will make him an help meet for him." (Gen. 2:18). But how to convey this idea to the newly created Adam, who was probably a bit carried away by seeing the beautiful scenery, and hearing the beautiful songs of the birds and smelling the fragrance of the flowers in the garden, a natural response for anyone who sees a beautiful scene. The LORD God had a plan. Adam was assigned the job to name all the animals God had created. The intended result was secured as Adam awakened to the fact that "there was not found an help meet for him." (Gen. 2:19-20). Now the creation of the woman was in order.

The LORD God "caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept;". And then, the LORD God performed a surgery, "took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof." (Gen. 2:21). With the rib "which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought unto the man." (Gen. 2:22). Adam then exclaimed with the first human poem, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." (Gen. 2:23). The whole process ended with a conclusion, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Gen. 2:24).

The plain fact that Adam did not have "his father and his mother" to leave from confirms that this conclusion is not talking about human marriage. This observation did not hit me till fifteen years after I failed to explain this verse to a potential donor who pledged $30,000 for a printing project, back in 1998, with an unstated condition that a satisfactory explanation of Gen 2:24 be given to him. Because he was planning to build a big mansion so his two sons and their children could all live together. Five generations under the same roof, typical old style Chinese tradition. Basically, you live with your family till you pass away. Many have used this verse to persuade him not to do so, because, according to them, the Bible teaches the young couple should leave their parents and live separately. But as stated above, Gen. 2:24 was not about human marriage, especially not about whether young couples should or should not live together with their parents. A spiritual explanation should be sought instead.

In his epistle to the church at Ephesus, Paul dealt with the husband and wife relationship and concluded by saying quoting Gen. 2: 24. He wrote,

Following Paul's lead, it seems plausible that "a great mystery" was hidden in the creation of the woman, a mystery, "which was kept secret since the world began"(Rom. 16:25). A closer look reveals that the plan of redemption is hidden in the above steps. The fact that the first Adam was not spoken into existence, but "formed" of the dust of the ground typifies that God would prepare a body for the Second Adam, Jesus (Heb. 10:5), as mentioned above. The creation of the woman typifies that though the world was "created by him, and for him", yet God (Christ) made "an help meet" (the church) to help Him. Adam and the woman represent Christ and His church (Eph. 5: 31,32). Adam's agreement to God's plan and his cooperation in allowing God to put him into sleep symbolizes Christ's obedience to the Father's will. Sleep is often used as an imagery for death (Gen. 47:30; 2Sam. 7:12; 1Kg. 2:10; Dan. 12:2; 1 Cor.15:51-52). So the "deep sleep" on Adam would well represent the death of Jesus. "The rib" , taking from the side of Adam, may well point to the piercing of the Roman solider on Jesus' side after He had already died on the cross (John 18:34). The act of brings "her unto the man" suggests Adam was awoken from the sleep, a vivid symbol for the resurrection of Jesus. Hence, the plan of redemption is well represented, though "kept secret", in the process of the creation of the woman. Furthermore, in the one flesh of Adam and the woman is found a hidden mystery—the intimate relationship between Christ and the church (Eph. 5:31).

This testifies that the plan of salvation is not an afterthought. Ellen White puts it nicely,

Looking from the perspective of the sanctuary, one will not fail to see that Adam was the first priest who offered himself as the sacrifice so that the woman could be made. The point to be noted is that the woman was created in the garden of Eden, by the blood of Adam, so to speak, so is the church redeemed through and regenerated by the sacrifice and blood of Jesus, which was offered to the heavenly sanctuary. Even the ascension of Adam to the garden may allude to the ascension of Jesus to the heavenly sanctuary.

VI Eden the Legislative Court

The garden of Eden was not only the birthplace of the woman. It was also the legislative center for the earth. It was in Eden that the great constitution for the earth was made.