God revealed the sanctuary to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exod. 25:9, 40; 26:30; 27:8; Num. 8:4).1 Numbers 8:4b reads, “ ‘The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern [mar’eh] the LORD [Yahweh] had shown Moses’ ” (literally “had caused Moses to see”).2 This causation is important, as we will find out.3 God said to Moses, “ ‘Make them according to the pattern [tabnît] shown you on the mountain’ ” (Exod. 25:40). The Hebrew word tabnît has a semantic range from “pattern” to “type” and could indicate architect’s plans (pattern) or a miniature model (type). At first glance, this could mean that God presented Moses with either architectural drawings or a model of the structure.
One thing is for sure: just as the commandments were not merely spoken, but written out by Christ’s own finger on stone (Exod. 24:12; Deut. 10:1–4), so the sanctuary instructions were not merely verbal but were presented to Moses as plans or as a miniature model (to be qualified below). Luke records that the sanctuary “ ‘had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen’ ” (Acts 7:44). Siegfried Wagner notes that “Yahweh shows Moses the pattern of God’s holy tabernacle and all its furniture (Exod. 25:9 twice, 40). Here tabhnith means ‘pattern, model,’ ”4 a “three-dimensional model” (Ps. 106:20).5
The Hebrew word tabnît (“pattern,” Exod. 25:40) is rendered in the Greek translation (LXX) by the word tupon, meaning “type.” F. F. Bruce comments on this, saying, “The implication is that Moses was shown something like a scale model of the sanctuary which was to be erected.”6 William Lane concurs, “Moses was shown some sort of ‘model’ that could be reproduced on earth.”7 Richard Davidson points out that if God had given a set of plans to Moses, we would expect him to bring them down the mountain as a guide to the builders, but the Bible says he brought down only the two engraved tablets (Exod. 32:15, 16).8 This rules out bringing down a miniature model as well.
Now comes the meaning of “cause to see” mentioned above. Davidson concludes, “It would seem more consonant with the context that Moses was provided a vision with a view of something constructed, relating in vivid reality how the sanctuary was going to look.”9 Moses was caused to see a vision that was clearly three-dimensional with careful specifications.
Holy and Most Holy Place
The earthly sanctuary had a Holy Place and a Most Holy Place (Exod. 26:33b). It should be noted that Solomon and Ezekiel’s temples had different specifications.10 Though the sizes of the temples were larger than the tabernacle,11 each one had the same Holy and Most Holy Places: the “outer,” or “main hall,” and the “inner room” (1 Kings 6:29; Ezek. 41:1–4). This layout of the two apartments is consistent in these three structures and is the most important part of the specifications God gave to Moses, David, and Ezekiel because these two apartments were the places where the priestly ministry took place after sacrifices were made.
The book of Hebrews speaks of the original tabernacle in heaven (Heb. 8:1–5) and indicates that after Christ made His sacrifice at Calvary, He entered the heavenly sanctuary (Heb. 1:2) to begin a two-phased ministry. The two holy places12 have everything to do with Christ’s two-phased ministry in heaven’s sanctuary—to redeem (first and second phases) and restore (second phase). Christ’s heavenly ministry redeems humans and restores the universe to its pre-cosmic controversy status.
The importance of Christ’s daily ministry
The New Testament repeatedly states that, in His ascension, Christ went to the Father and sat down at His right hand on the throne (Mark 16:19; Acts 2:34; 5:31; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12;12:2; 1 Pet. 3:22). Most Christians fail to understand the importance of the two-phased ministry of Christ in heaven’s sanctuary. The sanctuary is the longest-used teaching device in Scripture and reveals the mission of Christ in the Christian era.
In Christ’s great teaching regarding the Christian era and the end time (Matt. 24; 25), He asks readers to understand Daniel’s prophecy about the abomination that causes desolation, “ ‘standing in the holy place’ ” (Matt. 24:15). Christ refers to two different attacks by the enemy: first on His earthy temple (Dan. 9:27) and then on His heavenly sanctuary (Dan. 11:31; 12:11). The first was the invasion of the Roman army under Titus in A.D. 70 to destroy the Jerusalem temple. The second is the replacement of Christ’s ministry in the heavenly sanctuary by the Roman Catholic priestly ministry on earth. In this segment, we look at Christ’s daily ministry first and then Christ’s yearly ministry in the next segment.
Christ said, “ ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ ” (John 14:6). In Scripture there is no place given for the intercession of Mary and saints. This is why the book of Hebrews, like a fifth gospel, says so much about Christ’s postascension intercession in heaven; Mary or the saints are never mentioned. The prerequisite for Christ’s intercession in heaven is His death. “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption” (ta hagia, Heb. 9:12; cf. 7:27). No human intercessors qualify.
Unlike human priests, Christ has a “permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens” (Heb. 7:24–26). Christ promised, “ ‘You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it’ ” (John 14:14). Paul affirmed, “God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
Daniel prophesied about the attack on Christ’s heavenly intercession. The enemy will “ ‘desecrate the temple . . . and will abolish the daily sacrifice’ ” (Dan. 11:31). The word sacrifice does not exist in the original text. Only the word daily (tamid) is in the original (also in Daniel 8:11; 12:11). The word daily (continual) is everything that Christ does each day in heaven’s sanctuary from His inauguration as King-Priest (Heb. 1:3–13; Rev. 5:1–14) until the close of probation in the future (Dan. 12:1; Rev. 21:6). The little horn that rose up is the Roman Catholic priesthood (Dan. 7:8), which “took away the daily sacrifice” (tamid, daily ministry of Christ), so that the “sanctuary was thrown down . . . truth was thrown to the ground” (Dan. 8:11, 12).
Christ was concerned about His continual, daily ministry for His followers in heaven’s sanctuary, because this was replaced by the Roman priesthood and theology (Mary, saints). That is why He wants Christians to study Daniel, to know this counterfeit plan of salvation that comes between Christ and sinners—who need Christ alone.
The importance of Christ’s yearly ministry
The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was a day of judgment near the end of the Jewish year. The antitype is announced by the first angel’s message: “ ‘Fear [reverence] God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come’ ” (Rev. 14:7). This directs attention to heaven’s sanctuary, and thus away from the counterfeit on earth. God does not need the judgment, because He is all-knowing (Pss. 33:13–15; 56:8; 104:24; 139:2, 6; 147:5; Isa. 44:28; 46:9, 10; Mal. 3:16; Matt. 10:29, 30; Acts 15:8; Rom. 11:33; Eph. 3:10). “ ‘The Lord knows those who are his’ ” (2 Tim. 2:19).
So, what is the point of the pre-Advent judgment? There would be no need of this judgment if there was no cosmic controversy that questions God. Satan and his angels were dismissed from heaven for their rebellion (Rev. 12:7–9). So how can sinners, from planet Earth, be admitted into heaven in the Second Advent? Would this be fair? How can other sinners not be admitted? An examination of humans is necessary, so that created beings throughout the universe can be satisfied that God is fair in deciding who enters heaven and who does not.
Daniel 7 presents a court scene in heaven’s sanctuary: “ ‘The court was seated, and the books were opened’ ” (v. 10b). Notice that investigation takes place before the Second Advent. For when the verdict is reached, “a son of man” comes “with the clouds of heaven,” but He does not leave heaven for the Second Advent (1 Thess. 4:16–18) but comes into the presence of the “Ancient of Days” in heaven (Dan. 7:13, 14). Hence the judging and verdict transpire prior to the Second Advent.
The verdict is announced in the context of a war being waged. “ ‘ “He [the little horn] will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints and try to change the set times and the laws. The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time [1260 years, A.D. 538–1798, Rev. 12:6]. But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High” ’ ” (Dan. 7:25–27a). The court verdict precedes the coming of Christ’s kingdom (Rev. 11:15; 19:1–3).
The little horn waged war against God’s people for 1,260 years (Rev. 12:14), a period in which the Catholic Church carried out persecution against those who proclaimed the gospel. Inquisitions and putting the Bible on the Index of Prohibited Books reveal the mission of the system.
Process of judging
Some Christians fear the present judgment, for they look to themselves instead of to Christ. In one sense, to look to self instead of to Christ is no better than to look to a priestly ministry on earth instead of Christ’s priestly ministry in heaven. During the pre-Advent judging process, intelligent beings in the universe see whether individuals being judged have accepted or rejected the saving work that Jesus Christ did for them at the cross.
It is precisely this, and nothing else, that determines personal destiny. God does not ask us to be preoccupied with our own perfection but with His. It is His garment of righteousness we need. So the pre-Advent judgment is Christ-centered and not human-centered. It is not so much what individuals have or have not done per se that is decisive (Eccles. 12:14; Matt. 12:36, 37), although that is included. Rather, it is whether they have accepted or rejected what Christ has done for them when He was judged in their place at the cross (John 12:31). Those who cling to Christ will go to heaven, those who do not, will not. God is thereby shown to be loving and just, allowing human freedom of choice to be decisive. This is why the judgment is pre-Advent, so the onlooking universe can see that human destiny is fair before some are taken to heaven and some not at the Second Advent (1 Thess. 4:16–18).
The Day of Atonement continues beyond the pre-Advent judgment, to the millennial and postmillennial judgments. In these three judgments, all created beings, unfallen and fallen, see that God is just and bow before Him (Isa. 45:23b; Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10, 11; 15:3; 19:1–6). The two phases of Christ’s ministry are the gospel equally because there is no redemption without resolution of the controversy.
References:
1 According to Frank B. Holbrook, in these five references, the Hebrew verb “to see” (ra’ah) has a causative meaning, “to cause to see.” “The Israelite Sanctuary,” in The Sanctuary and the Atonement: Biblical, Historical, and Theological Studies (Washington, DC: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1981), 4.
2 Unless otherwise indicated, scripture is from the New International Version.
3 The Hebrew word mar’eh is derived from the Hebrew word rā’â “to see.” The word mar’eh has a wide semantic range, which includes sight, vision, appearance, countenance, and beauty (Robert D. Culver, “mar’eh,” in Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, vol. 2, ed. R. Laird Harris [Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1980], 824). Daniel uses this word with reference to a vision given to himself, the prophet (Dan. 8:16, 26, 27; 9:23), and it is used in Numbers as a pattern given to the prophet Moses (Num. 8:4b).
4 Siegfried Wagner, “bānāh,” in Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, vol. 2, eds. G. Johannes Botterweck and Helmer Ringgren, trans. John T. Willis (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1975), 179.
5 Holbrook, “The Israelite Sanctuary,” 4.
6 F. F. Bruce, The New International Commentary on the New Testament: Hebrews, rev ed., gen. ed. Gordon D. Fee (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1990), 184, n. 27.
7 William L. Lane, Word Biblical Commentary: Hebrews 1–8 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), vol. 47A, 207.
8 Richard M. Davidson, Typology in Scripture: A Study of Hermeneutical τůπος Structures (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 1981), 376.
9 Ibid.
10 In the building of Solomon’s temple, God again gave careful specifications: “Then David gave his son Solomon the plans [tabnît] for the portico of the temple, its buildings, it storerooms, it upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of atonement. He gave him the plans [tabnît] of all that the Spirit of God had put in his mind for the courts of the temple of the LoRD and all the surrounding rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the dedicated things. ...‘All this,’ David said, ‘I have in writing from the hand of the LoRD upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan’ ” (tabnît; 1 Chron. 28:11, 12, 19; see vv. 13–18 for other specifications). The Hebrew word tabnît is used for the sanctuary and the temple, and the vision given to Ezekiel of a temple never built was given with great specificity (Ezek. 40:1–42:20).
11 Solomon and Ezekiel’s temples had additional rooms surrounding, but not joined to, the central temple (1 Kings 6:2–5; Ezek. 40, 41).
12 “The Holy Place” (Heb. 9:2b) and “Most Holy Place” (Heb. 9:3) are hagia, “holy places,” not the “Most Holy Place” as wrongly translated in the New International Version of Hebrews 9:12.
