Sanctuary – Part 2

“We have such an high priest, A minister of the Sanctuary, and of the true abernacle, for if He were on earth, He should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the 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: saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount” Heb.8:l-5. The earthly sanctuary was made according to the model that was shown to Moses in the mountain. He was able to see the majestic temple in heaven, the earthly Sanctuary was a copy in miniature of the heavenly Sanctuary. The verses we read in the book of Hebrews tells us that it would be a shadow of the heavenly Sanctuary. There is a great difference between an earthly and a heavenly Sanctuary.

Why are we looking into the question of a heavenly Sanctuary? Satan wants us to believe that a Sanctuary in heaven does not exist. There are certain theologians of the Bible that state that in heaven there is no Sanctuary (Temple). They say He does not need a literal building.

We would like to see some verses from the Bible that show us there is a real temple in heaven. Under the seventh trumpet we read “And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged , And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament” Rev. 11:18,19. What place was opened? Where the ark of His testament is, we would say the Most Holy place in God’s temple. In the seventh angel of Revelation we read “And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven 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 all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne” Rev.7:2,3. In the temple in heaven there is a golden altar before the throne of God. Let us remember the words, the earthly Sanctuary was to be a copy of the heavenly Sanctuary. Another evidence “And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: and the seven angels came out of the temple, and the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God “Rev.l5:5-8. The temple in heaven was opened and filled with smoke. The Bible confirms to us that there is a temple in heaven with a Holy and Most Holy Place.

There was a difference between the earthly and heavenly Sanctuary. The earthly sanctuary was to be a shadow of the heavenly. An an example, if I place my hand under the sun it reveals a shadow but in that shadow you can’t see the color or the texture of the hand. There is an idea of a hand but it’s not the real McCoy. The temple in heaven is real. Not even the temple of Solomon with its great splendor can be compared to the temple in heaven. “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him”Dan.7:9,10. The throne of God was like fiery flame, the Cherubims are next to the throne of God and the Seraphims are around the throne of God. What is an incredible description is the amount of angels that stand before Him. The temple is bigger than we can imagine in heaven.

The Bible states that the throne of God has wheels as flaming fire. We have a description of the throne of God in Ezekiel 1:4-20. When we begin to read this chapter it describes strange things but at the same time it’s a marvelous description. Four living creatures and every one had four faces, and every one had four wings: the soles of their feet were like the soles of a calfs foot: and they sparkled like the color of burnished brass. What we are reading are “things that eye have not seen and ears have not heard or have come to the imagination of man.”

“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.” Dan.7:13. Christ was taken in the clouds to the presence of His Father in heaven. We can’t imagine this great temple in heaven. The Bible states ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him and thousand thousands ministered unto Him. The earthly Sanctuary was a shadow compared to the heavenly Sanctuary. In the new earth there will also be a temple. “Mount Zion was just before us, and on the mount was a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which grew roses and lilies And as we were about to enter the holy temple, Jesus raised His lovely voice and said “Only the 144,000 enter this place,” and we shouted “Alleluia.” This temple was supported by seven pillars, all of transparent gold, set with pearls most glorious I saw there tables of stone in which the names of the 144,000 were engraved in letters of gold. After we beheld the glory of the temple, and Jesus left us and went to the city” Early Writings p. 19. May the Lord help us to be able to understand the importance of believing in the Heavenly Sanctuary where Jesus is ministering on our behalf before the Father and be part of the blessed number of redeemed who will enter the Temple Of God.
Amen

Br. In Christ Joshua Martinez; Orlando,Fl.