Christ's Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary

LESSON 6

CHRIST'S MINISTRY IN THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on His Way is in the Sanctuary. The topic for this study is: Christ's Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary. Before Christ left the disciples to His Father, He gave them the following precious promise: "14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU.

14:3 AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

(John 14:1-3; Capital Emphasis Added) This passage in John is often misinterpreted to mean that Christ is presently preparing a place for His children in heaven by building mansions for them. However, a closer look at the passage makes it clear that those mansions were in place even as Christ spoke with the disciples (review John 14:2). Before we delve into this study, it is important for us to note that the preparatory work that is captured in the passage above had to do with Christ's vital work for mankind in the two apartments of the heavenly tabernacle before His Second Advent. Thus in this study, we are going to consider the following:

i) the scriptural claim in regard to a heavenly sanctuary and

ii) the ministry of Christ in the two apartments of the heavenly sanctuary.

1) SOME SCRIPTURAL PASSAGES THAT PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF A HEAVENLY SANCTUARY

There are many denominations in Christendom today that do not believe in the existence of a heavenly sanctuary. However, the Bible's testimony in relation to a heavenly sanctuary is very clear. In fact, the earthly sanctuary that God commanded Moses to build was a miniature of the heavenly sanctuary. From Exodus 25:8-9, 40; we read about such a claim: "25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

25:9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount."

(Exodus 25:8-9, 40) From the book of Hebrews, we read clearly about the sanctuary that Moses was shown on the mountain: "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;

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

8:5 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 shewed to thee in the mount."

(Hebrews 8:1-2, 5) Friends, another text in Hebrews makes the same point: "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:" (Hebrews 9:24). Besides these clear references in relation to the heavenly sanctuary, the following texts also confirm the point that there exists a heavenly sanctuary or temple: i) "14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe."

(Revelation 14:15, 17, 18) ii) "15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

15:6 And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

15:8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled."

(Revelation 15:5-8) iii) "And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth" (Revelation 16:1).

2) CHRIST'S MINISTRY IN THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY: THE ABSENCE OF AN OUTER COURT

The ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary is divided into two phases: i) His ministry at the Holy Place and ii) His ministry at the Most Holy Place. It is important for us to note that unlike the earthly sanctuary, the heavenly sanctuary has no outer court wherein is found the altar of sacrifice and laver. This is because Christ fulfilled the ordinances at the court during His work of redemption here on the earth. Even though He lived a sinless life, our Saviour allowed Himself to be baptised by John to serve as an example unto all those who will want to follow His footsteps in walking the path of the sanctuary. From Matthew 3:13-17, we read the following in relation to how Christ fulfilled the ordinance at the laver: "3:13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

3:14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

(Matthew 3:13-17) After His baptism, Christ also fulfilled the ordinance at the altar of sacrifice in the court through the shedding of His own blood for the human race. From the book of Hebrews, we read the following: "10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second

10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God."

(Hebrews 10:9-12)

3) CHRIST'S MINISTRY AT THE HOLY PLACE OF THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY

After fulfilling the ordinances at the court here on earth, Christ ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). There, He entered into the Holy Place of the tabernacle as our High Priest to begin the work of intercession for us. From the book of Hebrews, we read the following: "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;

9:12 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."

(Hebrews 9:11-12) As we have noted earlier in some of our previous studies, all the services of intercession by the priests in the earthly sanctuary were only types of what Christ was to accomplish in the fullness of time. The apostle Paul captures this point in the following beautiful passage: "4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

(Hebrews 4:14-16) Beloved, this passage in Hebrews gives us encouragement to come boldly before the throne of God because of what Jesus has done for us on the cross. With Christ as our High Priest in heaven's sanctuary, we can always ask for forgiveness from the Father with the assurance that the blood of Jesus will plead on our behalf and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (see 1 John 1:7, 9); we can always ask for, and receive strength to press on in the Christian walk (see John 14:13-14); we can always claim the promises of God by faith because Jesus is ever present before the Father on our behalf (see 2 Corinthians 1:20). In fact, all the blessings of heaven are opened before God's people because of Christ's work for us in the heavenly sanctuary.

Friends, to solidify our faith in the scriptural teaching of the heavenly sanctuary, the apostle John was shown the following pictures that highlight the work of Christ in the Holy Place of the sanctuary above:

i) THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK "1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

1:11 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.

1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

1:13 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."

(Revelation 1:10-13) ii) THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD "6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine."

(Revelation 6:5-6) iii) THE GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE "8:3 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.

8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand."

(Revelation 8:3-4)

4) CHRIST'S MINISTRY AT THE MOST HOLY PLACE OF THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY

We noted in our previous study on the services of the sanctuary that when the priests brought the blood of God's people into the sanctuary to atone for their sins, the sanctuary symbolically became polluted and had to be cleansed. We studied that this cleansing work was done by the high priest once every year during the Day of Atonement.

On the solemn Day of Atonement, the high priest entered into the Most Holy Place to cleanse the sanctuary as the entire congregation of Israel gathered outside the sanctuary in an attitude of soul searching. For all practical purposes, the Day of Atonement was also a Day of Judgement for the people of God; in that, all those who refused to be reconciled with God by afflicting their souls were cut off when the high priest came out from the Most Holy Place (see Leviticus 23:26-32).

Friends, just as the high priest of the earthly sanctuary entered into the Most Holy Place to cleanse the sanctuary once every year, so did Christ also move from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary to cleanse the sins of God's people in the fullness of time. As the Great Antitype of the earthly high priest, Christ moved from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place after the 2,300 days of Daniel 8:14 to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary of the sins of God's people. As it was with the earthly sanctuary, the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary also began the final act of God's judgement (see Daniel 7:13-14; Revelation 14:6-7).

In relation to this point, the apostle John was given the following vision: "18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, AND THE TIME OF THE DEAD, THAT THEY SHOULD BE JUDGED, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. 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" (Revelation 11:18-19; Capital Emphasis Added). Beloved, it is important for us to note that even as Christ now engages in the solemn work of cleansing the heavenly sanctuary, His blood continues to atone for the sins of the penitent, and His role as our intercessor before the Father is still ongoing. However, we must all endeavour to remember that the time of the cleansing of the sanctuary is also a time of judgement. At the moment, mankind is living in the solemn hour of God's judgement. And very soon, Christ, the Antitypical High Priest will come out from the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary to bless His people, and also dispense His wrath on the wicked at the Second Advent (see Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 6:12-17).

In the final act of God's judgement, the sins that our Lord has cleansed from the sanctuary, He will place on the head of Satan (the Azazel), the one who is originally responsible for tempting God's people to transgress against His holy law. Satan and the entire wicked world will then be destroyed forever from the universe of God (compare Leviticus 16:20-22 with Revelation 20:1-3; 7-10). The saints will live in the purity of heaven, where there will be no more sin, sorrow, sickness and death; for the evil things of this present world will forever pass away (see Revelation 21:1-4). Exhortation: Based on what Christ is doing for us in heaven's sanctuary, the apostle Paul is able to encourage the people of God with these precious words: "10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;

10:22 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.

10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)"

(Hebrews 10:19-23) In our next study, we will consider the topic: Satan's Attack on the Heavenly Sanctuary. The Bible study reference for this study is Daniel 8:9-14. Please do well to go through this study reference before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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