A Study of The Sanctuary
A Study of The Sanctuary
A Study of The Sanctuary
COURSE OUTLINE:
1. INTRODUCTION
3. The priesthood :
a. A brief history of the priesthood
b. The high priest and his garments
c. The priests
d. Christ our great high priest
6. Miscellaneous topics
a. The feasts and their significance
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
1. WHY STUDY THE SANCTUARY?
SUPPLEMENT:
“Throughout the times of Moses and Joshua, and of the judges and kings of Israel, the ark of the
covenant was regarded as a symbol of God's presence among his people. It was the ark that led the
way for the hosts of Israel when they crossed the Jordan and entered the Promised Land.
Surrounded by a halo of glory, the ark was borne around the walls of Jericho by priests clad in the
dress denoting their sacred office. During the conquest of Canaan, Gilgal was the headquarters of
the Jewish nation and the seat of the tabernacle. Afterward, Shiloh, a little town easy of access to all
the tribes, was chosen as a place most suitable for the tabernacle of the congregation.
The ark remained at Shiloh for three hundred years, until, because of the sins of Eli's house, it fell
into the hands of the Philistines, and Shiloh was ruined. Through the providence of God, the ark
was returned, uninjured, to the Israelites, and was placed in the house of a Levite at Kirjath-
jearim, nine miles distant from Jerusalem. There it remained for many years, until David, at the
head of a triumphal procession, with sacrifices, and dancing, and music, brought the ark to
Jerusalem, and deposited it in the tent that had been prepared for its reception.
After Solomon had finished building the temple, he assembled the elders of Israel, and the most
influential men among the people, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of
David. These men consecrated themselves to God, and, with great solemnity and reverence,
accompanied the priests who bore the ark. "And they brought up the ark of the Lord, and the
tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did
the priests and the Levites bring up. And King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that
were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not
be told nor numbered for multitude." {RH, November 9, 1905 par.}
The camp was the outermost part of the sanctuary. After the erection of the sanctuary, God told
Moses to have the children of Israel arrange themselves in a given manner around the sanctuary.
The first tribe to encamp all around the sanctuary was the tribe of Levi of them God declared
saying: “And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every
man by his own standard, throughout their hosts. But the Levites shall pitch round about the
tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel:
and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.” {Numb 1: 52-53}
And the order was : {see Numb 2:1-34} North
Dan
Asher West East
Naphthali
Levi South
Ephraim Judah
Manasseh Levites Levi Issachar
The tabernacle
Benjamin Zebulun
Levites
Reuben Simeon Gad
Here in the camp the children of Israel{the sinners in need of salvation} dwelt and took the lamb
from their midst to be offered in the sanctuary if at all they committed sin. So also in the great
plan of redemption before Christ would go and die at the cross, He had like the blameless lamb
to live in our midst that we could behold His glory. The camp with the lamb and the sinner was a
representation of what would befall Christ before His death. And the bible declares unto us that
when the fullness of the time was come God sent forth His son made of a woman, made under
the law see (Gal 4:4). Christ came and took our nature and for over thirty years was in our midst.
John declaring of this says: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt(encamped) among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14.
3. To give us an example:
Christ declared saying that He had given men an example that we should follow his example.
See John 13:15;1 Pet 2:21-23;Heb 12:2-4; Heb 3:1.
“Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer. Our Saviour identified
Himself with our needs and weakness, in that He became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking
from His Father fresh supplies of strength, that He might come forth braced for duty and trial.
He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, "in all points tempted like
as we are;" but as the sinless one His nature recoiled from evil; He endured struggles and
torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He
found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. And if the Saviour of men, the Son of
God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity
of fervent, constant prayer. {SC 93.4}
“In His resistance of evil and His labor for others, Christ gave to men an example of the
highest education. He revealed God to His disciples in a way that wrought in their hearts a
special work, such as He has long been urging us to allow Him to do in our hearts. There are
many who in dwelling so largely on theory have lost sight of the living power of the
Saviour's example. They have lost sight of Him and as the self-denying, humble worker.
What they need is to behold Jesus. Daily they need the fresh revealing of His presence. They
need to follow more closely His example of self-renunciation and sacrifice. {CT 36.2}
4. To qualify as our High Priest by passing through what men pass through
Of the earthly high priests the Bible declares “For every high priest taken from among men
is ordained for men in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices
for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for
that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.” Heb 5:1,2. And Paul declaring of Christ
says: “For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of
Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that
he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted,
he is able to succour them that are tempted.” Heb 2:17,18
“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong
crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he
feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey
him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” Heb 5:7-9
Therefore we are told : “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. 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. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb 4:14-16
“Since Jesus came to dwell with us, we know that God is acquainted with our trials, and
sympathizes with our griefs. Every son and daughter of Adam may understand that our
Creator is the friend of sinners. For in every doctrine of grace, every promise of joy, every
deed of love, every divine attraction presented in the Saviour's life on earth, we see
"God with us." {DA 24.1}
On the western side there was an hanging 50 cubits long with ten pillars and ten sockets ( see
Exodus 27:12). On the eastern side, the breadth too was 50 cubits but there was a gate 20 cubits
long at the centre leaving a space of 30 cubits which was shared equally by both sides(each side
of the gate was 15cubits long ( Ex 27:13-15). The hangings for the two sides of the gates were 15
cubits each and they were hanged on six pillars (three for each side) which were set sockets of
brass.
The hanging for the court was five cubits high (Exodus 27:18)
The pillars were made firm by cords (Ex 35:8) attached to the ground using pins of brass
(Exodus 27:19)
As indicated earlier on, the gate had an hanging 20 cubits long made of blue, purple, scarlet and
fine twined linen wrought with needlework, their pillars were four and their sockets four.
In the Bible, a pillar symbolizes God’s people, see (Rev 3:12, Ex 24:4). The pillars were spiritual
representation of the ideal that God requires from His children who are living here on the earth.
In the sanctuary God shows that we are to be rooted in brass pillars, made firm by cords attached
to brass pins and protected at the head by fillets and chapiters of silver.
The brass sockets represent Christ Jesus our foundation upon whom we are to be
grounded in. The Bible speaking of Him as our foundation declares saying: “Therefore
thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone,
a precious corner [stone], a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”
( Isa 28:16) “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ.”( 2 Cor 3:11) “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye
in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been
taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” ( Col 2:6,7). And how do we build on
Christ or make Him our foundation? It by believing in Him as the one through whom we
can be saved. We have no hope if we do not make Christ the basis of our Christianity, if
we neglect to make Him the basis of our faith, and go about establishing our own
righteousness, our faith is vain.
Why the sockets were made of brass? Brass symbolizes the sinful flesh that we as human
beings posses. Moses in the wilderness was bidden by God to make a brazen serpent that
whosoever would look upon it should be healed from the sting of the fiery serpents in the
wilderness (Numb 21:4-9 ), “ When the people of Israel were dying from the sting of the fiery
serpents, God directed Moses to make a serpent of brass, and place it on high in the midst of the
congregation. Then the word was sounded throughout the encampment that all who would look
upon the serpent should live. The people well knew that in itself the serpent had no power to help
them. It was a symbol of Christ. As the image made in the likeness of the destroying
serpents was lifted up for their healing, so One made "in the likeness of sinful flesh" was to
be their Redeemer. Romans 8:3” DA 174.4 see also Joh 3:14,15.
The sockets represents Christ our saviour who coming in the likeness of sinful flesh condemned
sin in the flesh and upon whom if we lay hold on by faith we can be able to withstand sin in this
world in our sinful fallen flesh that we have.
The cords: represents love( Hosea 11:4) to our fellow men( the pins of brass). Thus is
shown that Christianity is not just about faith only but it also involves works. Just as the
pillars got an extra support to help them abide in the foundation by the cords, so also
Jesus bids us saying: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”( John14:15). “If ye keep
my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's
commandments, and abide in his love.” (Joh15:10). And John the beloved apostle says:
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not
his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And
this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” (1
John 4:20,21.). And this is the perfect assurance that we are abiding in Christ for John
adds by saying: “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his
commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of
God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him
ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:3-6). James even declared
saying: “ What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have
not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily
food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth
it] profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:14-17)
“ Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever the profession, no man has pure love to
God unless he has unselfish love for his brother. But we can never come into
possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is the love of Christ in
the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously. The
completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others
springs constantly from within--when the sunshine of heaven fills the heart and is
revealed in the countenance. {COL 384.2}
It is not possible for the heart in which Christ abides to be destitute of love. If we
love God because He first loved us, we shall love all for whom Christ died. We
cannot come in touch with divinity without coming in touch with humanity; for in Him
who sits upon the throne of the universe, divinity and humanity are combined. Connected
with Christ, we are connected with our fellow men by the golden links of the chain of
love. Then the pity and compassion of Christ will be manifest in our life. We shall not
wait to have the needy and unfortunate brought to us. We shall not need to be entreated to
feel for the woes of others. It will be as natural for us to minister to the needy and
suffering as it was for Christ to go about doing good. {COL 384.3}
So friends if you claim to abide in Christ?( the silver socket), reveal it by loving your
fellow men(attaching yourself to the pins by the cords).
The fillets (Exodus 27:17): the fillets which were put on top of the pillars represent the
word of God, for they were made of silver and the Bible speaking about silver says: “The
words of the LORD [are] pure words: [as] silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified
seven times.” Ps 12:6. And so Paul speaking about the Christian armoury says: “Stand
therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness;” (Eph 6:14) and these loins are the loins of our minds( 1 peter 1:13), and
the truth is the word of God(John 17:17). As Christians we are to ensure that the loins of
our minds are fortified with the word of God , it is our safety. We are told: “None but
those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the
last great conflict.{GC88 593.2}
There is nothing more calculated to strengthen the intellect than the study of the
Scriptures. No other book is so potent to elevate the thoughts, to give vigor to the
faculties, as the broad, ennobling truths of the Bible. If God's word were studied as it
should be, men would have a breadth of mind, a nobility of character, and a stability of
purpose rarely seen in these times. {SC 90.1}
“Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the
love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusion that takes the world
captive.”--GC 625 (1911). {LDE 66.4}
“No renewed heart can be kept in a condition of sweetness without the daily application
of the salt of the Word. Divine grace must be received daily, or no man will stay
converted.”--OHC 215 (1897). {LDE 65.5}
The chapiters: Noah Webster describing what a chapiter is says: “The upper part or
capital of a column or pillar;.” Thus a chapiter is like an helmet and the Bible speaking
about the Christian’s armour says: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God:” (Eph 6:17)
The hangings: The hangings which were put on the pillars were of fine linen
representing the righteousness of Christ( Rev 19:8, Isa 54:17) which God desires all to be
partakers. And how did the pillars get the hanging? It was through the silver hooks, and
we know that silver represents God’s word( Psalms 12:6). Therefore we too as
Christians( the pillars) need to daily study the word that we might be partakers of Christ’s
righteousness. This is why the scriptures are called the word of righteousness( Ps
119:123) . the word of God has power to transform us into a likeness with Christ, and He
abides in us just through the word( see 1Pet 1:23; 1Thess 2:13; John 15:7).
“The word of God is the seed. Every seed has in itself a germinating principle. In it the
life of the plant is enfolded. So there is life in God's word. Christ says, "The words that I
speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are life." John 6:63. "He that heareth My word,
and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life." John 5:24. In every command
and in every promise of the word of God is the power, the very life of God, by which the
command may be fulfilled and the promise realized. He who by faith receives the word
is receiving the very life and character of God. {COL 38.1}.
The height of the court; the court was shorter than the tabernacle yet it was the
outermost part of the sanctuary. As the court is a symbol of God’s church on earth
so also we as God’s people we are here on earth to be His representatives to shine
as lights in the world( Matt 5:14-16). Yet in our shinning we are to lead people to
Christ we are to reveal in our lives the sentiments of John the Baptist: “He must
increase, but I [must] decrease.” (John 3:30)
MAY WE BE A PILLAR IN GOD’S COURT SO THAT MEN MAY BE
DRAWN TO HIM THROUGH OUR CHARACTERS
“The world needs today what it needed nineteen hundred years ago--a revelation
of Christ. A great work of reform is demanded, and it is only through the grace of
Christ that the work of restoration, physical, mental, and spiritual, can be
accomplished.” {MH 143.2}
The direction of the gate: The gate was placed on the eastern side of the camp, meaning
anyone coming to the tabernacle would always give his back to the east the side of the rising of
the sun. The sun was a symbol of the heathen gods which they used to worship ( Deut 17:3).
Thus the first step in our salvation is that we have to forsake all our idols in order to be a
follower of Christ we have to leave all false gods before we can walk the path to heaven.
The size of the gate: The saviour declaring about this gate said: “Enter ye in at the strait gate:
for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be
which go in thereat: Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it.” (Matt 7:13,14). The gate is narrow, if we want to begin the
way back to perfection, we have to know that it’s a path that is chosen by only the minority and
it involves self denial and sacrifice.
“But the way to life is narrow and the entrance strait. If you cling to any besetting sin you
will find the way too narrow for you to enter. Your own ways, your own will, your evil
habits and practices, must be given up if you would keep the way of the Lord. He who
would serve Christ cannot follow the world's opinions or meet the world's standard. Heaven's
path is too narrow for rank and riches to ride in state, too narrow for the play of self-
centered ambition, too steep and rugged for lovers of ease to climb. Toil, patience, self-
sacrifice, reproach, poverty, the contradiction of sinners against Himself, was the portion of
Christ, and it must be our portion, if we ever enter the Paradise of God. {MB 138.4}
We can only enter by striving: “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved?
And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek
to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:23,24) . The gate that leads to perfection involves a
battle, you have to strive in order to enter in. If you only seek to enter in you will not be able to
enter, and this (seeking) is what many are doing, and the Savior’s word is they “shall not be
able”. A story of how narrow this gate is declared in the book of
The Christian life is a battle and a march. But the victory to be gained is not won by human
power. The field of conflict is the domain of the heart. The battle which we have to fight--the
greatest battle that was ever fought by man--is the surrender of self to the will of God, the
yielding of the heart to the sovereignty of love. The old nature, born of blood and of the will of
the flesh, cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must
be given up. {MB 141.2}
He who determines to enter the spiritual kingdom will find that all the powers and
passions of an unregenerate nature, backed by the forces of the kingdom of darkness, are
arrayed against him. Selfishness and pride will make a stand against anything that would
show them to be sinful. We cannot, of ourselves, conquer the evil desires and habits that
strive for the mastery. We cannot overcome the mighty foe who holds us in his thrall. God
alone can give us the victory. He desires us to have the mastery over ourselves, our own will
and ways. But He cannot work in us without our consent and co-operation. The divine
Spirit works through the faculties and powers given to man. Our energies are required to
co-operate with God. {MB 141.3}
The victory is not won without much earnest prayer, without the humbling of self at every step.
Our will is not to be forced into co-operation with divine agencies, but it must be voluntarily
submitted. Were it possible to force upon you with a hundredfold greater intensity the influence
of the Spirit of God, it would not make you a Christian, a fit subject for heaven. The stronghold
of Satan would not be broken. The will must be placed on the side of God's will. You are not
able, of yourself, to bring your purposes and desires and inclinations into submission to the will
of God; but if you are "willing to be made willing," God will accomplish the work for you, even
"casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of
God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5.
Then you will "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which
worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Philippians 2:12, 13. {MB 142.1}
Seeking is not enough: But many are attracted by the beauty of Christ and the glory of heaven,
who yet shrink from the conditions by which alone these can become their own. There are many
in the broad way who are not fully satisfied with the path in which they walk. They long to break
from the slavery of sin, and in their own strength they seek to make a stand against their sinful
practices. They look toward the narrow way and the strait gate; but selfish pleasure, love of the
world, pride, unsanctified ambition, place a barrier between them and the Saviour. To
renounce their own will, their chosen objects of affection or pursuit, requires a sacrifice at
which they hesitate and falter and turn back. Many "will seek to enter in, and shall not be
able." Luke 13:24. They desire the good, they make some effort to obtain it; but they do not
choose it; they have not a settled purpose to secure it at the cost of all things. {MB 143.1}
This is what the rich young ruler in (Matt 19:16-26.) did. He only sought the kingdom, but he
did not strive to enter in…. and of such Christ declared saying: “So likewise, whosoever he be of
you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Lk 14:33…oh friends may
God help us that we may be among those who strive to enter.
The hanging at the gate: The gate had an hanging made of “ blue, and purple, and scarlet,
and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework: [and] their pillars [shall be] four, and their
sockets four.” (See Exodus 27:16). These four colours represent the offers Christ is extending to
all who will accept to enter in through the gate. The colour blue is a symbol of obedience to the
commandments that was revealed in Christ and which He desires to impart unto the sinner
( numb 15:37-40; Rom 8:1-4 ), scarlet is a symbol of sin, typifying Christ who would be our sin
bearer( Isa 1:18; 2 Corin 5:21), purple symbolizes the royalty which Christ has and He wants us
all to partake of( Mark 15:17; Rev 3:21). And the fine linen which is white represents the
righteousness which He desires all of us to partake of (Rev 19:8). Thus to the sinner the gate
hangings are declaring saying: if you trust in me (Christ), I will, bear the burden of your sins,
clothe you with my righteousness, give you grace to obey, and finally grant to sit with me in my
throne. Is this not a good offer given unto us if we are willing to renounce all? Surely it is worth
all that we can go through till we have everlasting life at last. To all the invitation from the gate
is: " Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find
rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden light. " Matt. 11:28-30
The four pillars at the gate: The gate had four pillars (Exodus 27:16,17). Since a pillar
represent a person and since the gate represents Christ, we can safely conclude that the four
pillars represent four different positions Christ occupies in the work for man’s salvation. The
number 4 in the four colours and four pillars and the four coverings on the roof of the tabernacle
all refer to Christ Jesus our saviour, just as we have 4 gospel books all referring to Christ in His
work for our salvation. The four pillars tell us that all that Christ is offering, He himself has
become all that He desires us to be. As a human being, Christ obeyed the law ( Phil 2:7), offered
Himself as our sacrifice,( Phil 2:8), ascended up to heaven as our High priest( Heb 8:1,2) and
King on the throne of grace, and He will soon come as our King in His throne of glory(Rev
19;8; Matt 25:31).
"Five cubits was the length thereof, and five cubits the breadth thereof; it was four square; and
three cubits the height thereof." Ex. 38:1. It was "hollow with boards" overlaid with brass. At the
four corners thereof were four horns of the same. “To the midst of the altar” - half way between
the top and the bottom - was "a grate of network of brass." At the four corners of the grate were
four rings of cast brass, to be places for the staves. The staves also were of wood overlaid with
brass. Just above the grate was "the compass of the altar." Ex. 27:5; 38:4. This compass seems to
have been a narrow platform encompassing the altar, on which the priests walked when placing
the firewood and arranging the parts of the sacrifice. The approach to the compass was not by
steps, Ex. 20:26, but by a sloping ascent to the altar on the south side. All the vessels thereof
were of brass, - "his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his flesh
hooks and his fire pans." Ex. 27:3. Some of the basons were doubtless for washing the sacrifices,
others for receiving the blood to be ministered in the sanctuary. The shovels were used to remove
the ashes from the altar and the grate; the flesh hooks for handling the sacrifice, the fire pans, or
brazen censers, held the sacred fire when the altar was carried from place to place.
Why an altar? The sacrifice was always put upon an altar, why? Because in its prophetic
significance, the altar pointed to the manner of Christ’s death. Just as the altar was lifted up in
height, so also Christ Jesus would be lifted up by His death on the cross. From Eden till the last
sacrifice, before Calvary all the lambs pointed to Jesus Christ the true lamb of God that taketh
away the sin of the world( John 1:29) while all the altars pointed to the manner of the Saviour’s
death- a cross. God even made it more clear through the brazen serpent. And so Christ declared
saying: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man
be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John
3:14. And what would this lifting up do? At the cross Christ revealed God’s love to all men, John
3:16; Eph 5:1,2. And love has a drawing effect, Jer 31:3;Hosea 11:4. This is why Christ spoke
saying: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me.” John 12:32.
“ Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. His love, shining from the cross, speaks
eloquently of the sufferings of the only-begotten Son of God for fallen man. This love draws
sinners to Him. The transgressor may resist this love; he may refuse to be drawn to Christ; but if
he does not resist, he will be led to the foot of the cross, in repentance for the sins that caused the
death of the Son of God. {ST, March 18, 1903 par. 1}.
But the cross would not only draw man to Christ, it would as well reconcile man to God. Christ,
hanging on the cross came between heaven and earth to reconcile both. We are told of Christ:
“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition
[between us];Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments
[contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; And
that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby,
Eph 2:14-16. “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all
things unto himself; by him, [I say], whether [they be] things in earth, or things in heaven. And
you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he
reconciled.” Col 1:20,21. And to whom is Christ reconciling us to? To God for the Bible declares
unto us saying: “And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus
Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed
unto us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Cor 5:18,19.
The altar lifted up pointed to the cross through which by the death of His son, God would
reconcile man unto Himself.
Why was the altar made of brass? as we have seen in our study of the court, brass represented
sinful flesh. To mean that while coming to be offered upon the cross, Christ Jesus would come
with the same sinful flesh that humanity possessed and would die for us. We are told that at the
cross , it’s a man that died, divinity did not die. “"I am the resurrection, and the life" (John
11:25). He who had said, "I lay down my life, that I might take it again" (John 10:17), came forth
from the grave to life that was in Himself. Humanity died; divinity did not die. In His divinity,
Christ possessed the power to break the bonds of death. He declares that He has life in Himself
to quicken whom He will. {1SM 301.1}
The four horns: a horn is a symbol of power, Hab 3:4, and with God it represents power to save,
Ps 18:2; Luke 1:69, which is found in the gospel, Rom 1:16. And as the horns were four for each
corner representing the four corners of the earth, Rev 7:1. So also Christ’s power to atone for the
sins of men and save them into His kingdom is available for all men. And this why the gospel
has to be presented to all (Math 24;14;Rev 14:6) as it was done during the days of the apostles
( Col 1:23)
As we’ve seen the altar was the place where the saviour would die, revealing God’s love to men
nd thus drawing them all unto Him. And all sinners who would respond to this drawing would be
led to repentance for God’s goodness always leads us to repentance( Rom 2:4).
“It is true that men sometimes become ashamed of their sinful ways, and give up some of their
evil habits, before they are conscious that they are being drawn to Christ. But whenever they
make an effort to reform, from a sincere desire to do right, it is the power of Christ that is
drawing them. An influence of which they are unconscious works upon the soul, and the
conscience is quickened, and the outward life is amended. And as Christ draws them to
LOOK UPON HIS CROSS, to behold Him whom their sins have pierced, the commandment
comes home to the conscience. The wickedness of their life, the deep-seated sin of the soul, is
revealed to them. They begin to comprehend something of the righteousness of Christ, and
exclaim, "What is sin, that it should require such a sacrifice for the redemption of its victim?
Was all this love, all this suffering, all this humiliation, demanded, that we might not perish, but
have everlasting life?" The sinner may resist this love, may refuse to be drawn to Christ; but if he
does not resist he will be drawn to Jesus; a knowledge of the plan of salvation will lead him to
the foot of the cross in repentance for his sins, which have caused the sufferings of God's dear
Son. {SC 27.1,2}. And in the repentance , we not only sorrow for our sins but we also cry for a
new heart like David “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps
51:10). Then as He demands for our hearts, (Prov 23:26), when we surrender it Christ will
crucify it on the cross. This is why David pointing to sacrifice that we are to give at the altar
says: “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give [it]: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not
despise” Ps 51:16,17. Thus it’s at the altar that the old man is also to be crucified before we can
be created anew in Christ, it’s at the altar where we surrender ourselves to Christ to burn us fully,
to be crucified, that the old man may be dead, here at the altar the work of renewal begins.
Paul himself underwent this experience and he declares saying: “I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20. See also
Eph 4:4 and Col 3;9.
And how often should we surrender the old man to Christ? Paul declares saying: “I protest by
your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” 1 Cor 15:31.It has to be a
daily experience.
And we are not only to surrender our hearts to God but also we are to all to him at the altar body
mind and soul, this is why Paul declares unto us saying: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
[which is] your reasonable service.” Rom 12:1
But not only was the laver a symbol of baptism, the laver also showed that after his death at the
cross (altar of burnt offering) Christ would be buried just as we are buried in the waters of
baptism, and then rise again, Rom 6:3-9.
The laver made of looking glasses which were mirrors represent God’s law( James 1:22-25)
which as our mirror points unto us our sins and points us to Christ, who is able to wash us from
all our unrighteousness.
Having seen how the laver relates to the life of Christ, let us see what relation it has to the sinner
because the sanctuary does not only point the position of Christ, but it also points to that which
His people should occupy.
While the altar represents the experience of surrendering our lives to God to be crucified with
Christ, the laver represents our being buried with Him, and then rising washed and cleansed from
our sins in newness of life ( Rom 6:4). This is what is called the new birth experience or
conversion. Titus speaking of it says: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” Titus 3:5,6. And
Christ declared unto Nichodemus saying: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John
3:5,6. But when we’ve been born again, when we’ve risen in newness of life, it’s not us who are
living but Christ who is living in us, Gal 2:20. And how does Christ dwell in us, it’s through
the holy ghost and the word ( 1 Joh 4:12,13; John 15:7). And if the Holy spirit dwells in us, we
will bear the fruit of the spirit, Gal 5:18-21, works of the flesh, of the old man will never be seen
again in our lives (Gal 5:19-212; Cor 5:17 ). And all who are led of the spirit (have been born
again), they are the sons of God ( Rom 8:14). All these Christ presents before His father clothed
in His righteousness and the Father accepts them as His own sons. This is what we call
justification by faith-The process by which God pardons us and through His transforming grace
makes us new creatures and accepts us as if we’ve never sinned. This is how we get the
righteousness of Christ imputed unto us. Then as we stand before the mirror/ law which had been
condemning us we can be pronounced righteous, because we’ve been washed.
The two agencies that God uses in this experience practically the word and the Holy Spirit
represented by the water. (See Eph 5:26; 1 Pet 1:23; John 7:37-39).
The experience at the court represents as we have seen the process of justification by faith. The
sinner at camp coming to the sanctuary enters through the gate, which symbolizes Christ Jesus,
then Christ will reveal unto us his love at the altar of burnt offering, and this love will break our
hearts leading us to repentance (Acts 5:31), and in repenting we will acknowledge/ confess our
sins and Christ promised that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our]
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9. Thus Christ does not only
forgive us of our sins but He desires to cleanse us from all our sins, which are in our hearts ( Jer
17:1). Thus if we surrender our hearts to him, Christ will crucify / destroy the carnal mind, at the
cross thus killing the old man (Rom 6:6 ). And to all who have died with Christ in His death, He
raises them in newness of life, He raises them new creatures with new minds which are spiritual,
we come forth born again with all our old things having passed away, 2 Cor 5:17. He has
promised in the book of Ezekiel saying: “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall
be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also
will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart
out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you,
and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].”
Ezekiel 36:25-27. Dear friend you maybe struggling with sin and yet you are not overcoming,
the solution is in surrendering your heart to God that He may give you a new heart and give you
His Spirit then you can walk in His commandments to do them. “You who in heart long for
something better than this world can give, recognize this longing as the voice of God to your
soul. Ask Him to give you repentance, to reveal Christ to you in His infinite love, in His perfect
purity. In the Saviour's life the principles of God's law--love to God and man--were perfectly
exemplified. Benevolence, unselfish love, was the life of His soul. It is as we behold Him, as the
light from our Saviour falls upon us, that we see the sinfulness of our own hearts. {SC 28.2}
The inner covering was "of fine-twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet; with
cherubims of cunning work." Over this was a white covering of woven goats' hair. Next was
a covering of rams' skins dyed red; and outside of all a covering of badgers' skins. Ex. 36:8-
19. The brass "pins of the tabernacle," like tent stakes, held the coverings firmly to the ground
using cords Ex. 38:31, 35:18. “The roof was formed of four sets of curtains, the innermost of
"fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubim of cunning work;" the
other three respectively were of goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and sealskins, so arranged
as to afford complete protection. {PP 347.1}
As we saw earlier while looking at the gate, the number four is a number that reveals aspects in
relation to the life of Christ. Therefore even the four coverings reveal unto us different aspects in
the life and ministry of Christ. They show us the different positions Christ would occupy to make
the work of our salvation complete.
1. The outer covering (badger’s skin): “The badger is supposed by some to be like the
seal. It was a marine animal found in the Red Sea. Its dark brown or black skin was
tough and durable, and often used for show leather and soles.” Path To the Throne of God
p 85, by Sarah peck.
Black or brown are very somber colours, they have nothing attractive in them. Thus
the outer covering, that which was outwardly visible represents that part of Christ’s life
that was the most unattractive of all- His life here on earth as a human being. Of it the
inspired record states: “Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the
LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a
dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no
beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of
sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was
despised, and we esteemed him not.” Isa 53:1-3
David speaking of Him in prophecy says: “But I [am] a worm, and no man; a
reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn:
they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying], He trusted on the LORD [that] he
would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him” Ps 22:6-8
And if this is how our master presented Himself in this world, He warns us by telling us
to expect such saying: “Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute
[you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be
exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you.” Math 5:11,12
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you. If ye were of the
world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I
said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they
will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” John
15:18-20.
“For that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”
Lk 16:15.
And so H