Thursday: Place of Salvation
Read Hebrews 8:1-2. What is Christ doing at the throne of God?
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
The book of Hebrews teaches that Christ is ministering in the heavenly sanctuary as our High Priest. His work there is focused on our salvation, for He appears “in the presence of God for us” (Heb. 9:24, NASB). He sympathizes with us, giving us assurance that we will not be rejected, but instead, receive mercy and grace (Heb. 4:15-16) because of what Jesus has done for us. As in the earthly sanctuary, the heavenly is the location where “atonement” (or “reconciliation”) is made for the sins of the believers (Heb. 2:17). The Jesus who died for us is the One now ministering in heaven “for us,” as well.
Read Revelation 1:12–20, 8:2–6, 11:19, and 15:5–8. What sanctuary imagery appears in these passages?
The verses in today’s study are just some of the places in the book of Revelation where sanctuary imagery appears. In fact, most of the major sections of the book often begin with or contain a sanctuary scene.
The first introductory scene shows Christ, clothed as high priest, walking among the seven lampstands (Rev. 1:12–20). The second shows the heavenly throne room, and the verses reveal a wide variety of sanctuary imagery: throne, lamps, sea, slain Lamb, blood, golden bowls of incense (Revelation 4 and 5). The third scene refers to the continual service of intercession in the context of the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary (Rev. 8:2–6). The fourth and central scene gives us a glimpse of the Ark of the Covenant in the second apartment (Rev. 11:19). The fifth scene brings the entire tabernacle in heaven into view (Rev. 15:5–8). The sixth scene is unique in that it does not contain any explicit references to the sanctuary, perhaps to illustrate that Christ’s work there is finished (Rev. 19:1–10). The final scene is all about the glorious holy city on earth, which is portrayed as the tabernacle “coming down out of heaven” (Rev. 21:1–8, NASB).
A careful study of these scenes reveals that they are interconnected, showing an internal progression in the salvation accomplished by God: from Christ on earth, to His heavenly ministry in the first and second apartments, to His High Priestly ministry’s end, and finally to the new earth tabernacle.
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While the things that the lesson says is true I would like to suggest that the book of Hebrews is not so much about the heavenly sanctuary as it is about a new covenant that makes the Heavenly Sanctuary a necessity. In other words the idea of a Heavenly Sanctuary is used to support the concept of a new covenant.
Can you please help me on Tuesday's lesson Rev 4:5 and Rev 5:6 what are the seven spirits of GOD? also the seven horns and eyes?
In the Bible, there is some consistent symbolism: eyes represent knowledge and wisdom, horns represent power, fire represents the Holy Spirit.
There are two numbers that symbolize perfection in the Bible: the numbers 7 and 12.
In this case, the 7 Spirits would represent the all-encompassing, perfect work of the Holy Spirit. The seven horns represent almighty power (omnipotence), the eyes represent perfect knowledge and wisdom (omniscience).
There is much to learn about the covenants and the sanctuary- what I have often wondered about is whether we get to worship in the heavenly sanctuary when we get to heaven or is the sanctuary the whole of heaven simply by means of God's awesome presence???
Well, Jane, I tend to think that wherever God is, there is His temple and sanctuary. 🙂
Revelation tells us that there will be no "temple" in the New Jerusalem, because God Himself will be there.
The texts used in this study for Thursday have several purposes and lead to many various studies that are extremely fascinating. However, the lesson is focusing on the different aspects of the Sanctuary in Heaven and what Jesus is doing for us there. The texts give us a goldmine of information relating to the Heavenly Sanctuary and Jesus Christ while He is there working for us and preparing Heaven to take us Home. What the lesson above says about the texts using this focus just barely touches the surface of the amazing truths on this subject. As example, taking time to let our minds rest on what Jesus was wearing as He moved about the Holy Place with the churches in His hand helps to magnify this picture and help us understand His position and glory. Taking time to realize the holy Sanctuary and Jesus place in it while reading those texts opens to our mind's eye the pictures and truths God has for us on this subject! Tremendous!
the presence of jesus in most holy presence its to our advantage so that we can be saved .all christian must know that we are saved from our sin not in our sins ounce we saved lets not go back to are old bad habbits.lawrence mupatsi byo pelandaba sda
Thanks Jackie for your helpful comments on the Heavenly Sanctuary. My finite human mind is having trouble to comprehend how awesome heaven and the sanctuary must be- especially that part of this is to make a home for me!!
Brethrens thank you for your contributions,as l understand the lesson there are two sanctuaries,the first sanctuary lays foundation for the second sanctuary,thats to say,the first sanctuary represents the earthly sanctuary for example lets take achurch/temple,how we should handle ourselves within aholy temple of the Lord,how to give our sacrifices,tithes and thanks giving until christ comes to welcome us to the heavenly sanctuary where the Lord lives permanently and Jesus is incharge/high priest,but while on earth,we must imitate to copy the holiness of the heavenly sanctuary to the earthly sanctuary so as to reveal the character of God is when we shall enter into His heavenly sanctuary.NB;Not all people in the earthly sanctuary can enter into the heavenly santuary because its on earth and the earth is corrupt,but all those who are in the heavenly sanctuary are holly and they own the copyright and can not have doubt as those on the earthly sanctuary.prepare yourself thoroughly on the earthly sanctuary so as to fit in the heavenly sanctuary,GOD bless you all.
I m enjoying the lesson but I m a very worid man. Most of our people will not undrstand this series. Even most teachers wont be able to teach it. Help us oh Lord
The Lesson for Thursday says : "As in the earthly sanctuary, the heavenly is the location where “atonement” (or “reconciliation”) is made for the sins of the believers ...".
Paul in Romans 5:10 explicitly says that we were atoned or reconciled to God through the death of Christ.
Our Savior died on Calvary, here on earth; it therefore follows as per Romans 5:10 that Calvary is the location where “atonement” (or “reconciliation”) is made and not in the heavenly sanctuary as the SS Lesson says. How can we harmonize this plain Bible verse with what the SS Lesson teaches?
The earthly santuary was a symbol of the heavenly one.when christ died, was golgotha
a real extended outer court for christ sacrifice?
And who confessed his sin before the sacrifice
Was made ......adam..........? How can we fully
Concept together the roles played in the sactuary
In heaven and earth.
Dear Winston,
Archeologists (not all agree) have indicated that, at the time of Christ, Golgotha was just within the walls of Jerusalem. So it was within the encampment, paralleling the "court of the temple" in the typical system.
In the system of offerings, the sinner confessed his sins over offerings. Since Christ was the anti-type of these offerings, He had no sins to confess. He was the perfect Lamb that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). It was your sins and mine that He bore on the cross, not His own. It was our sins that put Him there. When we confess our sins, they fall on Jesus.
Not sure what you mean by "Was made .. adam." Perhaps you are referring to Paul's reference of Christ being the second Adam -- that Christ overcame where Adam failed. (See 1 Corinthians 15:21-23) As Adam was head of the physical human race, so Christ was made head of the human race spiritually. When we accept Him as Lord and Savior we become His spiritual offspring, just as we are Adam's physical offspring. And thus, through Him, we are made spiritually alive.