Wednesday: The Cleansing of the Sanctuary
Read Daniel 8:14. What happens here?
After the devastating attack of the horn, the announcement is made that the sanctuary will be cleansed. In order to understand this message, we must bear in mind that the cleansing of the sanctuary mentioned in Daniel 8:14 corresponds to the judgment scene depicted in Daniel 7:9-14.
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
And since that judgment takes place in heaven, the sanctuary must be located in heaven, too. Thus, while Daniel 7 portrays God’s intervention in and relationship with human affairs from a judicial perspective, Daniel 8 describes the same event from a sanctuary perspective.
The earthly sanctuary was modeled after its heavenly counterpart and served to illustrate the broad contours of the plan of salvation. Every day, sinners brought their sacrifices to the sanctuary, where the people were forgiven their confessed sins as the sins were, in a sense, transferred to the sanctuary. As a result, the sanctuary became contaminated. Therefore, a periodic process of purification was needed in order to cleanse the sanctuary from the sins recorded therein. It was called the Day of Atonement and took place once a year (see Leviticus chapter 16).
Why should the heavenly sanctuary need cleansing? By analogy, we can say that the confessed sins of those who have accepted Jesus have been “transferred” to the heavenly sanctuary, just as the sins of the repentant Israelites were transferred to the earthly sanctuary. On the earthly Day of Atonement, numerous animals were slain, symbolizing the future death of Jesus, which is how sinners were able to stand in the Day of Atonement.
And just as that happened in the earthly Day of Atonement when the sanctuary was cleansed, how much more so in the heavenly, when Christ’s blood alone gets us through the judgment? The cleansing of the sanctuary, depicted in Daniel 8:14, is the heavenly counterpart of the earthly service, whose basic message is: as sinners, we need the blood of the Messiah to forgive us our sins and enable us to stand in judgment.
| Read Hebrews 9:23-28. How do these verses reveal the salvation we have in Jesus through His sacrifice for us? |
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I need some help here fellow students. This morning I have to admit that I am not a great source of knowledge but a fellow student. I have done my homework, even though I am a bit stretched for time this week, but I have not come up with a nice clean link between the Day of Atonement and the Cleansing of the Sanctuary. The original Day of Atonement was soon after Aaron's two sons were killed for offering strange fire before the Lord and was essentially a rededication of the priesthood and the people to the Lord.
The only place in the Bible where "cleansing/purification of the temple is mentioned is Daniel 8:14. And that has more to do with the restoration of the daily sacrifices than the Day of Atonement.
I am not saying that there is no link between the two, but the connection does not jump out at me from what I have read in the Bible in the last couple of days. (I know I can read any number of quotes from the Spirit of Prophecy to support the link, but that is not quite the same.)
Now it's your turn to help a fellow student!
From my understanding,the bigger question to help us understand should be, 'what were the activities done on the day of attonment'? I believe this will lead us to the answer.
Hi Prince,
If you go back to Tuesday, you will see that I have outlined the activities that occurred on the Day of Atonement. Hope that helps.
The book of Leviticus 16 puts it clear, it explains what transpired on the day of atonement. In short the day of atonement fell on the 10th day of the seventh month of the Jewish year. This was an annual thing, I know you are alive to this matter even better. The priest performed the duties that lead to the cleansing of the sanctuary. Daily sacrifices lead to the annual cleansing of the sanctuary which means the sins confessed by the people daily through slaughtering and transferring of sin by laying of hands on the innocent animal were officially sent away with the scape goat on the day of atonement, thus the cleansing of the sanctuary. This is no different from what is transpiring in Heaven now. Christ ministry in the heavenly sanctuary is to intercede on behalf of the repentant sinners. His ministry provides for the sinner's forgiveness and reconciliation to God (Heb. 7:25). "For Christ's sake God forgives the repentant sinner, imputes to him the righteous character and obedience of His son, pardons his sins, and records his name in the book of life (Eph. 4:32; 1 John 1:9; 2 Cor.5:21; Rom. 3:24; Luke 10:20).
We can safely say, on the day of atonement we find the cleansing of the sanctuary (the sending away of sins from the Sanctuary). These cannot be separated.
I don't know if I am being clear enough, but I hope it helps open you up to some bright facts.
I agree with you prince. Anytime the Day of Atonement is mentioned the first thing that comes to mind is the cleansing of the Sanctuary based on what happened on the day.
Maurice this is where the link obviously is.
I believe you are on to something Maurice.
Adventism’s traditional view of the link is, in my informed opinion, based on an error of over-literalisation of both concepts.
In a nutshell, I believe Daniel 8:14 is ultimately foretelling the vindication (via evidence that speaks for itself) of God and His Kingdom as the only viable way of true abundant life - the resolution of the allegations that have constituted the Great Controversy. And I believe that the Day of Atonement typified the nature of sin/lawlessness and its inherent impacts (desolation/destruction) as well as the process that was needed to bring about the actual reversal and restoration for humanity of what happened at the fall of Genesis 3 when humanity became a casualty of the Great Controversy.
Thus there is a link between the two - but not the way it is typically portrayed.
Phil, I don't think it's an either/or situation, but this *and* that situation, as I suggested in a previous comment.
Thanks Inge
You will find that my posts contain acknowledge and incorporation of multifaceted aspects of a phenomena when I believe the ‘evidence’ supports all incorporated aspects. So it’s not that I have a black and white, all or nothing mindset.
I ongoingly research and re-research traditional views to see if the evidence robustly supports those views. Sometimes I find that it does and sometimes I find that it supports alternative views. Sometimes alternative views are in harmony with and complementary of the traditional views - and sometimes they are phenomenologically at odds. In such a situation ‘this and that’ is not possible.
For example, it is a widely held view that God in Genesis 2:17 is ‘forbidding’ with prohibition Adam and Eve from eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Yet the evidence is that God’s Kingdom is founded upon freedom to choose. So we can’t say that God both is prohibitively forbidding and supporting freedom to choose because those two things are phenomonologically at odds.
At any time I am more than happy to have evidence presented that challenges any opinion I raise. May we all be able to present our views along with our supporting evidence passionately, respectfully and constructively - just like our pioneers did. Sometimes they enlarged their views, and other times they actually had to change their views. And they have proposed that this will continue down though the ages.
Happy to hear your response...
Respectfully, Phil
The cleansing of the sanctuary had to do with:
1. A full restoration of the place of the sanctuary in the church which had been usurped by the little horn. This was achieved with a full restoration of the understanding of the work of the sanctuary in heaven, or the doctrine of the sanctuary.
2. The day of atonement services.
Maurice, I'm inspired by your "fellow student" attitude. I must admit, that like you, I don't feel as if I have a "clean link" on all aspects of the subject either. However, given your appeal for the input of "fellow students", I feel compelled to add my two cents to a noble cause (Mal 3:16).
So, full disclosure from the start--my interpretation of the sanctuary does not align with our church's doctrinal interpretation (Fundamental Belief 24) that there is a physical sanctuary/temple up in the heavens where Jesus ministers. Why that is relevant might become clearer if this doesn't turn you off from reading any further.
God's interest has ALWAYS been about PEOPLE from the start of Scripture's record in Genesis. Adam and Eve were commissioned to care for Earth's sky, water and land creatures (Gen 1:28; 2:15). With sin's entry an enormous shift occurred (Gen 4:5 AMP)--a member of the care-family murdered his brother--it was a small sign of worse things to come!! God's love for us "shifted" humans drove Him to extreme measures (Jn 3:16) to repair the "shift" (Gen 4:7 NLT) that has manifested into a legion of life-aches--from the mild to the excruciating, and everything between. I understand the tabernacle/sanctuary/temple (Ex 25:8; Mt 1:23; Rev 21:3) to be a parable in real life. It was given to His priest-nation, Israel (Ex 19:6), to impress on their minds the message of God's plan for the restoration of fallen humans of Earth.
So, the model as given to ancient Israel was as follows:
1) God instructed Israel regarding their camping pattern (see Num 2). The tabernacle was central and the tribes resided all around it in specific groupings. The symbolism here was that the tabernacle, or PEOPLE of God (Act 15:14-18; 1 Pt 2:4-5), occupied a place of prominence within God's plan to relieve humanity of its sin.
2) God chose a single tribe, Levi, from among Israel's twelve to minister to the other tribes (Num 18:6) at the tabernacle. The symbolism here was, just as Levi was selected to minister to the other tribes, so Israel was selected to minister to the other peoples of Earth (Ex 19:5-6; Num 8:19). Levi's (Israel) selection by God didn't make them any "more" God's people than the other tribes (Gentiles)--more responsibility, yes...more favored children, no. Similar to Adam and Eve, we see God co-opting humans into His work of caring for the rest of His creation (Mt 24:45-46).
3) The tribe of Levi was further divided by families (Num 18:2-3; see also Num 4) to function as priests and for other very specific duties related to the tabernacle--all to assist the high priest in his responsibility of removing the "wrath" (Num 18:5) and the "plague" (Num 8:19) of sin from among their nation (Act 3:25-26). The symbolism here was that the high priest represented Christ (Heb 5:5,8-10) and His assisting priests (2 Cor 5:17-20; 1 Pt 2:9). There are significant lessons not to be overlooked in this portion of the parable:
a) That the priests had to be born (again) from a specific tribe in order to serve (Jn 3:3,6). I find it interesting that after Cain murdered Abel, Seth, the next son born to Adam and Eve continued a particular pursuit (Gen 4:25-26). Christ came in the lineage of Seth (Gen 3:15; Lk 3:23,38). Cain, symbolizing the Gentiles, is not listed in Matthew's or Luke's genealogy of Adam/Christ (Eph 2:11-12).
b) Not everyone that was born a Levite qualified for priestly office. That was reserved for the Aaronic line (Ex 40:12-15). Notice that Revelation 12 portrays a broad overview of Christ's High Priestly ministry, and it declares His maternal relationship (Rev 12:1-2,5), which PRECEDES Him, and His siblings which SUCCEEDS Him (Rev 12:13,17). I'd say that's a clearly well established priestly genealogy functioning right here on Earth (Mt 12:47-50 NKJV; 1 Pt 2:4-5,9)!
c) The OT tribe of Levi is the symbolic equivalent of the NT body of Christ, or His true Church (Eph 5:25-30; Act 15:14-17). This entity is comprised of individuals all across Earth who have been drawn into, and matures within, an exclusive love relationship with Christ, His Father and their Holy Spirit. This relationship, having achieved maturity, results in exclusive, singular service of Father, Son and Spirit (Mt 4:9-10; Rev 19:10) because they take on the character and function of their High Priest. Jesus began to teach that it was His body, symbolized in the OT tabernacle, that would undergo a "cleansing" in order to restore its function (Mt 26:31 compare Zech 13:7-9; Dan 8:13-14; 11:33-35) of the responsibility of removing the "wrath" (Num 18:5) and the "plague" (Num 8:19) of sin from among the tribes of Earth (Act 3:25-26).
Maurice
I am of the exactly the same concern. To relieve me of this, I want to interpret this as an picture of the Jesus as the High Priest interceding for us. But having said that, I think there should be a link somehow. God bless.
Dear brothers and sisters
All I saw in today's lesson is paradox.
1.The Hebrew text (9:24) says Jesus entered the Holy of Holies on ascension,not on the cleansing day we are trying to conclude
2.He became sin for us and concluding that our sins are transfered to a curtain so that we get forgiveness is unnecessary complication of the Gospel.
Please shade some light on this.
I believe it's a mistake to conflate Heb 9:12,24 with the prophecies in Daniel.
The focus of Heb 9:12,24 is on Christ going into heaven itself, into the presence of the Father. Hebrews further emphasizes Christ's ministry in our behalf and our privilege to enter into the "holy of holiest by the blood of Christ" (Heb 10:19,20) The focus is entering into the heavenly sanctuary by faith, not on prophetic timing.
In Daniel, the focus is more on the timing of events as symbolized in the earthly sanctuary. In the Hebrew sanctuary, the plan of salvation was symbolized in its completeness every year, ending with atonement and judgment. Thus the "atonement" service symbolized the end and goal of the salvation story. The fulfillment of this part of the service would thus happen at the end of earthly time before the Second Coming of Jesus.
And I suggest that there are many different facets to the salvation story and to the Atonement, which Bible writers and Christ Himself explain by various analogies. It is a subject we will study for eternity to gain a fuller and fuller understanding. I believe that to limit the Atonement to a single analogy is to effectively put an end to our learning/understanding process.
Would it not also be a mistake to conflate the prophecy of Daniel 8 with the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) since the little horn is not party to the reconciliation of God with his people?
Contrary to the assertion of the lesson's author, the objective of the Day of Atonement was not cleanse the sanctuary, but to cleanse God's people:
God knew that when he dwelt with man (both in the sanctuary and in the person of his Son), he would be living in a pig pen. But in his love he willing took it all on (see Isaiah 53) for our sake to save our souls.
Suggestion: Aaron's two sons had defiled the sanctuary so it had to be purified:
Lev 16:16-20 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. 18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement (ATONEMENT) for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. 19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse (CLEANSE) it, and hallow (HALLOW) it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. 20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling (RECONCILING) the holy place (HOLY PLACE), and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar,:
After what this "horn" had done to the 'daily' and the 'sanctuary' it needed to be re-dedicated and sanctified, cleansed,the truth had to be restored.
The sanctuary has to be holy for the LORD to dwell among His people.
Exo 29:35-45 And thus shalt thou do unto Aaron, and to his sons, according to all things which I have commanded thee: seven days shalt thou consecrate them. 36 And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin offering for atonement: and thou shalt cleanse (CLEANSE) the altar, when thou hast made an atonement (ATONEMENT) for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify (SANCTIFY) it. 37 Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy. 38 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. 39 The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even: 40 ... 42 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. 43 And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. 44 And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office. 45 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.
The Day of Atonement was a fresh start, Just as the cleansing of the Sanctuary was a fresh start when the 'horn' was destroyed and dominion was given to the saints of the Most High.
Lev 23:26-32 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. 29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. 30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. 31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
Dan 7:26-27 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
Shirley,
I see that you're on to something. But the Heavenly cleansing started in 1844, correct? The little horn and been severely injured in 1798. But it's going to make a comeback at the end of time. There was a 7 day preparation for the ancient ceremony. The Day of Atonement was done in one day (24 hours). None of this is prophetic time. We are 176 years into the "making right" the Heavenly Sanctuary with no end in sight. I too am challenged by this. Hebrew 8:12 "and remember their sins no more". The church teaches that the confessed sins of the saved are in Heaven waiting to be blotted out? Rather then being literal, the cleansing of the Heavenly sanctuary must be a metaphor we yet don't understand? I'm looking for that text as well.
Thank God He prepared a way for us(acquitted us, gave us righteousness, and confirmed our salvation). Romans 5:9.
So ssneter's: ARISE [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you–rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you! [Zech. 8:23.]
Isaiah 60:1 AMPC
Yes, "we need the blood of the Messiah to forgive us our sins and enable us to stand in judgment".
There are some "Key Verses" in Hebrews 9:23-28 that tell me that Jesus went to the "Most Holy Place in Heaven" at his ascension: Verse 24, "...into heaven itself," (Heaven itself) is the last compartment of the Heavenly Sanctuary; "...now to appear in the presence of God for us." (Now) not later, not 2,000 years into the future.
Hi Pete, Hebrews 8 and 9 talk about different compartments of the heavenly sanctuary. So how do we get the idea “heaven itself” is the last compartment?
William, The "Day of Atonement" feast only made use of the "last compartment" of the O.T. sanctuary. The Book of Hebrews mainly utilizes the "Day of Atonement" symbolism (which again, only utilizes the last compartment) for what Jesus did "Once for all" at Calvary. Read again Romans 5:11, Paul there is clear that Jesus gave us "The Atonement" at Calvary.
And the atonement was made in the courtyard and continued into the Holy and Most Holy place.
Actually, William, only Chapter 9 mentions specifically both compartments from verse 2-6. But after verse 7 there it goes on to just focus on the last compartment ministration for the rest of that book and even alludes to that Day of Atonement Ministry before Chapter 9 in the book. The Day of Atonement mainly focused on THE LAST COMPARTMENT part of the Sanctuary "Once a Year." And only "The High Priest" ministered there and only once a year. So again, the book of Hebrews mainly focuses on the Last Compartment part of a "Once a Year Ministry" there as symbolic of what Jesus did for US ALL at Calvary "Once For All."
In the context of Nadab and Abihu offering "strange fire" in the temple, the notions of purification and penitence associated with the Day of Atonement make sense, It is also interesting that while the Day of Atonement was essentially instituted after the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, there is a Midrashic tradition that it is the day God gave to Moses the second set of ten commandments and comes at the end of 40 days on instruction of the children of Israel after the Golden Calf event. At that time Israel was granted atonement for the Golden Calf sin and this is why it is known as the Day of Atonement.
So it appears that penance and restoration (include cleansing) are integral in the observance of the day of atonement.
How then, do we associate the idea of judgment, and in particular, investigative judgment with it?
Lev 23:27-32 anyone who does not afflict their soul on that day will be cut off from his people. So throughout the year they could come and have atonement made for their sins but the Day of Atonement was the last chance for that year for all those sins to be completely wiped out or they would be wiped out.
Dan 7 is a judgment scene - mainly between the "pompous,persecuting, power" and the Most High as to who will have dominion over the whole world because "the books will be opened" this links us to Rev 20:4,11-15, where we have thrones, books opened, judgement based on their contents. Rev 21 - There is a new heaven and earth, the tabernacle of God will be with His people, the new Jerusalem will come down, it is in the form of a cube just like the Most Holy place of the sanctuary.
So because in the parallel streams of time shown in Dan 7 and Dan 8 we have investigating the books and making a judgment linked to the cleansing/resoring/vindicating of the sanctuary.
Heb 9:22-28 we find a link between the High Priest entering the Most Holy every year to cleanse it and Jesus Christ entering into the true tabernacle in heaven once and for all to put away sin for good.
The yearly rituals of earthly sanctuary are an object lesson of the Plan of Salvation and the visions of Daniel show us how they fit in the stream of time, the main points being
1) Jesus and His people will be the winners
2) the Truth that has been distorted will be restored
3) the tabernacle of God will be with His people and He will dwell with them Ex 25:8, Rev 21:3.
Are not our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit? And Jesus is in us. Perhaps it's talking about our temple and not something in Heaven that needs cleansing or set right?
I am just going to post these two texts. See if there is any context, as it relates to todays topic, in which they can be placed.
Matthew 6:10
“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
PSALM 77:13
Thy way, O God, is in the Sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God.
I think what we need is a clearer understanding of the plan of salvation as portrayed in the ancient sanctuary services and how it reveals Jesus' ministry on the sinner's behalf... "For "Thy way o Lord is in the Sanctuary."
Atonement is a process.
The sacrifice of the lamb was only the first part of the process.
Atonement was not completed when the Lamb was killed. It had only just begun.
Someone questioned the concept of 'confessed sins in heaven waiting to be blotted out'
Well, Scripture declares in Daniel 7:10 "A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened."
What do you suppose those books contain ?
Norma, I would love to hear your summary of the Plan of Salvation as demonstrated in the Tabernacle, to help me understand.
There are so many bits and pieces being posted that it is getting confusing.
What is Jesus Christ doing in heaven all this time?
He entered into the heavenly sanctuary to purify all the items and to put away all the sins
Heb 9:22-24 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 Therefore it was necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves were purified with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered into the Holy of Holies made with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
Heb 9:26 ...but now once in the end of the world He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Only one sacrifice was necessary, however He wanted to reveal how this was applied to individuals who had accepted His offering.
However Daniel 8 is telling us that all the negative things that were done by the "horn" which affected the Plan of Salvation
1. he trampled on the people of God
2. made himself as high as the Prince of God’s people
3. took away the continual sacrifice Ex 29:39
4. the dwelling/sanctuary of God was cast down
5. he cast truth down to the ground
6. skilled at intrigues
7. destroyed the powerful and the holy people
8. caused deceit to prosper
9. he magnified himself in his heart
10. by peace he destroyed many
11. he stands up against the Prince of princes
had to be removed from people's understanding of the Plan of Salvation so they could understand the truth.
The way for the LORD to make this clear was to use the concept of what had to be done when someone had defiled the dwelling of the LORD, thus He used the concept of cleansing, restoring the sanctuary as well as the concept of vindicating the Most High as opposed to this horn who called himself God.
2Th 2:3-4 Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God.
In Daniel 8:13,14 the 'visual' portion of the vision ends, and Daniel goes through an AUDIO bit of the vision. From vs 1, the Hebrew word for vision has been 'chazon', and refers to the entire 2300 day prophecy.
Please notice how the word 'chazon' and 'Mareh' are used in Daniel:
CHAZON
Daniel 8:1: “a vision appeared to me”
Daniel 8:2: “I saw in the vision. . . I saw in the vision”
Daniel 8:13: “How long will the vision be”
Daniel 8:15: “had seen the vision”
Daniel 8:17: “the vision refers to the time of the end”
Daniel 8:26: “therefore seal up the vision”
Daniel 9:21: “whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning”
Daniel 9:24: “to seal up vision”
Daniel 10:14: “for the vision refers to many days yet to come”
Daniel 11:14: “in fulfillment of the vision”
MAREH
Daniel 8:16: “make this man understand the vision”
Daniel 8:26: “the vision of the evenings and mornings”
Daniel 8:27: “astonished at the vision, but no one understood it”
Daniel 9:23: “and understand the vision”
Daniel 10:1: “had understanding of the vision”
Daniel 10:6: “his face was like the appearance of lightning”
Daniel 10:18: “having the likeness of a man”
So it is important to notice that Chapter 8 has a BIGGER vision - Chazon - which was sealed (2300 day prophecy), and a smaller vision within the bigger one - Mareh - which Daniel was ade to understand.
Another contentious word in this chapter is 'cleansed' - SADAQ in the original. Instead of 'taher' - the word used in Leviticus for the day of atonement services. The Hebrew word taher is a technical term with a very restricted and narrow meaning. It is used over 50 times in the book of Leviticus to describe cultic/ritual/ceremonial cleansing in connection with the earthly sanctuary service. The use of this term in Daniel 8:14 would have left the impression that the sanctuary to be cleansed was the earthly typological sanctuary. But Daniel 8:14 deals with the cleansing, not of the Old Testament shadow/ type but of the heavenly reality/original! Therefore a broader term needed to be used.
I raised this up, because since 1980's, because of the faulty interpretation of the world 'cleanse' by Harrison Ford, many pastors were led astray from the Sanctuary Doctrine - and the subsequent effect on the members is immense.
Is there a scripture telling us what happens to the curtain in the sanctuary? Was it replaced every year as part of cleansing?
I need answers. God bless everyone.
As far as I know, there is no biblical reference. However rabbinal literature refers to it as being washed from time to time amd that is required as many as 82 maidens to do the task. The curtain in Josephus' time was indicated to be about the thickness of a hand. There were three temples; the desert sanctuary, Solomon's temmple and the post Bebylonian temple. Each would have had a different curtain, and given the length of time each was in operation these curtains may have been replaced due to natural aging.