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In Defense of the Faith - Contents
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    Two Apartments

    The earthly sanctuary was divided into two apartments the holy place and the most holy. At the entrance to the first apartment, or room, was a linen veil or curtain. Between the two apartments or rooms was a second veil, separating the first apartment, or holy place, from the second, or most holy place; as it is written: “The veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.” Exodus 26:33.DOF 272.2

    This division of the sanctuary into two apartments wag absolutely essential for the performance of the typical service. The respective work performed in the two had a very different meaning. The service in the first apartment typified the bringing of confessed sins into the sanctuary, while that of the second apartment had to do with their removal. Without the service in the first apartment the service in the second would have no meaning. If the sins of the people were not first brought into the sanctuary through the daily ministration, there could of course be no cleansing or removal of sins on the Day of Atonement.DOF 273.1

    Now since the earthly sanctuary was a shadow cast by the heavenly, and since in the earthly there were two apartments, there must necessarily be two apartments in the heavenly. A single shaft, with one source of light, cannot cast a double shadow. Just so a sanctuary in heaven having only one room, could never cast a shadow upon earth with two. And further, a heavenly sanctuary in which the priestly service was performed in only one room, could not be typified by the service of a sanctuary with two rooms, where the services of the respective rooms had an altogether different meaning. If in the heavenly there be no first apartment service, then the entire typical service of the first apartment had no meaning, and finds no antitype in the work of our High Priest in heaven. Such a conclusion is unthinkable. It would destroy with one stroke the significance of the entire typical service.DOF 273.2

    In Hebrews 9:8 we learn that there was no priestly service performed in the heavenly sanctuary until the earthly had come to its close: “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing.” Christ therefore was not ministering in the heavenly sanctuary before He came to the earth. The services in the earthly had to come to a close, and the priesthood had to be changed from the sons of Aaron to Christ, before the way was open for services to begin in the sanctuary in heaven.DOF 274.1

    The offering of animals in the earthly sanctuary was an expression of faith on the part of the people that Jesus, the Lamb of God, would come and die to redeem them from sin. Therefore, the moment Jesus died on the cross the shadow met the substance, and the typical service lost its meaning. From that time on, that service could no longer point forward to the death of Christ.DOF 274.2

    The death of Jesus took place at the hour of the evening sacrifice, and in Jerusalem the priest was busy with this service. The lamb for the evening offering had been brought, but just at that moment Jesus expired on the cross and the veil of the temple was rent in twain. Thus God indicated that the glory of His presence had departed from the earthly temple, and that the efficacy of the types and shadows had suddenly come to an end.DOF 274.3

    “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; and having. spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” Colossians 2:14-17.DOF 274.4

    Thus the law of the earthly priesthood, the law of the meat offerings and drink offerings, the law concerning yearly Sabbaths and holy days, with the whole typical service, was nailed to the cross. When the nails pierced the hands and feet of Jesus and His blood flowed, the blood of the sacrificial lamb had no further meaning. The time had come of which Jesus spoke to the woman of Samaria at the well when He said, “The hour comes, when you shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.” John 4:21. They could worship God now by going straight to Jesus, their Advocate and High Priest, for the way into the heavenly sanctuary was made manifest. He had taken away the first that He might establish the second. (See Hebrews 10:8, 9.)DOF 275.1

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