David Clayton

During the 1960's when Robert Brinsmead emphasized the fact that the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary involved also a cleansing of God's people here on earth, his agitations got him branded as an offshoot and a heretic by the SDA church. The church, erroneously, wanted only to emphasize what was taking place in heaven, making it irrelevant to us here on earth. Now the opposite thing is being done. All the emphasis is being placed on what is being done in us here one earth, making the work in heaven irrelevant. In fact, many are denying entirely that any literal work is taking place in heaven. In reality, this means that we have no concept of heaven's activities and therefore have nothing on which to fasten our faith. All we have is vague words about sanctification and perfection, but no real concept of what is happening or of how it happens. Thus, we cannot exercise faith in God's work or cooperate in its accomplishment.

The recognition of a literal Sanctuary building in heaven leads us to the logical conclusion that the cleansing of the Sanctuary must involve some kind of removal of impurity, or sin from the building itself. This understanding, of course, led the Adventist pioneers to discover the truth of the investigative judgment and its place in God's plan for His last day people. Rejection of the literal Sanctuary, automatically means there can be no such thing as an investigative judgment. Both these truths, then, the Literal heavenly Sanctuary, and the Investigative Judgment go hand in hand (we might also add in passing that critical truths such as the supremacy of God the Father, the literal Sonship of Jesus Christ, the real and literal mediatorial work of Jesus Christ as our High Priest are also inextricably tied to the truth of a literal heavenly Sanctuary).

Does The Bible Reveal a Literal Sanctuary Building in Heaven

1. The book of Revelation in several places speaks of a temple in heaven. (Rev.11:19;15:15) It may be argued that the representation here is symbolic, but symbolic of what? "Jesus is the temple", some confidently state. While we accept that Jesus is ONE representation of the temple, we find it impossible to understand how reasonable persons could claim that in ALL cases, the temple is a representation of Jesus. Consider the following verses:

Rev 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.

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

Rev 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.

What are we supposed to understand here? That God wants us to believe that angels come out of Jesus? Furthermore, as we look at verse 15, of chapter 14, we see that an angel came out of the temple and spoke to Jesus who was sitting on a cloud. Surely, this ought to be plain enough for even the blindest person to see.

Revelation 21:22 says, "I saw no temple therein (in the city)". Does this literally mean that there is no sanctuary building? So we accept it to mean. John says he did not "see" any temple, because God and Christ are the temple of it. We accept that what he saw (or did not see) represents a true picture of the city. No temple will be there, for God and Jesus will be the city's temple. So then, when he says in another place (Rev. 11:19 etc.) that he saw a temple in heaven Why is it now so difficult in this case to believe that he was seeing aright?

The words sanctuary and temple have been used interchangeably to mean basically, the dwelling place of God (Ex.25:8). However, a temple is also a place for the worship of God. In Revelation 21:22, this must be the sense in which the "temple" is used. "The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it." This, obviously, is not intended to say that God's dwelling place is Himself, but rather that there will be no central place of worship in the new Jerusalem, because the glory and presence of God will fill the entire city (Rev.21:23,11;22:5). The focus is on, how and where men will worship.

Evidently, this is also the chief purpose of the heavenly temple. in Heaven, there is a place where God manifests His presence; a place where He may be seen. This is His temple; His dwelling place, and obviously, the central place for assemblies and worship in heaven.

Consider that heaven is probably much larger than the planet, earth. Angels in one corner of heaven cannot worship in the visible presence of God unless they travel to that central place where He manifests His presence, which is His temple.

The scriptures describe God as an infinitely awesome Being. as we read some of the things which are said about Him, our minds are filled with wonder. Words fail us. He exists "from everlasting to everlasting." He "inhabiteth eternity." He fills "heaven and earth." He "was and is to come." Of Him alone it may truly be said, "thou only art holy. There is none like Thee." It is beyond controversy that no building in earth or heaven can encompass this God. As Solomon said,

"but will God indeed dwell in the earth? Behold the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?" (1Kings 8:27

Nevertheless, the very person who spoke these words, Solomon, built a temple for the worship of God, emphasizing the point that though God may not be confined to a building, yet He manifests His presence in certain appointed places. After all, it was God Himself who told Moses, "let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them (Ex. 25:8."

God's Spirit fills every corner of the universe. In this form God is everywhere present, invisible, intangible, incomprehensible. Nevertheless, God does have a bodily form as the scriptures so clearly testify. He does reveal Himself as an unspeakably glorious Being, sitting on a throne in a specific location in the universe. This location is called "heaven Thy dwelling place (1 kings 8:30)." The same scriptures testify that in heaven, God's specific dwelling place is the temple (Hab.2:20;Rev.11:19). There is a heaven. There God dwells. Heaven is the headquarters of the Universe. A vast place. In what specific part of heaven does God dwell? Where can we find His throne located? In His temple.

The evidence of scripture is abundant and unanimous in the declaration of the fact that there is a temple in heaven. A real, literal place which is the dwelling place of God. Those who are requiring scriptural evidence, and scripture only, with the claim that Ellen White was often guilty of misunderstanding what she saw, or of expressing her own opinion, are strangely inconsistent here. Reason demands that they believe in a literal temple in heaven, unless there is plain scriptural testimony that there is no such place. without any such scriptural evidence they reject the idea of there being any such place. Upon what basis we ask? Upon the basis of human reasoning!! This is the plain fact of the matter. What a dangerous and shaky foundation upon which to build!! And indeed, this is the foundation of the whole structure of error which is being built by those who reject the teachings of original Adventism. Upon this basic false premise, the idea that there cannot be any sanctuary building in heaven, the whole maze of confusion is erected.

The Testimony of Paul

In Hebrews 8:1,2, the Apostle Paul testifies that Jesus ministers in "the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, (or set up)," "in the heavens." Then in verse five, he states that the work of the levitical priests on earth were an "example and shadow of heavenly things." Now we know that an example, or a shadow resembles the real thing but is not in every way like the reality. The earthly example had a real sanctuary building. Does the real ministry of Christ in heaven also have a real Sanctuary building? The apostle Paul states in clear and unmistakable language that it did. He says in Heb.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 showed to thee in the mount."

(paraphrasing) "We know there is a real sanctuary in heaven because when Moses was about to make the earthly tabernacle, God told Him that he must make it according to the pattern which he showed him. So Moses was shown the design of the heavenly sanctuary, and was instructed to make the earthly one according to the same pattern."

Please examine this verse (Heb.8:5) very carefully and you will see that this is what Paul is saying. You may say that the apostle Paul was faulty in his reasoning (if you dare), but you cannot honestly say that this is not what he is saying. In this book (Hebrews) he clearly teaches that there is a literal Sanctuary building in heaven, where Jesus performs his priestly ministry. In Heb.9:1, he says:

"Then verily (truly) the first covenant had ALSO ordinances of divine service and a worldly sanctuary."

Can any honest person examine this verse and deny the truth that there is a heavenly sanctuary in which, "ordinances of divine service," are performed? Why is the word ALSO used? It means "as well as."

The first covenant had ordinances of service and a sanctuary, AS WELL AS the second covenant! Moses saw the pattern of the heavenly sanctuary, then he went and built a tabernacle, resembling as closely as possible the one whose pattern he had been shown. Solomon's temple, constructed hundreds of years later was a far more elaborate and stately structure, embellished with the most precious earthly materials, and was one of the most magnificent buildings this world has ever seen. When Herod's temple was constructed during the time of Roman domination, it too was made of the best material which this world had to offer, and was in many ways much different from that first simple structure which Moses had constructed in the wilderness. However, it is of great significance that no matter how the outside of the temple was changed, and no matter what materials was used in the building, some things basically remained the same. Unchangeable.

1. There were always two apartments to the sanctuary. the Holy and the Most Holy place.

2. The furniture remained the same.

3. The services remained the same.

These were the absolutes. These were the unchangeables. Why? because this is what Moses saw when he was shown the pattern. He saw a building, more magnificent than human words can describe. A vast structure, immense beyond human imagination, the dwelling place of the Almighty One, and the central place of worship in the universe. He could never hope to make something even closely resembling such a structure, but he took careful note of the basic plan, the structure, the layout, and he built a tabernacle with two apartments. These are the plain facts, and if the truth be told, this is the crux of the matter.

The enemies of Adventism have never had any problems with the idea of a sanctuary in heaven. They would willingly accept that all of heaven is one vast sanctuary. However, whenever there is the suggestion of a two-apartment Sanctuary, there is an immediate outcry, because this is the basis upon which the distinctive truths of Adventism are founded. Take away this truth and historic-Seventh-day Adventism is destroyed. No wonder the devil attacks this truth so unrelentingly. However, as we have seen, the Biblical evidence is too clear to be misunderstood. There is a literal two-apartment sanctuary building in heaven where Jesus Christ, Our true High priest, performs "ordinances of divine service" on behalf of God's earthly children. These are the truths of the Bible and all who truly believe that it contains the word of God must accept, believe and live by these truths.