The Three Angels' Messages

We Have an Advocate

Seventh-day Adventists often refer to the “doctrine” of the sanctuary. But the sanctuary is much more than a mere doctrine of the church. It is actually the World View that unites all the Bible doctrines into a beautiful mosaic of truth. In this series Pastor Bohr links the sanctuary with the overarching concept of the great conflict between good and evil and explains how Jesus, step by step, resolves the universal problem of evil. If you want to know how evil began, why it continues and how it will end this is the series for you.

The Sanctuary in Scripture ~ Exodus 25: 8 ...And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

God commanded Moses for Israel, “Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25: 8), and He abode in the sanctuary, in the midst of His people. Through all their weary wandering in the desert, the symbol of His presence was with them. So Christ set up His tabernacle in the midst of our human encampment. He pitched His tent by the side of the tents of men, that He might dwell among us, and make us familiar with His divine character and life. “The Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.” John 1: 14, R. V., margin. ~ The Desire of Ages, Page 23

The sanctuary in heaven, in which Jesus ministers in our behalf, is the great original, of which the sanctuary built by Moses was a copy. God placed His Spirit upon the builders of the earthly sanctuary. The artistic skill displayed in its construction was a manifestation of divine wisdom. The walls had the appearance of massive gold, reflecting in every direction the light of the seven lamps of the golden candlestick. The table of shewbread and the altar of incense glittered like burnished gold. The gorgeous curtain which formed the ceiling, inwrought with figures of angels in blue and purple and scarlet, added to the beauty of the scene. And beyond the second veil was the holy Shekinah, the visible manifestation of God's glory, before which none but the high priest could enter and live. ~ The Great Controversy, Page 414

The Heavenly Sanctuary in Scripture ~ Hebrews 8: 1-2 ...Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

In the temple in heaven, the dwelling place of God, His throne is established in righteousness and judgment. In the most holy place is His law, the great rule of right by which all mankind are tested. The ark that enshrines the tables of the law is covered with the mercy seat, before which Christ pleads His blood in the sinner's behalf. Thus is represented the union of justice and mercy in the plan of human redemption. This union infinite wisdom alone could devise and infinite power accomplish; it is a union that fills all heaven with wonder and adoration. The cherubim of the earthly sanctuary, looking reverently down upon the mercy seat, represent the interest with which the heavenly host contemplate the work of redemption. This is the mystery of mercy into which angels desire to look—that God can be just while He justifies the repenting sinner and renews His intercourse with the fallen race. ~ The Great Controversy, Page 415

The Great Cosmic Controversy

Study Notes by Stephen Bohr