After man disobeyed God’s law in Eden, “the halo of glory, which God had given holy Adam, covering him as a garment, departed from him after his transgression. The light of God’s glory could not cover disobedience and sin. In the place of health and plenitude of blessings, poverty, sickness, and suffering of every type were to be the portion of the children of Adam.”2 Tragically, man forfeited great privileges in exchange for the stains of sin.

“Satan accomplished the fall of man, and since that time it has been his work to efface in man the image of God, and to stamp upon human hearts his own image.”3

“Before the entrance of sin, Adam enjoyed open communion with his Maker; but since man separated himself from God by transgression, the human race has been cut off from this high privilege. By the plan of redemption, however, a way has been opened whereby the inhabitants of the earth may still have connection with heaven.”4

The death of Adam and Eve due to disobedience was certain. Had it not been for the plan of salvation, they would have died immediately upon eating the forbidden fruit.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The depth of God’s love expressed in the words, “God so loved the world” (John 3:16), can be better understood through the amazing revelation that the Lamb of God was “slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).

Actuated by love which existed even before our creation, God made a promise of enmity against the evil one (see Genesis 3:15). “While [this promise] foretold war between man and Satan, it declared that the power of the great adversary would finally be broken.”5

“None but Christ could redeem fallen man from the curse of the law and bring him again into harmony with Heaven.”6 God’s amazing love was manifested through the plan of salvation to restore His perfect plan for the human race. The Lord instituted the sacrificial services to visually reveal His plan of salvation.

Atonement is the reconciliation of God with humanity through the sacrificial death of Christ. After declaring the plan of salvation to Adam and Eve, God replaced the departed garment of light and the fig leaf aprons with coats of skins, symbolizing the robe of Christ’s righteousness and the garment of salvation. To make those coats, a sacrifice had to be made, for “without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22), prefiguring the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

From the altar built by Abraham in the land of Moriah to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, to the temple built by Solomon on Mount Moriah for God’s presence and the animal blood sacrifices throughout the ages, symbols and monuments proclaiming the efficacy of Christ’s blood to blot out man’s sins have been evident (Genesis 22:2; 2 Chronicles 3:1). “The correct understanding of the ministration in the heavenly sanctuary is the foundation of our faith.”7

“The term ‘sanctuary,’ as used in the Bible, refers, first, to the tabernacle built by Moses, as a pattern of heavenly things; and, secondly, to the ‘true tabernacle’ in heaven, to which the earthly sanctuary pointed.”8

While on their journey to Canaan, God commanded Israel through Moses to make Him a sanctuary; that He may dwell among them (Exodus 25:8). “God presented before Moses in the mount a view of the heavenly sanctuary, and commanded him to make all things according to the pattern shown him.”9

The earthly sanctuary or tabernacle was composed of the courtyard, the holy place, and the most holy place which represented the prophesied work of Christ from His birth to His blotting out of sin.

1. The courtyard (Exodus 27:9–18), the area surrounding the tabernacle and in which all the offerings were slain, is a type of the earth where Jesus, the great antitypical offering, was destined to die for our sins (John 12:32, 33).10 The singular entrance to the courtyard into which the sinner would bring their sin offering, reminds us of faith in Christ as the only access to our covenant relationship with God (John 10:7, 9). The altar of burnt offering (Exodus 27:1–8) beside which the blood of the sacrifice was poured out and the ashes of the burnt offering were placed (Leviticus 6:10; Deuteronomy 12:27) , foreshadowed the pouring out of the precious blood of Jesus, which would remove the curse of sin from this earth, and pave the way for its purification by fire (Malachi 4:1,3).11 The blood of the sacrifice also taught that it was by Jesus’ blood alone that we have a bold entrance into God’s presence within the sanctuary (Hebrews 10:19, 20 (ESV, ISV)). The laver of water (Exodus 30:17–21) between the courtyard entrance and the tabernacle and in which the priests were to wash both hands and feet before entering the tabernacle, is an appropriate illustration of the truth taught to Nicodemus regarding the spiritual cleansing needed to enter God’s presence, of which baptism is also a symbol (John 3:5).12

2. The tabernacle was divided into the holy place and the most holy place (Hebrews 9:1, 2).

A. The holy place had the following symbolic furniture: The shewbread (Exodus 25:23–30) which met its fulfillment in Jesus, the bread of life (John 6:48, 33, 51).13 The candlestick (Exodus 25:31–40) represented the church (Revelation 1:12, 20) which is to uphold the lamp of the word (Psalm 119:105) while the oil within each lamp symbolized the work of the Holy Spirit on earth (Zechariah 4:1-6,10 c.f. Revelation 5:6). The altar of incense (Exodus 30:1–7) represented Jesus’ unceasing fragrant intercession mixed with our prayers (Hebrews 7:25; Revelation 8:3, 4).

B. The most holy place (Hebrews 9:3–5) had the following symbolic furniture and items: The ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:10–22), a symbol of the divine presence of God.14 Within the ark were the two tables of stone with Ten Commandments written by the finger of God (Deuteronomy 10:4, 5). These were and remain the expression of God’s unchanging character.15 The mercy seat (Exodus 25:17–21) covering the broken law, was where the visible presence of God was manifested (Exodus 25:32; 30:6). This represented the union of mercy and justice in the plan of redemption and was a fitting symbol of the throne of the great God, who proclaims His name as “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” (Exodus 34:5-7).16 The pot of manna (Hebrews 9:4) was a reminder of God’s providential care when He rained bread upon His people in the wilderness to sustain their lives (Exodus 16:32, 33). So, today, in His care for us, God has rained upon us precious rays of light on the food question that will prove a blessing to all who gather them up.17 As we share this light, doors will open for the preaching of the gospel. Thus, the health message is to be the right hand of the third angel’s message.18 Aaron’s rod that budded (Hebrews 9:4) was a reminder to respect the system of order and leadership God had established for His church.19

The earthly sanctuary and its typical services were temporarily instituted by God to teach Israel and us about the sacrificial system, the perfect and complete plan of salvation and Christ’s ministration in the heavenly sanctuary. The death of Christ on the cross blotted out the earthly sanctuary sacrificial ordinances and thus they carry no further significance today (Colossians 2:14: Hebrews 9:8–14).

There are notable distinctions between Jesus’ priesthood in contrast to the earthly priesthood.

God chose the tribe of Levi to serve in the priesthood of the earthly tabernacle (Numbers 1:50; Exodus 28:1; Leviticus 21:17–23). But Jesus could not be a high priest on earth, “for it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood” (Hebrews 7:14). A high priest was chosen from his people (Hebrews 5:1). For Jesus to become humanity’s high priest in heaven, He “took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham” (Hebrews 2:16). Unlike the Levite priesthood, Jesus’ priesthood after the order of Melchisedec has no beginning or end (Hebrews 7:3).

Two events marked the transition from the earthly to the heavenly priesthood. When Christ was nailed to the cross, “the rending of the veil of the temple showed that the Jewish sacrifices and ordinances would no longer be received.”20 “By rending his garment, [Caiaphas] cut himself off from being a representative character. He was no longer accepted by God as the officiating high priest.”21

The daily sacrificial services were conducted in the courtyard and the holy place to point forward to the Messiah’s sacrifice on the cross. The sinner was required to bring a young unblemished animal (lamb) as a sin offering. The lamb (Exodus 12:21) represented Jesus the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). The sinner laid his hands on the head of the animal while confessing his sins as he personally slew the animal.

The priest took its blood, sprinkled it on the horns of the altar and poured the remainder at the bottom of the altar or sprinkled it before the veil over the altar of incense in the holy place or ate part of the offering before entering the holy place. The entire service signified the transfer of sins from the sinner to the sanctuary (Hebrews 9:6; Leviticus 4:3, 7, 22, 23; 6:10; 10:17, 18).

“As the priests morning and evening entered the holy place at the time of incense, the daily sacrifice was ready to be offered upon the altar in the court without . . . [the worshippers] united in silent prayer, with their faces toward the holy place. Thus their petitions ascended with the cloud of incense, while faith laid hold upon the merits of the promised Saviour prefigured by the atoning sacrifice.”22

“The sins of Israel being thus transferred to the sanctuary, the holy places were defiled, and a special work became necessary for the removal of the sins. God commanded that an atonement be made for each of the sacred apartments, as for the altar, to ‘cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.’ ”23

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is the 10th day of the 7th month of Tishrei (between September and October) and remains the holiest day in the Jewish calendar (Leviticus 23:27).

“Once a year, on the great Day of Atonement, the priest entered the most holy place for the cleansing of the sanctuary. The work there performed completed the yearly round of ministration (Hebrews 9:7).”24

“Every man was to afflict his soul while the work of atonement was going forward. All business was laid aside, and the whole congregation of Israel spent the day in solemn humiliation before God, with prayer, fasting, and deep searching of heart. . . . Such was the service performed ‘unto the example and shadow of heavenly things’ (Hebrews 8:5).”25

After Christ’s ascension to heaven, He began His work as our High Priest. “For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary. The blood of Christ, pleaded in behalf of penitent believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins still remained upon the books of record.”26

“As the typical cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of the sins by which it had been polluted, so the actual cleansing of the heavenly is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins which are there recorded. But before this can be accomplished, there must be an examination of the books of record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His atonement. The cleansing of the sanctuary therefore involves a work of investigation a work of judgment. This work must be performed prior to the coming of Christ to redeem His people.”27

“In the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God [1 Peter 4:17]. The judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work, and takes place at a later period.”28

“At the time appointed for the judgment—the close of the 2300 days, in 1844—began the work of investigation and blotting out of sins. All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass its searching scrutiny. Both the living and the dead are to be judged ‘out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.’ ”29

“The books of record in heaven, in which the names and the deeds of men are registered, are to determine the decisions of the judgment. . . .

“The book of life contains the names of all who have ever entered the service of God. . . . [Luke 10:20, Philippians 4:3; Daniel 12:1; Revelation 21:27.]

“A book of remembrance is written before God, in which are recorded the good deeds of ‘them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name’ (Malachi 3:16; Nehemiah 13:14). . . . Every deed of righteousness is immortalized.

“There is a record also of the sins of men.”30 Every evil deed, every idle word spoken will be judged (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36, 37; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Isaiah 65:6, 7).

“Sins that have not been repented of and forsaken will not be pardoned and blotted out of the books of record, but will stand to witness against the sinner in the day of God. . . . Sin may be concealed, denied, covered up from father, mother, wife, children, and associates; no one but the guilty actors may cherish the least suspicion of the wrong; but it is laid bare before the intelligences of heaven. . . . God has an exact record of every unjust account and every unfair dealing.”31

“Every man’s work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered with terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling.”32 “How solemn is the thought! Day after day, passing into eternity, bears its burden of records for the books of heaven. . . . Our acts, our words, even our most secret motives . . . though they may be forgotten by us, they will bear their testimony to justify or condemn.”33

“If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1). See also Hebrews 9:24.

“As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance. . . .

“All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life.” [Isaiah 43:25; Revelation 3:5; Matthew 10:32, 33.]34

Our proper understanding of the work of investigative judgment requires us to take decisive action about our salvation.

“All who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be put away.”35

We need to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12.) “When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. Christ . . . declares: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.’ Revelation 22:11, 12.”36

“The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state—men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above. . . . Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man’s destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy’s offer to guilty men.

“ ‘Watch ye therefore: . . . lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping’ (Mark 13:35, 36). Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world. While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments—it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence: ‘Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.’ Daniel 5:27.”37

Not until God will have destroyed the author of sin, should the people of God consider themselves free from the burden of sin. Now is the time to afflict ourselves, deeply search our hearts and pray earnestly for the blotting out of our sins instead of the blotting out of our names from the book of life, Amen.