Within the broad spectrum of
Christianity there is one doctrine alone that seems unique to the Seventh-day
Adventist Church, and that is to do with Christ’s work in the heavenly
sanctuary. A sub-set of the doctrine is that of the Investigative Judgment
which is supposed to have commenced in 1844 when Jesus moved to a ministry in
the sanctuary’s holy of holies as a precursor to the Second Advent. This
teaching has come under attack both outside and inside the Church and continues
to be a divisive issue for Adventists.
It is not my
purpose here to give a critique of the doctrine. It is technical, based on an
understanding of the yearly rituals of the Old Testament sanctuary as described
in the Books of Moses, an interpretation of parts of the New Testament book of
Hebrews, apocalyptic prophecies in Daniel and Revelation, an obscure Hebrew
word in Daniel and an historic date that is challenged. These latter in
particular I am not prepared to discuss as it all comes down to a matter of
which learned doctor one believes.
There is one
thing I will say regarding the Investigative Judgement. The way it has been
used by some Adventist evangelists can strike fear into one’s heart. ‘Who
knows, tonight, at this very moment, you may be being judged. And if you are
not right with God then it may be too late. Tonight, right now, surrender your
heart to Jesus.’ Well, what if He has just crossed you off the list? According
to the evangelist’s theology once you’re crossed off your doom is sealed.
Not to
worry. According to Adventist theology there is no eternally burning hell fire
so you won’t fry forever. Maybe that is why some evangelists use this approach
– they can’t fear you into the kingdom with the threat of hell fire so they
must rely on some other perversion of Scripture.
Now I am prepared to concede that the Church’s
basic understanding of the doctrine may be correct. After all, there is clear
reference in the Book of Hebrews to a sanctuary in heaven and the Book of
Revelation is rich with Old Testament sanctuary imagery. But if it is correct
there are other references to the sanctuary in the Bible, especially the
Psalms, that help give a completely different picture to that given by
evangelists as described above.
Interestingly,
the first use of the word ‘sanctuary’ in Scripture appears in Exodus 15. God
has just led Israel through the Red Sea. The waters have closed over the
Egyptian pursuers and now the people celebrate their deliverance. Moses leads
the people in singing, recounting God’s mighty deeds and looking forward to the
time God will bring them safely to the Promised Land.
You will bring them in and plant them on your
own mountain — the place, O Lord, reserved for your own dwelling, the
sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established. (Ex.15:17)
This verse finds a parallel in Psalm 114:2: ‘the land of
Judah became God’s sanctuary, and Israel became his kingdom.’
In the above
the mountain of God, the place reserved for His dwelling, and the sanctuary,
are one and the same. It is the place where the Israelites were to find rest,
to be free from the fear of their enemies, to prosper and enjoy long life. The
word ‘sanctuary’ itself implies a place of refuge, of protection, a safe place.
The word
‘sanctuary’ appears 22 times in the Psalms. Here it is overwhelmingly a place
of safety, the place where God dwells and where He acts to protect His people,
or from which He hears their cries of distress. A selection of these is
discussed below.
The
sanctuary is synonymous with the dwelling place of God:
- Ps. 15:1 ‘Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?
- Ps. 26:8 ‘I love your sanctuary, Lord, the place where your glorious presence dwells.’
- Ps. 63:2 ‘I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.’
It is on earth:
- Ps. 78:69 ‘There he built his sanctuary as high as the heavens, as solid and enduring as the earth.’ When see in the context of Psalm 68 this clearly refers to Mount Zion.
- Ps 68:17 ‘Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots, the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.’ Again, a clear reference to Mount Zion.
- Ps 74:3,7 ‘Walk through the awful ruins of the city; see how the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary … They burned your sanctuary to the ground. They defiled the place that bears your name.’
And in heaven:
- Ps. 102:19 ‘Tell them the Lord looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven.’
- Ps. 150:1 ‘Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven!’
In times of trouble the Psalmist
turns to God in his sanctuary:
- Ps. 18:6 ‘But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.’
- Ps. 28:2 ‘Listen to my prayer for mercy as I cry out to you for help, as I lift my hands toward your holy sanctuary.’
It is a place where God provides
refuge for His people, a safe place:
- Ps. 27:5 ‘For he will conceal me there [in His temple] when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock.’
- Ps. 61:4 ‘Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!’
How do these ideas of refuge,
safety, of the sanctuary as the place from which God hears the prayers of His
people, align with other Biblical teaching on judgment? When the evidence
is considered I believe there is harmony.
The Old Testament prophet Daniel
had a series of visions. These are recorded in the book that bears his name. In
chapter 7 he sees four strange beasts come up out of the sea. We are not left
to guess the meaning of the visions for the interpretation is given in the same
chapter. The first three beasts represent the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-Persia,
and Greece. The fourth is not identified but given the sequential nature of the
first three it must follow Greece. This beast has generally been identified as
Rome. There are some things worth noting about this animal:
- It is the last power of the vision, and it continues until God intervenes in world affairs to establish His eternal kingdom.
- He is ‘different from the other beasts …’ It is described as terrifying, cruel, destructive and universal.
- It has 10 horns, and from amongst these arises another horn that uproots three others. This horn is proud, arrogant and blasphemous. He defies God, tries to change God’s laws, oppresses God’s people and has authority over them.
Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece
all ruled over the ‘Holy Land’. Under
Nebuchadnezzar Babylon destroyed God’s temple and carried His people into
exile. None of these however are described in the same terms as the fourth
power. It alone is described in terms of warfare with God, challenging His
authority and oppressing His people. Unlike the other beasts this one has
eschatological connotations.
As this beast rails against God
and continues his destructive ways on earth a court convenes in heaven. The Scripture says that ‘the books were
opened’ (Dan. 7:10), which can only mean that the evidence is being examined.
This is an open and transparent process with millions of witnesses.
The scene is not like our
criminal courts where the alleged criminal stands accused before the judge for
a crime against the state. It is more aligned with our civil courts where the
judged is asked to rule in favour of one citizen over another, such as when one
sues another for injury or other loss. The two parties in this case are the
people of God and the Little Horn Power. In this case the court rules in favour
of God’s people (v.22). The beast that ruled the world is stripped of its power
and this is transferred to God’s people who will rule the earth forever (v.22,
26-27).
Unlike the scene portrayed by the
evangelist above, the picture is not one of an individual standing before the
judge having to answer for his or her crimes. Rather, it is that of a group of people
seeking redress for a wrong committed against them. God acts from heaven, His
dwelling place, His sanctuary, to deliver His people from oppression and
injustice and to restore to them dominion over the earth, the dominion that was
lost when Adam sinned. For those who believe, the judgement is not an event to
be feared. Rather, it is something to look forward to with joyful expectation.
The book of Revelation was first
heard by first century Christians who were being persecuted by Rome. Its
message brought assurance that those who remained faithful to God would
ultimately be vindicated and rewarded and that tyranny and oppression would
end. Throughout the book the focus shifts between events on earth and events in
heaven. On earth we see apostasy, persecution, and calamity. Above there is
assurance that God remains in control, that His purpose is being fulfilled on
earth, and that the future of His people is assured. They will emerge
triumphant over the forces of darkness.
Sanctuary imagery is found throughout
Revelation. The ‘seven golden lampstands’ (Rev. 1:12), the ‘Lamb that looked as
if it had been slaughtered’ (5:6), the martyrs under the altar (6:9), ‘his
Temple’ (7:15), incense (8:4) and ‘the Ark of his covenant’ (11:19) are a few
examples. Those that ‘died in the great tribulation … stand in front of God’s
throne and serve him day and night in
his Temple’ (Rev.7:14, 15). God’s throne is in His Temple, or His sanctuary. Here
He dwells and from here He rules the universe.
The prayers of His people ascend
to the throne (Rev. 8:3,4). God proclaims His judgements on the earth from the
Temple (Rev. 16:1-7). Those that overcome, that is, remain faithful to Jesus
through turmoil and persecution, are seen standing before Him in front of the
Throne (Rev. 7:9). In Revelation 14 three angels are seen flying in the midst
of Heaven, dispatched from the Throne. They have good news to proclaim, and
that is that the time has come for God to judge. These angels call the faithful
out of Babylon, which represents all that are opposed to God, so that they will
not partake in her punishment.
The picture portrayed in
Revelation echoes that of the Psalms. God reigns from His sanctuary. From here He
hears the prayers of His faithful people as they endure tribulation on earth.
He acts in response to those prayers to assure, comfort and rescue His people.
In Psalm 73:17 the Psalmist
writes: ‘Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the
destiny of the wicked’. It may appear that the wicked rule the earth and that
there is no real point in standing up for justice and righteousness. But those
who look to the sanctuary have the assurance that justice and righteousness
will finally triumph and that God will act to judge evil.
Today too many people are fleeing
oppression and persecution to seek refuge, or sanctuary, in a safe land. We
understand that a sanctuary is a place of safety. The same is true of God’s
sanctuary. It is where He dwells and from where He acts to protect, to provide
a safe place for His people. Any doctrine, any presentation of the Heavenly
Sanctuary which evokes fear, which presents a harsh and judgemental God, is a perversion
of the Truth. For in the time of trouble, the time of Judgment, the Sanctuary
is a safe refuge for those who flee to it. Those that are held safe in the sanctuary
during the time of judgement will emerge triumphant, and inherit the earth made
new. This is what the Sanctuary is all about.
Copyright Notice
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale
House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189. All rights reserved
