Bible Truth Versus Adventist Truth The Sanctuary and Dan. 8:14

Adventist Truth about The Sanctuary and Dan. 8:14 Seventh-day Adventists teach the following regarding the The Sanctuary and Dan. 8:14: 1. The sanctuary in the Old Testament is a replica of the heavenly sanctuary. The acts that the Israelite Priests performed in the earthly sanctuary have been performed by Christ in the heavenly sanctuary since his acsension. 2. When Christ ascended to heaven He entered the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, the Holy Place, and remained there performing work similar to that of the earthly priests in the Holy Place of the Temple. 3. Christ remained in the Holy Place until October 22, 1844, when He moved from the Holy Place into the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, the Most Holy Place, to begin cleansing the heavenly sanctuary (Dan. 8:14) by performing the Investigative Judgment of the "Day of Atonement". 4. Adventists teach that just as the sins of the Israelites were laid upon the lamb, carried into the temple by the lamb's blood, and sprinkled on the vail by the priest, so the confessed sins of Christians are transferred into the heavenly sanctuary by the blood of Jesus. As the sins accumulate in the heavenly sanctuary, it becomes "defiled" and needs cleansing. 5. The earthly sanctuary was cleansed on the Day of Atonement when the high priest took blood into the Most Holy Place and sprinkled it on the mercy seat. Likewise, Adventists say the same process occurs in the heavenly sanctuary which has become defiled by the confession of sin. In 1844 Christ began the Day of Atonement process in heaven.

Problems with Adventist Truth about The Sanctuary and Dan. 8:14 Here are some problems with Adventist teachings regarding The Sanctuary and Dan. 8:14. 1. Christ entered the Most Holy Place at His Ascension, not in 1844 - By comparing the Biblical evidence found in the Old Testament description of the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16) with the New Testament description of the Day of Atonement (Heb. 9) we can determine exactly when the Day of Atonement happened. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us. (Heb. 9:24) Where in the sanctuary does the Bible teach that the "presence of God" exists? And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. (Lev. 16:2) The place of the Lord's presence in the Old Testament tabernacle was upon the mercy seat in the Most Holy Place. In order for Christ to have entered into the "presence of God" He must have entered into the Most Holy Place to appear before the mercy seat of God. This is further validated by the fact that when Jesus went to heaven he sat down next to God: But this man {Christ}, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. (Hebrews 10:12) 2. Jesus Opened the Door to the Most Holy Place at His ascension - Adventists teach that Jesus opened the door to the Most Holy Place in 1844, but the Bible teaches differently: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us... (Heb. 10:19,20) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:15) Jesus opened the way for us to enter into the Most Holy Place so that we could bring our petitions directly to the "throne of grace." The "throne of grace" is the Mercy Seat in the Most Holy Place where the "presence of God" abides. How could sinful humans have had access to the holiest if Christ Himself was not ministering in the Holiest and if the door was not even opened until 1844? 3. Jesus Christ is the veil - All of the items in the Old Testament tabernacle pointed to the ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. The "veil" in the earthly sanctuary the separated the Holy Pace from the Most Holy Place was a symbol used to represent the work of Jesus: Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. (Heb. 10:19,20) The Bible teaches that there is not a piece of cloth hanging in heaven between the apartments of the Sanctuary, but that Jesus Christ is Himself the "veil!" Note what happened when Christ died on the cross: And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. (Mark 15:38) The tearing of the veil indicated that Christ had opened up the way into the Most Holy Place. Christ Himself is the veil that was "rent". Just as the Levitical priesthood ministered in the earthly tabernacle, the "royal priesthood" (1 Pet. 2:9) of believers has access to the heavenly tabernacle. Unlike the Levitical priesthood, however, the "royal priesthood" has direct access to the "throne of grace" through the "new and living way" that Christ has opened for us through the veil, which is His body. Therefore, we have access to the Most Holy Place through Christ. 4. Was the Sanctuary "cleansed" in 1844? - Adventists have calculated a 2300-year time period that ends in 1844. They claim that the Investigative Judgment (cleansing of the Sanctuary) began in 1844 based upon Daniel 8:14, which says: And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. (Dan 8:14) Adventists teach that the "sanctuary" in this verse is the heavenly sanctuary, and that it is being "cleansed" from the sins of the righteous during the Day of Atonement process. In order to test that claim, one should read the preceeding context which is found in verses 9-13: Out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. It grew great, even to the host of heaven; and some of the host of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled upon them. It magnified itself, even up to the Prince of the host; and the continual burnt offering was taken away from him, and the place of his sanctuary was overthrown. And the host was given over to it together with the continual burnt offering through transgression; and truth was cast down to the ground, and the horn acted and prospered. Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to the one that spoke, "For how long is the vision concerning the continual burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled under foot?" (Dan. 8:9-13 RSV) Adventists teach that the "little horn" power represents Catholicism which ascended to power during the dark ages and persecuted Christians. They claim that the papacy established its own priesthood and obscured Christ's work in the sanctuary: "Papal Rome effectively obscured the priestly, mediatorial ministry of Christ in behalf of sinners in the heavenly sanctuary (see Heb. 8:1,2) by substituting a priesthood that purports to offer forgiveness through the mediation of men. This apostate power would be quite successful, for 'he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered' (Dan. 8:12)."1 Carefully think this through. Adventists teach "Papal Rome" was the little horn power of Daniel 8:9-12 that defiled the heavenly sanctuary by substituting its own priesthood. Then, in Daniel 8:13, the question is asked: How long will the defilement continue? Or, using Adventist reasoning, "How long will Rome be permitted to defile the Sanctuary?" Verse 14 answers the question posed in verse 13 by saying that after 2300 days, "then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." Cleansed from what? From the defilement in verses 9-12. Adventists say that Rome defiled the sanctuary, so one would think that in order to be consistent, Adventists would teach that the "cleansing" refers to ending Rome's defilement of the heavenly sanctuary. But they do not! Instead, they switch to a completely different subject, and say that the "cleansing" of the sanctuary has nothing to do with Rome, but is talking about cleansing the sins of the righteous from the heavenly sanctuary during the Day of Atonement! Adventists take the question asked in verse 13 and answer an entirely different question in verse 14! Instead of verse 13 asking how long was the little horn power to defile the sanctuary, Adventists have changed the question in verse 13 to "How long will the heavenly sanctuary be defiled by the confessed sins of God's people?" This is a completely different question than the one asked in the Bible! The Bible truth is: Daniel 8 never mentions anything that took place on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16) Daniel 8 never mentions an offering for sin or a scapegoat Daniel 8 never mentions the sins of the righteous Daniel 8 never mentions an atonement for sins Daniel 8 never mentions that "sins" are defiling the sanctuary The idea that confessed sins are transferred to the sanctuary and defiling it is not found anywhere in the passage of Daniel 8. Look at what various Seventh-day Adventist scholars have written regarding this problem: C.L. Price: "What has defiled the sanctuary and made necessary its 'cleansing' is its defilement by the little horn. Confessed sins are not referred to at all; that is an alien thought, wholly brought in by the Adventist writers themselves."2 Dr. Desmond Ford: "When would heaven intervene and stop the wicked aggressor? Verse 14 was the answer to that inquiry. But SDAs refuse to connect the two! Instead, they jump from the theme of evil deeds by an anti-God power to the theme of sins of the saints defiling a heavenly sanctuary. Let it not be missed: the context says nothing about believers defiling anything. Nor do the Old or New Testaments anywhere else teach that confessed sins defile the heavenly sanctuary. Even on earth the sanctuary of Moses was defiled by the act of sin, not by its confession. (Num. 19:13,20; Lev. 20:3)"3 Dr. Robert Brinsmead: "In the context of Daniel 8:14, 'cleansing the sanctuary' means cleansing it from the pollution of the desolator (see Dan. 11:31 for a parallel scripture). To introduce into Daniel 8:14 the idea of cleansing the sanctuary from the confessed sins of the saints is not only a diversion but contrary to the context. The sanctuary is defiled not by the confessed sins of the saints, but by the evil actions of the little horn. (Even in the Old Testament tabernacle, which the Adventist interpretation brings in at this point, what defiled wasn't confessed sins but covenant-breaking and unconfessed sin.)"4 Dr. Raymond Cottrell: "In 1958 the Review and Herald Publishing Association needed new printing plates for the classic book Bible Readings, and it was decided to revise it where necessary to agree with the Commentary. Coming again to the Book of Daniel I determined to try once more to find a way to be absolutely faithful to both Daniel and the traditional Adventist interpretation of 8:14, but again found it impossible. I then formulated six questions regarding the Hebrew text of the passage and its context, which I submitted to every college teacher versed in Hebrew and every head of the religion department in all of our North American colleges---all personal friends of mine. Without exception they replied that there is no linguistic or contextual basis for the traditional Adventist interpretation of Daniel 8:14."5

Bible Truth about the The Sanctuary and Dan. 8:14 The Bible truth is that the atonement took place at Christ's ascension. This is why Paul could talk about already receiving the atonement: We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. (Rom. 5:11) How could Paul have received the atonement if it did not take place until 1844? The book of Hebrews outlines the parallels and differences between the Old Testament Day of Atonement and Christ's heavenly ministry: Leviticus 16 Hebrews Thus shall Aaron [the High Priest] come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. (16:3) But Christ being come an high priest... Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (9:11,12) And he shall take a censer full of burning coals...and bring it within the veil: And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat... (16:12,13) ...which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (6:19,20) Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins... (16:15,16) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ... It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these... (9:13,14,23) And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. (16:21,22) ...the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all...for he shall bear their iniquities. (Isaiah 53:6,11) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many... Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (9:28, 13:12,13) For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD. (16:30) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (10:10,12,14) Conclusion There is not a single word in the New Testament indicating that Christ would move from the Holy to the Most Holy Place in 1844 or at any other point in human history. On the contrary, all the Biblical evidence points to Christ fulfilling the symbology of the Day of Atonement when he ascended into Heaven: Christ came as a High Priest to His temple (Heb. 9:11). He entered by His own blood (Heb. 9:12). He purified the heavenly copies with His blood (Heb. 9:23). He appeared in the Most Holy Place before the presence of God (Heb. 9:24). His blood cleansed His people from their sin (Heb. 9:14). The atonement is a finished work and Christ "sat down on the right hand of God" (Heb. 10:12) At His ascension Christ fulfilled every one of the aspects of the Day of Atonement as described in Leviticus 16! His work of atonement is complete and finished "for ever", and to symbolize the completeness of His task, Hebrews says that Christ "sat down on the right hand of God." Jesus would not have sat down if there was still a work of atonement to perform. It is finished.

Your Questions about The Sanctuary and Dan. 8:14 QUESTION: Ellen White, teaches in her book Great Controversy: "As the sins of the people were anciently transferred in figure, to the earthly sanctuary by the blood of the sin offering, so our sins are, in fact, transferred the heavenly sanctuary by the blood of Christ." Don't these sins defile the heavenly sanctuary? Doesn't it have to be cleansed from all of the sins that are accumulating there? ANSWER6: The Bible presents the blood of Christ as the cleansing medium for sin. It is never represented as defiling in any sense. To teach that the blood of Christ defiled the heavenly sanctuary is a close kin to blasphemy. All the Christians of the world have always believed and taught that the blood of Christ cleansed from all sin, but the [SDA] denomination, in order to maintain the creed, are driven to the extreme of making the blood of Christ a medium of defilement. No wonder this blasphemous statement has been eliminated from all recent editions of Great Controversy; but the fact still remains that this was published by the author and accepted by the denomination as a revelation from God.

Links for Deeper Study about The Sanctuary and Dan. 8:14 SDA Sanctuary Teaching Examined by E.S. Ballenger Judged by the Gospel by Dr. Robert Brinsmead Should a Question be Answered? by C.L. Price The "Sanctuary Doctrine" – Asset or Liability? by Dr. Raymond F. Cottrell

 

1. Seventh-day Adventists Believe, p. 322, Review and Herald (1989).

2. C. L. Price, "Should a Question be Answered? A Study of Daniel 8:14 in New Light on Old Problems (1973).

3. Desmond Ford, Daniel 8:14.

4. Robert Brinsmead, Judged by the Gospel.

5. Raymond F. Cottrell, The "Sanctuary Doctrine" – Asset or Liability?

6. E.S. Ballenger, "SDA Sanctuary Teaching Examined".