When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, He also gave him the blueprints for one of the most mysterious structures ever built—the sanctuary. It was so important, the Israelites could not enter the Promised Land until it was completed.
But did you know that even today, more than 3,000 years later, the sanctuary plays a significant role in God’s plan for His people? A careful look into the secrets of the sanctuary will crystallize your understanding of how Jesus saves the lost and leads the church.
Q. What did God ask Moses to build?
- “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8).
The purpose for the sanctuary that God asked Moses to build was so that God Himself could dwell among His people. You can find the description of the sanctuary in Exodus 26 and 27.
Q. What did God expect His people to learn from the sanctuary?
- “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?” (Psalms 77:13).
God’s plan of salvation is revealed in the earthly sanctuary. The Bible teaches that everything in the sanctuary or connected with its service was a symbol of something Jesus would do in saving us. This means that we can fully comprehend the plan of salvation when we understand the beautiful symbolism connected with the sanctuary.
Q. The earthly sanctuary was actually a copy of the sanctuary in heaven.
- “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. … 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 shewed to thee in the mount” (Hebrews 8:1, 2, 5).
The blueprint for the earthly sanctuary was given to Moses by God, and it was a copy of the original sanctuary in heaven.
Q. What's inside the sanctuary?
You have, of course, heard of the Ark of the Covenant. That was located in the Most Holy Place, one of the rooms inside the sanctuary. Inside that Ark were the tablets of stone upon which God wrote the Ten Commandments.
Elsewhere inside the sanctuary were items like the altar of burnt offerings, the laver, table of shewbread, and a seven-branch candlestick. These and other items represented some part of Jesus' ministry on behalf of sinners.
To learn more about this fascination topic,
see our Study Guide: "God Drew the Plans."
andWatch Pastor Doug's video presentation!