Humanity as a whole has many questions about God and His activities, but where can such knowledge be found? In the Bible? Yes, in the Bible’s many chapters devoted to the subject of the sanctuary. However, many who have tried reading and understanding these portions of the Bible find it difficult to understand and even uninteresting with the many details given.

What to do? How can we make out the meaning of this information in the Bible? No worries, in this post we will unravel the mysteries of the sanctuary particularly as it relates to God’s throne.

Our Bible Verse of Focus

To begin, let us consider our Bible verse of focus: “And he [Solomon] reared up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; and called the name of that on the right hand Jachin, and the name of that on the left Boaz.” 2 Chronicles 3:17.

(Note that “2 Chronicles 3:17” is a reference to the Bible, which is a collection of books. In the Bible, each book consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. The quotation above referred to as “2 Chronicles 3:17” is taken from the book of 2 Chronicles in the Bible, the 3^rd chapter, and the 17^th verse.)

The term “sanctuary” is used interchangeably in the Bible with the terms “tabernacle” (Exodus 25:9) and “the temple of the LORD.” 1 Samuel 1:9. Likewise, the terms, sanctuary, tabernacle, and temple, will be used interchangeably in this post.

Solomon’s Temple

The wilderness sanctuary of the Jewish people was built by Moses and was so constructed that it could be moved from place to place. This sanctuary was replaced by Solomon’s Temple. This Temple was patterned after the wilderness sanctuary. The Temple was a permanent structure constructed on a larger scale, and which had the same proportions and was similarly furnished as the wilderness sanctuary.

Our Bible verse of focus refers to the raising up of two pillars before Solomon’s temple. The pillar on the right was named “Jachin” (2 Chronicles 3:17) which is translated “He shall establish.” The pillar on the left was named “Boaz” (2 Chronicles 3:17) which is translated “In Him is strength.”

What is the significance of these names? The three things, namely, the pillar on the right, the temple itself, and the pillar on the left are representative of the divine Family. This Family, known as the Godhead in the Bible, consists of three divine Persons, namely, the Father, the Son called Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

The wilderness sanctuary was the place where God said to the Israelite (Jewish) leader, Moses, “There I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee.” Exodus 25:22. In other words, God, in the form of the holy Shekinah, the visible manifestation of God’s glory, met with Moses in the sanctuary. Similarly then, Solomon’s Temple was the place where God’s presence was manifested at times.

“A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.” Jeremiah 17:12. Both the wilderness sanctuary and Solomon’s Temple had an outer court representing the earth. However, the tabernacle itself in the wilderness sanctuary and the Solomon’s Temple itself were a representation of God’s throne in heaven.

The Throne of God in Heaven

The Bible indicates that the Father sent the Son called Christ to be born on earth in human flesh as a baby boy named “Jesus.” Matthew 1:21. Christ, after His return to heaven from the earth, sent the Holy Spirit to be with His disciples on earth in a special way.

Therefore, we can say that the Father is the first Person of the Godhead, Christ the second Person, and the Holy Spirit the Third Person of the Godhead.

Solomon’s Temple then represented the Father set down on His throne. Since, “Jesus [Christ]…is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2), we know that the Holy Spirit is set down on the left hand of the throne of God.

The Significance of the Pillars

We now know then that the pillar on the right of Solomon’s Temple named “Jachin” (2 Chronicles 3:17) represented Christ, and the pillar on the left named “Boaz” (2 Chronicles 3:17) represented the Holy Spirit.

The name “Jachin” (2 Chronicles 3:17) meaning “He shall establish” represented Christ who would establish, that is, confirm, God’s promise to save humanity from eternal death (annihilation).

Likewise, the name “Boaz” (2 Chronicles 3:17) represented the Holy Spirit,“the LORD [who] will give [moral] strength unto his people.” Psalm 29:11. This moral strength keeps the individual from sinning, from doing evil.

The Heavenly Sanctuary

The wilderness sanctuary and Solomon’s Temple were each “a worldly sanctuary” (Hebrews 9:1) in that they were located on earth.

In addition, there exists another sanctuary which is “the temple of God…in heaven.” Revelation 11:19. This sanctuary in heaven is “the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Hebrews 8:2.

So then, the wilderness sanctuary was a copy of the heavenly sanctuary which is the great original. For “Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle [on earth]…See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed [shown] to thee in the mount.” Hebrews 8:5.

The Ark

Beyond the second veil of both the wilderness sanctuary and Solomon’s Temple was the “ark” . (Exodus 25:10) with its lid known as the “mercy seat.” Exodus 25:17.

Inside the ark on earth were “two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God” (Exodus 31:18) and on which was written “the ten commandments.” Exodus 34:28. These commandments are also known as “God’s law.” Nehemiah 10:29. “The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.” Romans 7:12.

Likewise, in “the temple of God…in heaven, and there…[is] seen in his temple the ark” (Revelation 11:19) containing God’s law.

Now “the LORD [God] hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.” Psalm 103:19. “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy [God’s] throne.” Psalm 89:14. In other words, the foundation of God’s government which rules over all the universe is judgment and justice. This is signified by the ark in heaven which contains God’s law and which also represents God’s throne.

The ark then with its mercy seat represents the blending of mercy and justice in the gospel. This gospel is God’s plan to save humanity from the penalty of eternal death (annihilation) for their sins.

Lessons Taught by the Sanctuary

Why did God give humanity the sanctuary? It was a tool to teach all humanity regarding heavenly realities in that the sanctuary reveals how God deals with sin.

Now the earthly sanctuary had a tent with two “rooms.” The first room to the front was known as the Holy Place, and the second room to the back was known as the Most Holy Place. The ministration of the sanctuary services by the priests in these two rooms taught lessons regarding God’s dealing with sins.

The sanctuary services had two divisions, a daily and a yearly division. Daily, through the sacrificial system, the priests ministered in the Holy Place, while once a year the high priest ministered in the Most Holy Place, where the ark was located, for the cleansing of the sanctuary.

Significance of the Sacrificial System

What is the sacrificial system? It is a system that was instituted by God when God clothed Adam and Eve with the skin of a slain animal.

The sacrificed animal, an innocent victim, pointed to the death of Christ “for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2), Christ the just dying for the unjust. Thus, from the time of Adam and Eve, the sins of the repentant sinner were placed by faith upon the sin offering which was a slain animal.

God required two things of the individual who made the sin offering. First, God required that they repent of their sins. Second, the sinner was to have faith in God’s promise that Christ would die in the sinner’s place for their sins. That is, the sinner was to have faith that by the imparting of Christ’s righteousness to the sinner, they may cease from sinning and, hence, become holy.

You may ask why is faith in Christ so important? The reason is that without faith in Christ, we do not give God our permission for God to impart to us the gift of Christ’s righteousness, which is the very means by which we must be saved. That is, without faith, we cut ourselves off from the channel of blessing. So, we cannot be saved for God will not force anyone to become holy. Anyone who so chooses, will remain a sinner and receive eternal death (annihilation) from God.

Furthermore, how could God grant eternal life and take to heaven those who had no belief in, or gratitude, for the infinite cost to God to save them from eternal death (annihilation)? Such unbelief and ingratitude is sin and no sinners will be saved in heaven.

Only when the sinner met these two conditions, were their sins forgiven, the righteousness of Christ credited to them, so that God henceforth viewed them as if they had never sinned. In addition, Christ’s righteousness was imparted to them so that they became holy.

The Sanctuary and the Sacrificial System

When ancient Israel built the wilderness sanctuary, in the daily sanctuary service, the sins confessed were by faith transferred, figuratively, by blood of the sin offering to this earthly sanctuary. In fact, though, the sins were transferred to the heavenly sanctuary.

Likewise, during the time of Solomon’s Temple, the sins of the repentant were, figuratively, transferred to the Temple and also transferred, in fact, to the heavenly sanctuary.

When Christ died “for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2), all the sins that would ever be committed by humanity were placed upon Him. By His death, Christ exhausted the penalty of death for the sins of all humanity who would ever live.

At Christ’s death, therefore, the sacrificial system which God instituted from the time of Adam and Eve came to an end. For there was no longer a need to look forward by faith to the death of Christ for sins since this was now a reality. Henceforth, repentant sinners were to look back by faith to the death of Christ which had come to pass.

Therefore, after the death of Christ, the sins of the repentant sinner were no longer, by faith, transferred to an earthly sanctuary. Instead, they were placed upon Christ, humanity’s Sin Bearer, and also transferred, in fact, to the heavenly sanctuary.

So, we see that in every case the sins of the repentant were transferred, in fact, to the heavenly sanctuary.

The Cleansing of the Sanctuary

In the yearly service of the earthly sanctuary, it was cleansed by the removal of all the sins by which the sanctuary was polluted. These sins from the earthly sanctuary were placed on the head of a “scapegoat” (Leviticus 16:8) which was let go into the wilderness to die.

Likewise, the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of all the sins which are recorded there. These sins from the heavenly sanctuary will then be placed upon Satan, the instigator of all sin in the universe, who will be punished with death for all these sins including his own sins.

But before the heavenly sanctuary can be cleansed, there must be a judgment which entails an examination of the books of record to determine those who, by repentance and faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of Christ’s death for all sins.

Judgment

So, God says to all humanity, “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty” (James 2:12), which is “the royal law.” James 2:8.

For God hates evil and He will judge all of His created intelligences, including the angels and humanity, according to their deeds and see that justice is done. Those who have done good will be rewarded by God with eternal life. On the other hand, those who have done evil will be condemned by God to eternal death (annihilation).

God’s judgment of humanity is a three-phase judgment and we will now look at each phase.

Judgment Phase 1: The Investigative Judgment

The examination of the books of record in the heavenly sanctuary is a work of judgment known as the Investigative Judgment. In this judgment, an investigation is made into the records of every human being who has ever repented of their sins. The investigation is made to determine if the individual has any sins for which they have not repented and to determine if they had faith in Christ. This is a judgment of both the living and the dead.

In the investigative judgment, the eternal destiny of all humanity is decided by Christ and then confirmed by the holy angels, as the angels themselves look at the records of all humanity.

At the end of the investigative judgment, Christ returns to the earth and He says, “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12.

Judgment Phase 2: Judgment by the Righteous

When Christ returns to the earth, both the righteous living and the righteous dead receive their reward. This is the second phase of the judgment.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we [righteous] which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. “This is the first resurrection.” Revelation 20:5.

However, at Christ’s return the wicked living are those upon whom God “in flaming fire [is] taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8. Thus, all the wicked living die at Christ’s return.

Next, when all the righteous among humanity are in heaven, according to a disciple of Christ named John, “[In a vision] I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and…they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4.

During the thousand years, the righteous, known as the saints, look at the records of every individual who was not taken to heaven with Christ. Thus, God gives the saints the opportunity to confirm or reject His judgment of the wicked. Since all the saints have “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16) they will all agree with God’s judgment of the wicked.

Judgment Phase 3: Judgment Executed

“But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” Revelation 20:5. Hence, the third and final phase of the judgment occurs at the end of the thousand years. At that time all the wicked dead of humanity are resurrected, that is, brought to life again.

John writes, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Revelation 20:12.

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:15. “This is the second death.” Revelation 20:14. “And the devil [Satan] that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.” Revelation 20:10. Thus, all the wicked of humanity, including Satan and his evil angels, “they shall be as though they had not been.” Obadiah 1:16. They shall cease to exist forever.

Effect of God’s Handling of Sin

By the judgment of the righteous, the heavenly sanctuary is cleansed of all their sins of which they have repented and been forgiven by God. By the judgment and punishment of the wicked, God would have cleansed the universe from sinners and all sin. Moreover, God’s promise is that “He [God] will make an utter end: affliction [sin] shall not rise up the second time.” Nahum 1:9.

Conclusion

Our Bible verse of focus, 2 Chronicles 3:17, refers to the throne of God in heaven. God’s throne is one of judgment and justice and this was represented in the heavenly sanctuary by the ark with the ten commandments known as God’s law.

Associated with the earthly sanctuary was the sacrificial system by which the sins of the repentant were transferred, figuratively, to the earthly sanctuary. In fact, though, these sins were transferred to the heavenly sanctuary.

Once a year, the earthly sanctuary was cleansed of sins and this pointed to the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary of sins. It is by means of the judgment of humanity that the heavenly sanctuary is to be cleansed.

This will be a three-phase judgment and will result in, not only the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, but also the cleansing of the universe of all sinners and sin. God’s promise is that sin will never arise again in the universe.

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

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