The Everlasting Covenant

Cleansing the Sanctuary

That tabernacle was cleansed with blood (Leviticus 16), an indication of the fact that it is the blood of Christ that cleanses the living sanctuary—our bodies. But whereas in that sanctuary the cleansing was done only periodically, in the real sanctuary it is a continual process. Just as the water of life constantly flows from God’s throne, so the blood of Christ constantly flows through the hearts of believers, cleansing them moment by moment; and as the blood is life, identical with the water of life (1 John 5:8), it must flow out as well as in; so out of him that believeth, whose heart is God’s throne, “shall flow rivers of living water,” and he shall be a source of life to others. This high calling Israel of old missed through unbelief. Let us take heed lest we fall after the same example of unbelief. EVCO 365.1

“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out.” ¹ It is worthy of note that this promise is in immediate connection with the statement by the Lord Jesus, “Behold I come quickly.” The sanctuary of the Lord is now defiled and broken down (Daniel 8:13; Acts 15:16); but before the coming of the Lord it is to be built up and cleansed; for Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it, “that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” ² EVCO 365.2

That God has a sanctuary in the heavens, and that Christ is priest there, cannot be doubted by anyone who reads the Scriptures. (See Hebrews 8:1, 2, etc.) But this sanctuary is as much greater than the figure that was built by Moses as heaven is greater than earth, or as the work of God is greater than any work of man. Of the work in this sanctuary in heaven it is not necessary to speak particularly here, since what we may know of it is indicated in the service of the priests in the earthly tabernacle, who served “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things.” But that sanctuary is a living place, as we learned in the view of God’s throne; and that men saved from sin on this earth are to become a part of it, is stated in Revelation 2:12, just quoted. Therefore it follows that the cleansing of the sanctuary—a work which is set forth in the Scriptures as immediately preceding the coming of the Lord—is coincident with complete cleansing of the people of God on this earth, and preparing them for translation when the Lord comes. EVCO 365.3