The Sanctuary and the Twenty-three Hundred Days of Daniel 8:14

22 BETWEEN THE CHERUBIM

AND still another attempt is made to find an objection to the view we advocate, that Christ commenced his ministry as priest in the first apartment of the sanctuary in Heaven when he ascended up on high. It is framed on this wise: God is spoken of as dwelling between the cherubim. These cherubim were on the ends of the mercy-seat, which was the cover of the ark; and the ark was always in the most holy place, or second apartment of the sanctuary. This, therefore, being God’s fixed location, when Christ ascended up to the right hand of the Father on high, he of necessity entered where God was, into the most holy place, and hence did not commence his ministry in the holy place. STTHD 230.1

The passages which contain the expression, “Between the cherubims,” are the following: Exodus 25:22; Numbers 7:89; 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15; Psalm 80:1; 99:1; Isaiah 37:16; Ezekiel 10:2, 6, 7. It will be noticed that all are from Old Testament writers. The first four refer directly to the ark of the tabernacle. Of the remaining passages,, two refer to the one expression made by Hezekiah in his prayer, and two are used by David, the three being evidently borrowed from the sanctuary service. The passages from Ezekiel record what he saw when he had visions of God. STTHD 230.2

Before these passages can be made available for our opponents, it must be shown, STTHD 231.1

First, That God immovably fixed himself to that position between the cherubim on the ark, and did not meet nor commune with his people from any other place. But this is contrary to the record; for at times he met with both Moses and the children of Israel at the door of the tabernacle. Exodus 29:42, 43; 33:9, 10. And again, was God dwelling between the cherubim of the ark when the sons of Eli rashly took it out to battle, and it fell into the hands of the Philistines? It must be shown, STTHD 231.2

Secondly, That even though God did meet and commune with his servants from between the cherubim of the ark here below, so much so that it is spoken of as his dwelling-place, it must also be so in Heaven. But this would not inevitably follow; for in his intercourse with men this might be the best mode of procedure, but not necessarily so in Heaven. It must be shown, STTHD 231.3

Thirdly, That the cherubim between whom God dwells on high are the cherubim of the ark. But this cannot be shown; for it appears from Ezekiel’s vision of God and his throne, in Ezekiel, chaps. 1 and 10, that the throne of God itself is a living throne, supported by the most exalted order of cherubim. And the most appropriate representation of this fact that could be given here on earth was to designate the locality between the cherubim over the ark, as his dwelling-place in his ordinary intercourse with the human race. It must be shown, STTHD 232.1

Fourthly, That God’s throne in Heaven is immovably fixed to one place. But this cannot be shown; for in Ezekiel’s vision above referred to it is represented as full of awful life and unapproachable majesty, and moving whithersoever the Spirit was to go. And as in the earthly tabernacle, so here, it sometimes stood at the door of the Lord’s house. Ezekiel 10:18, 19. It must be shown, STTHD 232.2

Fifthly, That the declaration that Christ ascended to the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens, signifies locality, rather than position in respect to exaltation and power. But this cannot be shown; for even when Christ appears coming in the clouds of heaven, he is said to be sitting on the right hand of power. Matthew 26:64. STTHD 232.3

Thus the argument of our opponents fails them at every step. STTHD 233.1

We have seen from Ezekiel’s sublime description that God’s throne is in itself a throne of life and motion. The Creator of the universe, the Upholder and Ruler of all this vast realm, is not immovably confined to any one locality. And yet he dwells between the cherubim, because his throne itself is upheld by those wonderful beings. We now have evidence to show that when Christ commenced his ministry above, on the throne of his Father, that throne was in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. STTHD 233.2

1. John says, in the 4th chapter of the Revelation, “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in Heaven.” He thus introduces us, not merely into Heaven, but into some apartment in Heaven. Therein he saw the throne of God, in all its majesty and glory, and before the throne he beheld seven lamps of fire, which are, beyond question, the antitype of the candlestick with its seven lamps, which had its position in the holy place, or first apartment of the sanctuary. Christ is then introduced into the scene, described both as the lion of the tribe of Judah, and as a lamb as it had been slain, signifying at once his sacrificial work as priest, and his position of exaltation and power with God; and he takes the book sealed with seven seals, and begins to break the seals and unroll the book for the benefit of his people. And the first seal opens with the first, or apostolic, church. Thus the scene opens with the commencement of Christ’s ministry, and at that time the throne of God was in the first apartment of the sanctuary, where the antitype of the golden candlestick was seen. STTHD 233.3

2. This view of the matter is rendered sure by the testimony of Revelation 11:19, which declares that the temple of God where the ark is, the most holy place, was not opened till the sounding of the seventh trumpet, near the end of all earthly kingdoms. The scene of Revelation 4, where John first beheld the throne of God, was therefore certainly not in the most holy place. STTHD 234.1

3. The opening of the investigative Judgment is brought to view in Daniel 7:9, 10. And it is said that at that time “the Ancient of days did sit.” The word here rendered “did sit,” signifies both in Hebrew and in the Greek of the Septuagint, according to Gesenius and Liddell and Scott, “to sit enthroned,” or “as judges to sit in court.” Had not the Ancient of days been seated upon his throne before this? Certainly; but the language clearly indicates that he here took a new position for a new purpose. Some move is therefore made on the part of the Father when the Judgment scene opens. He then occupies a position which he did not occupy before. STTHD 234.2

4. The relation of Christ to this move on the part of the Father, is indicated in verses 13, 14: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom,” etc. This is not Christ’s second coming to earth, for the Ancient of days is not here; but he came to the Ancient of days in Heaven, and came to receive dominion and a kingdom, which he will receive at the conclusion of his work as priest, but will not receive till then. This therefore brings to view a scene to transpire near, and at, the conclusion of Christ’s work as priest. We have seen Christ on the throne with the Father in the holy place. But we have seen the Father changing his position and opening a new scene, a scene of judgment. To do this, he must first move to the place where this scene is to transpire. Then Christ, as the second essential actor in the scene, is escorted by a multitude of heavenly beings, surrounding him like clouds of glory, into the presence of the Ancient of days in his new position, according to Daniel 7:13. On the supposition of a change of ministration from the holy to the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary near the close of Christ’s work therein, all these statements and movements have their appropriate place and explanation; but on no other ground can they be harmonized or explained. STTHD 235.1

Thus it becomes more and more apparent that the view that Christ entered the most holy place when he ascended, is at every step at war with both reason and Scripture; while every objection to the view that he commenced his ministry in the first apartment vanishes at the slightest touch; for God can dwell between the cherubim, and Christ be at his right hand, and both be, nevertheless, in the holy place. STTHD 236.1