Bible Handbook

The Position and Work of Our Heavenly High Priest

• Hebrews 8:1. Christ, our High Priest, at the right hand of the throne of God. The Ministry of Healing, 71. BHB 47.5

• Hebrews 8:2. He ministers in the heavenly sanctuary. The Acts of the Apostles, 552, 553. BHB 47.6

• Exodus 25:40, margin. Earthly sanctuary pattern of the heavenly. BHB 47.7

• Hebrews 8:1-5. The service of earthly priests an example or shadow of Christ’s work in heaven. By studying of earthly priests, we learn of Christ’s work. Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 278. BHB 47.8

• Hebrews 9:6. There was a continualservice in the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary. The Great Controversy, 418. BHB 47.9

• 1 Chronicles 6:49. The high priest officiated at the brazen altar in the court at the golden altar in first apartment, and did all the work of the place, most holy, or second apartment. BHB 48.1

• Exodus 30:7, 8. Aaron, the high priest, officiated twice every day, morning and evening, in the first apartment. BHB 48.2

• Exodus 30:8. It was a perpetualincense; hence, was replenished on the day of atonement the same as other days. Patriarchs and Prophets, 348. BHB 48.3

• Exodus 29:42, 43. God’s visible presence was seen sometimes at the door of the first apartment, or tabernacle of the congregation. BHB 48.4

• Exodus 30:36; Numbers 17:4; Exodus 40:34, 36. He also met with them in the second apartment. BHB 48.5

• Revelation 1:11-13. John saw Christ officiating in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. The Acts of the Apostles, 585, 586. BHB 48.6

• Revelation 8:3, 4. He also saw the prayers and incense being offered on the golden altar in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. Patriarchs and Prophets, 356. BHB 48.7

• Revelation 4:2-5. John was shown the throne of God in heaven with the seven lamps of fire before it, and the seats of the twenty-four elders round about it. This was the first apartment. BHB 48.8

• 1 Chronicles 24:1-31. The common priests of the earthly priesthood were divided into twenty-four courses. This custom was followed to the time of Christ. Luke 1:8. There were twenty-four chief men sometimes called governors of the sanctuary. 1 Chronicles 24:4. The twenty-four elders that had been redeemed from the earth (Revelation 5:8-10) could not be allowed to enter the most holy place; hence, the throne as seen by John was in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. The Desire of Ages, 93. BHB 48.9

• Revelation 5:1-10. With Christ in the midst of the throne a service was held by those redeemed from the earth; hence, it must have been in the first apartment. BHB 49.1

• Hebrews 9:7. The high priest went alone into the second apartment. BHB 49.2

• Leviticus 16:17. There was no man in the tabernacle of the congregation, or first apartment, when the high priest went in to officiate on the day of atonement. BHB 49.3

• Leviticus 16:29, 30. The sanctuary was cleansed on the tenth day of the seventh month from all the sins that were “before the Lord,” all that had been confessed. During the year, the service had been confined to the first apartment: it was not carried into the second apartment. The high priest alone officiated in both apartments that day. The incense on the altar had to be kept burning, and if necessary, sin offerings were offered. Numbers 29:7-11. BHB 49.4

• Leviticus 16:2. God promised to meet with Aaron, the high priest, in the second apartment. BHB 49.5

• Daniel 7:9, 10. Daniel saw the thrones placed, or change positions, and the Father take His seat upon His throne for judgment. His attention was attracted to the “wheels of burning fire” as the throne was moved from the 1st to the 2nd apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. Early Writings, 54, 55. BHB 49.6

• Ezekiel 1:1-27; 10:1-20. God’s throne is a movable throne. BHB 50.1

• Daniel 7:13, 14. Daniel beheld Christ borne in before the Father by the angels of God as our Advocate in the judgment. Early Writings, 55; The Great Controversy, 480. BHB 50.2

• 1 Timothy 2:5. There is onemediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. The Great Controversy, 482. BHB 50.3

• Daniel 7:9-10. God the Father sits as judge, the angels are witnesses, the books with their record of every thought and intent of the heart, as well as of every word and action, represent the individual to be judged. Christ is the mediator. BHB 50.4

• Acts 3:19-21. The sins of all who have repented of their sins will be blotted out, thus cleansing the heavenly sanctuary of all the sins of the righteous. Patriarchs and Prophets, 357, 358. BHB 50.5

• Daniel 8:14. Daniel was shown that the sanctuary would be cleansed at the end of the 2300 days, or in the autumn of 1844. BHB 50.6