fragrance , with the prayers of Israel , was daily ascending before God . In the most holy place stood the ark , a chest of precious wood overlaid with gold , the depository of the two tables of stone upon which God had inscribed the law of Ten Commandments . Above the ark , and forming the cover to the sacred chest , was the mercy seat , a magnificent piece of workmanship , surmounted by two cherubim , one at each end , and all wrought of solid gold . In this apartment the divine presence was manifested in the cloud of glory between the cherubim .
After the settlement of the Hebrews in Canaan , the tabernacle was replaced by the temple of Solomon , which , though a permanent structure and upon a larger scale , observed the same proportions , and was similarly furnished . In this form the sanctuary existed--except while it lay in ruins in Daniel ' s time--until its destruction by the Romans , in A . D . 70 . This is the only sanctuary that ever existed on the earth , of which the Bible gives any information . This was declared by Paul to be the sanctuary of the first covenant . But has the new covenant no sanctuary ? Turning again to the book of Hebrews , the seekers for truth found that the existence of a second , or new-covenant sanctuary , was implied in the words of Paul already quoted : " Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service , and a worldly sanctuary ." And the use of the word " also " intimates that Paul has before made mention of this sanctuary . Turning back to the beginning of the previous chapter , they read : " 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 ." Hebrews 8:1 , 2 .
Here is revealed the sanctuary of the new covenant . The sanctuary of the first covenant was pitched by man , built by Moses ; this is pitched by the Lord , not by man . In that sanctuary the earthly priests performed their service ; in this , Christ , our great High Priest , ministers at God ' s right hand . One sanctuary was on earth , the other is in heaven . Further , the tabernacle built by Moses was made after a pattern . The Lord directed him : " According to all that I show thee , after the pattern of the tabernacle , and the pattern of all the instruments thereof , even so shall ye make it ." And again the charge was given , " Look that thou make them after their pattern , which was showed thee in the mount ." Exodus 25:9 , 40 . And Paul says that the first tabernacle " was a figure for the time then present , in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices ;" that its holy places were " patterns of things in the heavens ;" that the priests who offered gifts according to the law served " unto the example and shadow of heavenly things ," and that " Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands , which are the figures of the true ; but into heaven itself , now to appear in the presence of God for us ." Hebrews 9:9 , 23 ; 8:5 ; 9:24 .
The sanctuary in heaven , in which Jesus ministers in our behalf , is the great original , of which the sanctuary built by Moses was a copy . God placed His Spirit upon the builders of the earthly sanctuary . The artistic skill displayed in its construction was a manifestation of divine wisdom . The walls had the appearance of massive gold , reflecting in every direction the light of the seven lamps of the golden candlestick . The table of shewbread and the altar of incense glittered like burnished
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