The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 412

Though many abandoned their former reckoning of the prophetic periods
and denied the correctness of the movement based thereon, others were
unwilling to renounce points of faith and experience that were sustained
by the Scriptures and by the witness of the Spirit of God. They believed
that they had adopted sound principles of interpretation in their study of
the prophecies, and that it was their duty to hold fast the truths already
gained, and to continue the same course of Biblical research. With
earnest prayer they reviewed their position and studied the Scriptures to
discover their mistake. As they could see no error in their reckoning of
the prophetic periods, they were led to examine more closely the subject
of the sanctuary.
In their investigation they learned that there is no Scripture evidence
sustaining the popular view that the earth is the sanctuary; but they found
in the Bible a full explanation of the subject of the sanctuary, its nature,
location, and services; the testimony of the sacred writers being so clear
and ample as to place the matter beyond all question. The apostle Paul,
in the Epistle to the Hebrews, says: “Then verily the first covenant had
also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there
was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the
table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the
second veil, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all; which had
the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with
gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that
budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubims of
glory shadowing the mercy seat.” Hebrews 9:1-5.
The sanctuary to which Paul here refers was the tabernacle built by
Moses at the command of God as the earthly dwelling place of the Most
High. “Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them”
(Exodus 25:8), was the direction given to Moses while in the mount with
God. The Israelites were journeying through the wilderness,

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