I. THE SANCTUARY.
The definition of the word Sanctuary is "a sacred place," "a dwelling place of the Most High." It cannot be applied to the earth, or any part of it, for it cannot be shown that the earth, or any part of the earth, is "a sacred place," therefore the Sanctuary is not the earth, neither is it the land of Canaan. The word Sanctuary occurs more than one hundred times in the Bible, and in most cases it applies to the tabernacle and temple of the Jews, or first covenant, sometimes to a part, and sometimes to the whole. It is mentioned four times in the New Testament, all in the epistle to the Hebrews. In chapters ix, 1, 2; xiii, 11, it refers to the Sanctuary of the first covenant, and in chapter viii, 2, it applies to the Sanctuary of the second covenant, which the "Lord pitched" in heaven. In two texts [Ex. xv, 17, Ps. lxxviii, 54] it is supposed by some that the word Sanctuary applies to the land of Canaan; but by a close examination of these texts we may see that they alone, condemn such a supposition.

"Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in; in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established." Ex. xv, 17. This is a part of the prophetic song of Moses, sung upon the banks of the Red Sea, in praise to God for their deliverance, and in prospect of their settlement in Canaan. Its fulfilment is declared in Ps. lxxviii, 54. "And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased." Cruden says - "By Sanctuary here [Ex. xv. 17,] may be understood the temple on Mount Moriah, which God would certainly cause to be built and established." This view is shown to be correct from the context of Ps. lxxviii, 54. After declaring in verse 54 that God brought his people to the border of his Sanctuary, the Psalmist in verses 68,69, tells us what his Sanctuary was which his hands established. "But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. And he BUILT HIS SANCTUARY LIKE HIGH PLACES." The "border" or "place" of the Sanctuary where God planted his people was one thing, and the Sanctuary itself was entirely another thing. The people were planted, and dwelt in the former, but God dwelt in the latter, among his people. Then as these two texts do not prove that the earth, or the land of Canaan is the Sanctuary, but to the contrary, certainly such a view is unscriptural, and should be abandoned at once.

"The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel." "Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." That Sanctuary was "a sacred place." There the Lord placed his name, and manifested his glory during the typical dispensation of the law of Moses. But when Christ came and was crucified, that dispensation closed, and all the services of the worldly sanctuary were nailed to the cross, and that Sanctuary was no longer "a sacred place." Since that time the Sanctuary has been in heaven.

"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." Heb. viii, 1, 2.

This one text is sufficient to show, that when Christ ascended to heaven he entered the "true Tabernacle" or "Sanctuary;" and this Sanctuary which the "Lord pitched" in heaven is the Sanctuary that was to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 days.

The Divine comment upon the law of Moses, contained in the epistle to the Hebrews clearly shows that the worldly Sanctuary, its furniture and services, were a "shadow," "patterns," "figures" of the Heavenly Sanctuary, &c. &c.

"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 shew-bread: which is called the sanctuary.

"And after the second vail, 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; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

"Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God:

"But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people. " Heb. ix, 1-7.

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The Sanctuary, the 2300 Days, and the Shut Door
"I. The Sanctuary"
James White