Written by: Christopher Sernaque
Question from Brother T: “My friend wants to know, did Jesus go into the Most Holy Place in AD 31, instead of 1844, because Jesus went the “right-hand” of the Father? ” (Acts 2:33)
Dear Brother T,
Good morning. Thank you for your question. Speaking of Christ, Ellen White quoted an angel who said, “Jesus knows it all.” (1T 123). Thus, the answer to this question cannot be attributed to the knowledge of any scholar, rather Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, will make known the answer. Saved to Serve will pray that your friend has an increase of faith. The Bible states that the Word of God is what will increase our faith. (Romans 10:17). Thus, we would encourage that your friend goes back to studying the Bible in order to build his faith. Let us now study the Word of God together:
Prior to answering your friend’s question, it is important that we verify the fact that the Bible teaches that there is a Heavenly Sanctuary and that the Earthly Sanctuary was merely a copy of the one in Heaven. Here are 15 different Scriptures, each separated by a semicolon, that provide indisputable proof of the existence of a Sanctuary in Heaven:
(Hebrews 8:1-5; Hebrews 9:1-12,24; Exodus 25:8,9,40; Exodus 26:30; Psalm 102:19; Psalm 11:4; Acts 7:44; Revelation 4:5; Revelation 8:3; Revelation 11:19; Isaiah 63:15; 2 Chronicles 6:39, Psalm 33:14; Jeremiah 25:30; Zechariah 6:12-13)
In the above verses we find that Moses made the earthly sanctuary after a pattern which God had shown him. Paul teaches that that pattern was the true sanctuary which is in heaven. And John testifies that he saw it in heaven. If you have any further question on the existence of the Sanctuary in Heaven, please send them in, and please share these verses with your friend to help build his faith in God’s Word.
Now to address your friends question. The above verses firmly cement the fact that there is a Heavenly Sanctuary, however how do we know that Jesus went into the Most Holy Place in 1844 and into the Holy Place in AD 31, the year He was crucified? Let us go back to God’s Word where we will find our answer:
Let us begin our search in the writings of the Apostle Paul. In Ephesians 4:8-12, we find that the Apostle Paul is describing Jesus’ ascension from earth to Heaven in AD 31, as Luke did in Acts 1:9-
11.
Let us look at Paul’s statements:
Ephesians 4:8-12
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Upon a careful reading of Ephesians 4, we find that Paul references the 68th division of the book of Psalms, which prefigures the ascension of the Messiah, or Christ. Take note of the bolded statements in the above verses and now let us observe the following:
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. – Psalm 68:17-18
Herein lies our answer. The Apostle Paul hearkens back to the writings of King David, who says that the Messiah would rise to the Holy Place after His death. Thus, we find that Christ, after being crucified in AD 31, did not enter the Most Holy Place, rather He entered the Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary. There are other verses that confirm that Christ went into the Holy Place in AD 31 and not the Most Holy Place. This will also answer your friends question concerning the “right hand of God” or “throne of God” objection that is commonly raised against those who teach the Sanctuary doctrine. Let us now examine what the Bible says about the throne of God and the position of Christ:
Once again, we refer your friend to the writings of the Apostle Paul. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that Jesus Christ was in the Holy Place at the time of Paul’s writing of the book of Hebrews. (Hebrews 9:8, 12, 24, 26.) At the same time, Paul also makes it clear the Jesus Christ was in the presence of the Heavenly Father. (Hebrews 9:24) Lest we attribute a fluke to Paul, we have the testimony of the Apostle John to second what Paul said. John states that the throne of God, as revealed to him in AD 90 which was the time in which he was inspired to write Revelation, was in in the Holy Place. (Revelation 4:5, Revelation 5:8, Revelation 8:3). Each of the items listed in the verses in Revelation is found in the Holy Place, not the Most Holy Place, thus we aptly draw the conclusion that God’s throne, or God’s right hand, was position in the Holy Place, as Christ was there from AD 31 to AD 1844. Now, with these facts presented before us, we are left with another question, namely, “When was God’s throne repositioned from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place?” Once again, the Sacred Scriptures hold the answer to all our questionings. Let us examine them once more:
The Bible states the Jesus and His Father went into the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary to complete the intercessory/blotting out of sin portion of the atonement. The repositioning, or the “casting down”, which is the oriental term that Daniel used to mean reposition, of the thrones is chronicled in the seventh chapter of Daniel. The Bible states that the Judgement began when the throne of God was repositioned from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place and then the Son of Man, Jesus, came to meet the Ancient of Days, the Father, in the Most Holy Place. To summarize, the “throne of God” or “God right hand” was in the Holy Place prior to 1844, and it was then moved when the Investigative Judgement began. (Dan 7:9,10,13,14,26) We know that this interaction could not have occurred in AD 31 because this incident occurs after the rule of the Little Horn Power, which is the Papacy. (Daniel 7:8, 25).
I would recommend that you study Daniel 7 and 8 and Revelation 13. In order to prove that the Little Horn is the Papacy I have included a short study chart after my signature. Please dive deep into the Word of God and ask Him to impart the Holy Spirit to you that way you can witness to your friend. Encourage your friend to keep studying His Bible and to read the verses that were provided in the summary. Rather than read this email to your friend, it would probably be more efficient to study it for yourself and let the Holy Spirit guide you as to how to present it your friend. God bless you as you continue to study His Word. If you have further questions, you may send them in. Remember, Jesus knows it all!
Post Script: Here is the study on proving that the Little Horn and the Papal Beast are one and the same:
Little Horn
The “little horn” has the “eyes of man.” Daniel 7:8.
The “little horn” “wears out the saints of the Most High.” Daniel 7:35.
The “little horn” speaks “great words against the Most High.”
The “little horn” comes up among the ten horns (10 divisions of Rome.) Daniel 7:8.
Beast of Revelation 13
The “beast” has the number of a man.” Revelation 13:18.
The “beast” also “makes war with the saints.” Revelation 13:7.
Daniel 7:25. The “beast” also “Opened his mouth in blasphemy against God.” Revelation 13:6.
The “beast” receives it’s “power, seat, and great authority” from Rome (after the ten divisions were formed). Revelation 13:2
