We're told in Hebrews that the ancient sanctuary was patterned after the sanctuary in heaven where Christ ministers for us today as our great high priest. Most Christians have been taught that the atonement of Christ for humanity was completed at the cross so the ministry of Christ in heaven is something of a mystery to them. While they believe that Christ ministers His grace to help them in times of need, they generally reject or do not see the inseparable connection between the law of God and the grace of God; that having died for us Christ as mediator of the New Covenant now ministers His grace in order to liberate humanity from the chains of sin, the transgression of the law, renewing us in character and writing and restoring His law of love, His changeless character, on our hearts, minds and souls.

Adventists and all Christians agree that all of this is done for us by the virtue and power of the life-blood of Christ. But what exactly is involved in this blood mediation going on in Heaven now in our behalf? Below we'll look at the blood, the altars, the various blood sacrifices etc to see if we can come to a clearer understanding of what exactly Christ is doing as our mediator in the heavenly sanctuary today; how He as our Priest is applying His blood to our lives to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Atonement by blood in the Mosaic tabernacle occurred at three locations - at the bronze altar, at the golden altar and the mercy-seat. These locations are the sanctuaries within the sanctuary where blood atonement was offered. But more than this it is at these sites that overcoming power was and is obtained through the mediation of Christ.

Speaking of these sites David, inspired by the Holy Spirit sang: "Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts." Psa 84:3. The intercession of Christ at these most holy sites within the heavenly sanctuary benefits not only humanity but also all of creation, even the little birds.


The sacrifices required for atonement by blood are divinely classed into two main categories - blood atonement by burnt offerings and blood atonement by sin offerings. Burnt offerings are preeminent in the daily corporate service while sin offerings have preeminence in the yearly but both are present throughout all the services and both are critical.

In the daily service the corporate offering called "the continual burnt offering" was the focal point of the morning and evening national worship. Significantly, in list of offerings by individuals the burnt offering also heads the list.

The law of the daily corporate service of the sanctuary was this: Each day's service began and ended with these sacrifices. All offerings throughout the remainder of the day were in effect offered on the continual burnt offering. Its perpetual nature was underscored in that the evening offering at the start of the day (a biblical day starts at sundown) was kindled and burned all night by the priests until morning when the morning sacrifice was offered. This sacred fire, like the fire of the golden altar, was never to go out. All sacrifices were in effect offered upon these, including all sin offerings.

The law of the continual burnt offering is summarized in the sixth chapter of Leviticus:



The meaning? Of course Christ is typified in the offering. But notice carefully that this offering does not atone for a specific sin but for sin generally by 1) the blood and 2) the entire consumption of the sacrifice. The preeminence of the burnt offering in the daily service teaches that the primary work of Christ in our behalf is to deal with our sinful natures. The solution for our souls is not to surgically remove individual sins but instead the remedy is a complete make-over of our entire beings. And for that purpose Christ offered up Himself in our place as a complete sacrifice, body, soul and spirit to the Father. The good news is that now He mediates the merits of His entire sacrifice for us before the mercy-seat, praise God. His own blood covers the mercy seat and the broken law of God that otherwise condemns and eternally dooms us because in our fallen flesh there is no good thing.

We'll get to the atonement of Christ for specific sins momentarily but first notice that besides the corporate burnt offering described in Numbers 28 and in Leviticus 6 quoted above in Leviticus 1 God also invited the Hebrews to bring individual burnt offerings. Three things characterized the burnt offering of the individual and these three typify the offering of ourselves to God today:

1. The offering was completely voluntary. Today, our decision to yield our hearts and lives to Him moment by moment is likewise completely voluntary.
2. The warm blood of the victim was caught in a bowl and applied all around the altar to each side of it, dashed against its four walls but never applied to those walls by hand and never applied to its horns. (We'll come back to those points.) In the same way the altar of our faith must be totally surrounded and cleansed by the blood of Christ.
3. The entire animal, every living part, was consumed on the altar. In the same way the sacrifice of ourselves must be complete. Nothing can be withheld. Unlike the sin, peace and thank offerings, no part of the burnt offering was eaten either by the priest or by the offeror. Like the corporate burnt offering, it was totally consumed by fire, a pleasing aroma to God.

We should be encouraged by this picture that reassures us that God who reads our motives delights in our undivided, wholehearted service to Him. When we willingly and gladly give Him our all it is indeed a delight, a pleasing aroma to Him.

The Sin Offering
Recall that the blood of the burnt offerings was thrown from the bowl against the sides of the bronze altar; that it was never applied to the horns of the bronze or golden altars and it was never brought within the tabernacle or temple. In contrast, the blood of the sin offerings was never thrown onto the sides of the bronze altar but instead was applied by hand to the horns of the bronze or golden altars. Think about the implications of these things. As the Spirit brings conviction He places His hand, even His finger, on our sins. This is an invitation for us to petition the very throne of God for mercy and grace, and to seek His divine overcoming power. When we place every ounce of our will on the side of righteousness our wills are immediately empowered by the life-blood of Christ, Satan flees and sin is expelled from the soul.

In the sin offering the remainder of the blood, the majority, was poured out at the base of the bronze altar. The fat of the sin offering was burned on the bronze altar and the flesh of it was not eaten by the offeror but only by the priest who offered it. The right action of the will is critical to victory but all overcoming power is from a source outside of ourselves for which we take no credit.

In the Mosaic service there were four main classes of sin offerings:
1. Offerings for sins of ingnorance. Leviticus 4.
2. Offerings for failing to discharge a duty to testify, for ceremonial uncleaness and for rash speech. All these sins required the same kind of offering and unique atonement procedure. Leviticus 5:1-13
3. Sin offerings for unintentional mistakes in the ceremonial requirements of the law. These had unique requirements as well that should be studied. Leviticus 5:14-19
4. Sin offerings for sins against another person. These were called guilt offerings which also had a unique procedure that should be closely studied. Leviticus 6:1-7.

The first sin offering the Lord lists in Leviticus 4 is the offering of the high priest for sins of ignorance and the second immediately following is the offering of the congregation, also for sins committed in ignorance. A careful reading of these two provisions shows that 1) the ritual for both is identical - what can that mean? - and 2) these are the only sacrifices in the daily service where the blood is brought within the sanctuary, applied to the horns of the golden altar, and sprinkled in front of the veil seven times before God. Notice, the only sins that defiled the golden altar were sins of ignorance.

Leviticus 4 combined with chapter 16, deserves close study because these scriptures are fulfilled in Revelation 4, 5, 8 and 9, which Ellen White states relate to that future time when the judgment sits and the books are opened. Anciently, on the Day of Atonement the sin of Israel was purged in two main acts of atonement: 1) The cleansing at the mercy seat followed immediately by 2) the cleansing at the golden altar. Comparing these passages with those in Revelation it appears that the cleansing at the mercy seat typifies the atonement of all confessed sin, while the final cleansing at the golden altar is for sins committed in ignorance.

The blood atonement at the golden altar cleansing us of our sins of ignorance also corresponds in my view to the final blotting out of sin which the apostle says occurs at the times of refreshing which are upon us. Acts 3:19. In order for us to benefit from this final mediatorial work of Christ our known sins must be confessed and forsaken beforehand. It is essential that these known sins go beforehand to judgment, I Timothy 5:24. Today the church of God is standing by faith before the bar of God, before the mercy seat. But when Christ leaves the mercy seat to atone at the golden altar no atonement remains for unconfessed and unforsaken sins. Only the atonement left is the blotting out of our sins of ignorance. When Christ applies the blood with His very finger to the altar of our souls we are enlightened and discover our need for His cleansing grace which is richly made available. If we confess our sin He is faithful to forgive us our sin and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

In Revelation 8 we have a picture of this last phase of Christ's ministry at the golden altar. After the dramatic pause when the Father takes his seat and asks who is worthy to open the book, much incense is given by Christ to mingle with the prayers of the saints at the altar. Their prayers and wholehearted service come up to God mingled with and made acceptable by the righteousness of Christ. By virtue of the blood atonement applied by the divine finger to their lives and to the horns of the golden altar the church stands vindicated before God. Then holy fire is taken from the altar and scattered on the earth. This is the latter rain, the final cleansing that completes the purging of the golden altar and the church. When this holy fire is cast on the earth, the trumpets follow and at the sixth trumpet voices issue from the golden altar's horns indicating the blood atonement of the altar and of the church is accomplished.

Post Script: As a study aid, below I've reproduced the final phase of atonement at the golden altar in Revelation.


Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
Rev 4:3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Rev 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Rev 5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Rev 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
Rev 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
Rev 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
Rev 8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
Rev 9:13 And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
Rev 9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
Rev 9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.
Rev 9:16 And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
Rev 9:17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
Rev 9:18 By these three was the third part of men killed,
Rev 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
Rev 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

The atonement was completed at the cross. Jesus told his disciples so after He had been resurrected. "He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father ..." Acts 1:4.

THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS EVIDENCE THAT THE ATONEMENT HAD BEEN RATIFIED IN HEAVEN WHEN CHRIST ASCENDED.

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Why do you believe there is a sanctuary in heaven given that the sanctuary served the purpose of sacrifice?

The sacrifices were for the purpose of atonement. At the cross the sacrifice for us was made. Christ now ministers His life-blood to atone for us in the sanctuary in heaven. Hebrews is all about the work of Christ for us today as he brings His spotless bride, the Church to perfection.

That's not true. Jesus, while he was here with us, walking on earth, said to the people, "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins ? He said to the man who was paralyzed: I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." Luke 5:24.

Did Jesus take a quick beeline to heaven, check up the books, blot out that man's sins theretofore and THEN tell him to get up and walk? How does the taking away of sins ACTUALLY occur?

Furthermore, what did Jesus mean by this statement when He was washing the disciples' feet? "He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.? John 13:10 Why were some clean and others not; and what was it that made them clean?

Now what does Hebrews say the Lord has pitched!
"A city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God;" Hebrews 11:10.
What is its name? "The heavenly Jerusalem;" ch. 12:23, Revelation 21: "A building of God, an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens; 2 Corinthians 5:1. "My Father's house of many mansions" John 14:2.
When our Saviour was at Jerusalem and had pronounced its house desolate, the disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. Then he said:
"There shall not be left here one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down": Matthew 24:1,2.
That temple in the earthly Jerusalem was their Sanctuary: 1 Chronicles 22:17-19; 28:9-13; 2 Chronicles 29:5,21; 36:14,17. Such an announcement would tend to fill them with sadness and fear, as foretelling the derangement, if not the total prostration of their entire religious system. But to comfort and teach them, Christ says,
"In my Father's house are many mansions;" John 14:1-3.

Standing, as he was, on the dividing line between the typical covenant and the anti-typical, and having just declared the house of the former no longer valid, and foretold its destruction; how natural that he should point his disciples to the Sanctuary of the anti-typical covenant, about which their affections and interests were to cluster as they had about that of the former. The Sanctuary of the new covenant is connected with New Jerusalem, like the Sanctuary of the first covenant was with Old Jerusalem. As it is true the earthly sanctuary was the place where the priests of that covenant ministered, their thoughts were to transition to the true sanctuary which is in heaven, the place where the Priest of the new covenant ministers. To these places, and these only, the New Testament applies the name "Sanctuary," and the first is a "pattern" to teach us about the second.

Rev. 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament...
Rev. 13:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven,
Rev. 15:5 And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:


Hebrews 8:2 [Christ is] A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Hebrews 9:1 the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
Hebrews 9:9 :Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands,...
Hebrews 9:14 purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God
9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new covenant.
9:24 For 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:

The parallels are carefully laid out in Hebrews.

The first covenant -- earthly priests ministered in an earthly sanctuary
The second covenant -- the better eternal priest, Christ Jesus, ministers in the heavenly sanctuary, He is the mediator of the new covenant in the heavenly sanctuary
which He entered with His own blood to cleanse and purify His people.

The sacrifice FOR THE ATONEMENT was made at the cross.
It is the once and for all sacrifice by which atonement is assured. Which makes atonement possible for each of us.
Atonement means "reconciliation" that reconciliation is not done until it is done and all who are saved are forever with the Lord.

The root of controversy over "atonement" is based on limiting the word to the sacrifice -- we need to understand the sacrifice was the MEANS FOR atonement, there could be no atonement without the sacrifice, yet the word "atonement" refers to the whole process of reconciliation.
People have merged the words "sacrifice" and "atonement" into the same meaning in order to limit the great ministering work of Christ in applying the atonement.



We need to remember that the atonement which the priest made for the people in connection with their daily ministration was different from that made on the tenth day of the seventh month. The Passover festival signified Christ's great sacrifice, yet there was another festival, on the tenth day of the seventh month, to signify the final blotting out of sin.

In making the former, they went no further than in the Holy Place; the person was forgiven, the people were forgiven, but more needed to be done -- to make the latter final atonement or reconcilliation of the nation to God, the priest entered the Holy of Holies. - The former was made for individual cases, for forgiveness, the latter for the whole nation of Israel collectively and for the removal of all sin - the former was made for the forgiveness of sins, the latter for blotting them out - the former could be made at any time, the latter only on the tenth day of the seventh month. Hence the former may be called the daily and the latter the yearly;, or the former the individual, and the latter the national atonement.
The old covenant needed many sacrifices, the everlasting or new covenant all rests on the once and for all sacrifice of Christ.
The sacrifice is the foundation FOR the atonement, yet the atonement is the process of reconciling people back to God which isn't fully completed till the saved are with God and sin is no more.

You asked how does taking away sin occur? By the atonement of Christ. How do you think it works based on Hebrews, especially chapters 8 to 10? What do you think the Lord is teaching us in the ancient services?

?By one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified? [Hebrews 10:14]. This enabled Him to proclaim on the cross with a clear and triumphant voice, ?It is finished.? Heb 9:24 "For 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: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. . . But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [Hebrews 9:24-26;10:12.] Christ entered in once into the holy place, ?having obtained eternal redemption for us? [Hebrews 9:12]. ?Wherefore He is able?also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them? [Hebrews 7:25].

What are your thoughts James? To me personally, I understand these texts to mean that Christ ministers His Spirit to us and by His Spirit empowers us to become the sons and daughters of God.