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Cleansing Heaven's Sanctuary

🔵 Introduction

This is the 4th in a series of Bible studies focused on the "cleansing" of not only the Sanctuary, but also of the the people of God. Here is what we've covered so far:

  1. The Day of Atonement - part 1, includes:
    1. Definition, purpose, and significance of "Atonement";
    2. Ceremonial cleansing of the High Priest, the people, and the Earthly Sanctuary.
    3. Introduction to the "ScapeGoat";
    4. Verse-by-verse study of Leviticus 16:2-19 .
  2. The Day of Atonement - part 2, focused on:
    1. Scapegoat - az-aw-zale' (Hebrew) in Leviticus 16:7,20-22;
    2. Connection between the Earthly and Heaven's Sanctuary, with support from Hebrews, chapters 8-10.
  3. The 2300 Day Prophesy, an extensive study of Daniel, chapter 8:
    1. Understanding The Core Text - a word study of Daniel 8:14;
    2. Context of the 2,300 Day Prophecy , including a verse-by-verse study of Daniel chapter 8;
    3. A comparison of two major views of the 2300 evenings and mornings prophesy and which is best-supported by context, language, and history.
🔵 Biblical Foundation: Earthly vs. Heavenly Sanctuary

In Earth's Sanctuary, there "are priests who offer the gifts required by the law. They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven." Hebrews 8:4-5 .

Hebrews 9:23-28 That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals. 24 For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. 25 And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. 26 If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age{KJV: "end of the world"} to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. 27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

Here we see that the earthly sanctuary was only a copy of true sanctuary in Heaven. The earthly sanctuary was purified with animal blood (on the Day of Atonement, etc.). The heavenly sanctuary also needed to be purified — not with animal blood, but with Christ’s own blood.

🔵 Review: Cleansing of Earth's Sanctuary, from a previous study

After Aaron, the High Priest made cleansing atonement for himself and his family, by sacrifice, he then continued to do the same for the people and the Sanctuary.

Leviticus 16:15-19 Then Aaron must kill the goat{for Jehovah(vs.8-9)} as a sin-offering for the people, and carry its blood behind the veil{the Most Holy Place}. There he will sprinkle the goat's blood over the mercy-seat and in front of it, just as he did with the bull’s blood. 16 And he will make atonement for the Holy Place, and so shall he do for the Tabernacle, that dwelleth with them in the midst of their defilement. 17 No one else is allowed inside the Tabernacle when Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place. No one may enter until he comes out again after making atonement for himself, his family, and all the congregation of Israel, making them right with Jehovah. 18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is before Jehovah, and make atonement for it, and shall take of the blood of the bull, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. 19 Then he must sprinkle the blood with his finger seven times over the altar. In this way, he will cleanse it{the alter} from Israel’s defilement and make it holy.

In verses 15-19, we see Aaron making atonement for:

  1. "the people", with the blood of the goat for Jehovah and sprinkled the blood on the mercy-seat.
  2. "the Holy Place".
  3. "the Tabernacle".
  4. "the altar". Aaron put blood from the bull and the goat on the "horns of the altar" and then "over the altar". By this, he symbolically cleanses the altar from Israel's sins, which had previously been transferred from the people to the animals which were sacrificed on this alter previously.

The Day of Atonement is a divinely instituted holy day for the cleansing of sin through sacrifice, symbolizing Jehovah's mercy and love for this fallen planet, by sending His only-born Son to live as our example and be sacrificed to atone for our sins. This yearly day of Atonement service symbolized the need for Heaven's sanctuary itself to be cleansed from the accumulated sins of forgiven humans.

💔 The Spotless Lamb of God

Sacrificial System: In the Earthly Sanctuary, lambs were often used as sacrifices for sin. The requirement for these lambs to be "spotless" (without blemish) symbolized purity and perfection. This is seen in passages such as Exodus 12:5, which describes the Passover lamb, and Leviticus 22:20-21, which outlines the requirements for sacrificial animals.

Jesus as the Lamb: In the Bible, Jesus is identified as the "Lamb of God." John the Baptist declares this in John 1:29, saying, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" This statement connects Jesus to the sacrificial lambs of the Earthly Sanctuary, indicating that He is the sacrifice for your sins and mine.

Sinless Nature: The term "spotless" emphasizes Christ's sinless nature. Hebrews 4:15 states that Jesus was "tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." His purity made Him the perfect sacrifice, able to atone for the sins of those who except the teachings of Jesus( John 6:32-69;12:48-50 ), and confess their sins( 1 John 1:9 ).

Atonement and Redemption: Jesus' blood, like that of the Passover lamb's blood, provides protection and redemption from sin. This is articulated in passages like 1 Peter 1:18-19, which refers to Christ as a lamb without blemish or defect.

The imagery of the Lamb continues in Revelation, where Jesus is depicted as the Lamb who is worthy to open the scroll ( Revelation 5:12 ). This signifies His ultimate victory over sin and death, providing hope for believers.

🔵 The Cleansing ...

1. Cleansing for the High Priest and Family

In the context of the heavenly sanctuary, Jesus is often referred to as our High Priest. Hebrews 4 emphasizes His role as the High Priest who has passed through the heavens. Since He is also the spotless lamb of God, Jesus has no need to cleanse Himself, as Aaron did in Lev16. Christ's sacrifice also cleanses those who come to God through Him( John 14:6 ).

2. Cleansing for the People

The cleansing of the people is accomplished through the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Hebrews 9 discusses how Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary to offer His own blood for the redemption of humanity.

When did Jesus enter "the Most Holy Place"? Did He wait until 1844? According to the author of Hebrews, Jesus "has entered"(past tense), "he entered the Most Holy Place"(past tense) prior to the writing of the book of Hebrews. For more context, here is a study on Daniel 8:14, concerning the 2300 evenings and mornings => https://sidnash.org/docs/2300Days.html

3. Cleansing the Holy Place via Christ's Intercession

The Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary is represented by the ministry of Christ in the heavenly realms. His intercession for believers can be seen as a form of cleansing.

Whether we use forms of the word intercede, mediate, or advocate, it is all about what Jesus does for us. By faith, we all have the privilege to come to Christ's Father, the All-Mighty, through His only-born Son.

4. Cleansing for the Sanctuary/Temple

The heavenly sanctuary is described as a true tabernacle set up by the Lord. The cleansing of this sanctuary is linked to the final judgment and the removal of sin.

Notice that Jesus "sat"(past tense) and that "he ministers"(present tense). And, where did He sit? He sat beside His Father's throne. And, where was His Father's presence represented as being in the Earthly sanctuary? His presence was above the mercy seat between the two cherubs. And, where was the location of the mercy seat? It was the covering(top) of the ark of the covenant, located in the most-holy place inside of the earthly sanctuary. So, where in the "heavenly Tabernacle" was Jesus already ministering at the time of the writing of the book of Hebrews? He was ministering in the most-holy place. So, He obviously did not wait until 1844 to enter the most-holy place, as some believe.

5. Cleansing for the Altar

In the heavenly context, the altar is associated with the sacrifice of Christ. Revelation 8 describes an angel at the altar in heaven, offering incense along with the prayers of the saints, which symbolizes the acceptance of Christ's sacrifice.

6. Sins Leave the Sanctuary via the "Scapegoat". See => https://sidnash.org/docs/Atonement-scapegoat.html

🔵 Conclusion

While the specific rituals of cleansing in the heavenly sanctuary are not explicitly outlined in the same manner as in Leviticus 16, the New Testament provides a framework that connects the work of Christ as High Priest with the cleansing of both the heavenly sanctuary and the people of God. The themes of intercession, sacrifice, and redemption are central to understanding how these ceremonies are fulfilled in Christ's ministry in heaven.

Hebrews 10:19-25 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah ( Deut8:3; Matt4:4 )

-Sid Nash: 07/12/2025. Latest version: https://sidnash.org/docs/CleanSanctuary.html