Exodus 25:9

After the pattern. This shows that though the workmanship was man’s the plan was God’s. God has ever counted upon human agencies to cooperate in the building of His house. In this work every individual may have the satisfaction of taking part.

In the mount Moses saw “a miniature representation” of the heavenly sanctuary (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 343; Acts 7:44; Hebrews 8:5), the “true tabernacle” (Hebrews 8:2). The one on earth is said to be a “pattern” of “heavenly things” (Hebrews 9:23, 24) because it was made “according to the pattern” shown to Moses (Hebrews 8:5). It was a “copy” of the “great original” in heaven (Great Controversy, p. 414). In vision John was ushered into the heavenly sanctuary (Revelation 15:5), where he saw the ark (Revelation 11:19), the altar of incense (Revelation 8:3-5), and possibly the candlestick (Revelation 1:12; 11:4). There is, thus, “indisputable proof of the existence of a sanctuary in heaven,” where the Ruler of the universe sits enthroned (Great Controversy, p. 415) and where Christ ministers as our great high priest (Hebrews 8:1, 2).

It is futile, however, to speculate as to the dimensions, exact appearance, or precise arrangement of the heavenly sanctuary, for “no earthly structure could represent its vastness and its glory” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 357). Man is “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27), yet only Christ is “the express image of his person” (Hebrews 1:3). Anything finite can at best but dimly resemble that which is infinite. Moses was shown not the heavenly sanctuary itself, but a representation of it. The earthly sanctuary was patterned after that in heaven to the extent that it was a vivid representation of the various aspects of Christ’s ministry on behalf of fallen man (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 357). We should focus our attention on what He is doing for us there, as Paul does in Hebrews (Hebrews 3:1; 10:12, 19-22; etc.).

The tabernacle in heaven, like that on earth, was set up to deal with sin. Christ “entered upon His mediatorial work” after His resurrection and prior to His ascension 40 days later (Desire of Ages, p. 819). He was prepared to take up His priestly ministry by virtue of having obtained redemption for us through His blood (Hebrews 9:12).

Solomon knew that even his Temple, though it excelled the wilderness tabernacle in size and beauty, could not contain God (1 Kings 8:27). Yet God owned it as His house (Isaiah 56:7), as He later did Herod’s Temple (Matthew 21:31). And He who dwells “in the high and holy place” will take up His abode “with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit” (Isaiah 57:15).