THE TWO ROOMS

The sanctuary had two rooms. These rooms were separated by a curtain. The first room was called the holy place, and the second room was called the most holy place. The furniture in the sanctuary was either made of solid gold or it was covered with gold. The curtains in the sanctuary were made of many colors that were most beautifully arranged. Angels made of gold and silverSRme 1.654

thread were pictured on the curtains. These angels represented the angels who work in the sanctuary in heaven and care for the people of God on earth.SRme 1.655

The ark was put in the most holy place. The most holy place was separated from the holy place by a beautiful, rich-looking curtain. This curtain did not reach to the top of the building. The glory of God that was above the mercy seat could be seen from both rooms. But the glory was not as bright when seen from the first room, the holy place.SRme 1.656

The golden altar of incense stood in the first room in front of the closed curtain. The curtain separated the altar from the ark in the second room. The Lord Himself started the sacred fire on this altar. This fire was carefully cared for and kept burning by feeding it with holy incense. Day and night the cloud of pleasant-smelling incense smoke filled the sanctuary and its pleasing smell spread for miles around the sanctuary.SRme 1.657

The priest looked toward the mercy seat on the ark as he offered the incense before the Lord. The priest could not see the mercy seat, but he knew it was there. The incense rose as a cloud. Then the glory of God came down upon the mercy seat, filling the most holy place. God's glory could be seen in the holy place, too. Often God's glory was so bright in both rooms that the priest could not do his work. He would have to stand at the door of the sanctuary for a while.SRme 1.658

The priest directed his prayer by faith to the mercy seat that he could not see. This is how the priest represented God's people who direct their prayers to Jesus. Jesus stands before the mercy seat in the sanctuary in heaven. God's people cannot see their Saviour with the natural eye, but the eye of faith enables them to see Jesus before the mercy seat. God's people direct their prayers to Jesus, and with confidence they claim the blessings of His priestly work.SRme 1.659

The rooms in the sanctuary had no windows to let in light. The seven branched candlestick was made of pure gold. The candlestick burned night and day and gave light to both rooms. No language can describe the beauty, loveliness, and sacred glory within the sanctuary. The gold-covered walls and the golden furniture reflected the light from the golden candlestick upon the curtains of beautiful colors. The gold in the sanctuary also reflected the rich colors of the curtains. These colors looked the same as the different colors of a rainbow.SRme 1.660

The high priest could go into the most holy place only once each year. Before going in the most holy place he had to make the most careful and solemn preparation. No human eye except the high priest's was to look upon the sacred beauty of the most holy place, because the most holy place was the special place where God's glory appeared.SRme 1.661

The high priest always was afraid when he entered the most holy place. And the people waited in solemn silence for the high priest to come out, earnestly desiring God's blessing. God talked with the high priest as he stood before the mercy seat. If the priest stayed longer than usual in the most holy place, the people became terrified. They were afraid that, because of their sins or the priest's own sins, he had been killed by the glory of God. But when the sound of the bells on the priest's clothing was heard, the people were greatly relieved. Then the priest came outside and blessed the people.SRme 1.662

After the work of building the sanctuary was finished, the cloud of glory covered the sanctuary "and the dazzling light of the Lord's presence filled it. Because of this, Moses could not go into the Tent [sanctuary]" (Ex 40:34, 35).SRme 1.663

"During all their wanderings they could see the cloud of the Lord's presence over the Tent during the day and a fire burning above. . .[the tent] during the night" (Ex. 40:38).SRme 1.664

The sanctuary was built so that it could be taken apart and carried while the Israelites traveled from place to place.SRme 1.665