A Real Sanctuary

Four days after this impressive vision, Ellen wrote of it in detail to Joseph Bates. Please note in particular the prepositions she employed in describing this mind-boggling cosmic journey to the celestial city:GVEGW 41.7

“Soon I was lost to earthly things and was wrapped in a vision of God’s glory. I saw an angel flying swiftly to me. He quickly carried me from the earth to the Holy City. In the city I saw a temple, which I entered. I passed through a door before I came to the first veil. This veil was raised, and I passed into the holy place. Here I saw the altar of incense, the candlestick with seven lamps, and the table on which was the shewbread. After viewing the glory of the holy, Jesus raised the second veil and I passed into the holy of holies.GVEGW 42.1

“In the holiest I saw an ark; on the top and sides of it was purest gold. On each end of the ark was a lovely cherub, with its wings spread out over it. Their faces were turned toward each other, and they looked downward. Between the angels was a golden censer. Above the ark, where the angels stood, was an exceeding bright glory, that appeared like a throne where God dwelt. Jesus stood by the ark, and as the saints’ prayers came up to Him, the incense in the censer would smoke, and He would offer up their prayers with the smoke of the incense to His Father.GVEGW 42.2

“In the ark was the golden pot of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of stone which folded together like a book. Jesus opened them, and I saw the Ten Commandments written on them with the finger of God. On one table were four, and on the other six. The four on the first table shone brighter than the other six. But the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, shone above them all; for the Sabbath was set apart to be kept in honor of God’s holy name. The holy Sabbath looked glorious—a halo of glory was all around it.” ^{9Early Writings, 32, 33. (Italics supplied.)}GVEGW 42.3

This vision was indeed impressive, and Ellen was totally struck with the reality of the experience: she was in a real place, accompanied by real supernatural personages, and looking at real liturgical furniture, concerning which she previously had only read about in Scripture. Forever after she would represent this heavenly temple—and its High Priest—as something very real, very literal.GVEGW 42.4

As Seventh-day Adventists began to develop their theological bearings during the next three years and formulate their belief structure, this “sanctuary doctrine” would become paramount in their thinking.GVEGW 42.5

While all of the doctrines of the Bible are true, and certainly important (God wouldn’t have put them there if they weren’t!), yet all doctrines are not of equal stature and standing. Ellen quickly came to differentiate among them by means of an interesting metaphor, the chief elements of which are: (a) a “solid, immovable platform,” (b) four principal “pillars” that support the platform, and (c) “three steps” that serve the dual functions of supporting the platform (as do the “pillars”) and providing entry to it. ^{10Early Writings, 258, 259.}GVEGW 42.6

Interpreting her own symbols, Ellen explained that the “platform” of “truth”—not merely truth as propositional “theory,” nor yet truth as “controversial subject,” but rather the truth “as it is in Jesus” ^{11The Review and Herald, June 3, 1890.}—was the total doctrinal construct of the newly developing church.GVEGW 43.1

The pillar doctrines were chiefly those that support the four corners of that platform—cardinal teachings such as the second coming of Christ, conditional immortality (“soul sleep”), the seventh-day Sabbath (in the greater framework of the immutable Law of God), and the high priesthood of Jesus Christ in His heavenly sanctuary. ^{12Counsels to Writers and Editors, 30; the doctrine of the Second Advent is included by implication from the context.}GVEGW 43.2

And the “three steps”? The three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 not only support the total framework of “present truth,” but also provide the key to unlock contemporary meaning and open the door of understanding. ^{13Early Writings, 258.}GVEGW 43.3