NAME: Lanz Cameron Khrystoffer D.
Ege
DATE/TIME: 07/16/2020 3:00PM to 5:00PM
Location: Home
Course: Studies on the Doctrine of the Sanctuary
Reading Log 4: “Principles of Interpretation” from the book “The
Atoning Priesthood of Jesus Christ” by Frank B. Holbrook
PUBLISHER: Review and Herald Publishing Association
ANNOTATION:
To fully grasp the beauty of the Biblical teaching of the
Sanctuary and the High-Priestly ministry of Christ, we will need
to incorporate several principles of interpretation.
There are several terms that the writer of the Book of Hebrews
used in describing the sanctuary’s functions & relationships, and
all these shed light on the nature of the Sanctuary and its meaning
for all Christians. The terms are parabole, antitupos, and skia.
The word Parabole “carries the nuances of “type”, “figure”,
“symbol”, or “illustration””. The way that the writer of Hebrews
compares the two Sanctuaries (earthly and the heavenly) are that
these are symbolic for the present time (Heb. 9:9). It should be
pointed out that God designed these symbols to illustrate truths
regarding the plan of Salvation. The symbols (sacrificial rituals
and festivals) form a complex parable which was designed to
illustrate these truths. Frank Holbrook emphasizes to the reader
that “we must let Scripture point out these truths so that we do
not get mired down and lost in speculations over the minute details
which have no real significance in spiritual terms, but serve only
to round out the ritual “story”” (emphasis mine).
Antitupos (Heb. 9:24)is also used the writer of Hebrews to
explain to us that the Earthly Sanctuary of the Old Testament
serves as a copy or a representation of the true one in Heaven
(Heb 9:24). Types are like prophecies in that they point us ahead
to a future, antitypical fulfillment.
Skia (Heb. 8:5; 10:1) is used in Hebrews to designate that
the Earthly Sanctuary is a “shadow” of the Heavenly Sanctuary. It
is more than a projection of dimply perceived truths from the solid
“substance” as it is also a “foreshadowing” of the good things to
come.
These three terms clearly teaches us that the Earthly
Sanctuary was a teaching device to explain to us the realities of
the Heavenly Sanctuary.
The writer of Hebrews emphasizes to his original readers
(Jewish Christians) that the “everlasting gospel” was already
preached in the time of the Old Testament in terms of symbols that
point to the reality of the once-and-for-all sacrifice and High
Priestly ministration of Jesus Christ. Which is why “the overall
subject of the Israelite sanctuary ritual is the gospel/plan of
salvation”.
Typologies of the Sanctuary will help us greatly in our
understanding of salvation truth, and salvation truth will help us
to understand the meaning of the significance of the sanctuary
typology. It should be emphasized that the New Testament clearly
demonstrates that the Old Testament Sanctuary has several
antitypical fulfillments. One major antitypical fulfilment is the
Union/reunion fulfillment based on Ex. 25:8 elaborates that in the
(1) Incarnation of Christ (John 1:14), (2) The Believer (1 Cor.
6:19), (3) The Church in general terms, (4) Eternal Reunion (Rev.
21:2, 3) are distinct, antitypical fulfillments of the Israelite
Sanctuary wherein God dwells among His people.
The second major category of antitypical fulfillment focuses
on the Atonement. The Sacrificial system was designed to teach us
that salvation is through faith in the Redeemer who makes expiation
and reconciliation for human sin by His once-and-for-all
substitutionary death. By means of the goat and calves, the
Patriarchs and Prophets of Old were taught to look forward by faith
to the advent of “the Lamb of God who [would take] the sin of the
world!” (John 1:29) and were accepted by God and forgiven based on
the basis of faith or trust in His promises. Related concepts such
as the Priesthood & the Blood are important to understand this
focus on the Atoning nature of the Sanctuary.
Many misleading concepts on the nature of the Heavenly
Sanctuary are also outlined in the reading which is noted for its
speculative nature which seems innocent on the surface, but rather
robs people of their assurances and a correct understanding of the
priesthood of Christ. Frank Holbrook is right when he stated that
“Christ has a distinct, atoning, priestly ministry in the heavenly
realm according to the Scriptures. This should warn us away from
endeavors (however pious) to spiritualize His heavenly
ministration into a subjective, personal experience. Such
misleading interpretations of sanctuary symbolism have one thing
in common: They are speculative in nature. No direct biblical
statements can be cited for their support. It is easy to read into
symbols a wide range of ideas, but we must not let our imaginations
push us into the realm of fancy.” Our sure foundation should be
rooted in the “Thus saith the Lord” to understand these fundamental
truths as taught in the Sanctuary system about the great plan of
Salvation centered in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
It is important to understand as well that “The two major
ministrations of the Levitical priests, corresponding to the two
apartments (holy place and Most Holy Place), point to the two
sequential phases of His ministry and provide insight into the
nature of His activities in each ministration.” (Emphasis mine)
Lastly, our concepts of the Atonement should be broadened to
grasp the complexity of this Biblical concept. The once-and-for-
all Sacrifice, Christ’s high-priestly ministry, and Judgment are
all linked in the biblical concept of the Atonement. This “wider
view of the atonement enables us to understand better the role of
Christ’s priestly ministry in the plan of salvation. It will also
guard us from accepting misleading and false theories regarding
God’s plan of salvation and His true gospel (cf. Gal 1:7-9).”
The death of Jesus Christ on the cross should not be separated
from His High Priestly ministry in Heaven as while they are
distinguishable, they should never be separated. They form a
complete whole of the great plan of Salvation.
PERSONAL GLEANINGS:
I will apply these concepts that I’ve learned from the reading
in my personal life by living a life with the assurance that my
Savior and Lord has not only died for me but is also ministering
in my behalf as the Great High Priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary,
that despite my failures and follies, I know I am right with God
because of what Jesus has done and is doing right now for me.
I shall endeavor to teach this biblical truth to people that
they may live in confidence amidst life’s uncertainties. In
preaching, teaching, and most of all in my daily living I shall
strive to lead people to the Jesus of Scripture who is not only
the Lamb of God who takes away our sins but also our Great High
Priest who stands in God’s presence in our behalf that we may come
boldly into the throne of grace and be assured of our eternal
salvation.
