A Bogus Doctrine?

Q: Was the sanctuary doctrine made up just to explain why Jesus didn’t come back in 1844?

A: The claim circulated widely in 1979. Was the sanctuary doctrine biblical, or was it just a convenient excuse to avoid embarrassment? The Daniel and Revelation Committee, with the Biblical Research Institute, addressed the issue with seven published volumes. These showed that the sanctuary doctrine is a solid Bible teaching. The early Adventist discovery is sound: The “cleansing of the sanctuary” in Daniel 8:14, rather than describing Christ cleansing the earth at His second coming, points to the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary through a work of judgment.

Daniel 2, 7, and 8 tell the same basic story, each chapter adding more detail. Four metals in an image represent four kingdoms in Daniel 2. Four unclean animals represent the same kingdoms in Daniel 7, but with the addition of a little horn that rises from the fourth beast (Dan. 7:8). Then a heavenly judgment begins, with the “Ancient of Days” (verse 9) and “One like the Son of Man” (verse 13) taking part.

Daniel 8 repeats the same sequence but leaves out Babylon, because Babylon was near its end when the vision is given. This time clean animals—a ram and a goat—stand for Medo-Persia and Greece. The little horn in Daniel 8 comes from one of the four winds, or directions, and points to Rome. It shows pagan Rome in its earthly (horizontal) conquest (Dan. 8:9, 10) and papal Rome in its (vertical) attack on heaven, the Prince of the host, and the place of God’s sanctuary (verses 11, 12). A clean animal would have been inappropriate to symbolize Rome, with its “transgression of desolation” (verse 13) or “abomination of desolation” (Dan. 11:31; 12:11; see also Matt. 24:15).

Before Christ returns, the subjects of His kingdom must be clearly identified through this heavenly judgment, which began in 1844.

Heaven’s answer to the Papacy’s attack on God’s sanctuary and people (symbolized by “the host” and “the stars” [Dan. 12:3]) comes in Daniel 8:14: After 2,300 “evening-mornings,” the sanctuary would be cleansed. This points to a heavenly Day of Atonement. In the earthly sanctuary service both a ram and a goat were used on that day, and in that order (Lev. 16:3, 9). On that day the sanctuary was cleansed from the sins confessed during the year. The blood of the Lord’s goat was sprinkled first in the most holy place, on and before the mercy seat, to atone for the broken law inside the ark.

When Daniel 7 and 8 are compared, Daniel 8:14 clearly describes the same heavenly judgment. This judgment not only deals with the beasts and the little horn (Dan. 7:11, 12, 26; 8:13, 25) but also concerns God’s people (Dan. 7:9, 10, 13, 14, 22, 27; 8:13, 24, 25).

The starting point of this judgment is connected with the 70-week prophecy of Daniel 9. Both time periods focus on Christ’s atoning work: The 70 weeks point to His sacrifice on the cross, and the 2,300 days point to His Day of Atonement ministry in the heavenly sanctuary.

Before Christ returns as “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16), the subjects of His kingdom must be clearly identified through this heavenly judgment, which began in 1844. Only then can He “reward . . . every one according to his work” (Rev. 22:12).