Developing Understanding about the Reality of Heavenly Sanctuary throughout Centuries: An Adventist Perspective

Abstract

The discussion about the reality of the heavenly sanctuary has been a long debate among scholars. Some believe the reality of the sanctuary in heaven but othersdeny the concept and its existence. Some scholars attempted to compromise it byaccepting the concept of the heavenly sanctuary but not the reality. The purpose ofthis work was to see the development acceptance of this concept throughout thecenturies. This paper argued that there were six stages of development inunderstanding the reality of the heavenly sanctuary. The first was among the NearEast literature (before the Bible is written). There was an assumption about thereality of the heavenly sanctuary. The second stage covers the biblical periodwhich showed the acceptance of the reality of this heavenly sanctuary. However,since the time of early church fathers to the medieval era, there was a denial to thereality of the literal heavenly sanctuary. The third stage wasthe restoration concept of the reality of the sanctuary in heaven. This periodembraced the reformation time. The fourth development was a clarification of thereality of the heavenly sanctuary. This era was marked by the understanding of theSeventh-day Adventist Church about its existence and the role of Jesus Christ inthe heavenly sanctuary. The last stage was the challenging idea to the heavenlysanctuary reality and its concept. Some Adventist scholars questioned the realityof the heavenly sanctuary. Thus, for Seventh-day Adventist Church, thesechallenges are an opportunity to develop this teaching in a more tangible way.This paper is a historical approach using documentary research method. For eachdevelopment stage of the view, researcher utilizes primary resources. Secondaryresources are employed only to see current opinions about the issue.