apartment. This is marked in John's statement of the events under the seventh trumpet:
"And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament." Rev.11:19.
The ark marks the second apartment as the seven lamps and the golden altar of incense mark the first.
The second apartment is therefore opened under the seventh angel, and the days (or years) at the beginning of his voice constitute the period in which the mystery of God or work of the gospel for fallen man is finished. Rev.10:7; Eph.3:4-6.
It is certain therefore, that as there was a time each year devoted to the finishing up of the round of service in "the example and shadow of heavenly things" so is there such a period in the conclusion of Christ's ministration, when once for all our High Priest finishes his work of priesthood; and as this work in the former dispensation took place in the second apartment, so also under the new covenant does this work find its accomplishment within the second vail by the ark of the ten commandments.
--The work in the second apartment of the earthly sanctuary does not therefore represent the work of the whole gospel dispensation, but only of that part of it devoted to the finishing of the mystery of God.
--The work within the second apartment was for the cleansing of the sanctuary, and this was performed by the high priest with blood, and when it was accomplished the sins of the people were blotted out.
--It was, therefore, an event of the greatest importance to the people of God.
The heavenly sanctuary is to be cleansed, and for the same reason that the earthly sanctuary was cleansed.
So Paul testifies in Heb.9:23. The same word which Paul uses to express the purification in this text is used in the Septuagint version of Daniel 8:14, for cleansing.
The prophecy of Daniel shows us that the sanctuary of God is cleansed in the last days of the new covenant dispensation.
The sanctuary of the new covenant is in Heaven. Heb.8:1,2.
The time marked for its cleansing is that fixed by John for the opening of the temple in Heaven and for the finishing of the mystery of God. Rev.11:19; 10:7.
The cleansing of the sanctuary is the removal from it of the sins of the people of God that had been borne into it by the High Priest, and their blotting out from the record that stands against the saints." J.N. Andrews