Purpose of the Sanctuary SIMPLIFIED

"Hebrews Chap. ix,11,12. “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” 

We have now learned that Christ is our great High Priest, and the minister of the heavenly Sanctuary; that He offers His own blood instead of the blood of goats and calves which the priests offered in the earthly ministration, and the earthly ministration is typical of the heavenly, as Paul says, [Heb.viii,5,] “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things.” 

Between them there was this difference: the earthly priests were many, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death; [Heb.vii,23;] and their ministration was many times repeated, one round being completed every year; but the priesthood of Christ is an unchangeable priesthood; [Heb.vii,24;] for He is made a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec; (verse 21;) 

On Him was laid the iniquity of us all, [Isa.liii,6,] and He bare our sins in His own body on the tree. 1Pet.ii,24. 

In this connection study carefully Hebrews, chapters, vii-x. Christ, then, is the great antitype of the offerings connected with the typical sanctuary; and he who brought his victim to the door of the tabernacle, to be then slain on account of his transgression, through that sacrifice pointed to “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” 

Thus, was instituted that system of types and shadows that through them the people of that dispensation might lay hold on the merits of a coming Savior. 

--and that we, while there is now no sanctuary on earth with its ministration carried on before us, might look back upon these, and thus learn the work of the heavenly Sanctuary where our great High Priest is now ministering for us." Uriah Smith