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 others
deny the concept and its existence. Some scholars attempted to compromise it by
accepting the concept of the heavenly sanctuary but not the reality. The purpose of
this work was to see the development acceptance of this concept throughout the
centuries. This paper argued that there were six stages of development in
understanding the reality of the heavenly sanctuary. The first was among the Near
East literature (before the Bible is written). There was an assumption about the
reality of the heavenly sanctuary. The second stage covers the biblical period
which 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 the
reality of the literal heavenly sanctuary. The third stage was
the restoration concept of the reality of the sanctuary in heaven. This period
embraced the reformation time. The fourth development was a clarification of the
reality of the heavenly sanctuary. This era was marked by the understanding of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church about its existence and the role of Jesus Christ in
the heavenly sanctuary. The last stage was the challenging idea to the heavenly
sanctuary reality and its concept. Some Adventist scholars questioned the reality
of the heavenly sanctuary. Thus, for Seventh-day Adventist Church, these
challenges are an opportunity to develop this teaching in a more tangible way.
This paper is a historical approach using documentary research method. For each
development stage of the view, researcher utilizes primary resources. Secondary
resources are employed only to see current opinions about the issue.