The Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary
Calvin Lashway
July 2008 Revised
For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you." And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (Hebrews 9:19-24; All scriptures quoted are from the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise stated).
These verses in Hebrews 9, specifically verse 23, apparently say heaven is in need of cleansing from some type of defilement: “Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” Is this possible? Could heaven be defiled? If so, what or who defiles heaven, and how does this happen? Is this cleansing something that has already occurred or is it a future event? This study will seek to answer these questions.
Cleansing the Earthly Sanctuary
On the Day of Atonement the High Priest made atonement for the people of Israel. Besides this, he made atonement for the earthly sanctuary (the Tabernacle and later the Temple), the holy place (the inner chamber or room of the earthly sanctuary and location of the Ark of the Covenant) and the altar. This atonement resulted in the spiritual cleansing of the people and the sanctuary:
“When he [the high priest] finishes atoning for the holy place and the tent of meeting [the earthly sanctuary] and the altar, he shall offer the live goat” (Leviticus 16:20).
This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you; for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD. It is to be a sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute. So the [high] priest who is anointed and ordained to serve as priest in his father’s place shall make atonement: he shall thus put on the linen garments, the holy garments, and make atonement for the holy sanctuary [the holy place], and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting [the earthly sanctuary] and for the altar. He shall also make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. Now you shall have this as a permanent statute, to make atonement for the sons of Israel for all their sins once every year. And just as the LORD had commanded Moses, so he did (Leviticus 16:29-34).
The sins of the children of Israel made the sanctuary complex unclean, necessitating the need for its cleansing:
He shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the impurities of the sons of Israel and because of their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and thus he shall do for the tent of meeting [the earthly sanctuary] which abides with them in the midst of their impurities. . . . Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and of the blood of the goat and put it on the horns of the altar on all sides. With his finger he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it seven times and cleanse it, and from the impurities of the sons of Israel consecrate it (Leviticus 16:16, 18-19)
We see from the book of Hebrews the heavenly sanctuary is the basis for the design of the earthly sanctuary:
Now if He [Jesus] were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those [the Levitical priests] who offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, see, He says, that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain (Hebrews 8:4-5).
And in the same way he [the high priest] sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens [the earthly sanctuary] to be cleansed with these [animal blood], but the heavenly things [the heavenly sanctuary] themselves with better sacrifices than these (Hebrews 9:21-23).
In Hebrews 9:23 we read that animal blood cleanses the earthly sanctuary and its contents, which are a copy of what is in heaven. Leviticus 16 provides us with a description of this ritual. Hebrews 9:23 shows us that something better than animal blood cleanses the heavenly sanctuary. In verses 24-26 we see it’s Jesus’ sacrifice that cleanses the heavenly sanctuary:
For Christ did not enter a holy place [the earthly sanctuary] made with hands, a mere copy of the true one [the heavenly sanctuary], but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9:24-26).
Hebrews 9:11-14 reveals that this sacrifice of Jesus is His blood:
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle [the heavenly sanctuary], not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place [the heavenly sanctuary] once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:11-14).
Sin in Heaven
Hebrews 9:23 tells us the heavenly sanctuary needs cleansing. But cleansed of what? The scriptures identify two likely means of defiling heaven: human sin, and Satan and his angels. We will first look at human sin.
The Bible speaks of human sin reaching into heaven. Revelation 18:1-5 speaks of the sins of Babylon, which are “piled up as high as heaven” or as in the King James Version “have reached unto heaven” (verse 5). These sins are so pervasive that God tells Christians to come out of Babylon so we don’t participate in the same sinful conduct (verse 4).
In the book of Jonah we see another possible example of heaven’s defilement by sin. Because of their sinful way of life, God sent Jonah to Nineveh to warn them of His coming judgment: “The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me” (Jonah 1:1-2).
The final example we will look at is that of the Jews who returned to Judah from the Babylonian exile. When Ezra the scribe arrived, many people, including the leadership were marring non-Israelites. (Ezra 9:1-4). This upset Ezra who went before God in prayer confessing the sins of the people (verse 5-15). In his prayer, Ezra says: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens” (verse 6):
These references to sin ascending to heaven just might only mean that God is aware of human sin. If so, we still have to deal with the fact; Jesus does cleanse the heavenly sanctuary of something. Since there was a cleansing of the earthly sanctuary of sin, which is a type of the heavenly one, it’s reasonable to conclude Jesus cleanses the heavenly sanctuary of sin. This sin has to come from somewhere other then God who is perfect and without sin (Matthew 5:48). Scripture suggests the sins of mankind negatively impact heaven, causing a defilement that only Jesus’ sacrifice can cleanse.
We might view sin, and its effect on the physical and spiritual realms like ripples, caused from throwing a stone into a lake. The stone symbolizes sin, and the ripples the consequences of sin. The ripples spread out across the lake, upsetting the calm smooth waters. In this picture, God is in a boat, He is above this world, not of it, not in the water. But the ripples of sin will rock His boat, affecting Him.
Satan and Demons Coming into the Presence of God
It appears the second type of defilement heaven requires cleansing from is that of Satan and his angels. The Bible provides us with several examples of how they may contaminate the heavenly sanctuary.
The following scriptures give us our first example of why Jesus’ needs to clean the heavenly sanctuary of satanic defilement:
How you [Satan] have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High (Isaiah 14:12-14).
Again the word of the LORD came to me saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre [Satan] and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD, You had the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The ruby, the topaz and the diamond; The beryl, the onyx and the jasper; The lapis lazuli, the turquoise and the emerald; And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, Was in you. On the day that you were created They were prepared. You were the anointed cherub who covers, And I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked in the midst of the stones of fire. You were blameless in your ways From the day you were created Until unrighteousness was found in you. By the abundance of your trade You were internally filled with violence, And you sinned; Therefore I have cast you as profane From the mountain of God. And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, That they may see you” (Ezekiel 28:11-17).
God created an angelic cherub named “Star of the Morning” or “Lucifer” in the King James Version (Isaiah 14:12). Star of the Morning was blameless in his ways, perfect, wise and beautiful (Ezekiel 28:12-13). He was one of the cherubim who served at the throne of God in heaven (Ezekiel 28:14, 16; Psalm 80:1; 99:1; 1 Samuel 4:4), also called “Eden, the garden of God” or “the holy mountain of God” (Ezekiel 28:13, 14). God even gave him rulership of earth, which he still rules today (Isaiah 14:13, Luke 4:5-7; 1 John 5:19; John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11). But then Star of the Morning sinned, defiling heaven by becoming proud of his beauty, corrupting his wisdom (Ezekiel 28:15-17), and with the support of other angels, attacked heaven, trying to overthrow God. He wanted to become like the Most High (Isaiah 14:13-14; Revelation 12:3-4). Star of the Morning had now become Satan, the adversary of God. He lost this war, and God cast him out of heaven, sending him back to earth (Isaiah 14:12; Luke 10:18). The Bible indicates that sometime before the Jesus’ second coming, Satan and his angels will make another failed attempt of overthrow God (Revelation 12:7-9).
There is another type of satanic defilement that heaven needs cleansing from. The false accusations Satan makes against the righteous in the presence of God. We find an example of this type of accusation in the opening chapters of Job. Satan appearing before God brings false chargers against Job, saying the only reason he obeys God, is because God protects him. Satan taunts God by saying that once He removes His divine protection, Job will curse God: “Then Satan answered the LORD, Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” God gives Satan permission to take all that Job has; possessions and family. Yet Job doesn’t curse God (Job 1:6-22).
Later, Satan again presents himself before the LORD, and casting doubt on Job’s commitment to God says, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.” Job might put up with losing his family and possessions, but take away his health, and he will curse God. But, once more Job proves himself faithful to God (Job 2:1-10).
Job isn’t the only person Satan has brought false accusations against in the presence of God. It looks like the heavenly sanctuary requires cleansing from Satan’s presence, and the evil lying accusations he makes against God’s children: “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night” (Revelation 12:10).
Not only can Satan come into God’s presence in heaven, so can his angels. These demonic appearances may be another reason for the heavenly sanctuary need for cleansing. First Kings twenty-two, and Second Chronicles eighteen, record an incident where a “deceiving spirit” (1 Kings 22:19-23; 2 Chronicles 18:18-22) comes into God’s presence. This demon, like his master, specialized in lying (John 8:44).
Peace in Heaven
Sin and wickedness result in a lack of peace:
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, . . . Their feet are swift to shed blood, destruction and misery are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes (Romans 3:9-10, 15-18).
Creating the praise of the lips. Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near, Says the LORD, and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked (Isaiah 57:19-21).
Justification and forgiveness brings peace between the sinner and God: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Not only does Jesus’ sacrifice bring peace to sinners on earth, but His sacrifice brings peace to heaven as well: “And through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:20). We see reference to this future heavenly peace as Jesus enters Jerusalem before His crucifixion, the crowd was “shouting: blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord; Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:37-38). Part of Jesus’ atoning work was to bring peace to heaven.
Past, Present and Future
The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is a process with a beginning and an ending. A cleansing of the sanctuary transpired at a specific time in the past when Jesus entered the heavenly sanctuary with His shed blood. Jesus only died once, and only once had to enter the heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 9:11-12, 23-26). But, we still sin and need Jesus’ intercession (1 John 1:8-2:2), and it appears our sins continually contaminate the heavenly sanctuary. Also the satanic defilement of heaven may be a problem Jesus must continually address. First, we have Satan constantly accusing us falsely before God, and second, fallen angels entering heaven when summoned. It looks as if the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is an ongoing duty. After the thousand year reign of Jesus and His saints. The ultimate and final cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary occurs with Satan, his angels, and all unrepentant sinners cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:7-15; Matthew 25:41, 46).
Personal comment from the author.
I would like to thank Keith Hunt, John Ireland, Steve Kissack, Jan Young and Tommy West, for contributing many of the ideas and concepts I developed in this article.