America in Prophecy by Ellen White [Original Edition]

OUTER COURT
The sanctuary in the wilderness
was constructed under the direction of
Moses, in accordance with the pattern
shown him in the mount. (Ex. 25:7-8, 40; Heb.
8:5).
Enclosing this wilderness tabernacle
was a Court (sometimes called the
Outer Court) which was made of white
curtains attached to poles (Ex. 27:9-18), and
was about 75 feet wide by 150 feet long
(based on an 18-inch cubit). Within the
Court was the Altar of Burnt Offering, the
aver and the Tabernacle. This Altar was
also called the Brazen Altar since there
was a second altar, the Golden Altar,
inside the Tabernacle. This outside Altar
(Ex. 27:1-9) was hollow inside and overlaid
with brass, and was 4½ feet high and
7½ feet square. Upon this altar were
placed the animals that were offered as
burnt sacrice. Just beyond, stood the
brass aver (Ex. 30:18-21), where the priests
washed before entering the Tabernacle.
The Earthly Tabernacle
HOLY PLACE
The earthly Sanctuary (Ex. 26:1-37) was a tent with
wooden walls, 4 layers as a roof covering, and gold
and beautiful curtaining inside. About 18 by 55 feet
in size, this Tabernacle was portable, so it could be
taken apart and moved from place to place in the
journeys of Israel through the wilderness. Divided
by an inner veil into two rooms or apartments, it
was the holiest place on earth. The priest entered
the First Apartment every day with blood, and went
past the seven-branched Golden Candlestick, with
its seven lamps of re (Ex. 25:31-40); past the Table of
Shewbread, containing the dedicated bread that
stood before the resence of the ord (Ex. 25:23-30);
and on to the Altar of Incense, or Golden Altar (Ex.30:1-
10), from whence the smoke of a specially prepared
incense wafted up, over the top of the dividing
veil (which did not reach to the ceiling) and into
the Holy of Holies beyond. Upon the Golden Altar
and dividing veil, the priest sprinkled some of the
sacricial blood (Lev. 4-5). A partial description of this
may be found in Hebrews 9:1-17. All of the furniture
within the First and Second apartments was of solid
gold, or covered with gold.
MOST HOLY PLACE
The Second Apartment, or Most
Holy lace (Ex. 26:33), contained the Ark of
the Covenant (Ex. 25:17-22). Between two
Cherubim was the glory of the resence
of God (the Shekinah). (Ex. 25:22; 40:34).
Beneath it was the Mercy Seat, a slab
of solid gold that covered the top of
the Ark, wherein lay the foundation of
God’s government: the Moral aw of Ten
Commandments (Ex. 20:3-17) which was
written by the nger of God on stone (Ex.
31:18) and then placed in the Ark (Deut. 10:2).
All of mankind is to be governed by these
holy precepts, even down to the end of
time (Rev. 12:17; 14:12); and beyond (Rev. 22:14;
Isa. 66:22, 23). Only once a year, on the Day
of Atonement, did the high priest enter
the second apartment—to cleanse the
Sanctuary and the people of sin. (Lev. 16,
especially vss 30-34; and Dan. 8:14).