Doug Batchelor’s message “Cleansing the Sanctuary” explores both the historical and spiritual meaning of the biblical sanctuary and how it symbolizes God’s plan for salvation. He explains that the earthly sanctuary described in the Old Testament was a reflection of the heavenly one, serving as a teaching tool to reveal how sin is dealt with through Christ’s ministry. The sanctuary’s cleansing—particularly the Day of Atonement—points to the final work of judgment and purification before Jesus’ return.
Batchelor draws parallels between the physical sanctuary being cleansed of sin and the believer’s heart being purified through repentance and the power of the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes that God’s true dwelling place today is not in temples made with hands, but in the hearts of His people. Therefore, the “cleansing of the sanctuary” represents God’s work of cleansing the church and individual lives from sin, hypocrisy, and worldliness in preparation for Christ’s soon coming.
In practical terms, Batchelor urges believers to invite Jesus to search their hearts, remove anything that separates them from Him, and live holy lives guided by His Word. The teaching ultimately calls for spiritual renewal, self-examination, and readiness for the close of earth’s history when the heavenly sanctuary work will be completed and God’s people will stand pure before Him.
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