The heavenly sanctuary.
What does scripture tell us about a sanctuary in heaven?

In Hebrews 8:1-2 we learn that in heaven, Christ serves in the sanctuary and true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man?

In Hebrews 8:5 we learn (the earthly sanctuary) served as the copy and shadow of the heavenly things

Hebrews 9:1-4 (the earthly sanctuary had two compartments) ; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the Holy Place.
The second had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; ... which is called the Holiest of all;

Hebrews 9:3 (The two compartments were divided by) the second veil,

Where was the first veil?
The "second veil" was that between the holy place and the holy of holies (Exodus 36:35), the curtain at the entrance of the holy place (Exodus 36:37) being regarded as the first.

Priests entered into the holy place every day all year.
But only on the day of atonement did the High Priest enter the most Holy Place,

The day of atonement = the cleansing of the sanctuary.

What does this mean to us individually?

John 6:8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
6:9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
6:10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
6:11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

The Creator of all things, (All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" John 1:3) created food for these hungry people.
It was an awesome miracle showing the loving care of our Creator, who calls us to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." Matt. 6:33

Yet, in spite of that awesome event, when the people in that crowd looked at Jesus, they saw only a common everyday human who apparently had some magical powers that could be used to further their own ends. They did not see Someone who came down from heaven to offer them salvation from sin and give them eternal life. They were unable to see the sacred light shining through.
John makes it clear that most of those who had followed Christ did so only because of the miracles and not because of any deep spiritual conviction or need for a Savior and Redeemer. (See 6:2 and 6:26)

Christ desired to awaken faith in their hearts, to lead them to accept him, the Son of God, as the Bread of life. As we continue to study John chapter six, we see great numbers turning away when Jesus offered them the "living bread".

Question to think:
Though Jesus ministered to their immediate need for food, was that an end in itself?
Is there a far deeper meaning that Jesus is illustrating in this chapter?
What is our own reason for our interest in Jesus?

Do you think this is positioning a situation where a so-called "savior" will step in?

Daniel 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown:

You also have to be careful not to be to strict or literal with the text like those who tempt fate with snakes and poison thinking they are immune yet not follow God.

In looking at the first six chapters of Daniel as a type of the National and Universal Sunday laws, certain aspects can be seen that help us to know with certainty what to expect. This applies in both the physical and spiritual realms.

In the spiritual realm there is often the question of when do we receive the seal of God. The Spirit of prophecy lets us know that we are not sealed when the first Sunday law test comes, as it 'is the great test for God?s people.'

"The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided? In Revelation 13 this subject is plainly presented;" (Revelation 13:11-17, quoted).

"This is the test that the people of God must have before they are sealed. All who prove their loyalty to God by observing His law, and refusing to accept a spurious sabbath, will rank under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah, and will receive the seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of heavenly origin, and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark of the beast?" (15MR 15.1-3)

In another place she lets us know when we do receive the seal:

"About four months since, I had a vision of events, all in the future. And I saw the time of trouble, such as never was,--Jesus told me it was the time of Jacob's trouble, and that we should be delivered out of it by the voice of God. Just before we entered it (Jacob's time of trouble), we all received the seal of the living God." (DS, March 14, 1846 par. 2)

When the Sunday law has gone global, it is then that Michael stands up and human probation closes. Then God?s people are plunged into Jacob's time of trouble. (GC 615-616)

The same thing is shown in Daniel. As we saw in the quotes in the first part, the raising of the image in Daniel 3 represents the raising of the Sunday law in America. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego represent God's people who are standing under the three angels messages as the Sunday law is enacted. They are thrown into the fiery furnace because of their refusal to bow to the image. The Bible records that 'they fell down bound in the midst of the burning fiery furnace.' God's people are not sealed at this point, because it is the great test they must have before they are sealed.

Two things are destroyed as a result of this test. The mighty men that cast Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace, and the bands that bound them. The destruction of these two things represent the final victory over our inherited and cultivated defects of character. It is in the heat of the trial that these things will be destroyed. This trial will be significant, in that we will experience wholesale persecution, reproach, hatred and contempt. Martyrs will also be produced.

It is interesting to note that these men had to successfully pass through the testing trials of Daniel 1 and Daniel 2 before they could pass through the test of Daniel 3. The same principle applies to the three angels' messages and the sanctuary. It is always the first two that prepare for the survival of the third.

This can be shown in type with the two angels that visited Lot. It was because of the instruction of those two angels that Lot survived the destruction of Sodom. 'Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot? Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.' Luke 17:26-30

The same is true with the two spies, or messengers (Josh. 6:25) who came to Rahab in Jericho. Again, it was only because of the instruction given by these two men that she knew to gather her family into her home, and to place the scarlet line out the window, thus enabling them to survive the destruction of the city. The scarlet line is the same as the blood on the doorpost, representing the atonement and merits of Christ, which caused the destroying angel to pass over.

Daniel 1, 2, and 3, are identical with the three angels, and these three angels are in turn, identical with the Courtyard, Holy Place, and Most Holy Place. The three testing temptations of Christ in the wilderness are also the same as the three tests of Daniel 1-3. The first temptation and Daniel 1 are on appetite, the second temptation and Daniel 2 are on presumption and prophecy, and the third temptation and Daniel 3 are about worship.

Daniel 4 and 5 represent the completion of the mystery of Godliness and the mystery of iniquity in each of the two classes of people. As a result of the seven times that Nebuchadnezzar passed through, just as the three Hebrews passed through the furnace heated seven times hotter, he is represented as having excellent majesty added unto him. (Dan. 4:36) Belshazzar, on the other hand, knew what Nebuchadnezzar passed through, but failed the test, and judgment was pronounced against him. These two men represent two classes of people.

The first class receive the seal of God, and the latter receive the mark of the beast. Just as they are sandwiched between chapter 3 and 6, so the spiritual condition of the two classes of people are brought to completion simultaneously between the National and Universal Sunday laws. The one class now perfectly reflects the character of Christ, and the other perfectly reflects the character of Satan.

Daniel 6 represents God?s people as sealed. Daniel is found with 'an excellent spirit within him,' and as 'faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.' (Daniel 6:3-4) Each group now have either the seal or the mark, and are prepared for the final battle.

Well, if Tim Roosenberg's interpretation of Daniel 11 is correct. (And he may well be right)
the King of the South (Muslims) are doing a lot of pushing, (not just Iran but other muslim powers as well).
The Papal world (king of the north) is not yet springing into action, but when they do they (including the union of papal and USA) will launch a massive assault on the king of the south, overrunning him, wiping out some and bringing the rest under his domain.
Jerusalem will be vindicated and established as a center in the great false religion.

But it will all come to an end, as Christ stands up to deliver the children of the NEW Jerusalem which is in heaven.