Basic Information

The Book of Hebrews compares and contrasts the Day of Atonement services with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross (Calvary, Leviticus 9:10-22), because of God's love for the human race. It argues that by His once-for-all death He accomplished what Israel's repeated offerings could never achieve and that is why aiming to start up such services in our time does not achieve anything, instead, our eye of faith is to be directed on studying the Scriptures on what is being accomplished in God's sanctuary in heaven. The importance of this topic is shown that the Lord had John put in the very heart of Revelation (ch. 10-11) the episode about the little book sweet in the mouth, bitter in stomach, followed by the opening of the Most Holy Place. - Jesus is the reality symbolized by the Day of Atonement sacrifices, as He was by all the ancient services. The Day of Atonement is not a day where forgiveness figures prominently, because it goes beyond forgiveness which has already been received (Lev. 16:30 in context), to moral cleansing. [1]

The dimensions of the court were accordingly to be

ca. 172 x 86 feet calculated from 100 x 50 ancient Egyptian cubits.

ca. 86 x 86 feet each, Ex. 27:9-19.

36x12x12 cubits, the holy 24x12, the most holy 12x12 cubits and the gate to the court 20 cubits wide.

Christianity is centered on the substitutional death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ suffered this death near ancient Jerusalem to offer redemption to individuals from the consequence of sin (the second death) in our lives. Above and beyond God's love and forgiving attitude toward us, He wants to actually heal us from the sin itself and from its consequences.[130] In this sense His achievement on the cross was complete, finished - as far as the forecourt symbolism was concerned! (John 17:4; 19:30) But was it completed as far as the `throne/ark/mercy seat' is concerned? It is the book of Hebrews which opens up to our understanding the work which Christ began after His blood was shed on calvary and after He ascended to heaven (Hebr. 8:1-2; 9:1-28;) to make application of His sacrifice.

And so we found that the architectural layout of the Israelite sanctuary put the symbol of the death of Christ on the cross in its very center. In the forecourt we find the `Altar for Burnt Offerings'. Most Christian churches have a working knowledge of this part of the antitypical meaning of this aspect of biblical teaching. However, the significance of the second central spot, where the `Ark of the Covenant' topped by the `Mercy Seat' stood (1.Sam. 4:4; 2.Sam. 6:2), is perhaps not given adequate time and insightful study in the width and depth of this featureful architectural arrangement filled with spiritual meaning. And so we find that many Christian churches stop at the cross and do not proceed to understand the place where at times God set up His throne between the Cherubim angels on the Mercy Seat/Throne, Ex. 25:22; Numbers 7:89. Since both, altar and throne, are biblically emphasized, `centrally located' topics we shall address as brief as possible, and yet hopefully adequate enough, the more immediate and extended meanings in the following part.

The Ministry of Christ in His Sanctuary According to the Book of Hebrews

The Mercy Seat

The Mercy Seat represented the connecting link between heaven and earth. The two cherubim angels both faced the center of the chest made of acacia wood, in token humility and reverence bowing and in symbol representing the entire heavenly hosts and how they intently regard the law of God and the plan of redemption. How intent the angelic hosts are observing everything having to do with salvation and the resolution of sin in this world is brought out several times in the Bible especially during the time of the birth and ascendance of Jesus Christ back into heaven and is presented in all four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We read words like

"The angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph ... And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and I am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. ... And Jesus said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man. ... And he was in the wilderness forty days ... and the angels ministered unto him." Matt. 1:20; Luke 1:19; John 1:51; Mark 1:13.

The presence of these angels emphasizes the importance of these events and goings on, also double emphasized by Jesus using the word `verily' twice. Who was the angel Gabriel (Dan. 10:21; Rev. 1:1)? We may not be far off to say, that the angel Gabriel who stood in the presence of God, holds now the position which Satan forsook when sin was found in him. We do well to take heed of the instruction presented in these passages in their entire context, for the angels wanted to witness how the problem of sin was going to be resolved and apparently aid in its resolution somehow. For this reason alone we probably should not leave one facet of this great theme unnoticed and proclaimed for we were created just a little lower than the angels, Psalms 8:4-5.

Above the Mercy Seat, between the cherubim angels on a few occasions, the `shekinah' glory of the presence of God was revealed in order to make known His will, Psalm 80:1; Ex. 25:22; Num. 7:89. Moss had gone into the sanctuary to speak to the Lord, instead the Lord spoke to Moses. Our question may be, how open are we to hearing the voice of God when He is speaking to us? (Hebr. 4:14-16). What things keep us from a fuller communion with God? - Divine messages were sometimes made known to the high priest by a voice from the pillar of the cloud. Other times a light would shine upon the angel on the right indicating approval or the angel on the left, indicating disapproval, Ex. 25:22 (implied).

"Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle." Ex. 40:34.

"And all the children of Israel murmured against ... `Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt ... let us return ...' ... then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces ... rebel not ye against the Lord ... But the congregation (of the Israelites) bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel." Num. 14:2,5,9,10.

"... the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation." Lev. 9:23; Num. 16:19,42; 20:6.

Hannah's prayer incidentally mentions ... "He raiseth up ... to make them inherit the throne of glory ..." 1.Sam.2:8.

"... for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord." 1.Ki. 8:11; 2.Chr. 5:14.

"Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." 2.Chr. 7:1-3; Micah 7:18,19.

"And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub ..." Ezekiel 8:4; 10:4.

Underneath the cherubim angels between which the glory of the Lord appeared, inside the arch, was enshrined the law of God. That law pronounces death upon the transgressor, but above the law was the Mercy Seat indicating or pointing forward to the sacrificial atonement provided by the death of Jesus on the cross, so that pardon could be granted to repenting sinners who would turn away from sinning and become obedient to the Lord.[180]

"Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear (respect, reverence) him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10.

There is no question that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is a central point in biblical teachings and Christian beliefs. This is abundantly made clear in the Old Testament and especially also the New Testament. But the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross is in the past, God, at some point, wants to direct our attention to His Throne, before we all must appear. The time for our attention toward His Throne in His Sanctuary is now! These are not new teachings. They were taught in the Bible all along, laity and clergy just did not faithfully study God's Holy Bible enough. The question, `Why was the sacrifice in the sanctuary not the end but the beginning of the sancturary service,' is already answered here. Our first question may be this:

Is the centrality of the altar/cross imagery in the Old and New Testament also made clear on the subject of the centrality of the throne in the New Testament?

From the Old Testament we know that the high priest would enter the Most Holy apartment of the tabernacle sanctuary once each year on the Day of Atonement, that means, the high priest served inside this Most Holy place rarely while he went inside the Holy apartment every day. [200] Since the inner veil separating the Holy from the Most Holy apartment did not reach to the ceiling, the glory of the Lord, when manifested above the Mercy Seat, was partially visible from the first apartment. When the priest offered incense before the Lord, he looked toward the ark; as the smoldering cloud of incense rose toward the ceiling, the divine glory descended upon the Mercy Seat and filled the Most Holy place, which may also be called `cleansing' or `glory' room. This burning incense, ascending with the prayers of Israel, represents the love, merits and intercession of Jesus Christ, His perfect righteousness, which through faith is imputed (accounted for) to His people, and which alone can make the worship of sinful beings acceptable to God. This was a time of intense interest to the worshipers who had assembled at the tabernacle. As they searched out in their minds their sins in silent prayer to confess them, their petitions ascended with the cloud of incense before the Lord, while in faith they laid hold upon the shed blood of the sacrifice as we do today in silent prayer at home or in church.

While the burning of incense, slaying of sacrificial animals were done away with at the cross, we, who "nailed" Christ to the Cross by our sinning, still need to pray, search out our sins, exercise faith, confess and repent, but not to appease an angry God, No, but to satisfy the demands of the law before the universe of unfallen beings, who are interested to know that Satan will be forever conquered, so all who are thus reconciled citizens of God's kingdom are assured of peace and love forever.

Putting this all together we may say that Christ paid the full price on Calvary. What did the cross pay for, and when is that achievement given to those contrite below the Cross?

1. While enormous progress in knowledge has been achieved on all levels, there is also corresponding, enormous increase in understanding the truths presented in the Word of God.[282]
2. It is not the dusty, fragmented manuscripts found in the deserts which are increasing our knowledge, as much as it is the Bible itself and the good news it contains. Consequently these pages are alive and we update recognitions so as not to have a dead letter.
3. This good news is about Jesus, the Savior of the world (Jh. 4:42), what he has done, is doing and will finish doing - soon.
4. The Cross made possible the appeals of the Holy Spirit on human hearts, convicting of sin and drawing to Christ for the entire interval between sin entering Eden [290] and today.
5. People, all of us, do not know how to get out of the swamp that sin has made for us. Jesus came to lead us out of it.
6. Our Savior did not go back to heaven on an extended vacation, instead, He is employed full time in His heavenly sanctuary rebuilding human wrecks.
7. Jesus reaches down to all - the down and outers, addicts, teenagers, would be suiciders, lazy selfish "saints", `melting' prostitutes, the broken hearted, encouraging prisoners, abused children and parents - Jesus is very buzy.
8. Jesus heals all these maladies, hurts, even from childhood and before; problems they are not responsible for. But He never excuses us for cowardly going on in sin; He heals, forgives, cleanses, sets us free like an inmate walking out of jail, not mistrusted, but free.
9. What is the catch? It is not this, that you first have to "do" something, it is rather that you must "see" something (in our now understanding mind). Each one of us is a sinner before we come "boldly" to the Savior. For Christ, it is sinners who are first-class citizens for He says, "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." Mt. 9:13. Thus we look into the sanctuary in order to "see" that something.
10. The Cross, the eastern square, provided forgiveness and justification for those who accepted and remained in Christ. As they did so ...
11. the Cross provided enabling grace [300] for them to overcome sin and resist temptation, day by day.
12. The Cross will make possible the resurrection, translation, glorification and eternal life of those finally redeemed.

These Bible facts establish that there are two thrones in heaven: on the one from which proceeds the "river of life," Christ "sat at the right hand of God." This joint throne is therefore called "the throne of God and of the lamb." It is the "great white throne" at the river of life, in Paradise - God's eternal dwelling place. Whereas the throne in the sanctuary was set for the time being (Dan. 7:9,10) - during Christ's ministration in "the Holiest of all," thus making it the throne of Judgment - for the blotting out of sins and the granting of rewards. But the one which proceeds from the river of life is the throne of life and of eternity.

The extended significance of the symbolism taught in the sanctuary services relates in later times also to prophetic topics.

A key chapter to a systematic understanding of the lessons one can learn about the sanctuary services is Hebrews chapter nine. In the past the lessons of this chapter have not been fully grasped. We endeavor in these few pages to present a brief point by point account on what we think is essential knowledge on this subject.

The 8 Major Principles embedded in Hebrew Nine:

I. There is a real sanctuary in heaven. (Hebr. 8:2) Just as certain as the outer court sacrifices prefigured Christ's death on the cross, the first and second apartment services also prefigured essential lessons.

II. We need to come to a better understanding of the Hebrew term `qodesh' and the Greek term `hagion/hagia' for they are used in the Book of Hebrew in a unique way. `Hagion' and its various forms appear some eight times in the Greek version of the Book of Hebrews where it is translated as shown:

(1) Hebrews 8:2 (`the sanctuary');
(2) 9:2 (`the sanctuary'),
(3) v 8 (`the holiest of all')
(4) v12 (`the holy place')
(5) v24 (`the holy places')
(6) v25 (`the holy place');
(7) 10:19 (`the holiest');
(8) 13:11 (`the sanctuary').

As shown above, the KJV translates the same word five different ways [500]. We need to understand and be able to give the reason why it never means `holiest of all' or `holiest'. For a long time 9 out of 38 Bible translations translate `hagia' incorrectly among them the KJV, the NKJV and the NIV. Correct translations may be found in the Murdoch (1855), Estes (1973), Jerusalem Bible (1966), New English Bible (1961), the New American Standard Bible (1960) and even in the New World Translation of the Jehovah's Witnesses, to name a few.

Explanation of `hagion/hagia':

The correct translation of `ta hagia' (`the sanctuary of holy places') is the key to a better (correct) understanding of where Christ as our High Priest went to, after he ascended to heaven by 31 A.D.

The Book of Hebrews is a very carefully arranged book.

Chapter 7 - The author establishes that Jesus is a priest.

Chapter 8 - first mention that Jesus has a sanctuary of His own in heaven in which he ministers; he mentions that this ministry is based on a Covenant of Fatherhood on God's part, and obedience by God's grace in faith on our part;

Chapter 9 - The author recognizes the need to define key terminology, i.e. sanctuary, first apartment, second apartment, veil.

Definitions:

a) "Eixe men oun kai e trapesa dikaimata latreias to te hagion kosmikon." -- "Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary." Hebrews 9:1 - Author gives us the word he uses for the sanctuary as a whole, the entire structure made up of two departments as `hagion', singular for `holy'.[600]

b) "Skene gar kateskeuasde e prte, en e e te luxnia kai e trapesa kai e prodesis t artn, etis legetai Hagia" -- "For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein [was] the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the sanctuary." Hebrews 9:2 - Author gives us the word he uses for the first apartment (holy place), `hagia' which is the plural of `hagion' and literally means `holies' (Hebr. `qodesh'). This is a strange usage but used by the author of Hebrews, writing in Greek, when he places the word in the plural. Instead of writing `holy (place)' he writes `holies (holy places)'. We remember from this verse that, after describing in verse 2 what is in it, he calls the first apartment `ta hagia.' We also know now from verse 1 that `ta hagia' can stand for the complete two-apartment sanctuary (in its declinated form); and now we know from verse 2 it can also stand for the first apartment of the sanctuary.

One important question remains: "Can `ta hagia' ever stand for the second apartment - the Holy of Holies?"

We find the answer to that question in verse 3.

c) "Meta de to deuteron katapetasma skene e legomene Hagia Hagin." -- "And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all." Hebrews 9:3 - Here the author gives us the word he uses for the second apartment, (`Holiest of All'), which is `hagia hagin' (`' is the Greek letter omega, pronounced as a long `o'). This is also a strange usage but consistent with Hebrews 9:2 because both words are used in the plural. He does not write `holy of holies' but rather `holies of holies'. (`skene' means tent or tabernacle)

The ordinary way to describe the sanctuary would then be, `holy places (holies)' for the sanctuary as a whole, `holy place (holy)' for the first apartment, and `holy of holies' for the second apartment.

But the author uses the words differently:

He uses the singular word `hagion (holy)' for the sanctuary as a whole and the plural words `hagia' for the first apartment and `hagia hagion' for the second apartment. Why this is so is the question we endeavor to provide an answer for:

A Reasonable Answer: In the days of Paul and the early church the Greek version of the Old Testament, the Septuagint, was widely read. In the Septuagint `holy place' almost always refers to the first apartment, yet there was one important exception:

When Moses wrote Leviticus chapter 16, he consistently called the second apartment the `holy place (hagion)' when he contextual wise spoke of the `most holy' apartment. Moses did this never anywhere else in his writings.

Septuagint: Leviticus 16:2

"And the Lord said unto Moses, `Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.'" Leviticus 16:2 [KJV].

The author of Hebrews may have thought that, if he uses `holy place' in the Book of Hebrews his Jewish readers might think on the basis of Leviticus 16:2ff as translated in the Septuagint, that he was talking about the second apartment. So he gave each apartment a different name in Hebrews 9:2-3 so that there may be no doubt for his Jewish readers on what he was talking about. In his account the author of Hebrews gave each single room in the sanctuary the plural word for it, as shown above, and for the sanctuary as a whole, a word written in singular.

Other reasons could be inferred but we shall just present this one here for now. (Please click here for some additional explanations!)

Explaining Hebrews 9:8

We found that in Hebrews 9:1-5, Paul explains the contents of the two apartments of the Hebrew sanctuary. In verses 6 and 7, he explains the work in those two apartments. Now in verse 8 he tells us that the pathway into the holy places of the heavenly Sanctuary was not to be opened while the earthly mediation had significance in the eyes of God.

Verse 8 is the transition verse in this chapter. Most of that which comes after, repeats Hebrews 9 verse 8's essential thought - Jesus has entered the Heavenly Sanctuary on our behalf and we need no longer look to the earthly sanctuary as our doorway to God's forgiveness and help."

"The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing." Hebrews 9:8. How are we to understand this scripture? Does it mean that Jesus went into the Most Holy in 31 AD, the year He died on the cross?

When Christ ascended into heaven, His Father was waiting (Rev. ch. 4). Based on John 20:17, to be in the presence of God (although not in the most direct presence) can be the case in the Holy Place or in the courtyard. However, the hermeneutics of Hebr. 8:5 compels the reader to the interpretation that Christ entered the Holy Place upon His ascension because that is where the priest went after sacrificing the lamb. Like we just said, in verses 1-5 we are being informed what the contents (furniture) of the two apartments are. Verses 6 and 7 tell us about the daily and yearly service that is carried on in these two apartments.

Next we find that Hebrews chapter 9 is a panoramic comparison of the heavenly Sanctuary with the earthly one. And this comparison begins in verse 8, and continues on through the rest of the chapter.

As to verse 8, the "the holiest of all" is another one of those nine times in which ta hagia is used by Paul, and we have seen that it can mean `sanctuary' or `first apartment' - but not `second apartment'. - - So, in order to see that Christ did not skip the first apartment (the holy) entirely and go directly into the second we must stick to what verses 1 to 7 say, which we did already, but let us emphasize it again: Skipping the first apartment would go against the theme of Hebrews 9:1-7, and the rest of the chapter. It also would go against all of the Old Testament types as well. Everything the priest did within the two apartments of the earthly sanctuary was a type of what Christ would later do in the heavenly Sanctuary. We have here two views of Hebrews 9:8. One of the views - Dr. Ford's - is based on the erroneous King James translation of Hebr. 9:8 (the `holiest of all').

Let us look at the Greek and how the KJV translated it, not using the definitions of verses 1 to 3:

"Touto delountos tou pneumatos tou hagiou, mep pepsanersdai ten tn hagin odon eti tes prtes skenes exouses stasin." -- "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing." Hebr. 9:8. [See here and the definitions here for review.]

The New English Bible translates correctly,

"By this the Holy Spirit signifies that as long as the earlier tent (skenes) still stands, the way into the sanctuary remains unrevealed." [NEB, Oxford University Press, 1961, Hebrews 9:8, p. 381. It may be of interest that even the New World Translation has a somewhat better translation than the KJV, saying, `... the way into the holy place had not yet been ...'] However, since we are still in Hebrews chapter 9 we must remember the above definitions. It appears that Paul is here going easy on the Jewish believers by calling the sanctuary a `tent' when he meant the Temple in Jerusalem this way avoiding offending them. As long as that temple stood, it would be hard for the Hebrew Christians to look up to the sanctuary service in heaven which Jesus was just about to begin (since His ascension) in the first apartment, followed at a (much) later time by the service in the second. It would have been difficult for them to comprehend such a change since we humans are often so sluggish in examining our own understanding from time to time.

Context wise, the true meaning of Hebrews 9:8 - is `ta Hagia', "holy places," not `second apartment' or `most holy places'; this way it allows the antitypes of Christ's Sanctuary work to be fulfilled - those pertaining to the first apartment according to Paul's definition (b) of `hagia'. This work of Christ was to stretch from the time after Christ's ascension until, in the providence of God, it was time to begin to fulfill the `Day of Atonement' figurative services in reality in the heavenly Sanctuary. Since the anti-typical `Day of Atonement' had a fixed date each year, we can expect for the typical `Atonement' to also have a fixed date on which it would begin to occur. That date is 1844, or if you will October 22, of 1844. - This interpretation allows all earthly, figurative services to find their heavenly, true counterparts and can therefore be spoken of as a more mature view compared to the less biblical view which others have ventured to teach. We ought not to blot out a major Old Testament type - the First Apartment Mediation of Christ, by saying He skipped that and entered straight into the Most Holy shortly after His ascension.[See here the review for the high priest's work.]

Going back to explain Hebrews 9:2, part b) [See here for I & II.]

III. The underlying meaning and fulfillments of the daily and the yearly services. The sanctuary underscores the lesson that atonement is much more than the death of an animal. That is why we do not only have an altar (which may be regarded as the only item needed for an animal sacrifice) but we also have a tent.

IV. Additional services going on had to do with the terms `cleansing' and `cleanse' which are found 30 times in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers. The word `atonement' is found 77 times in these same books underscoring the lesson in the phases of the services going on, so we may understand that a great deal of prefiguring is taking place. Priestly functions are brought out which relate to how God deals with sin. For God's repentant people, the meaning of the day of atonement centered on preparing to meet God, it was understood as a judgment, an acquittal, vindication, and involved a cleansing of the heart, Lev. 16:29-31.[680] It is the `prince of hosts' (Dan. 8:11) who is shown in Joshua 5:13-15, to be the Lord Himself, and therefore Daniel 8 has to do with the heavenly sanctuary. [See also here.]

V. The transfer of sin has to be studied in more detail. Many regard the slaying of a sacrifice on an altar and the vicarious death of Christ on calvary as the only instance of transfer of sin. Beyond that they do not appear to consider that the services reveal more pertinent information. So the question to be answered may be, can sin be transferred? If it cannot, then Christ cannot and does not bear our sins. We are then without hope. Christ is the Lamb that bears the sin of the world. When the man who brought the sacrifice left the outer court, his burden of sin had been rolled away - selfishness, pride, covetousness, fantasizing (Mt. 5:28), sins of omission (Mt. 23:23; 25:45), deliberate sinning. It had been transferred to something else.

Transferral: In Fact or Symbol?

When Jesus forgives our sins, where do they go? Do they just disappear?

Day by day as we come to Jesus, as in the daily services in the eastern square, and, in sincerity of heart cry to Him for forgiveness, our sins are forgiven and sin has become hateful to us. What happens to those sins?

In the earthly service, the sins were transferred, in type, to the tabernacle [700]. But in the heavenly service, the sins are transferred, in reality, to the Sanctuary above, Hebr. 9:24. Thus Hebrews 9:24, 26 and 27 provides a conceptual link to Daniel 8:14, for where Christ serves as High Priest there will always be a work of cleansing going on. While Verse 24 tells us that Christ is entered into the heavenly sanctuary, Verse 26 and 27 tells us when it occured, "... now once in the end of the world has he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself ... after this the judgment." Paul knew very well that the end of the world was not close to his time for the "man of sin" had not yet been revealed, 2.Thess. 2:3; 1.Jh. 2:18. The apostles were of course eager to see a fulfillment close to their time, but the 2300 day/ years prophecy of Daniel 8:14 was still a closed book to them. No one among them could envision such a long delay beyond their own time. Daniel's long term prophecy was not present truth in the early church. The Book of Revelation had not been written yet when John penned the referenced words in his epistle.

VI. In studying further into the Book of Hebrews a student will have to consider the first and second apartment services and would come face to face with the Ten `Devarim' (Hebrew for Commandments, 10 lines of words as laid out on the stones) law of God inside the `Arch of the Covenant'. The Law of God which is divided in two halves, the first of which reads, "I (will) visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me." The second half reads, "And show mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." Ex. 20:5,6; Rom. 7:10. What does it mean? It means that the gospel which was given to save man from sin, will also be the means of destroying the earth. It is God that shields His creatures and hedges them in from the power of the destroyer. Only the pleading blood of Christ can shield the sinner from receiving the full measure of his guilt. The blood of Christ must never be separated from the lid of the Ark of the Covenant because that is where that blood was sprinkled on the very significant 10th day in the 7th Jewish month (Oct.), Day of Atonement (Le. 16:14,15). Once God removes His protecting care, the lid of the ark, from those who rebelled against His law His blessings on earth are withdrawn and all consequences of the broken law result, for Satan has control of all who God does not especially guard.

VII. The two veils also teach important lessons. The Book of Hebrews does not use `veil' merely as a dividing `veil' between the two apartments in the sanctuary. The definition of `veil' in Hebrews 9:3 refers to a second `veil', the one before one gets into the second (most holy) apartment while Hebrews 6:19 never mentions the second apartment. By implication then, if there is a second veil there must be a first. On this basis Hebrew 9:3 defines the two veils, Hebrews 6:19 mentions the first veil (singular), the one covering the entrance to the `holy apartment' coming from the altar of burned offerings. Therefore the phrase "within the veil", speaks of that veil - in other words, the priest would be accomplishing his service within two veils, the veil to the Most Holy and the veil to the Holy apartment - that puts the priest in the holy apartment where the 7 branched candlestick stood, the altar of incense, and the Table of Shewbread.[720]

Lesson learned: The Bible teaches a change in Christ's ministry. After His resurrection Christ is represented to be "in heaven" (Lk. 11:2). After he rose He went to sit down at "the right hand" (Hebr. 8:1) of the Father, and lastly we read that He came, "near before" (Dan. 7:13) the Father. This represents a change in the ministry of Christ after His ascension. Hebrews 6:19-20 then says simply, that, when Paul wrote the Book of Hebrews Jesus had already gone to some place in heaven and that place was within the veil - no more no less. He headed to the main entrance of the sanctuary and went in through that veil to be within the veil - the first apartment. It does not say that Jesus went through the first and then the second veil. He lifted only one veil and entered in on the day he began his priestly ministry after His resurrection.

The themes of Hebr. 6:19-9:5 may be summarized as follows:

6:19 . . . Jesus begins his ministration within the veil (Gr. `katapetasmatos')

7:25 . . . Jesus as our high priest

8:1-5 . .. Jesus ministering in the heavenly sanctuary

9:1-5 . .. the heavenly sanctuary has two apartments, the definitions

9:6-7 . .. the earthly priest ministers for a long time in the first apartment and then later, briefly in the second

9:8 . . . . a) with the death of Christ, the earthly sanctuary and its services had no meaning to God: (Mt. 23:38; Lk. 13:35; Mt. 27:51; Mk. 15:38) In other words, entrance into the heavenly sanctuary could not be made until God rejected the earthly sanctuary and its services. b) The probation of the Jewish nation closed 3½ years later at the stoning of Stephen, Daniel 9:25-27.

9:9 . . . . is parenthetical added information that the sacrifices by the earthly priests were greatly inferior to the sacrifice of Christ. "At the time of reformation" (9:10) is when type meets antitype! Once again, Paul hesitates to break the wonderful news until the groundwork is laid for it, and so in 9:11 he repeats the earlier stated truths that Christ is the priest of something much better, and that He is the priest of a greater and most perfect heavenly Sanctuary.

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place ("hagia"), having obtained eternal redemption for us."

9:12 . . . Christ has entered the first apartment ("hagia") of the heavenly Sanctuary! And two new facts are given to us: (a) He entered it by virtue of His own blood, not animal blood (the priest must minister with blood). (b) Entering it, He has "obtained eternal redemption for us." [750]

Do we need to know about the sanctuary, judgment and all that to be saved? No - but, there is such a thing as bare-bones religion. If a person based his faith on only one biblical principle, lets say on John 3:16, - and he trusts completely in Jesus, living out all he knew about Jesus, he would be saved. That is so, because our salvation is a process, not an event. There are at least three steps involved. These are,

1. I am saved.
2. I am being saved, and
3. I will be saved.

As to the second point, we may say, `I am being saved from the power and slavery of sin - it is an ongoing process. Why? Because being justified by faith changes our status and standing before God but it does not change our sinful nature. [763] We still have tendencies to sin. So what must occur? In a genuine Christian experience, in this time of the cleansing of the sanctuary, we are experiencing a constantly deepening repentance. The "broken and contrite heart" never becomes completely whole again - like Peter, we have always a tear glistening in our eye as we see ourselves in the light of Calvary. The blessed, heart-humbling experience of the first love is never lost. Subconscious roots of evil selfishness heretofore unknown to us are day by day exposed to view. But to indulge today the thought that one is saved, is to render us in fact insensible to the deeper conviction of sinfulness which must come tomorrow. A person surrendered to Christ realizes that subconscious sins are to be overcome as well as the obvious. Overcoming is a life long battle. While we can rejoice in having started on this road, we must have holy living, that U-Turn we wrote about.

As to the third point, we may say, `I will be saved from the nature and presence of sin.' Our human nature is innately sinful. But God gives us His Word to remind us to keep resolutely looking upon Him and His great, free gift of salvation.[770] Jesus did it all. He as our Saviour (Tit. 3:5,6) and Example (Jh. 13:15; 1 Peter 2:21) who died for all already. It is an accomplished mission He completed on the cross. We must believe that we are accepted of Him already and follow Him now, because our sinful nature will not be changed until when? --- until the day of His Second Coming! ... the Blessed Hope.

The question which should be asked is not so much, `How do I know that Jesus loves me?' We know He does. What the world needs to see is this, that God's people are united by one interest - the desire to have gatherings of truth where God shall be exalted. The truth among all of God's people, the one that really matters, is, that we demonstrate this:

"I can love you like Jesus loves me." For we know that He loves us to the end.

What is it that we can expect to happen? What are we looking forward to?

To be adopted by God. So we can move in with God. Our whole, live, physical body will be redeemed into heaven. What is going to happen to our body?

When Jesus comes again, the Bible says, He will change our sinful nature and change our body from a corruptible to an incorruptible body.

Where does it say that?

"Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." 1.Corinthians 15:51-54.

"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Philippians 3:20,21.

Will that be painful?

God who made man changes us. It is not some surgical intervention. It will be without any ill effects. Only not being changed will be painful.

The Bible admonishes Christians growing in their faith to study the scriptures daily. Today that may be understood to mean more than just the Bible, today it may also mean issues of creation/evolution, ancient history, so we may be able to answer for the reasons of our faith when asked. May be being able to answer questions of our own children as they grow in understanding. If mom and dad cannot answer their questions, they will find them in places which may not balance replies with faith in God. So, those of us who understand these issues, are aware of the need for addressing today's intellectual challenges. But these ancillary studies ought not to replace Bible study, they are additional work. Christians need to sustain a culture of daily Bible study in their homes and when opportunity arises help the needy if they are serious about their faith.

This is Righteousness by Faith
And what is it to believe? Two things, it is to believe that we are accepted of Jesus Christ already, that He died as our sacrifice; that He became the curse for us [796], took our sins upon Himself, and imputed unto us His own righteousness. Therefore we claim this righteousness of Christ (Acts 17:31), we believe it, and it is our righteousness. Secondly, it involves the act of Christ imparting His righteousness to us so we are enabled to live a different life. We may call that "sanctification," or sometimes living holiness which is never forced on man, it is a choice, 1.Peter 1:2.[800]
The thought that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us, not because of any merit on our part, but as a free gift from God, is a precious thought. The enemy of God and man is not willing that this truth should be clearly presented; for he knows that if the people receive it fully, his power will be broken. If he can control minds so that doubt and unbelief and darkness shall compose the experience of those who claim to be the children of God, he can overcome them with temptation. {GW 161.1} Righteousness by Faith is more than a doctrine - it is a - way of life, including the conduct and administration of the Church. [R&H, July 1888, p. 7. Written prior to the opening of the GC that year.] Righteousness by faith is not without conditions for we must cooperate with God. In the Bible and writings of EGW it is always presented in the context of obeying the gospel and God's law and how Jesus strengthens us to surrender our will. (See Rom. 1:17,5; 2:13; 3:22,31; Gal. 5:5,6; 6:2; Phil. 3:9,20; Hebr. 11:7; 12:14) God's reverence for liberty demands that sin not be removed unless it is voluntarily relinquished. This is important because we as Adventists have historically denied the idea of a "finished atonement" on the cross because it is not Biblical. Such a theology teaches the involuntary forgiveness and reconciliation of every human being to God at Calvary, whether they like it or not. Reconciliation is not something we accept, it is something we must experience. What was "finished" at the cross was Christ being sacrificed for sin and no more animal sacrifices are needed. - Notice neither the word "atonement" nor "reconciled" are used in Hebrews chapter 10. We find it in chapter 2 as part of His high priestly ministry, which the book of Hebrews repeatedly identifies with His intercession in heaven (Hebrews 4:1-16; 6:19, 20; 7:24-26; 9:11, 12). What is most significant about the earlier passage from Hebrews 10 is that only the sanctified are depicted as saved because of Calvary. Never is the whole world described as being involuntarily saved because of Calvary.
In order to meet the requirements of the law, our faith must grasp the righteousness of Christ, accepting it as our righteousness. Through union with Christ, through acceptance of His righteousness by faith, we may be qualified to work the works of God, to be colaborers with Christ. If you are willing to drift along with the current of evil, and do not cooperate with the heavenly agencies in restraining transgression in your family, and in the church, in order that everlasting righteousness may be brought in, you do not have faith. Faith works by love and purifies the soul. Through faith the Holy Spirit works in the heart to create holiness therein; but this cannot be done unless the human agent will work with Christ. We can be fitted for heaven only through the work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart; for we must have Christ's righteousness as our credentials if we would find access to the Father. In order that we may have the righteousness of Christ (Acts 17:31), we need daily to be transformed by the influence of the Spirit, to be a partaker of the divine nature. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to elevate the taste, to sanctify the heart, to ennoble the whole man. {1SM 374.1}

Luther's calling and the Sanctuary
Dr. Martin Luther came out of Roman Catholicism where the common people believed in the `doctrine of indulgences'. In fact, Tetzel said, "As soon as the coin hits the bottom of the bucket, the soul will be released from Purgatory."[823] And so they taught a system of indulgences which, actually, they still teach today. If you look in a Roman Catholic Catechism, they still teach and they still believe in the doctrine of indulgences. Therefore, in the Roman Catholic Church, the people believed that when you paid money, the souls of your relatives were released from purgatory. If you paid money, anything could happen. You could have your sins forgiven by paying money. Let us think this through, if you can get your sins forgiven by paying money for a high mass, what is the difference between that and righteousness by works? There is no difference. That is righteousness by works. Now technically, the Roman Catholic theologian would say to you, `Well, no, we really do not believe it that way, we believe that you are saved by grace and the Church dispenses the grace.' Of course, if the church will not dispense the grace unless you pay money, what is the common person going to think? What conclusion is he going to make? Technically they would say, `No, we believe in salvation by grace,' but if you have to pay money to get the grace (except tithe and offerings), the average person on the street cannot tell the difference between that and salvation by works, or righteousness by works. That is what Martin Luther attacked, this idea that you could be saved by works. We must remember that the church is not ourselves, it is the body of Christ.

The following poem by Hans Sachs gives an idea (of the sway of the gospel - even touching on contrite obedience) of the times:

Luther teaches that we all
Are involved in Adam's fall,
If man beholds himself within,
He feels the bite and curse of sin.
When dread, despair, and terror seize,
Contrite he falls upon his knees.
Then breaks for him the light of day.
Then the gospel may have sway.
Then sees he Christ of God the Son,
Who for us all things has done.
The law fulfilled, the debt is paid,
Death overcome, the curse allayed,
Hell destroyed, the devil bound,
Grace for us with God has found.
Christ, the Lamb, removes all sin.
By faith alone in Christ we win.

---

So far we have mentioned in the above paragraph 2 phases of the atonement: confessing sin and forgiveness. The third phase, cleansing, is explained a little later. These three phases are based on the scriptures where it says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness…. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1.John 1:9; 2:1; Titus 3:4-7; Ps. 51:7-10; Isa. 55:7.

But some Christians say, `Those Seventh day Adventists do not have any assurance of salvation. They believe that all their sins are written up in heaven.'
How should we respond to that? We should know that this knowledge on what happens to sins is our greatest comfort and assurance of salvation. Why? Because if our sins are not in the sanctuary in heaven then they are still in us. For it is true that Christ will always be our Saviour first of all, our Example, Advocate (1.Jh.2:1) and High Priest, who diligently goes about the task to save who would be lost. If, however, our sins are in the sanctuary, the Bible teaches, they will be blotted out. This belief teaches us that we do not have to worry if our sins are in the sanctuary covered by His blood, Ex. 29:16; Lev. 16:15; Col. 1:14. We do have to worry if they are not in there covered by His blood. That is why the Bible says, ".. he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for us." Hebr. 7:25. The lesson to remember is this, we need to be in perfect harmony with the work being carried on and accomplished in heaven.
We see from Titus 3:4-7 that it is by being justified by His grace that we are made heirs. We also know from Rom. 3:24,25 that this justification by His grace is through our faith in Christ; but Gal. 3:26 tells us that faith in Christ Jesus makes us children of God; therefore, we know that whoever has been justified by God's grace - has been forgiven - is a child and an heir of God.
This shows that there is no ground for the idea that a person must go through a sort of probation, and attain to a certain degree of holiness, before God will accept him as His child. He receives us just as we are. It is not for our goodness that He loves us, but because of our need. God receives us, not for the sake of anything that He sees in us, but for His own sake, and for what He knows that His divine power can make of us. It is only when we realize the wonderful exaltation and holiness of God, and the fact that He comes to us, in our sinful and degraded condition, to adopt us into His family, that we can appreciate the force of the apostle's exclamation, "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." 1 John 3:1. Everyone upon whom this honor has been bestowed, will purify himself, even as He is pure. God's kingdom is portrayed as a place where all can mature to their full stature and maturity without defects. [935]
Christ's work was finished when He expired on the cross, crying with a loud voice, "It is finished." The way was laid open; the veil was rent in twain; the words "... he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease ..." of Daniel 9:27 were fulfilled. Sinners could approach God without sacrificial offerings, without the service of an earthly priest. Christ Himself was a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Ceremonial practices were not necessary anymore, they were abolished, even though there is a future fulfillment in 1844, because the teaching mechanism nature of those practices is no longer needed and Christ would fulfill the day of atonement service only once at the very end of the age. Heaven was His home. He came to this world to reveal the Father. His work on the field of His humiliation and conflict was now done. He ascended up into the heavens, and is forever set down on the right hand of God. . . . {CTr 293.3} This text does not mean to say that Christ will always, forever engage in the priestly ministry; however, He will do those tasks until the objective is fulfilled, the day when He lays down His priestly robes and puts on His royal robes to come again and take His people to heaven. "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in." Psalm 24:9. "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

Christ as our mediator in the heavenly sanctuary also means that each believer can pray and be heard of Him directly for we know that `true prayer places man directly in the presence of God.'[955] In other words the prayer of a minister, pastor or friend, while they may be comforting, are not really any more effective than your own, that direct access to Christ for everyone is taught by the veil rending in twain. However, believers may derive great comfort from knowing that others pray for them.

In God's providence Jesus death on the cross was the fulfillment of the slaying of the paschal lamb on the altar of burnt offerings in the court of the temple in Jerusalem in 31 A.D.. But in the days of the Patriarchs, when Abraham ". . . stretched forth his hand and took the knife to slay his son ... the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham ... lay not thine hand upon the lad ..." (Gen 22:10-12). God had tested the faith of Abraham, but Isaac, the at first intended victim in a small way forshadowing the sacrifice of Christ, `escaped' and in his place God provided "... a ram caught in the thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son." (Gen. 22:13). Similarly, we are told, when Christ called out, "It is finished", the heavy veil between the holy and most holy was rent from top to bottom and both apartments of the sanctuary were revealed through the open doors and the rent curtain to the gaze of the priest performing the annual paschal sacrifice in the court [1000]. The priest was so startled by the noise of the rending of the veil that he lost his grip on the lamb and it escaped like Isaac did as a type of Christ, for on that hill by the city the real sacrifice had died as the fulfillment of the centuries of offerings in the temple services. This rending of the second veil took place on crucifixion day at just the right moment and therefore does not apply to the shut door (or veil), spoken of in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 3:7,8) which was later to be opened and talks about what Christ, as our high priest, does in heaven. In the book of Hebrews and Revelation the symbolism of the veil and doors is retold with the purpose in mind to show the stages of the real priestly ministry of Christ first in the holy and then in the most holy of the heavenly sanctuary of which the earthly, Jewish services were merely a shadow to teach in picture lessons about how God would save the world from sin if they believed. But God's ancient people made these services into forms and customs they did not understand and cared not to inquire about to learn their true meaning from God, Ezekiel 20:3-8; Jer. 29:19; Isa. 30:9; Gal. 4:21.

Daniel 7:9,10 talks about the Judgment, and it is an Investigative Judgment which takes place in the Sanctuary - that is where the books are opened - and those books contain a record. [1080] -- However, the reformers taught that our sins were transferred to Jesus, that He was our High Priest; that you did not need to go to a human priest, because Jesus was your priest and you could confess your sins directly to Him, [1110]. -- The reformers would quote to the people the text where it said that there is one God and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, 1.Tim. 2:5, who will "confess your name" (Rev. 3:5) before the Father. (In other words, no one stands in person before God in this judgment of Daniel 7. They all appear through their record.) They taught, when that happens, my guilt is transferred from me to my Saviour. He bears my guilt through His blood (Lev. 16:15; Rom. 3:25; 5:9; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14). My guilt is in the Most Holy Place. The Bible teaches, when you read in Leviticus 16 about the cleansing of the Sanctuary, if you look at verses 16 and 19, you will see that it was because of the sins and the uncleanness of God's people that the Sanctuary had to be cleansed of the blood sprinkeled every day by the altar of incence before the veil, Lev. 4:2-6. -- Therefore, let us remember, if there is guilt, if there is sin in the Sanctuary, sin and guilt defiles and makes something unclean. Therefore, it needs to be cleansed. --- In this Sanctuary in heaven, we are told, there are some kind of `books' (Mal. 3:16; 1.Tim. 5:24) which contain exact records - until our sins are blotted out just like the prophet Abraham's and Isaac's (Gen. 22:4,5; Ps. 69:28; 109:13,14; Isa. 44:22; Acts 3:19; 2:38)- those books contain exact records of every sin that we have ever committed. The record of our whole life is in those books. --- In order for the Sanctuary to be cleansed, the guilt has to come out - the sin has to come out - and how is that going to happen?
This second step of the cleansing of the Sanctuary, please notice it, is the opposite of what happened in the first part of the service. In other words, what happens in the yearly service is the opposite of what happens in the daily service. At the end of the year, the forshaddowed cycles of sacred functions, as they represent the end of the ages, the Day of Atonement takes place, Rev. 15. People who do not understand that say, `Well, you Adventists, you do not believe at all what the reformers taught.' - We do believe what the reformers taught, but we understand that the Sanctuary service has two stages, they only understood the first part (See poem above), they did not understand what the Bible taught about the cleansing of the Sanctuary (Dan. 8:14; Hebr. 9:23).[1220] That was not the present truth yet for 1520. It was present truth in the nineteenth century, 2.Peter 1:12.
How is the Sanctuary going to be cleansed? Notice, this is the exact opposite of what happens in the first part of the service, and both of these are taught in the New Testament as righteousness by faith. Let us use common language to explain this. In the daily service, the Sanctuary becomes dirtier and dirtier. As more people come and confess their sins and their guilt is transferred into the Sanctuary, it just keeps getting dirtier and dirtier, more and more defiled, Eze. 44:7; Numb. 19:13. -- That is what happens in the daily service - the longer it goes on, the more defiled it becomes. But in the yearly service, something different is going to happen. That which has become dirtier and dirtier is going to be cleansed. How much is it going to be cleansed? It is going to be cleansed to the point where there will not be a single sin, or guilt, or anything defiling left in there.
Now let us look at this. Sometimes theologians talk about these things with such abstract theoretical terms that nobody can follow. So let us try to present this subject in very simple, concrete terms so that it is easy to understand. In Hebrews, the apostle Paul teaches very clearly that we are to come boldly, he says, unto the throne of grace, Hebr. 4:16. [1500]
We worship down here in our churches today, but the church on earth and the church in heaven is all one and the same for it is the `body of Christ.' The Bible teaches, while we are down here in the body, we are in heaven in spirit. Paul said one time to the Corinthian Church, `I am absent but in the spirit I am with you." 1.Cor. 5:3.-- Although we are down here in the world, our faith reaches clear up to the Sanctuary in heaven. In fact, our faith reaches clear into the Most Holy Place. -- Let us think this through. God's Church, as you can read in Hebrews 12, is all registered in heaven. God's Church is registered in the Sanctuary. -- If you have professed faith in Jesus, and you are a Christian, your name is in a book. Underneath your name is every single detail, or record, of your life history. Every good deed that you have ever done; every kind and affectionate word you have ever spoken; every tender thought you have ever thought; every act of sympathy and courtesy that you have ever done, is all recorded in that book.
So here is a record, not only of the good things that men and women have done and thought, but also of the evil, (1. Tim. 5:24; Ex. 32:31,32). -- We remember sin always defiles, therefore there is only one way that this heavenly Sanctuary can be cleansed from the blood that was sprinkled there, but it was sprinkled there only once on the basis of the perfect sacrifice of Christ. In the old covenant the blood was sprinkled every year, but Paul makes it very clear in Hebrews 10 that in the new covenant, the blood is only sprinkled one time at the end of the ages to blot out sin.

"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." Hebr. 10:10-14.[1510]

But this man (Christ Jesus), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. . . . Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." Hebr. 10:12,18.

Once our sins are blotted out, they will not be blotted out twice. They will only be blotted out once.

"And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the Lord." Exodus 30:10.

"And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you, to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year. And he did as the Lord commanded Moses." Lev. 16:34.

"For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Hebr. 9:26.

Are these angels going to pour out the wrath of God? Yes, they are.

Has the world been divided into two groups? Yes (Mt. 25:31,32; Rev. 20:11-13; Isa. 26:21).

"Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven bowls full of the wrath of God who lives for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues if the seven angels were completed." Rev. 15:7,8.

Now we still can enter the temple a little while longer to find grace in the time of need. We still can claim Jesus as our intercessor, as our great High Priest. But here in Revelation 15 we are told that after the third angel's message, the temple will be filled with smoke and no one can go in to claim Jesus as the intercessor, probation is over, because the messages of the three angels will have been proclaimed.

The blood is sprinkled in the Most Holy Place, and as soon as Jesus is through sprinkling this blood, what does He do? -- He comes out of the Most Holy Place, sits down with the Father for a period of time and we are going to see Him in a very few days in the clouds of heaven. Let us think this through in concrete terms.
My name and your name is in the Most Holy Place. Below our name there is the record of every sin we have ever committed. Now, if this Sanctuary is going to be cleansed, there are only two ways that this can happen.

1) Here is the way that we do not want it to happen. There is the record of my name and all my sins, and as long as the record of all my sins is in the Sanctuary, it is defiled. So one way that the Sanctuary can be cleansed is by just tearing out my page. God can just take it out, tear out my page, take my name out. My name is not in the book any more. That is one way the Sanctuary can be cleansed. You see, the Sanctuary is going to be cleansed of all sin. Whether we overcome or not, the Sanctuary is going to be cleansed of sin. (Neh. 4:4,5; Ps. 69:26,28; 109:13,14)
2) The other way, the way that we want it to happen, is that our name is retained in the book, but our sins are blotted out, Acts 3:19; Isa. 44:22; Rev. 3:5. So now your name is in the book (of life Phil. 4:3) and there is no sin there (Mt. 10:32; Lk. 11:8), and your name does not pollute or defile God's Sanctuary any more. -- Of course, it would not do any good to blot out your sins if you sinned again the next day. Does that make sense? Would it do any good to blot out my sins if I sin the next day? It would not do any good at all. The plan of salvation would have failed. So, before your sins can be blotted out, you must have an experience in living without sin, or overcoming sin, Jh. 8:11.[1720]

". . . And Jesus said unto her, . . . Go, and sin no more." John 8:11.

Here is another place where this is taught in the Bible - see Revelation 3:5, 20. It says the one who conquers, the one who overcomes, this one will be clothed in white garments and I will most certainly not blot his name out of the Book of Life and "I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." - Yet, often times we may wonder why he or she has not been an overcomer in his or her life, but such an individual needs to understand that it is a looking away from self that is needed to be done constantly. Thus such a person has to constantly look to Christ for strength to stay on the Christian pathway.[1844] This is due to the fact that only Christ's merits can truly justify us. His merits make up for our deficiencies. Having accepted Christ in our life, the Bible says, Christ overcame where Adam failed, His righteousness covers us and our name is in the Book of Life and we can "come boldly unto the throne of grace," Hebr. 4:15,16. This is the same throne which is referred to in Rev. 3:20 and which was symbolized in the sanctuary by the ark of the covenant ( , `eron', ark), topped by the mercy seat. So we see that the sanctuary message of atonement has something in common with God's message for Laodicea, namely His very throne. That is also the reason why Laodicea is being critically examined in love, judged by the record books in heaven, for they represent the church which will see Jesus come again. They have more light with respect to Bible truth than any other church before them and are for that reason held to a higher standard. God's message to the star or angel of Laodicea, is primarily God's message for its human leaders (cmpr. Rev. 1:20; GW 13.2). The letters to the seven churches were addressed to the leadership of those churches, they are called to take stock of their doings and come to terms that repentance (like those repented in Niniveh and Israel) will help them to get back in tune with God - leave their state of being lukewarm. Studying this we realize that a verse John wrote is translated as writing, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice, and open the door . . ." (Rev. 3:20), when it really should say, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if certain men hear my voice . . .", for the Greek word "tis" means not only `any man' but also `a certain man,' (namely the leader(s) of the church, who received the letter), as it is translated in Mark 14:51. Context wise it is a fitting rendition for Rev. 3:20 too. Who is the certain one? Well, its the leaders. However, it is not their achievements which are in question; but when He compares the extent of His sacrificial devotion with the meagerness of our heart-response, He is acutely embarrassed before the watching universe. Is it hard for us (for we all lead something somewhere), to imagine how painful this is for Him? [That is why reading this sermon on God's amazing grace is very timely. You will not be disappointed.]
Let us remember this, Jesus says, If you overcome; if you overcome the world, the flesh and the devil; if you overcome, then your name will not be blotted out, your sins will be blotted out, John 16:33; Rom. 12:21; 1.Jh. 2:13,14; Rev. 17:14; Isa. 44:22; Acts 3:19. With respect to the devil we have to remember that he and his agents make no difference between righteousness and sin, that is to say, listen to your spiritual counselor if they preach the truth and flee from them if not. [Study Malachi 2:17b; Isaiah 5:20; Prov. 23:23.]

This `blotting out of sin', the hating of sin but not the sinner, is exactly what the reformers did not understand, and that is why, when somebody looks at the doctrine of righteousness by faith, they say, `Well, you do not teach what the reformers taught.' -- No, we do not. The reformers only taught that which had to do with the daily service. There was nothing wrong with that, but that is just a part of the plan. After the daily service, eventually there has to be a yearly service to cleanse the Sanctuary and to remove the sins and to remove all defilement.
Remember, it is true that the yearly service does do something that is just the opposite from the daily service, because in the daily service, the defilement is constantly getting greater, but in the yearly service the defilement is going to be totally removed.
Now, friends, this is the truth that God has committed to Seventh-day Adventists, which the rest of the Christian world does not understand. This is why the devil has contrived to have us called cults and every kind of other name imaginable of a hated sect [2000], because the devil hates the truth of the Sanctuary that God is going to deliver His people totally and completely from sin. The devil has persuaded the majority of other churches that pardon is all there is. There are a few `other' churches or congregations that understand Sanctification very similar to us, but not very many. Studying doctrines of some churches reveals missing verses, chapters and themes in their understanding of Bible truth. They do not teach all the Bible.[2005]

Overcoming Sin Preaching
The devil has persuaded people that they can be saved in sin and that they will just go on sinning and confessing their sins all of their lives and they lose totally sight of the Bible teaching that we are to overcome sin, 2.Peter 3:10-14. Now the doctrine of overcoming sin, my friends, is not something that was to be confined to the last generation.
We understand it, perhaps more clearly today than it was understood in past ages, but if you read what Paul wrote to the Romans, or what he wrote to the Galatians - when the apostle Paul writes about righteousness by faith (Gal. 5:5), he always writes also about the necessity of overcoming sin. Read Romans 6, Romans 8, Romans 12, Romans 9 and 10, Galatians 5 or 6, and you cannot miss it, Jh. 5:4, 5; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:12, 21; 21:7.
We have no argument with the reformers, but our salvation involves more than they understood. (Check here for more on reformation history.) It involves not only obtaining a pardon, it involves a transformation of life where the Holy Spirit gives you the power to overcome. As the Holy Spirit gives you the power to overcome, you can come to the place where the Lord can look down upon you, and He can say, This person is now, through the power of the Holy Spirit, living without sin and I am going to be able to blot out his sins.[2200]
The whole record is going to be blotted out. The whole record of sin is going to be blotted out.
This probably is also the time when the enigmatic vision of John the Revelator, as we find it described in Revelation 15:5-8, fits in. And we remember that the final events, as portrayed in the Bible, are brought about not by what atheism or paganism is doing, but what is being done among Christian denominations and to other Christians. The preaching of the three angels messages is closely tied to the preaching of the sanctuary and the Day of Atonement. On that note, it appears Revelation 15:5ff tells us that the law of God will be displayed by divine power in a way that all mankind will know it just before the seven last plagues are being poured out or brought on by Satan after Christ finishes His mediatorial service in the Most Holy and takes His seat at the right hand of God, Hebr. 10:12; Rev. 14:9,10. We learned already that the spiritual aspects of the seven last plagues is primarily hate, Ex. 20:5.
And, my friend, when you get to heaven - this to me is one of the most marvelous and amazing things about the character of God - throughout eternity, God is never going to hold up your sins before you! He is not going to do it!
He is not going to parade your sins out for other people to look at; He is not going to embarrass you by all the sinful things that you have done; He is going to have blotted it out. It is all taken care of, it is all finished.
When we talk about this subject, and we show that righteousness by faith involves not only the first part, but the second part, people cannot believe it.
One of the things that happens in our generation is that we are living in a pessimistic age. Since the development of the atomic bomb, the world has become very pessimistic. The world was optimistic until about World War I. People used to say, `We are getting better and better.' They are not saying that any more.
We have just the opposite problem in our day. We have people who, just as soon as you teach that you can overcome sin and they are in bondage to some sinful habit that they have tried a thousand times to overcome and they cannot, they say, in effect, `I guess I will have to be lost.' Sometimes people are still worried about all the sins committed even after they prayed for forgiveness. It is Satan who uses fear and bondage as his leverage to keep us being sinners. But our physical and spiritual life are one; they are not separate. After we pray for forgiveness we must believe by faith that we are cleansed and out of thankfulness to God and appreciation of so great a salvation, live that `clean' life and abstain from sin. Christ promised, "He will never leave you nor forsake you," Hebr. 13:5. You must believe that, come back to Him and remain in Him - always. God always cares for the weakest of His children.
Romans 4:6-20 teaches that trusting in God can save you and me. `Just trust and obey, there is no other way to be happy in Jesus.' Develop this trust and he can save you from all dependencies you now have, from eating unhealthily [2300], alcohol, tobacco and all these habits one can have. Jesus can make you clean. But remember, it says, `Trust and obey,' Psalm 31. For those who trust and obey, God's Word in many places and also through the Most Holy, the crown of gold surrounding the Ark of the Covenant represents the fulfillment of God's reward for the faithful flock - they shall receive a crown of gold for every overcomer, Rev. 2:10; 3:11; Rom. 8:30; Mt. 25:34. This is the path to the throne of God. '[2340]

So we realize that we live today in the grandest era of world history, the time when the plan of salvation is to be concluded with victory for Christ for we read, "But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come . . . For if the blood of bulls . . . sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the mediator . . . that by means of . . . the redemption of the transgressions . . . (we) . . . might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. - It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is ... entered into . . . heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for . . . them that look for him . . . unto salvation." Please read it in full in Hebr. 9:11-15, 23-28. [2400] This great salvation is ours as God brings up sins to us we never thought of before, because that shows He is going down to the depths and He will reach bottom at last and when He finds the last thing that is unclean or impure, out of harmony with His will, He brings that up and shows it to us and we say, "I would rather have the Lord than that." When that happens the work is complete and the seal of the living God can be fixed upon that character. Because we cannot understand our own hearts, God digs deep to remove all stains of sin from us. He tries our conscience and brings up the last vestiges of wickedness so we can surrender all to Him and His sanctuary can be cleansed forever. - We may understand now that the erasing of sin is the beginning of the blotting of it from our natures, the hating of sin, so that we shall know it no more as God's worshipping people are purged just once, Hebr. 10:2,3. Sin will be gone. It is removed from consciousness. Even though we may remember certain sins, we have forgotten the sin itself - we do not think of doing it any more. This is the work of Christ in the Most Holy of the Sanctuary in Heaven immediately before the Second Coming of Christ - it coincides with the complete cleansing of the people of God on this earth to prepare them for translation when the Lord comes so His great, exceeding glory will not destroy them but be a benevolent light to His people.[2430]

Explaining Galatians 3:19,20.

Another question asked sometimes is, `How are we to understand Galatians 3:19,20?'

These two verses have not been clear for many Bible readers and we must tread softly. The writer would just like to present his understanding at this time followed by what Ellen White wrote.

In the following scripture Paul differentiates between the two sets of laws as follows,

"Wherefore then serves the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one, but Christ is one." Gal. 3:19,20.

The only Spirit of Prophecy statement found says,

"The law given upon Sinai was the enunciation of the principle of love, a revelation to earth of the law of heaven. It was ordained in the hand of a Mediator--spoken by Him through whose power the hearts of men could be brought into harmony with its principles. God had revealed the purpose of the law when He declared to Israel, `Ye shall be holy men unto me' (Exodus 22:31)." {RC 67.4}
But Israel had not perceived the spiritual nature of the law, and too often their professed obedience was but an observance of forms and ceremonies, rather than a surrender of the heart to the sovereignty of love. As Jesus in His character and work represented to men the holy, benevolent, and paternal attributes of God, and presented the worthlessness of mere ceremonial obedience, the Jewish leaders did not receive or understand His words. They thought that He dwelt too lightly upon the requirements of the law; and when He set before them the very truths that were the soul of their divinely appointed service, they, looking only at the external, accused Him of seeking to overthrow it. {RC 67.5}
The words of Christ, though calmly spoken, were uttered with an earnestness and power that stirred the hearts of the people. . . . They `were astonished at his teaching: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes' (Matthew 7:28, 29, R.V.). The Pharisees noted the vast difference between their manner of instruction and that of Christ. They saw that the majesty and purity and beauty of the truth, with its deep and gentle influence, was taking firm hold upon many minds. The Saviour's divine love and tenderness drew the hearts of men to Him. . . . {RC 67.6}[2455]
The Saviour said nothing to unsettle faith in the religion and institutions that had been given through Moses; for every ray of divine light that Israel's great leader communicated to his people was received from Christ. While many are saying in their hearts that He has come to do away with the law, Jesus in unmistakable language reveals His attitude toward the divine statutes. `Think not,' He said, `that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets.'" [Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 45-48.] {RC 67.7}

The bold print sentence seems to support what was suggested above that the ceremonial laws, the institutions, were given by Christ through Moses, the prophet, pastor or mediator between God and Israel.

Justified by Grace

How are we justified? We are justified, not by faith but by grace through faith, Eph. 2:8. We were saved before we had faith. It is our faith that grabs hold of this hope inspiring fact of our so great a salvation through Christ, and makes it come true in our own personal experience, Rom. 3:23,24.

The truth is, we, "all" of us are "justified." The entire human race has been justified. This ought to heal depression, despair, low self-respect. Believe it, and hold your head high from now on. How did this happen?

"All" were justified "freely." It did not cost anyone anything. Christ paid it all. That means we can stop worrying if God has accepted us or not, He has - "all" of us, already. Come into His presence for you are already adopted into His family "in Christ."

"All" are justified "by His grace." Did you notice that the word `faith' has not shown up (in a Bible study used)? Why? Because your faith, or the lack of it, has nothing to do with Christ having given His life for you, justifying you by His sacrifice - please remember that "grace" is not for good people but for those who do not deserve it. "To him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness." (Rom. 4:4,5) This accomplishment redeems everyone "in Christ Jesus."

Are we saying, all this is given free to bad people? - Yes, the Bible says, to "all." If "... your Father in heaven ... makes His sun rise on the just and on the unjust" (Mt. 5:45), it must include bad people. That has to be the meaning of grace.

Isn't there something that I must do? Yes, of course. Something big and very important: you must believe this Good News that you have read and heard and let it move your soul, your mind and body, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (Jh. 3:16) That is why the man with the possessed child said, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief," Mk. 9:24. God has taken the initiative; He has loved; He has given; He heals. Accept that He has loved you always and believe His great salvation.

A Recapitulation

When studying the Word of God it helps to always keep the sacrificial system in mind for it started in Genesis 3:15 and from there to Cain and Abel, bringing offerings to the divinely ordained tabernacle services instituted at Sinai, and all the way to 31 A.D.[2490] It helps to recognize these threefold services (expanding a bit more) represented in the Jewish Temple and how they would picture what Christ would do in the heavenly "... till all be fulfilled" (Mt. 5:18; Lk. 24:44).

1. The services pertaining to the altar of burnt offerings in the forecourt,
2. The services pertaining to the services in the Holy apartment of the Temple, and
3. the services pertaining to the Most Holy apartment in the temple.

All these prefigure what Christ would do. He would die on the cross and thus fulfill the forecourt services. After His ascension He would begin His priestly services in the holy apartment of the heavenly sanctuary and at a certain point in time, close the door to the holy, put on His High Priestly robes, open the door to the Most Holy and judgment would sit and God's law exalted and divine truths revealed by means of the `three angels messages' and then the end would come, Rev. 14:14ff; Mk. 4:29; Mt. 13:39. In Matthew 28:20 we read that the end of the world would be when all of the world heard the gospel, Hallelujah. Only recently I heard ministers involved in world wide missions say that they think that the gospel is heard all around the world in our very days. Dear reader, do not hesitate. Make sure of your salvation and that of your family and friends, Hebr. 6:11.
The important message to remember is that each of these three aspects of the temple complex teach important lessons. The first point made shows how God taught his representative people how the blood of Christ would cleanse from sins. For the people, their eyes were to be fastened on how priests performed the services and what they meant - it was the present truth for their time. The second point is meant for us to follow Jesus from the cross to His service in the holy apartment - this was the present truth for the time from the cross to the reformation and beyond to the next point, 1844.[2540] The third point is meant to direct the eyes of people to Christ and how he closes the door to the holy, opens the door to the most holy in order to reveal truths revealed in there to ready His people for His Second Coming. This is present truth for our time. - Therefore, the important message for us is, to keep our eyes on Jesus and follow Him to where He goes.[2545] Remaining behind prevents us from learning the truths He is trying to teach in each of these 3 stages. Not keeping our eyes on where Jesus is, means, our understanding of His work becomes unclear and darkness prevails as to understanding Bible truths, thus opening us up for Satan's devices. While we are not trying to minimize any of the stages, and their is a degree of back and forth between them, our mind must be directed to present truth which is intended to get a people ready for the climax of all history.

Explanation of the Image: #1 and #2 are the 2 squares which make up the court of the temple complex. #3 and #5 represent the central spots of these two squares. The central spot of #3 is occupied by the altar of burnt offerings, 1.Kings 8:64. The central spot of #5 is occupied by the ark of the covenant. Number 4 is the holy apartment which is twice as long as the most holy (#5) apartment. Thus the two central spots are occupied by key articles of furniture which explain very important aspects of Bible teaching about salvation from sin and the foundations of God's Kingdom. (Not exactly to scale.)

The Atonement Message of the Sanctuary and the Three Angels Messages

For these last days God has a message which will prepare a people to meet the Lord in reality. Who is going to present this message? We are to, those who know the message. What if we fail? Is God short on means to bring it about? No! Therefore, when we read in God's Word or hear of being (a) `under the law' and being `under grace' or of (b) justification and righteousness by faith, many times it may puzzle us what is meant by such expressions. We may ask, where is the simplicity of the gospel?

(a) The first point is beautifully explained by the experience of Joseph when he said, "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Gen. 39:9. Joseph did not say, `I cannot do this because then I loose eternal life', or `It is just not right'; no, he said he cannot sin against God. Joseph loved God and the great salvation He promised His people. His motivation was to honor and glorify God by remaining loyal to Him. He wanted a clean conscience in order to be able to serve the Lord better rather than a happy life in the here and now, for as they say, happiness lasts only as long as something is happening whereas joy (in the Lord) lasts forever. We are to direct our attention to how God is glorified, not to the thought how we can improve our life today.
(b) The second point may be described by realizing that justification is free and therefore available for all. The love of God which melted the heart of Joseph, can melt our heart too so that justification by faith can take place. Being justified, that means propitiated by the blood of Christ, a stone of guilt is rolled away from us and we can start in the newness of life to live in hearty appreciation of His love for Him for we accepted His free gift.

Christ does it all. We accepted His free gift. He reclaimed us from sin. That is why "... then shall the sanctuary be cleansed" (Dan. 8:14) is such good news. Joseph's heart was clean because he had fortified his mind against attacks by evil, by resolving and purposing not to dishonor God, who had chosen him and given him visions when he was still living at home. Today, we too can use this principle from the experience of Joseph and remove all those things Satan can use as a hook, to make us think of him rather than Christ.

In our discussion of the Book of Hebrew, this truth from the pen of the prophet Daniel (Dan. 8:14) sees a successful conclusion to the problem of sin in the universe.

Just as there is the cross, the altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, so God sends three angels at the time of the end to draw attention to these messages. The messages of these three angels are designed to let people know that salvation comes by grace through faith alone. Realizing this good news our response is to tell this to those around us. We discover that we can overcome our self-centeredness by beholding what Christ did on the cross. How He died that awful second death, so this free gift of eternal life is available for all people on earth, 1 Jh. 5:11,12; 2 Tim. 1:8-10. Realizing that the whole world has been drawn through Christ's sacrifice, His righteous act (Jh. 12:32), we respond encouraged by the Word of God to make this truth of such a great redemption known to all. With this new life, which we experience through the new birth, we are now able to demonstrate that God's power indwelling is the power of the gospel over the sinful flesh, Rom. 8:9-11.

In harmony with what we just stated, Ellen White always brought out the following two points in her presentation of the atonement,

1. In Christ's great work of atonement there is a healthy balance between His justice and mercy - the great controversy theme.
   
2. The atonement theme in the writings of Ellen White has a more cosmic scope rather than being a point in history - it models God's love and forgiveness.[2590]

Therefore we praise God that the atonement did not end at the cross. The gospel is that God takes the initiative and seeks us, everyone, to draw us unto Himself (Jh. 14:6; Dt. 7:6; Tit. 2:14) if we just behold what Christ did and the great salvation He brought about, and in response and because of our love burning now inside of us, we choose to say, `Yes.' This love of God is the "width and length and depth and height" of gospel truth.

The thus changed believer in this gospel exercises his faith inwardly and outwardly by reading the Word of God and obeying all that God requires. Those who follow God this way freely and gladly, are prepared for the second coming of Christ. - Yet, not all will be saved. Not because they were not clever enough or quick enough to seize the initiative and say `yes', but because they actively resisted and rejected such a great salvation and choose not to want to be with God.

Christ's work in the Holy apartment prepared believers (those living before 1844) for death with the hope of resurrection. His work in the Most Holy apartment, prepares (end time) believers today for translation without seeing death. They will be sealed. Once depraved people are freed from the fetters of sin by the amazing grace of God, when appeals to self-centered religion cannot truly motivate people in the right direction to bring about a lasting change of heart, they are aided by the Holy Spirit to remain free.

As the gospel of the soon coming of Christ is brought before all nations, thousands respond today in many places around the world. They accepted God's free offer and want to be heirs to the kingdom. They realize that time is running out and Christ will have finished His High Priestly ministry and His people will be sealed and the winds of strife are held in check for just a little longer. They know now that when Jesus comes again He does not come to deal with the sin problem, He comes as Lord and Savior, as Lord of Lords and King of Kings, Rev. 19:16, and His reward comes with Him, the reward which was determined before His coming during the period of the Investigative Judgment, Mt. 16:27; Rev.22:12. But there are still billions (hopefully less now) who have not heard the message of salvation. Only the outpouring of the Holy Spirit can bring about conditions where all can decide whom they want to worship and obey and be master over their life.

The cleansing of the sanctuary (the `books of record') in the final atonement, is a picture and experience of the cleansing of our hearts from all sins because enough comprehend and believe this gospel truth and unreservedly give their all to God. [2597] They saw that Christ had the same nature as we do, yet He never sinned. Being born as we were, but yet His Father is the Eternal one, Christ knows what we need, and He gave it for us as a free gift if we just accept the truth that we are accepted of Him already and follow Him. Therefore, the battle is whether our alienation from God can be resolved in "sinful flesh." It is evident that there is no problem with sin being conquered in sinless nature different from ours. That battle was won in heaven long ago (Rev. 12:7-9). Since then Satan took up residence in our fallen human nature. He claims that sin can only be tolerated and lightly "pardoned", or God must continue to overlook sin or tackle the problem after death in purgatory (the Catholic view). Most Christians agree with Satan in one or the other of these views. They say, as long as we have a sinful nature, it is inevitable that we must continue sinning - which is Satan's argument.

What does Christ say?

Christ proved that human sin is willful and therefore unnecessary. So He created a new abhorrence of sin that leads to its final eradication, Dt. 7:25,26; Ps. 119:163; Rom. 12:9. Thus He set the captives free to say "no" to sin (Lk. 4:18), and through the faith of Jesus to become pure and holy, (Ex. 30:30,31,35; Eph. 5:27). We can become thus because Christ built a bridge over the abyss of human alienation from God caused by sin. His sacrifice is called the "atonement" - the making `at-one' those who were separated from God.[2600]

This alienation is the reason for the reign of sin, their illicit desires, in the lives of so many young and older people. They hunger and thirst for acceptance by something they know not what. Only Christ can fill the abyss, the vacuum they feel inside, and make them whole. Our desire for God is perhaps a little like the homing instinct of some of God's creatures. Inside we know that God is the loving sovereign of the universe and that is why we pray to Him. Abounding sin needs abounding grace and we know that God's grace knows no limits. It is there for all.

People wonder, how close they can come to God, that must depend on how close you believe He has come to you. Exercising that faith then helps us to identify with Him. That is what the Bible means with being "crucified with Christ", Gal. 2:20. It is God's way of enhancing our self-respect. To be "crucified with Christ" means also that such are resurrected with Him, or as the Bible puts it, "it is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me", in other words, a true Christian `participates' in Christ and Him crucified.

The Power Promised

"God does not ask us to do in our own strength the work before us. He has provided divine assistance for all the emergencies to which our human resources are unequal. He gives the Holy Spirit to help in every strait, to strengthen our hope and assurance, to illuminate our minds and purify our hearts. . . . Christ has made provision that His church shall be a transformed body, illumined with the light of heaven, possessing the glory of Immanuel. It is His purpose that every Christian shall be surrounded with a spiritual atmosphere of light and peace." {8T, 16.1.3}

"In describing to His disciples the office work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus sought to inspire them with the joy and hope that inspired His own heart. He rejoiced because of the abundant help He had provided for His church. The Holy Spirit was the highest of all gifts that He could solicit from His Father for the exaltation of His people. The Spirit was to be given as a regenerating agent, and without this the sacrifice of Christ would have been of no avail. The power of evil had been strengthening for centuries, and the submission of men to this satanic captivity was amazing. [For it is certainly true that "the power of temptation is always strengthened by a previous experience in sin." (Whidden, The Atonement)]. Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world's Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Christ has given His Spirit as a divine power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil, and to impress His own character upon His church." {DA 671.2}

"To us today, as verily as to the first disciples, the promise of the Spirit belongs. God will today endow men and women with power from above, as He endowed those who on the Day of Pentecost heard the word of salvation. At this very hour His Spirit and His grace are for all who need them and will take Him at His word." {8T 20.3; Roger Morneau, Incredible Answers to Prayer, p. 45,46.}

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Notes & References

[001] We should clarify right at the beginning what is being atoned for. It is not "sin", a wicked deed, that is being atoned for. The truth is rather that sin (Hb. 12:1) cannot be atoned for - it is the very center of the problem, the disease. But the sinner, that is sins plural (character, transgression of God's law, the symptoms of the disease), can be reconciled to God's righteousness by Jesus dying on the cross and thus be delivered from the power of sin, which God still hates, and therefore is not reconciled to, Isa. 55:7; Hosea 14:4. The disease of sin itself we must crucify with Christ on His Cross, it must die in us because it is incorrigible. Forgiving my sin nature does not change me. I would still go on sinning. That sin nature must be completely dead, and I must become a new person. Thus the sinner is atoned for to sin no more, Jh. 5:14; 8:11.

[005] See also Sarah E. Peck, The Path to the Throne of God, N.Y., 2002, p. 52.

[008] Who is part of this priesthood? We read, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." 1 Peter 2:9. Who are those referred to? Many of the believers to whom Peter addressed his letters, were living among the heathens, and much depended on their remaining true to the high calling of their profession of faith.[2650] Originally of course "ye" was Israel for sure, the `woman' which God had married at Sinai, which later on, however, became unfaithful to the Lord. This woman, God married at Sinai, was later on referred to in Revelation 12 as the woman on the moon. She, like old Israel, had a special, exampliary role to play in history. From her was born the `man child (Jesus)'. She was the woman which is characterized by "keeping the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Rev. 12:18), which is the "Spirit of Prophecy", Rev. 19:10. These characteristics are also referred to in the epistle of Peter. There we wonder who the "ye", the "chosen generation" is. We read, they are "elect", "through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ . . ." 1.Peter 1:2. To be sanctified means to believe the truth taught in the Word of God and to practice it, Eze. 18:31; it is the work of a life time - under the influence of the Holy Spirit. The other characteristic of the "ye" is that they are "obedient". `Obedient' to what? To something that has to do with the `sprinkling of the blood of Christ.' What could that be? What made the cross necessary? Of course the event of sin made it necessary. Since sin is the transgression of the Ten Commandment Law of God, `obedience' necessarily refers to keeping them. And we repeat again that what God "blessed" in Genesis (Gen. 2:3) is still `blessed' in Revelation (Rev. 22:14).
"And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."
"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
The crowds around Jerusalem knew Jesus was the "blessed . . . that comes in the name of the Lord" (Mt. 20:9), the name of the Lord which is deeply buried inside the 4th commandment. - That Jesus had to die because these 10 laws were violated, indicates that they are unchangeable, they are eternally valid and stand still exactly so written in stone today, as they were written by God at Sinai. God's faithful people are also spoken of as priests in the Bible, 1.P. 2:9.

[010] For example see the Pentecostal Bible Study Course, Vol. One, Hazelwood, Missouri, 1966. We need to remember that the memorial for the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is baptism. Romans 6:4,5; Colossians 2:12. Instead, the extended lesson from Aaron's rod that budded is that it had been cut off from a living tree, cut to length and was dead wood, yet blossomed and bore fruit, because it was `attached' to God. This is the great miracle and we read about the same imagery in John chapter 15 on the vine and the branches.

[15] We have nothing to recommend us to God; but the plea that we may urge now and ever is our utterly helpless condition that makes His redeeming power a necessity. Renouncing all self-dependence, we may look to the cross of Calvary and say, "In my hand no price I bring; Simply to Thy cross I cling." The Jews had been instructed from childhood concerning the work of the Messiah. The inspired utterances of patriarchs and prophets and the symbolic teaching of the sacrificial service had been theirs. But they had disregarded the light; and now they saw in Jesus nothing to be desired. But the centurion, born in heathenism, educated in the idolatry of imperial Rome, trained as a soldier, seemingly cut off from spiritual life by his education and surroundings, and still further shut out by the bigotry of the Jews, and by the contempt of his own countrymen for the people of Israel, --this man perceived the truth to which the children of Abraham were blinded. He did not wait to see whether the Jews themselves would receive the One who claimed to be their Messiah. As the "light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9) had shone upon him, he had, though afar off, discerned the glory of the Son of God.[DA, 317]

[100] For two drawn images, purportedly of these pillars painted in the tombs of Tell Sandahannah near Beit Jibrin in southern Palestine, see W.F. Albright, `Two Cressets from Marisa and the Pillars of Jachin and Boaz' in BASOR, Feb 1942, p. 18-27.]

[0130] Listen to what Jesus offers us as treatment for the damage that Satan has done to us through sin:
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message).

[0180] Real repentance is available for everyone. What does `real repentance' involve? Let us read a few scriptures, "For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." Isa. 57:15. The word `dwell' reminds us of the words, "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." Ex. 25:8. God's word says that the humble and the contrite, repenting person are candidates for revival, for rejuvenation of true faith. We also read, "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins." Acts 5:31, that God through Jesus' sacrifice gives repentance. And Paul says, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Rom. 2:4, that the goodness of God leads to repentance. We must repent and be converted for our sins to be blotted out, Acts 3:19. Last but not least we read, "Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations." That means we must make a U-Turn from all that has even the appearance of sin. We must not anymore indulge anything that in the remotest can lead us into sin. It is well illustrated in the story of the soap merchant who went to church once and said to the pastor, `Pastor, its not working ... all that preaching, holding meetings and all those revivals. The world is deeper in sin than ever before.' The pastor was downcast and set down to think what he was told. Next day he met the soap merchant again and he said, `You know what? Its not working selling all those soaps. The world is just as dirty. if not dirtier than before.' `You are right,' replied the soap merchant, `you have to apply the soap.' The pastor then said, `My friend, just the same it is with preaching the gospel. You have to apply it to your life.

[0200] The three components of human beings have their parallel to the sanctuary of the OT which was symbolic of Christ, Jh. 2:19-22; 1, Cor. 6:19. The Mosty Holy place corresponds to the Spirit. This is where God dwells. The Holy Place is parallel with the soul. Just as the priest functions in the holy place of the earthly sanctuary, so God functions in our soul through our mind. The courtyard represents the body. The courtyard was "visible" to all and the place where sacrifice took place, Rom. 12:1 (visible, because at one time or another, they had offered sacrifices there). These parallels do not negate the truth of a literal sanctuary in heaven. The Bible is clear that God functions and dwells in heaven as well as in the heart of the believer, Isa. 57:15.
Aaron and the high priest's work: Also, we must remember that the word "high priest" is used only once in the Old Testament, that is in 2.Chronicles 24:11. This passage gives us no pertinent information as to what the high priest did. Lev. 16 tells us that Aaron was to perform the work on the `Day of Atonement'. That was the yearly work. Who was to do the daily work? The daily work could only be done by the high priest or his immediate male descendants (Ex. 27:21; 28:1,35,43; 29:29,30; 30:30; 40:12-13, 31-32; Num. 8:2,3; 18:8; 1.Chr. 6:49, etc.). There are very few instances where we have actual stories that describe Aaron and his sons at work in the daily service. Lev. 10 is one of the only ones. Here we are told that Aaron and his two sons were at work in the daily service outside of and within the first apartment (Lev. 10:12-20). Only the high priest or his sons could carry on the work in the outer court or within the first apartment. - Is Jesus in heaven not to perform any antitypical work in the first apartment because He has no `sons' there to do it for Him? Such an idea is not to be taken seriously. We could then carry the thought a step further, `Was Jesus on earth not to perform the supreme sacrifice at Calvary, Himself the priest, Himself the victim, because as such interpreters claim, He could not do such work? -- Such strange views always result in untrue consequences when thought out. Let us not fall for them! Let us remember that Calvary leads us into the sanctuary. Wherever Christ has gone, we are to go; wherever He leads we are to follow, Rev. 14:4. What is presented confirms that we need Christ's heavenly ministry just as much as we need His earthly sacrifice. The two go together. These are the pioneer views of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and shown here to be Biblically established.
Uzziah was smitten when he tried to enter in the pride of his own heart (2.Chr. 26:16-23), but in contrast, the year that he died . . .
Isaiah by faith clearly saw into those sacred chambers (Isa. 6). And now, by faith, we are invited to personally enter within not the earthly but the heavenly tabernacle where God Himself awaits us!! - - But one cannot enter for another. Each must for him/herself make their own decision. `I will go in unto the King.' (Esther 4:16). And we may come in boldly (Hebr. 4:16). -- Most do not realize the true meaning of this word. It does not mean merely indicate boldness or courage in moving from one place to another. The Greek word means boldness in speech. We are invited - we are encouraged - to enter the great throne room of the King of Kings, and the promise is given that we will be strengthened with a holy boldness in speaking that we may present our needs to our High Priest.

[0282] Along this theme take note of this important quote: "Without the Spirit of God a knowledge of His word is of no avail. The theory of truth, unaccompanied by the Holy Spirit, cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart. One may be familiar with the commands and promises of the Bible; but unless the Spirit of God sets the truth home, the character will not be transformed. Without the enlightenment of the Spirit, men will not be able to distinguish truth from error, and they will fall under the masterful temptations of Satan.
The class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites. They have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth; but they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit's working. They have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, and permitted their old nature to be broken up. This class are represented also by the stony-ground hearers. They receive the word with readiness, but they fail of assimilating its principles. Its influence is not abiding. The Spirit works upon man's heart, according to his desire and consent implanting in him a new nature; but the class represented by the foolish virgins have been content with a superficial work. They do not know God. They have not studied His character; they have not held communion with Him; therefore they do not know how to trust, how to look and live. Their service to God degenerates into a form. "They come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness." Eze. 33:31. The apostle Paul points out that this will be the special characteristic of those who live just before Christ's second coming. He says, "In the last days perilous times shall come: for men shall be lovers of their own selves; . . . lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." 2 Tim. 3:1-5. {`Christ's Object Lessons,' 408.3-411.1}

[0290] What happened when sin entered? "The sin of our first parents brought guilt and sorrow upon the world, and had it not been for the goodness and mercy of God, would have plunged the race into hopeless despair. . . . After their sin Adam and Eve were no longer to dwell in Eden. They earnestly entreated that they might remain in the home of their innocence and joy. They confessed that they had forfeited all right to that happy abode, but pledged themselves for the future to yield strict obedience to God. But they were told that their nature had become depraved by sin; they had lessened their strength to resist evil and had opened the way for Satan to gain more ready access to them. In their innocence they had yielded to temptation; and now, in a state of conscious guilt, they would have less power to maintain their integrity." {PP 61.4} - We learn that EGW taught that man's nature had less resistance to overcome evil. Today we might be even weaker, but it is not so that we have no strength at all to overcome according to the above quotation. This also means that we did not sin corporately in Adam. Sin is not passed on genetically. Each person is accountable for his own sin, not Adam's (Eze. 18:20). We can break the cycle of sin. The "guilt we get from Adam is the depraved nature we inherited from Adam, which was the result of his disobedience. This depraved nature makes us prone to sin, but not sinners. We are not sinners until we choose to sin (Dt. 30:19). The corporate death sentence was passed on all (1.Cor. 15:22) as the result of Adam's disobedience, not for his disobedience. The first death, which is the curse of sin, should not be confused with the second death, which is the wages of sin. - The question begging for an answer is, `If we sinned corporately in Adam, how can we account for the truth that little infants and children will be in heaven, no doubt, some without their mothers to meet them, for we read, "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Mt. 19:14). Surely they could not be in heaven if they were sinners! The teaching of corporate sin has led some churches to baptize infants, to insure their entrance into heaven.
While individual sins are not corporate, leadership responsibilities cover more ground. The king, the priests, heads of families, each one of us, are responsible for more than them or ourselves. If they actively mislead people into sin, they have guilt besides their own, private guilt - our works or wages of sin have consequences. Thus Jonah's mission to Niniveh and Daniel's repentance for the sins of his people, were in that sense corporate.

[0300] `Grace' has different aspects to it. a) Grace convicts man of sin, and seeks to draw him to Christ. b) Grace moves man to repent, and for those who repent, it becomes forgiving and enabling grace. c) But for those who constantly reject God's grace, committ sin against the Holy Spirit and grieve Him away. - - Thus, grace starts out unconditionally to everyone, but then, gradually, it is rejected or accepted. Those who yield to the working of the Holy Spirit are enabled to live godly lives.

[0305] Here is a list of a number of references in the Bible to the `Heavenly Sanctuary': Hebrews 8:1-2; Psalm 102:19; Jeremiah 17:12; Psalm 11:4; Isaiah 6:1-6; Revelation 15:5-8; Hebrews 9:11.

[0500] Some seem to want to suggest that the KJV is the perfect translation of the original Hebrew/ Aramaic/ Greek Bible text, also referred to as the `received text.' When it comes to translating, a translation can hardly ever be so `perfect' as the original. Such statements undermine Bible faith because if someone does find an inconsistency the damage is done. The KJV was produced during the time of the English poet and dramatist William Shakespear (1564-1616). The KJV translators managed to put his name into the biblical text. We read: "Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake ... he maketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder ..." Psalm 46:3,9. The NEB and NIV use the words, `quake' and `spear'. The NAB uses `shaken' and `spears' (plural). The Living Bible uses `tremble' and `weapon'. The German language Dr. Martin Luther Bible uses `die Berge sinken/ sänken' und `Spieß', die Zürcher Bibel uses `die Berge taumeln' und `Speer' following the KJV. While we believe the KJV is a very good translation, we would refrain from using perfect in the sense of without the possibility of conveying a word in a sense which could not be better expressed equally or better with another word. This writer prefers the KJV for memorizing Bible texts, because using too many different translations may destroy one's ability to memorize Bible texts.

[0600] Protestants, as they were represented by Walter Martin in 1982, have shown that they do not comprehend this chapter of the Book of Hebrews and its definitions neither did the GC men.

[0680] Yes, we are aware that some theologize, that is filter biblical teachings, when it comes to the nature of sin. We must insist that we cannot be afraid to call sin by its right name. Why would anybody be afraid to do that? The reason is, calling sin by its right name among people who want to sin, and do not want you to call it by its right name, can be dangerous. We desire not to be taken in what Paul warns about in 2.Cor. 4:2. Therefore, when we read new books besides the Bible we must be on the alert. We must understand that some try to introduce thoughts which might not mesh with what is taught in the Bible. Many times this revolves around what sin is. The OT uses about three words for "sin". They are (a) "asham" or "ashma" (guilt, guilt offering), (b) "chet" (sin, error, failure), (c) "chataah", "chattaah" or "chattath" (sin, sin offering). - If a message we read or hear comes out to be, `We cannot stop sinning. God understands that we cannot stop sinning. He does not hold us accountable. He does not impute all those sins to us. He just says, 'I will fix that up by and by.' When we encounter these thoughts our `alert button' ought to set off a siren inside. Why? Because Cain's sin of slaying his brother Abel was such a "chataah" sin. So was the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen. 18:16-20; 19:20. So was the sin Potiphar's wife tried to entangle Joseph with, Gen. 39:6-9. The man who cursed God committed a "chataah" sin, Lev. 24:11,15. Jeremiah tells us that pagan human sacrifices are "chataah" sins, Jer. 32:30-35. More examples could be cited. We ought to see that "chataah" sin is something we do not want to keep in our life. We want to disengage us from those sins - for ever. Keep committing them is completely unsafe. The Bible teaches that we must overcome or else we will be overcome, see `Mount of Blessings, p. 71.2 If we do not get the victory over the "chata-ahs," they will conquer us. For we all know that the wages or sting of sin is death and the strength of sin is the law, 1. Cor. 15:56.

[0700] The mediation (according to the sanctuary types and shadows) or transfer of sin is indicated by several terms and occurrences in the sanctuary services. Terms like "make an atonement" (Lev. 16:6,10,11..), "the blood of Jesus", 1.Peter 1:2; 1.Jh. 1:7; to name a few. The transfer of sin or the substitution of the blood of the lamb for the blood of the sinner, the blood of Christ for the sinner, is taught in the Bible and was made possible because Christ was "made flesh", (Jh. 1:14; Gal. 4:4; 2.Cor. 5:21). That means, "Christ took upon His sinless (divine) nature our sinful (human) nature, that He might know how to succor those that are tempted" ["Medical Ministry", p. 181]. So Christ did actually assume our condemned (Rom. 5:18), sinful nature which is at "enmity against God" and "not subject to the law of God" (Rom. 8:7). But our Saviour defeated "the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2) that resided in that human nature, and then He executed that condemned nature on the Cross symbolized by the eastern square of the tabernacle court, 1 Kings 8:64; Hebr. 9:23ff. This qualified Christ as the second Adam (1 Cor. 15:45), the second representative of mankind, 1.Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1:3-6. - It also may be helpful to suggest that Christ became the Saviour of the world (1.Tim. 4:10) in the sense that He became the Saviour of all sorts of men in the world - of men and women of all nations, cultural backgrounds and religions (1.Tim. 2:4,6,7) as long as they accept Him or His still small voice or offer of salvation for He is seeking men to save them. For you see, Christ's death is not God sending someone to die in our stead, but God Himself died so that we might live. That means we are accepted already when we were still a prodigal son, not a stranger.
The atonement has not much to do with moral reconciliation. `Morality' or `moral' is a word not found in the Bible. It has to do with conforming to accepted (cultural) criteria. It was a good word to use when our country was largely Christian, but today, many religions are represented in the USA and in most other countries in the world whose views on morality may not compare with a Christian world view at all. So we may want to clarify first to whom we speak. While morality is a good characteristic, it has nothing to do with the saving grace of God since it can be fake obedience. Satan embarked on a moral slide which could occur in heaven because there is sanctity in moral freedom.

[0720] The Greek of Hebr. 6:19, where its says, and which "enters into that (apartment) withn the veil", reads as follows, "eiserxomenen eis to esteron tou katapetasmaous", which means literally, `going in inside the veil,' meaning inside between the two veils. / The Greek of Hebr. 9:3, where it says, "and after the second veil", reads as follows: "meta de to deuteron kapatetasma", which literally means, `behind the second veil'.

[0750] In some very definite respects, Hebr. 9:12 Is one of the high climaxes of the book (along with Hebr. 1:8, 2:9, 2:17, 3:6, 3:15, 4:9, 4:14, 5:5, 6:1, 6:19, 7:25, 8:1, 8:6, 9:8, that preceded it, and some others that will follow, such as 9:24, 10:7, 10:16, 10:19, and 10:22.) This is Paul's manner in Hebrews. He builds to a point and then springs it upon us. Hebrews is a most wonderful book. - Only 4 out of 16 Bible versions, not translations, use `most holy'.

[763] Christ at his birth assumed man's sinful nature, he did not have a sinful nature. Just like someone who is being asked to deliver some money to another person is not guilty of stealing it as he makes his way to that person, so Christ too, assumed our nature. Only when the conveyor of the money keeps it, is he a thief. Our sinful nature was in the possession of Christ when He assumed it at the incarnation, but that nature was not His and therefore did not make Him a sinner. Christ had to meet, head on, the law (constant force) of sin in our members. This law, according to Paul, makes us slaves to sin. It makes holy living in and of ourselves, impossible, Rom. 7:14-25. That is why we must be daily "in Christ" and "Christ in us", to be overcomers. Christ conquered our sinful human nature during His life on this earth and finally executed it on the cross, Rom. 8:2,3. That is how Christ took to heaven a glorified humanity, which He is reserving for all believers at His Second Coming (Rom. 8:22-25; Phil. 3:20,21). This is the good news of the gospel.

[0770] We read, "Money cannot buy it, intellect cannot grasp it, power cannot command it; but to all who will accept it, God's glorious grace is freely given. But men may feel their need, and, renouncing all self-dependence, accept salvation as a gift because you were accepted already while still a prodigal son or daughter. Those who enter heaven will not scale its walls by their own righteousness, nor will its gates be opened to them for costly offerings of gold or silver, but they will gain an entrance to the many mansions of the Father's house through the merits of the cross of Christ." {AG 179.2}

[0796] Understanding the curse. In Christ God reconciled mankind to Himself. `Christ is the "Yes" to all God's promises.' 2. Cor. 1:20 GNB "The Lamb of God (that was slain) is represented before us as in the midst of the throne of God. He is the great ordinance by which man and God are united and commune together. Thus men are represented as sitting in heavenly places (figure of the tabernacle) in Christ Jesus. This is the appointed place of meeting between God and humanity." (MS 7, 1898){7BC 967.5}. "When the right time finally came, God sent His own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become Christ's sons." Gal. 4:4,5 GNB. Then we read, "Those who depend on obeying the Law live under a curse. For the scripture says, `Whoever does not always obey everything that is written in the book of the Law is under God's curse!" Gal. 3:10 GNB. So we ask, `What is this curse?' It is being abandoned by God, for we read, "At noon the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours. At about three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, `Eli, ELi, lema sabachthani?' which means, `My God, my God, why did you abandon me?'" Matth. 27:46 GNB. The "curse" is being cut off, having no contact, a seemingly hopeless situation, which Christ experienced, see Isa. 53:4-10.
In Paganism man provides the sacrifice to please an angry God. In Christianity God becomes the sacrifice, punishing His own Son. That is why we read,
"In order to fully realize the value of salvation, it is necessary to understand what it cost. In consequence of limited ideas of the sufferings of Christ, many place a low estimate upon the great work of the atonement. The glorious plan of man's salvation was brought about through the infinite love of God and Father. In this divine plan is seen the most marvelous manifestation of the love of God to the fallen race." {2T 200.1}
"Justice demands that sin be not merely pardoned, but the death penalty must be executed. God, in the gift of His only-begotten Son, met both these requirements. By dying in man's stead, Christ exhausted the penalty and provided a pardon.
Man through sin has been severed from the life of God. His soul is palsied through the machinations of Satan, the author of sin. Of himself he is incapable of sensing sin, incapable of appreciating and appropriating the divine nature. Were it brought within his reach there is nothing in it that his natural heart would desire it. The bewitching power of Satan is upon him. All the ingenious subterfuges the devil can suggest are presented to his mind to prevent every good impulse. Every faculty and power given him of God has been used as a weapon against the divine Benefactor. So, although He loves him, God cannot safely impart to him the gifts and blessings He desires to bestow.
But God will not be defeated by Satan. He sent His Son into the world, that through His taking the human form and nature, humanity and divinity combined in Him would elevate man in the scale of moral value with God." {1 SM 340,341}
We must remember that salvation is always interactive. Man must show his gratitude by spiritual, that is mindful, understanding worship, Rom. 12:1,2; Gal. 2:20. We glorify our Creator God. How do we glorify God? We live for Him to the same degree He lived and died for us. That means our witness for God must be careful. We cannot bring "strange fire," because God presents His message to the world through the members of His church, Lev. 10:10; 2.Tim. 2:16-21. Using "strange fire" destroys faith in God. Minds become confused and moral perception is impossible. [See here.]

[0800] If a believer chooses to read the Bible and follow its instructions and teachings to cooperate with God he opens himself up to experience the sanctification of the Spirit. He will become a good citizen on earth as he prepares for life in God's kingdom. That is available to every believer. At this juncture, however, as it always happens on matters of faith, divergent opinions may come in, the theories made by men and gospel reality.
Men may interpret "foreknowledge" as used in the Bible by presenting their own ideas about predestination, while God links the fate of man to sanctification of the Spirit.
The converted heart is a rare find. It has been offered that only one in twenty is converted among God's professed people, making such a one a peculiar person. Yet sinners are to be converted from the breaking of God's law to the obedience of God 's law. And yet the world is sprinkled by thousands and thousands of churches, mosques, temples, synagogues and places of worship. Many, many obtain higher education to divide the Word of God rightly, but will they be part of God's kingdom because of that? There is a theological system for every one of them. Why so many doctrines among men? Is it because they desire a method of forgetting God which passes as a method of remembering him? Do they want merely the benefits of religion without its moral demands? And so it is that at one end of the street stands a church where biblical standards are upheld and where gospel transformation is preached, and at the other end of the street men and women are told that they belong to Jesus although Bible claims are not pressed. One church goes by the Bible; another is the setting for spiritual snake oil.
The whole of the race has made commitments to sin. Few are committed heart and soul to moral renovation. False assumptions lead to non-gospel outcomes. All the world groans, waiting for the manifestations of the sons of God, the conclusive demonstration of the power of the gospel which Heaven has promised and which will put sin out of business and redeem man.
Christians are elect unto obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Christ (1.Peter 1:2). It is God's intention, through sanctification, to enable our present obedience (1 Tim. 1:12). - And so it is true, we learn a great deal of independence in the world but where do we go to learn how to cooperate with God's keeping power? We know Jesus is willing to make us clean, but are we wondering whether He thinks us personally worthwhile of making us clean? Where then are the results? Why do we not feel clean? Why do we think sinful thoughts consistently? - The answer comes when we recognize that we are subject to a radical misunderstanding of the Bible. In quite a general way, the power of faith is misunderstood. - God's miraculous power is revealed in His creation and we may discover that the miracles of Christ are not accessories or appendages to creation, they are examples of God's core intention for man: to make free, holy beings.
Yet, while faith is the central feature of monotheism, it is one of the most poorly understood elements in western Christianity. Rome's legal emphasis set men towards a `salvation by works plan.' In Protestantism arose a reaction to that Catholic imbalance, but some of its central thinkers counter-balanced too far; they sharply diminished the role of works. Calvin and Luther, who all studied as lawyers, laid their emphasis on the plan of salvation - not as physicians, but as jurists.
How is the person made whole (Mt. 9:22; 15:28; Mk. 5:34)?
Jesus says many times to people that their faith made them whole. How so? While faith can never be a solitary matter - it has to have an object - it is not to be understood as being made whole in our body cells only, but rather the whole person is to made whole, cells and spirit, our thinking mind. So we realize that faith is an acid, it burns through our cold heart and barriers, which sin has put up in us, Galatians 5:4-6. No one is made right by an independent obedience to the law. If it is done apart from God then it is done apart from transforming power. It is hollow and unwatered by grace and love. The Spirit must accomplish work inside us, an inner work. It is not being Jewish or any other ethnicity that recreates us. It is faith which works by love. Real faith works. It cannot be idle or sit inert in a jar. Head knowledge can condemn but it is unable to transform. We must believe in Jesus. We must embrace, appropriate, have joy, transact with Him. We must have His merits, but it is not just a lawyerly thing. Saving faith puts us in a covenant relationship with God. It brings life to us. It helps us to have more spiritual vigor, more confiding trust in God. By these `your soul' becomes a conquering power.
In what way? In the exercise of faith.
Salvation must be larger than our giving intellectual ascent to what Jesus did for us on the cross. - A development of our faith takes place, a demonstration of the gospel, that only reaches its fullness in the last time, the time of the end, 1.Peter 1:5.
So we ask, `But what can the gospel do? Can the gospel keep men from sinning? When the plan of salvation is unleashed in the lives of believers, what will be seen?
God is ready. He has brought His people to this time. He has something for the world and the universe ready to be revealed in the last time. The Reformation is not yet finished. More needs to be reformed. There is a need to go further back in the search for true gospel - to the Bible. We are not to be merely reformers but restorers. We are to throw away the traditions and practices of man that are found to be unbiblical, and restore Bible standards. We have not been radical enough in following God - not willing enough to say, `I don't need that anymore, all I want is Jesus.' We have become contented without having drilled-through the truth so we can, with God's help, go deeper. [After thoughts by L. Kirkpatrick]

[0830] God's method of imparting the divine nature on man is righteousness by faith (Gal. 5:5; Acts 17:31). God influences man always from the inside out (Prov. 23:26; Rm. 8:9-11; 1Jn. 4:12; Ga. 4:19), while Satan always comes from the outside in, (Ja. 1:3-15; Mt. 4:1-3). How Satan works today among God's professed people is well put in these lines, "The enemy is preparing for his last campaign against the church. He has so concealed himself from view that many can hardly believe that he exists, much less can they be convinced of his amazing activity and power. They have to a great extent forgotten his past record; and when he makes another advance move, they will not recognize him as their enemy, that old serpent, but they will consider him a friend, one who is doing a good work. Boasting of their independence they will, under his specious, bewitching influence, obey the worst impulses of the human heart and yet believe that God is leading them. Could their eyes be opened to distinguish their captain, they would see that they are not serving God, but the enemy of all righteousness. They would see that their boasted independence is one of the heaviest fetters Satan can rivet on unbalanced minds." {5T 294.1} We could think of a list of things people occupy themselves with today for illustration.

[823] In German that was like, "Wenn die Münze schon im Becher klinkt, die Seele aus dem Fegefeuer in den Himmel springt."

[855] Ever since the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple of the Jews, their passover was held in their homes and acquired the name "seder." On such a day the head of the household would say something like, since there is no sacrifice of a lamb at the temple anymore, the family has "no sacrifice to make them righteous." That means, those participating in such `seder' feasts, participates in a tradition which rejects Christ and His great sacrifice on the cross. For this reason no believing Christian should participate in such ceremonial feasts which repudiates Christ as our sacrifice and mediator.

[0860] Some Aspects of Calvinistic views compared to What the Bible Teaches to show that the love of God, the gospel, can be expressed in many ways, but God has only one church on earth.

Total Depravity: Sin is not total depravity, it is total corporate guilt in crucifying Christ. When we reject Christ, we are like the Jews who rejected the Savior. That is our corporate guilt. Calvin was trying to express that idea but could not quite find the right words to say it with.
Unconditional Election: We are not decreed in advance to be either elected of God or elected to be lost. In effect it revises the Lord's Prayer to say, not "Thy will be done in earth like it is in heaven," but "Thy will must and will be done ..." The Bible teaches God has "elected all men" to be saved and they will be, unless they interpose a rebellious will to contradict His election. But this greater truth does not encourage disobedience. Faith in the Lord's "election" motivates to total harmony with Him in obedience. If we let the Lord have His way, He will lead us all the way into His eternal kingdom. All hell cannot keep one out of heaven unless he chooses to reject His (God's) "election." In restoring to us our freedom of choice. Christ permits us to nullify and defeat God's purpose of love for us if we choose. "The sinner may resist this love, he may refuse to be drawn to Christ, but if He does not resist, he will be drawn to Jesus." {SC 27}.
Limited Atonement: This ends up to mean that Christ did not die for every one of us, but only for those few who are the "elect" in the understanding of the successors of Calvin. The truth is that Christ has purchased the gift of salvation for "all men" and has given the gift to them "in Himself," which is described as a "judicial ... verdict of acquital ... for all men", (Rom. 5:15-18) God wants all to be saved and before the foundation of the world He predestined all to be saved (Eph. 1:3-6). That means the initiative to be saved comes from God. But "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their tresspasses unto them", all this was done at the cross before anyone of us were alive, (2.Cor. 5:19). He became "the Savior of the world" (Jh. 4:42), "the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe", (2.Tim. 4:10 Demas chose the world). Not merely would-like-to-be-saved. - Those who are lost have chosen to sell their birth-right since they despised the free gift. (Gen. 25:34; Hebr. 12:16). What Christ did is free, full atonement is given in a legal sense to "all men."
The only alternative is a `limited atonement.' If Christ did not truly save you when He "saved the world," then you have been short-changed by a "limited atonement"! Only thing left to do, `Move on into unlimited grace!'
Irresistible Grace: When it comes time to go to church or prayer meeting, for many the temptation to stay home seems strong. But the problem is not the strength of the temptation; it is rather that we do not see how much stronger God's grace is. When we present the law of God, we are not trying to "frustrate" God's grace, Gal. 2:21. Frustrated `grace' turns into lukewarmness which permeates churches everywhere. But our true love of what Jesus did when He became the `Savior of the world,' motivates us to endless devotion.
Perseverance of the Saints: The Calvinistic idea is that once you are saved, you can or will never fall. The sanctuary tells us not to look at the `perseverance of the saints' but rather at the `perseverance of Christ'. Akin to such teachings is that when some say that the Lord got us started in a "relationship" with Jesus, but then He drops us and it is up to us to "maintain it" by three duties: (1) prayer, (2) Bible study, and (3) witnessing. These are all excellent things a Christian does, but not as acts of works-righteousness. Jesus, like a doctor who helps bring a child into the world and then does not walk away but places it into the arms of the mother, so Jesus; He not only initiates the saving relationship, He maintains it as well. That is often hard to understand because we cannot quite understand His great `agape' love for each one of us - His love never fails, 1.Cor. 13:8. The idea that it is hard to be saved and easy to be lost is not true for it neglects to remember God's great love for you.

[0900] More than that, when an offering was made, the blood would be sprinkled "round about upon the altar" (Leviticus 1:5, 11; 3:2, 8, 13; 7:2; 8:15, etc.). The blood was also sprinkled before the vail (Leviticus 4:6, 17). On Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) the blood was actually taken within the vail and sprinkled upon the kapporeth, the "atonement piece," the lid of the ark, often called the "mercy seat."

[0935] E.J. Waggoner, Christ and His Righteousness, Glad Tidings Publishers, p. 76,77.

[0955] `Youth Instructor,' Febr. 15, 1900, 2.

[1000] In God's providence the slaying of the paschal lamb coincided with the Passover in that year, 31 A.D., exactly with Christ dying on the cross. When Caiphas rend his cloths (Mt. 26:65) conviction, mingled with passion, caused him to do this. He was furious with himself for believing Christ's words, and instead of rending his heart under a deep sense of truth, and confessing that Jesus was the Messiah, he rent his priestly robes in determined resistance. The rending of the veil also teaches that from then on, the shadowy sacrifices, rites and services in the Jewish tabernacle, sanctuary were fulfilled and over, never again to be performed. To start up such services again would deny the all sufficiency of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Christ's first words after they had gathered about the table were "With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.". . . Luke 22:16.

[1080] When you read Daniel chapter 7 one verse after another you should notice a change in subject from verse 8 to 9. Verse 8 talks about the earthly level, the little horn and verses 9 to 10 about the heavenly level, the throne of God and the setting of the judgment.

[1110] That was so because the reformers dealt primarily with the priests as they were doing their work in the RCC system.

[1220] Which Bible is the best version? It would be the Bible Jesus used, wouldn't it? Well, in the English language, before the 1611 King James Bible, there were other Bibles: The Bischop's Bible, Wicklif's Bible (14th cent.) translated from the Vulgate, Geneva Bible plus others. But where does the word "cleansed" in Daniel 8:14 come from? We find it already in Wickliff's Bible of the 14th century. Where did Wickliff get it from? Well, he got it from the Latin Vulgate which was put together by Origen. The Latin word for `cleansed' is "mundabidur". Of course we know that the oldest translation of the Old Testament was the Septuagint. In the Septuagint, which word do we find for cleansed? It is the word "kataristhesetai". But the Septuagint translation of the Book of Daniel is a very poor translation. There are only 2 manuscripts known of this version. However, in the Aramaic language the word used for cleansed in Daniel 8:14 is "tsadaq". In Leviticus 16 we find the word "taher" for cleansed. There are only four Bible texts which use that word in parallelism. These are: "tsadaq" in Job 4:17 (2891, pure);17:9 (2891, taher) and "zakah" in Job 15:14 (2135, zakah, clean); Job 25:4 (2135, zakah). "The word "taher" is related to "zakah" and is related to "tsadaq" and the idea of cleansing is inherent in these words." [Prof. Helmer Lindgreen?, University of Berkley and Upsala, fr. a recording.] In fact there are 209 examples known in the Aramaic literature in which the Hebrew word `sadaq' is translated into the Aramic word `zaqar', which means "cleansed". That is why we can trust the translators of the Septuagint when they translated `sadaq' in Daniel 8:14 with "cleansed." They were not coining a new word nor making a new translation, they were simply using the term in harmony with one of its well known meanings. - We can conclude that in Daniel 8:14 the idea of `cleansed' is certainly present. But even more is present: the idea of vindication, restoration and justification. That means that in Daniel 8:14 a cleansing activity of the sanctuary takes place, a vindication activity, a restoration activity and a justifying activity takes place. What is the sanctuary that is being cleansed? Elder Ludwig Richard Conradi (FYI: 1856 at Cochem -1939 in a convent; schrieb: `Weissagung & Weltgeschichte, 1922) said, "The word sanctuary in Daniel 8:14 means truth. What happened in 1843 (to use his date) is that the `truth' was cleansed." Was he right? Other authorities said, `No, it does not mean truth, it means God's people.' That means that in 1844 God's people on earth were cleansed or are in the process of it since then. Still other interpreters said, `No, it doesn't mean truth or God's people, it means the altar. The altar that was defiled by Antiochus Epiphanes with his pagan sacrifices.' The majority, however, say, `No, this world is the sanctuary (Hebr. `qodesh' vs. `miqdash') which was cleansed. But it was not the sanctuary in heaven but the temple on earth defiled by Antiochus Epiphanes.' - How can we know which of these are true? The word `qodesh' occurs 468 times in the OT. Studied by Dr. Gerhard Hasel PhD (1935-1994), he discovered that `qodesh' never means `truth', `altar', `people' or `God's people' in the Bible.
Only the word `sanctuary' remains, but which sanctuary is it? That on earth or in heaven? To decide we look at Daniel chapter 8 and find that in verses 3,4 and 5 to 7 we are on the earthly level. In verse 8, 9-12 we have a movement from earth towards heaven by that `little' horn. In verses 13 and 14 Daniel does not see anything; he only hears since he is now in the heavenly realm. That is why in context the sanctuary referred to is in heaven.
Another question asked by Dr. Schwital (Bible teacher Seminar Marienhöhe, wrote, `Grosskirche und Sekte,' Saatkorn Verlag; died 1962) is this, `How come that in Daniel 8 we have the end point and what happened at the end point of the 2300 evenings and mornings, without ever learning exactly the beginning point. Why would that be the case?'
Here is Dr. Hasel's answer: For Hebrews their thinking is different from ours. Frequently God uses the Hebrew mentality to stress certain high points before logical sequence would take place. In Daniel 8 we have this great activity described which takes place in the heavenly sanctuary in 1844 before ever being told when exactly the beginning time is. But we know already from the context that the beginning point must be in the `ram' kingdom, that of Medo-Persia (539-331 BC). But the specific starting point has not yet been revealed, that is why Daniel got sick according to Daniel 8:27. He was puzzled. Everything had been explained except the time element. But then the Lord said something to him which is very important for us today, "And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told [is] true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it [shall be] for many days." Dan. 8:26. The word for "vision" in verse 26 is not the same word used for "vision" in verse 13. So, if you want to know what truth is, God is saying that the cleansing of the sanctuary is truth. [Dan. 8:13 `vision' 2377 (chazown); 8:26 `vision' 4758 (mareh).] Why did the reformers not understand these prophecies? Because the vision was sealed. Those holding that Antiochus Epiphanes fulfills this prophecy have the intense problem of Daniel 8:17,19 to deal with. There the angel Gabriel tells Daniel that the vision pertains to "the time of the end." In fact verse 19 repeats the same idea slightly different, saying the vision pertains to "for at the time appointed the end shall be." That rules out the era of Antiochus Epiphanes (175-164 BC) entirely. His era was not the time of the end. - Those who argue that there is no verb relationship between Daniel 8:14 and Leviticus 16 are right, but there is a noun relationship. The word `qodesh' used in Daniel 8:14 is the very word used in Leviticus 16 seven times, the perfect number (4720, qodesh; see Lev. 16:2,3,16,17,20,23,27 - confirmed by CIAS), for the `Day of Atonement' cleansing of the sanctuary. Therefore, when a Hebrew reader read what Daniel wrote, there was one thing that popped into his mind, namely the great day of atonement cleansing of the sanctuary.
Question: But why did Daniel not use the same word for `cleansing' that is used in Leviticus?
Answer: Because the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is much more momentous than any cleansing of an earthly sanctuary and, therefore, required a dedicated, special word, i.e. , `tsadaq'. The cleansing of the sanctuary in 1844 is the cleansing that brings into view a cosmic scale, the wrapping up of the plan of redemption. That is good news.
Question: Why was the sacrifice in the sanctuary not the end but the beginning of the sanctuary service?
Answer (important): After the sacrifice there was the ceremony, placing the blood upon the horns of the altar, not only in the outer court, but in the holy place. Of a certainty the cross is central. Without the sacrifice NOTHING else is possible. But the cross BEGINS the process of atonement. After all that is what this whole thing is about -- atonement. All aspects of the services do not stop at the cross for if they did, why and where is there our advocate before the Father? Why does the Book of Hebrews talk in so much detail about what happens AFTER the cross? Why, if the cross is all there is, does Jesus become our High Priest, after the order of Melchizidek? Why do we need a High Priest, AFTER the cross?
This is why. The cross begins a process, that does not end until the final destruction of evil AFTER the 1000 years, the Millennium. [The judgment of the wicked, Rev. 20:4-6; Luke 22:30; 1.Cor. 6:2.]
But it is Christ's supreme sacrifice along with the fact that He lived in the flesh without spot or blemish that gave Him the right to confer upon all who would accept--that same perfection. To be clothed in His righteousness.
But just HOW is this accomplished? As in the OT sanctuary service, we need a high priest. We cannot plead our own case. Of course the difference now is that Christ is all at once, our sacrifice, our High Priest and our Intercessor (Eph. 5:2; Hebr. 2:17; Isa. 59:16). The one who pleads our hopeless case before the throne of God.
Question: Why is this still necessary, even after the perfect sacrifice has been accomplished?
Answer: Because we have an adversary who accuses us before the Father day and night (1.Peter 5:8). Satan claims that we have no right to live with the Father, because we are sinners, 2.Cor. 5:17-19; Isa. 42:21. And Satan goes through the litany of our sins, (Rev. 12:10). And there we are, standing before the throne (not literally but by our records). But as the Father looks upon us He sees only the perfect virtue of His only Son. We are arrayed in His fine linen, clean and white without spot or wrinkle, Eph. 5:27; Hebr. 9:14; 1.Peter 1:19. If Jesus stopped at the cross we would all be lost trying to present our case before the Father.
And looking upon this scene is the whole of the unfallen worlds. They are looking to see the vindication of God's decision to expel Satan from heaven and doom him to eternal destruction (Jer. 29:23; 42:5; Mt. 24:14).
There is much that happens beyond the cross, but the cross made it all possible. Except the cross would have been meaningless without Christ's perfect life. For He could have been crucified, but not resurrected. So beyond the cross is the resurrection. And beyond the resurrection is the trial and final judgement. God in His loving kindness lets us know these truths so we will realize what it takes to become ready for Christ's Second Coming.

[1500] We believe that Paul wrote the Book of Hebrews as also testified to by Ellen White. She wrote, "Paul wrote to these brethren as "saints in Christ Jesus;" but he was not writing to those who were perfect in character. He wrote to them as men and women who were striving against temptation and who were in danger of falling. He pointed them to "the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep." He assured them that "through the blood of the everlasting covenant" He will "make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ." Phil. 1:1; Hebrews 13:20, 21. {MH 167.2; See also MB 71.2}

[1510] It may help the reader to better understand that phrase "By the which will we are . . ." of Hebr. 10:10, as it is given in the KJV, to point out what it sounds like in other translations. Sometimes, when reading it, it is not quite like we talk today. The word "will" has nothing to do with: `I, you, he, she will,' it is a noun. It means our will where our willpower resides, by whose "will", namely Christ's. [Hebr. 10:26-30 is a warning against future apostasy.]

[1710] The time of trouble commences when probation closes. We read, "And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake." Rev. 8:3-5.
These verses describe the work of angels in bringing our prayers for forgiveness to the attention of God. Here we learn that at some point, no more prayers and incense will be offered upon the golden altar, because the censer will be cast into the earth, which will cause much trouble on earth. This period corresponds to the close of probation and the period of the seven plagues. Shortly before Jesus returns, there will be a time when no more prayers for forgiveness will be accepted by God, and there will be no more changing of loyalties from one side to the other. All decisions will be made, and they will be final. Surely this is the most serious time that has ever been known in all of earth's history. It is the time when we have learned not to rely on our feelings at all, just on faith. Right now we may know that God is not waiting for more evil to occur, more papal announcements, He is waiting for His special people to be sealed to claim them as His own.

[1720] Please notice that we are talking about sinless (blameless) living, not sinlessness or perfectionism. Sinless living has to do with reproducing Christ's character of selfless love in sinful flesh, our disordered human organism. This `holy living' (mentally and practically) or process produces no change in our inherited nature; that nature will not be changed until the Second Coming. But it is also true, that no one can force us to sin. But we are forgetful, and creatures of habits which have not yet come under control, and so we realize that it is an uphill battle (Eph. 6:10-18). Our only hope is the grace of God and that He knows our heart. So we read these words, "But those who are waiting to behold a magical change in their characters without determined effort on their part to overcome sin, will be disappointed. We have no reason to fear while looking to Jesus, no reason to doubt but that He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto Him (Hebr. 7:25); but we may constantly fear lest our old nature will again obtain the supremacy, that the enemy shall devise some snare whereby we shall again become his captives (2.Tim. 2:26). We are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of His good pleasure (Phil. 2:12,13).
We are to grow daily in spiritual loveliness (Hebr. 3:13). We shall fail often in our efforts to copy the divine pattern. We shall often have to bow down to weep at the feet of Jesus, because of our shortcomings and mistakes; but we are not to be discouraged; we are to pray more fervently, believe more fully, and try again with more steadfastness to grow into the likeness of our Lord. As we distrust our own power, we shall trust the power of our Redeemer, and render praise to God, who is the health of our countenance, and our God.
By beholding we are to become changed (2.Cor. 3:18); and as we meditate upon the perfections of the divine Model, we shall desire to become wholly transformed, and renewed in the image of His purity. It is by faith in the Son of God that transformation takes place in the character, and the child of wrath becomes the child of God." {AG 302.3-5; Ephesians chapter 1.}

[1844] Please pardon me when this sounds redundant; however, it is close to what we experience in our world today every day and may serve as a good example of dying daily to self. The example I like to use is how to handle traffic because in those minutes or hours people's patience is taxed extremely often and we must guard to let the Holy Spirit not leave our side as we move about. It may help to think of the people around you as your loved family members and when things happen, always follow the golden rule for all 10 commandments are easily trespassed in those situations.

[2000] German Theologian Ernst Troeltsch (1865-1923), `The Social Teaching of the Christian Church', coined the word "cult", defining it as `Any spiritual oriented group or movement that was neither a church nor a sect', later to be altered into any group advocating `curious and unconventional belief and behavior.' Probably the closest Bible term may be the word `heathen'. A `heathen' was anyone not believing in the Creator God. The Bible recognizes only two religions, churches or world views, true and false, faith in God or adherence to Satan; it does not recognize a middle ground. Thus, the above definitions on cult are misleading and apparently tailored to please large religious systems as the RCC, Islam, Hindhus, Buddhists and the like. `Doomsday' religions are frequently considered in the above referenced concept of `cult', however, what is not being said is, that all Christian religions have a doomsday in their theology. Some just preach it more than others. Why? Because the Bible teaches a definite end of all civilizations in this world at the Appearing of the Lord God of Heaven. That is a non-negotiable event still in the not too distant future. The latest doomsday time setter appears to be Harold Camping who teaches that Jesus will return on May 28, 2011, on the basis of ill conceived and complicated mathematics only he really understands. One might conclude, well, as long as someone sets a date, and the Bible says it is futile, Jesus will never be able to come, for then some date will be correct. ... When Jesus comes no one will think of the date setters, all eyes will be riveted to the sky.

[2005] So they say, `Oh you Adventists, you made this up, this teaching of yours on the sanctuary to hide your ambarassment when Christ did not come in 1844.' What is our answer? Well, thousands and thousands of all Protestant denominations followed the call and were waiting for Jesus to come in October 1844. None of them were Seventh day Adventists. They were of all Protestant denominations of the time. God, having given the signs of the great earthquake, the moon turning its color as if it was blood and the meteroite shower of 1833, were certainly very impressive and undeniable. It caused everybody to look up to the sky. They heard what Miller and his fellow clerics preached and they believed. But then 1844 passed and Christ had not come. That is called a test of who really is a part of God's people. Thousands abandoned ship. It was now evident that they had only joined for the heavenly journey, because of the promised blessings and because of fear. They did not truly love the Lord with all their heart. Merely some 50 people clung to their faith and followed through. So it is today. There may perhaps be a handful compared to the billions on earth who will follow through and be counted among God's people when the time of trouble comes. Why? Because churches preach falsehoods today. They preach they will be raptured out of this world before the time of trouble. Daniel knew that God's people will not be raptured from the world, its problems and persecutions, but out of it. Out of the middle of it, when they are happening, Daniel 12:1. - Lesson to learn, beware of sermonizers who do not substantiate each doctrine and viewpoint with scripture and let it decide the truth (see also here on the rapture).

[2200] "By His obedience to all the commandments of God, Christ wrought out a redemption for men. This was not done by going out of Himself to another, but by taking humanity unto Himself. Thus Christ gave to humanity an existence out of Himself. To bring humanity into Christ, to bring the fallen race into oneness with divinity, is the work of redemption. Christ took human nature that men might be one with Him as He is one with the Father, that God may love man as He loves His only-begotten Son, that men may be partakers of the divine nature, and be complete in Him." {1SM 250.3}

[2300] When it comes to food, this is true, `You are what you digest.' God, who created man in His image, created our organs and how they are to work together and keep us in a healthy state. God also created foods for us, and no, everything we see or take an interest in is not good for food. Violating God's health laws causes disease. "... in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured." Jer. 46:11. Eating unhealthily upsets the fine balance of a healthy human organism. Disease is the body's way of trying to go back to a healthy state. First of all we must allow for the 8 laws of health to be allowed to do their work. They are: 1) pure air, 2) sunlight, 3) temperance, 4) rest, 5) exercise, 6) proper diet, 7) use of water, 8) trust in divine power. We must educate ourselves on healthy foods. According to medical information, the main disease causing items include cholesterol, various poisons introduced in the body in the guise of drinks or foods, to name a few. We must know that cholesterol comes only from animal sources. If it has a liver or is a mushroom, it has cholesterol. Is that true? Yes! Plants do not contain any cholesterol. (Mushrooms are not plants.) Question: Does avocado contain good cholesterol? No! Does coconut contain good cholsterol? No! However, when it comes to food intake, moderation is always the guide to live by. Too much of anything is too much. Walk, not run or jump, every day for one hour will take care of your health needs with respect to many ailments - hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, etc. Abstain from flesh foods of any kind and enrich your diet with high fiber content foods. Any type of tea is poisonous. It contains many poisons. Do not drink tea. One time a man showed his hands. All his finger nails were gone. He did not realize that his tea drinking was the cause. The same is true for ridges in finger nails. Tea causes iron and/or mineral deficiencies. Diet influences Type I and II diabetes from birth on up. Man is the only being which drinks the milk of another species. No animal will drink the milk of another specie in nature. We ought not to maintain a culture of milk drinking. May this be enough for now.

[2340] Being a true disciple, true follower of Jesus Christ is the highest calling. Being a follower of Christ implies imitating Him in all our living, thinking, wishing and aspirations. Many have a mistaken idea what a Christian really is and how a firm religious experience is obtained; much less do they understand the qualifications that God requires his preachers, teachers and dedicated followers to posses. What are the dangers we encounter? They are the wiles of Satan. Many have occasionally a flight of feeling, which gives them the impression that they are indeed the children of God. This dependence upon impressions is one of the special deceptions of Satan. Those who are used to that sensation make their religion a matter of circumstances. What is needed is `living by principle.' We are to seek a daily experience in the things of God, advance daily, in practicing self-denial, cheerfully bearing the cross and following Christ. Thinking through what we read in God's Word, pleading with him, that is what elevates our living and motivates our affections. Neglecting to pattern our life like this will surely result in a lessening in religious interests. It will lead to carelessness and laziness in matters which should be our principles. We must take the words of Jesus to heart where He says, "Woe unto you lawyers! for you have taken away the key of knowledge: you entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in you hindered." (Lk. 11:52) It is contrition and faith and love that enable the soul to receive wisdom, evidence, from heaven. Faith working by love is the key of knowledge, and everyone that loveth "knoweth God." 1 John 4:7. To retain a pure and undefiled religion makes it necessary that we become workers, persevering in our efforts. We must do the work around us which no one else can do. None but ourselves can work out our salvation which the Lord has left for us to do. We are to experience conversion to God every day. This conversion is not completed until we attain to perfection of Christian character. A full preparation for the finishing touch of immortality when Christ comes.

[2400] The theologically loaded Hebrews 9:11-12 reads as follows showing the Greek:
" Christos [Christ] de paragenomenos [but, (in the past before 65 AD) having-come (or) having-appeared] archiereus [highpriest] ton genomenon agathon [of-the to-come (or) that-are-to-come good things], dia tes meizonos [through the greater] kai teleioteras skenes [and more-perfect tent] ou cheiropoietou [not hand-made], tout estin ou tautes tes ktiseos [this is not of-this the creation],"

A Translation of 9:11: "But Christ, having appeared (or) become a high priest of the good things that are yet to come, because of the greater and still more perfect tent [Paul did not want to insult the Jew's respect for their temple], not made by men's hands nor of this present world,"

The Greek of 9:12:

"Oude di haimatos [Nor through blood] tragon kai moschon [of-goats and of-calves], dia de tou idiou haimatos [through but the (His) own blood] eisetthen ephapax [entered once] eis to hagia [into the first apartment], aionian lutrosin heuramenos [eternal redemption having-found]."

A Translation of 9:12

"nor by means of blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered once into the first apartment, having found eternal redemption."

Studying the key words - Explaining why Prof. Martin differed with SdAs and the Solution.

I) Past tense: In the past (before Paul wrote this in 65 AD) ("paragenomenos") Christ became (`paragenomenos') our high priest, and now ("ton genomenon agathon"), in our present and future great things are coming to you and me as a result! Part of it is the present mediation of Christ (4:14-16, 7:25-26, 8:1-2, 9:24) on our behalf, another part is the fact that we may in faith come to Him and receive its benefits right now (4:14-16, 10:19-22). Yet another part is the promise that it can remove our sins (8:10, 9:14, 10:16), and then there is the final blessing that He will soon return as a result and take us unto Himself (9:28, 10:35-37, 10:35-37, 11:39-40). The consistent message of Hebrews is a PRESENT mediation and PRESENT victories over sin, not a past or a future mediation and victory over sin as the Evangelicals teach.
II) "Tragenkai moschon" - In 9:12,13, and 19, Paul writes about the blood of bulls or calves and goats. Desmond Ford made a big issue of that one, since goat and bull blood is used on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:3,5-6,11), therefore he claims that Hebrews 9 is speaking about the second apartment. But if you will check, you will find that bull, calf, and goat blood (bull: Lev 4:3.8:2, 9:2-3; bull and goat blood: Lev 4 and 9) was regularly used in the daily service as well (goat, kid, or ram blood was the preferred offering for the people in the daily services: Lev 1:2-3,10; 3:6-7,12; 4:2-3,13-14,22-23,27-28; 5:6-7; 6:6; 8:2,14,18,22; 9:2-4), and bull blood was only used in the Day of Atonement for the sins of the priest himself (Lev 16:3,6,11).
III) "Eis ta Hagia" - In 9:12, Paul declares triumphantly that Jesus had entered the first apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary, NOT as Drs. Canon and Martin claimed, "into heaven". The Greek word for heaven is `ouranoi', which can hardly be confused with `hagia.' Therefore, Christ entered into the heavenly sanctuary - the only place where there was a sanctuary after the destruction of Jerusalem.
IV) "Ephapax" - This word means 'once" or "one time." It can also mean "once for all." Prof. Walter Martin made an issue of this point, as does Desmond Ford. We were told, "Jesus entered once into the most holy place, according to Hebrews 9:12 in the NIV! He never did go into the first apartment!" Lesson to learn: On these issues we need to follow the received Greek text, not the various English translations some of which follow the Greek text accurately (we mentioned a few above) on this subject but not all.
But let us take the passage and examine patiently what it says in the Greek: "He entered once into the first apartment." (Hebr. 9:12) There is no threat in those words to our historic teachings. In 31 AD Christ did indeed ONCE enter the first apartment (the `hagia') as we just read (III), there to begin His 18-century ministry on our behalf (since Christ is both, the sacrifice that was slain and the priest). (And we recall that `ta hagia' is the first apartment according to the definitions.) Later, in 1844, He would enter once into the second apartment (the `hagia hagin'), there to complete His work in the heavenly Sanctuary. Paul likes to compare Christ's perfect, better, greaterness with that of the earthly type. The earthly priests had to continually go into the first apartment, but Christ only went in ONCE. We heartily agree.
V) "Aionian lutrosin" - "Eternal redemption" is ours through Jesus Christi. We say "Praise the Lord!" Through the work of Christ, we can have eternal redemption. On this point, we can all agree. "Lutrosin" comes from "lutroo" - to redeem, which comes from "lutron," or "ransom." There is no problem here.
VI) "Heuramenos" - (A) Here is the last key word in these two verses, and it is an important one. "Heurisko" means "to find." Luke 9:12- KJV says: "Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the towns and country. . and get victuals." - The Greek word for "get" here is from "heurisko," "to find." The disciples were saying, "Send the people away, that they may go look for food, and after searching find some."
"To find" in the Greek means to obtain as a result of a search. Jesus came to earth and then to heaven on our behalf, - and He has found the means or pathway to eternal life for every one of us! But this does not mean we automatically POSSESS that eternal life as soon as He found it, nor does It mean that He automatically GAVE it to us at that time, or that we have NO PART to do in receiving it.
(B) "Heuramenos" is the first aorist middle (indirect) participle of "Heurtsko," and, in the middle voice it means to `procure, get, obtain.' The Atonement is the means by which you and I can inherit eternal life. On Calvary, Christ obtained that means; in the Sanctuary above. He gives it to us individually. It is as simple as that. Let no one presume that Hebrews 9:12 teaches an automatic Calvinistic giving of eternal life to beings who have not already been born and do not want it, or a once-saved-always-saved person, such as Martin's own Southern Baptist Church believed. Christ obtained it; He offers to share it with you and me. By His grace He enables us to cling to Him, so we may obey Him and become like Him. Never, never should we imagine that sinners who cling to their sins automatically have the eternal redemption that Christ will share with His faithful ones.

The Five Promises
And that completes our study of Hebrews 9:11-12. Notice that the great announcement of Christ's entrance into the first apartment, as given in 9:12 was earlier stated in 8:2, promised in 9:8, and repeated again in 9:24 and 10:19: So 5 times in the Book of Hebrews we are told that Christ had, prior to 65 AD, entered the First Apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary for us! That is a great truth to share widely! "Hagia" is in every one of those five passages and that is why we read repeatedly the message in the Book of Hebrews which says, `something ... greater' or `something ... better'.

And the purpose of it all is to put away our sins from us and perfect our characters (10:1-17; 11:39-40) And at His Second Advent, He will return for His own-who have no sin (9:28).

[2430] So we ask again, `Briefly stated, what qualifies a sinner for salvation?' A good Bible answer is this one, "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many." Rom. 5:15. We may know that as long as Satan accuses us (Rev. 12:10), Christ our mediator is accomplishing His work in behalf of sinners in the sanctuary (Rev. 1:5,6) so we may be "in Christ". In fact, Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are on our side, the side of believers in the controversy. With such a defense our daily accuser Satan has no chance to win any cases. Divinity saves us from a life of sin, to a life of doing good works, Mt. 25:31-36. If that was not the case, or if we would not care to present ourselves before the Cross to accept His sacrifice His great salvation for us, those sins we committed in ignorance would still sear our conscience (2.Tim. 4:2b) for we cannot stand before God without a mediator and because the work of atonement cleanses our conscience of sin, from guilt and condemnation. That is the message we learn from Hebrews 10:1,4,11,12. Therefore, when we accept Christ as our Saviour who sought us all our life, when He then comes in the clouds on that last day of this old world's history we will not react by running away from Him because we think He is coming to punish us. No, we will be able to stand and welcome Him with open arms.

[2455] For an answer to the often asked question, "how can one reconcile the work of Jesus as the gentle high priest in the epistle to the hebrews and as the conquering judge and general in the book of revelation", go here.

[2490] See GC, p. 327.3.]

[2540] How is the year 1844 as the year of the beginning of a judgment derived? The Bible makes it clear that God has appointed a day. We read, "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness according to the law of liberty (James 2:12) by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." Acts 17:31. On that future day, Paul preached, would Jesus Christ judge the world in complete objective righteousness based on the heavenly records (Job 16:19), he means to say. How that specific date is actually calculated we present here and here.

[2545] Those who follow Christ by faith in the change of His High Priestly ministry appreciate three distinct and unique truths:
(1) The perpetuity of the law of God, including the holy sabbath. The true "fulfillment of the law" is agape (Romans 13:10) because it produces heart-obedience through the atonement. This is the unique aspect of `righteousness by faith' that is ministered only in the Most Holy Apartment ministry.
(2) The mortality of the soul, or if you prefer, the non-immortality of the soul. When you believe in the immortality, apart from clearly comprehending the truth of the nature of man it becomes impossible to appreciate what happened on the cross of Calvary. Thus the true motivation to holy living is weakened, and `righteousness by faith' is nullified.
(3) The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is the final Day of Atonement ministry (Hebr. 9:22,23). We should learn from this that the cleansing of the soul temple and the cleansing of the sanctuary in heaven are not a simultaneous experience. The judgment and the cleansing of the sanctuary of Daniel 8:14 clearly take place in heaven, but the cleansing of the soul temple of the heart and mind takes place on earth in the human life through the work of the Holy Spirit in the new birth experience and then through the work of sanctification. This ensures the ultimate demonstration of `righteousness by faith' in the hearts and lives of those who believe the truth.
These three "pillars" of truth support the SdA Church (CWE pp. 30,31). They embrace a complete message that can prepare a people for the return of Christ. But apart from understanding the 1888 message, the verity of truth therein necessarily eludes us. As surely as night follows day, the pioneers' confidence in the imminent return of Christ consequently fades away; we lose their vision and their star disappears.

[2590] This `cosmic' scope, I believe, is hinted at in this quote, "In the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease." In A.D. 31, three and a half years after His baptism, our Lord was crucified. With the great sacrifice offered upon Calvary, ended that system of offerings which for four thousand years had pointed forward to the Lamb of God. Type had met antitype, and all the sacrifices and oblations of the ceremonial system were there to cease." {GC 327.3} For many years I believed the 4000 years were just an approximation. Only recently I was led to see this as not something given in vagueness but as something certain. It appears God gave Satan at the time of the Fall a thousand years for a day, letting him show the universe what it would be like when sin reigns. He has 6000 years to show that. In the middle, in 31 AD, after more than half of the time was up, Christ offered himself. Today we have almost reached the end of those 6000 years, by 2031, at which time it very well may mean that the reign of sin will cease to exist to usher in the Millennium, a thousand years of rest from Satan's attacks for the redeemed in heaven - a sabbatical Millennium. And so we remember that God will cut things short in righteousness for affairs on earth are quickly going out of hand today, but we do not know the hour. Man's wickedness is running in high gear and life on this planet is not survivable. We must come to terms and give God's will all of our attention now. - It appears the rulers of this world know that man poisons and murders himself out of existence. Satan drives them on to accelerate it and have just a few million left. But God will intervene, and bring sin to its end but not the repentend sinner who accepted His free salvation. [Jesus said, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." Matth. 25:13. Is that prophetic time? A day for a year? If so we don't know the exact year or hour (month). But we may have a guess of when it is near, Matth. 24:33.]

[2597] "All have sufficient light to see their sins and errors, if they desired to do so, and earnestly wished to put them away, and to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. God is too pure to behold iniquity. A sin is just as grievous in his sight in one case as in another. No exception will be made by an impartial God. If individuals pass over and cover up their sins, they will not be prospered of God. They cannot advance in the divine life, but will become darker and darker until the light of heaven will be entirely withdrawn." {RH, May 5, 1885 par. 7}
We should realize that secret sins are known sins. They are known to the person whose secret they are. They are not unconscious sins. When Jesus comes he will make atonement for all sins of ignorance, things, that you did not know. But known sins must be confessed before him and let go. God is very careful in the way he deals with his people. He is very loving and very kind, but he cannot save us in sins. "I pray to God that this may be the experience of each one of us, and that in the great day of God we all may be glorified together."--MS 49, 1909. {6BIO 197.4}

[2600] Some take comfort in what Paul wrote, "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (Rom. 5:11), understanding that to mean that the atonement is all finished, finished at the cross. But what does it really mean? When did Paul write this? Well he wrote this between 57-58 A.D. Jesus had already ascended up to heaven many years before and, according to the big picture, entered the heavenly Sanctuary and begun applying the benefits of the atonement individually, which included reconciliation with God and forgiving, enabling grace. But its concluding benefits could not be made available until the investigative judgment or pre-advent judgment, which began in 1844, is completed. We also ought to know that the word "atonement" in Rom. 5:11 is derived from the Greek word "katallage", which means `reconciliation.' - And so we should remember that the person who is "in Christ" has grace and active works because of that grace. Through the merits of Christ, both are available to us today. Moment by moment a Christian can (1) receive the forgiving, enabling grace of Christ, and (2) hand-in-hand with Christ, he can actively work to do good and defend the right - for the second part is half the reason the grace was given him "in Christ." Our God wants to empower us to live right, think right, be right!
Soon Jesus Christ comes again as Lord of Lords and King of Kings. All those who ever professed His name will have been judged and His reward assigned to each case during the judgment, 1.Peter 4:17. When Christ was on earth in His prophetic phase as the Messiah, He entered after that on his priestly phase in the sanctuary in heaven, and will come again in His Kingly phase. The prophet Daniel teaches the pre-Advent judgment as follows:

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." Dan. 7:9,10.

"Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." Dan. 7:22.

"But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion (the little horn power), to consume and to destroy it unto the end.
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Dan. 7:26,27.

[2650] When it comes to being saved out of this world of sin, what part does profession of faith play? Basically the Bible lets us know that, in order to be saved, we must experience true conversion. Profession of faith is not enough if the life is not in harmony with God's precepts. This world has many who suppose they are converted, these truly are converted if they bear the test of character presented in God's Word. - - That is why God's true church is far larger, far older, and far holier than most people can imagine for God's criteria are not of based on rigid human understanding but on the heart of each who has confessed Christ. Those who never heard of Christ, are measured by a different standard administered by the wooing of the Holy Spirit. Those who heed the pleading of the Holy Spirit to live a righteous life by faith in Jesus, paying attention to the still, small voice to live in harmony with fellow man will be counted as heirs to the kingdom and have their hope and joy for the better life fulfilled for we read,

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference." Rom. 3:22.

"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him." Rom. 10:12.

". . . for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10b.

The Day of Atonement therefore pointed to the consummation of the ages. It was the only time of the year God required His people to keep a solemn day of fasting and prayer. No strong drink was allowed to be consumed and the woman were required to remove all their jewelry. This feast day pointed to the moment in time when the great controversy between Christ and Satan would finally be brought to an end.

Besides the vindication of the saints in the Pre-Advent Judgment, the purpose of the Day of Atonement is to vindicate God's holy and righteous name and eradicate the sin problem before they can see God face to face, Ez. 20:35.[02] When the Day of Atonement is accomplished in reality, Satan and his angels, along with all who refused the gift of salvation in Christ, will be destroyed forever. God will then create a new heaven and a new earth for the saints.

In this study, we will examine the significance of the two goats in the main ceremony that took place on the Day of Atonement. These two goats - one representing Christ and the other Lucifer - pointed to the end of the great controversy between Christ and Satan. This controversy began in heaven when Lucifer rebelled against God and became Satan (see Rev. 12:7-9).

23:27 "Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall _________________, and __________________ made by fire unto the Lord.
23:28 And ye shall do __________ in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God.
23:29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
23:30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
23:31 Ye shall do _____________________: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
23:32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall _________________: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath."

May you be present on that final Day of Atonement!

Respond please:

2 [02] Through Isaiah God had declared of this nation: "Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that are corrupters; they have forsaken the Lord; they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward." Isa. 1:4 "Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men; therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?" Isa. 29:13-15. {ST, January 3, 1900 par. 5}
The One who had spoken through Isaiah was now speaking to His people face to face. He was seeking to weed out the traditions and the false doctrines which had become mingled with the pure principles of God's Word. The scribes and Pharisees had accused Him and His disciples of transgression because they did not observe the traditions of the elders. Christ now showed them that it is not that which enters into the mouth that defiles the soul, but that which proceeds from the heart, and that by exalting the traditions of men above the law, they were polluting their own souls and the souls of others. Calling the multitude, He said, "Hear, and understand; not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." {ST, January 3, 1900 par. 6}
The teachings of Christ were just what the nation needed to save them from eternal ruin. He taught them pure requirements. He showed that no man who has not first offered himself to God as a living sacrifice, who is not a fit temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell in, is fit for the service of God. He taught that purification of life and character could be obtained only through Christ. They could discern heavenly things only by becoming partakers of the divine nature, by laying hold of the light and power and knowledge that He was bringing within their reach. {ST, January 3, 1900 par. 11}
Were Jesus personally teaching in our world today, we should hear from His lips the same truths. If we will submit to the working of the Holy Spirit, God will make us partakers of the divine nature. Only by walking according to the commandments of God can we be clean.

[10] There are three aspects of sin, which need to be resolved before God can bring an end to the sin problem:

1. Guilt (James 2:10)
2. Punishment (Hebr. 10:29; Mt. 25:46), and
3. Responsibility (explained below)

[15] The Scapegoats Discussed: During the Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement Ceremony. Since we know that the antetypical, prophetic Day of Atonement service takes place in heaven during the age of the seventh church of `Laodikeia', the Greek name (Laodicea in English), which means `judging the people', [lao means people and dicea from `dikas' means `judge, right, justice] - thus `judging the people', we must always consider the `judgment' in the account of the two goats to help us understand the role each one of them plays on that day. In the days of Moses and Aaron, the idea of `judgment' is demonstrated in Leviticus 16 more indirectly by letting us know that the people were considered, or judged if you will, if they followed the ceremony closely and repented and confessed their sins, or if they regarded it lightly and were cut off from the efficacy of the sacrifice. In other words, each Israelite was either saved or "cut off", Lev. 23:29. In the Bible "cut off" occurs 189 times and means the first time death, Gen. 9:11. The second time it means to be expunged from the congregation or family of God's people because it constitutes the breaking of the covenant, Gen. 17:14. Being `cut off', therefore, was a serious thing, but in the second instance we are not told directly that it meant death to the sinner. We suppose, a sinner could consider the meaning of the service closer, change his mind, and in the next year be on the right side of the Lord. However, in the time of the end, Christ applies His blood only once. There is no second chance anymore. - On Yom Kippur a substitute (the sacrificed goat) was accepted in the sinner's behalf; but the sin was not canceled by the blood of the victim; but a means was provided by which the sin was transferred to the sanctuary. By the offering of blood the sinner acknowledged the authority of the law, confessed his guilt in transgression, and expressed his desire for pardon through faith in a Redeemer to come; but he was not yet entirely released from the condemnation of the law. That release was typified as follows. On the Day of Atonement the high priest, having taken an offering from the congregation, went into the Most Holy Place with the blood of this (sin) offering, and sprinkled it upon the Mercy Seat, directly over the law, to make satisfaction for the claims of the law. The sin offering pointed to Christ as a sacrifice, and the high priest represented Christ as a mediator. Then, in his character of mediator, the high priest took the sins upon himself and bore them from (out of) the sanctuary; placing his hands upon the head of the scapegoat, he confessed over him all these sins, thus in figure transferring them from himself to the live goat. The goat then bore them away, and they were regarded as forever separated from the people.
Now, as anciently the sins of the people were by faith placed upon the sin offering and through its blood transferred, in figure, to the earthly sanctuary, so in the new covenant the sins of the repentant are by faith placed upon Christ and transferred, in fact, to the heavenly sanctuary. And as the typical cleansing of the earthly sanctuary was accomplished by the removal of the sins by which it had been polluted, so the actual cleansing of the heavenly is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins which are there recorded. But before this can be accomplished, there must be an examination of the books of record to determine who, through repentance of sin in faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His atonement. This is the work of the Investigative Judgment.
On what Biblical basis can we say that the live goat or scapegoat typified Satan, the author of sin, upon whom the sins of the truly penitent will finally be placed?
Moses wrote, when the high priest, by virtue of the blood of the Lord's goat sin offering, removed the sins from the sanctuary, he placed them upon the scapegoat, Lev. 16:9,10,15,21,22! The scapegoat then was led into the wilderness (not in the presence of God), since Satan and his angels have a part in every sin ever committed in God's universe. As the author and instigator, he carries his part of the responsibility. That is why we read, "his tail drew the third part of the stars (his now evil angel followers) of heaven, and cast them to the earth" (Rev. 12:4).
The lingering question is, `Who is our sin bearer, Christ or Satan? Did Christ bear our sins only for a while, before they were transferred to Satan? How do we answer such questions?
Answer: We remember that what was finished at the cross were the oblations and sacrifices, Dan. 9:27. But of the goats we are told that both had to be without blemish, they both qualified for the sin offering (Lev. 16:5), and the only way that one was the Lord's goat and the other not, was, because lots were cast to determine the will of God.
After the casting of lots the two goats are not interchangeable, if they were, there would be no need to cast lots - one of them died. The services in the sanctuary can represent different aspects of what Christ would do: such as the being the lamb (or Lord's goat) as well as the priest, the bread, etc., but we infer from the casting of lots that two aspects of the imagery - the sacrificial goat and the scapegoat - do not and cannot represent each other. Like in the daily service the sacrificed lamb represented Christ, so too the sacrificed Lord's goat, since forgiveness requires the shedding of blood (Hebr. 9:22), that represents Christ. It is plain now that Christ can not be the scapegoat the blood of which was not shed. This imagery is reflected in the separation of the sheep from the goats metaphor used by Jesus in describing the judgment, Matth. 25:31-34. Thus God gave us this living portrait of His gift, Jesus Christ. And it took two animals (goats) to do it. What are the parallels? (a) The Lord's goat was without blemish, as Jesus was without sin. (b) The Lord's goat was the blood sacrifice, Jesus' blood was shed. (c) The Lord's goat died at the hand of the Priest, Jesus said "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (Joh. 10:17,18). That means, Jesus was himself the victim as well as the priest.

What are the parallels?

1. The Lord's goat was without blemish -- Jesus was sinless, he is our, Israel's, sin bearer, Hebr. 4:14; 9:28; 1.John 3:5. That the Lord's goat represents Jesus is demonstrated in Leviticus because the blood of this particular goat is sprinkled on the altar and the mercy seat.
   
2. The casting of lots exemplifies our choosing of Christ or Satan in our daily living, Josh. 5:24.
   
3. There is nothing in the sanctuary that appeals to unrepentant sinners, therefore, they are already condemned.
   
4. The scapegoat without blemish (Lucifer was created perfect) only until sins transferred to its head - - Satan is ultimately to blame, Rev. 20:7-15. Leviticus supplies internal evidence that this goat cannot also represent Christ since its blood was not shed and it was not sprinkled in the sanctuary.
   
5. The slaying of the victim did not make the atonement since it was the sinner who slew the victim (Lev. 4:1-4, 13-15). After that the Priest took the blood and made atonement (Lev. 4:5-12, 16-21).
   
6. Jesus Christ was the appointed High Priest to make atonement, he certainly could not have acted in that capacity until after his resurrection, and we have no record of his for doing anything on earth after his resurrection, which could be called atonement.
   
7. The atonement was made in the sanctuary, calvary was not such a place.
   
8. The scapegoat had all sins of Israel confessed on it (Lev. 16:20-22) before it is led into the wilderness - - since the sacrificed goat represents Christ, this confession of sins on the scapegoat must be the final wrath of God upon the devil. The uninhabited wilderness must represent the millennium during which Satan is bound, not able to tempt anyone, and destroyed at the end.
   
9. The scapegoat presented before the Lord to make atonement with him - - at last Satan appears in the judgment to receive his sentence for his role to pass sin to everyone, Rev. 20:13,14; 21:8. [Death and hell - synonyms for Satan and his evil angels.]

This is God's chosen way how He deals with the sin problem. Christ died on the cross as the Savior of the world (John 4:42; 1.Peter 2:24; 1.John 3:5), but not all believe that Christ paid the price already and that we are accepted already if we just come home and follow in step with His great salvation. They must bear the punishment themselves.

[20] In other verses, Pharaoh is said to have hardened his own heart: "Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, did they not let the people go, that they might depart?" (1.Samuel 6:6).