The Sanctuary Pt. 17

DANIEL 8:14 -- The KJV reads "Unto two thousand and three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."
We have, therefore, associated this verse with the Day of Atonement, and have concluded that following the culmination of the 2300 days in 1844, the ministry of Christ would begin in the Heavenly Reality as prefigured in the type.
However, the Hebrew Masoretic text reads sadaq in the Niphal or passive form and means "to be justified or vindicated." (Gesenius)
It is obvious that should the Masoretic text stand without challenge, it would be difficult to associate Daniel 8:14 with Leviticus 16.
The Septuagint (LXX) a Greek translation of the Old Testament older than the manuscripts on which the Masoretic Hebrew text is based reads - "shall be cleansed" - using the future passive form of katharizo.
Here there is a connection with Leviticus 16 for the same word is used twice in verse 30, once as an infinitive, and once using the same passive form as in Daniel 8:14. The Douay Bible following the Latin word used in the Vulgate -- mundabitur - reads also, shall be cleansed."
How can the difference between the Hebrew text and the LXX and Vulgate translations of the Old Testament be reconciled in regard to Daniel 8:14?
Hebrew scholars have long held that the Hebrew portions of Daniel (1-2:4a; 8-12) were translated from Aramaic originals.
This hypothesis was confirmed by the studies of Zimmermann in 1938 and 1939. Building on this, Dr. H. Louis Ginsberg, Sabato Morais Professor of Bible at The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, stated the Aramaic for Daniel 8:14 would read - "the sanctuary will become clean (or be cleansed)"
He maintains that the Hebrew text which led to the Masoretic use of sadaq (to be justified) was a very poor rendering of the Aramaic by the translator.
(See his Studies in Daniel, pp. 41-42, 79-80) Thus in all three languages, the language in which Daniel wrote, and the Greek and Latin translations of that text, the KJV is confirmed.
Both the LXX and the Vulgate use the future passive - "the sanctuary shall be cleansed" - to render the thought of the Aramaic.
The end of the 2300 days in 1844, therefore marks the beginning of the process which shall end in a cleansed sanctuary.
Daniel 7 outlines the events to be fulfilled on earth during the Heavenly judgment before the Ancient of Days. A continuum is noted "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." (7:22)
We are now at the end of the period as outlined in Daniel 7. The devil would rob us of the certainty of the truth committed in sacred trust to the Advent Movement by seeking to destroy the fundamental pillars of the sanctuary doctrine as based in the shadowy types and prophecies of the Old Testament.
The simple refining of our perceptions of the truth leaves unmoved the basic foundation.
The Blending of the Light -- What relationship is,there between "the judgment was set" in Daniel 7, "the sanctuary shall be cleansed" in Daniel 8, and the typical Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16?
It should be obvious that there is a relationship between Daniel 7 and 8. The prophecies are parallel. When one understands the textual background for Daniel 8:14, and the parallel choice of words in the LXX between Daniel 8:14 and Leviticus 16:30, one can sense there is a relationship there. But what is the relationship between Daniel 7 and Leviticus 16?
This is not so obvious. Yet the sanctuary doctrine as understood by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the past decades stands or falls over this relationship. It is our failure to come to grips with this issue that has given cause for the assaults which the "new theology" advocates have made against the sanctuary teaching.
Our failure to recognize the distinct differences between the prophecy of Daniel 7 and the typical ritual of Leviticus 16 has not helped the cause of truth.
Daniel 7 does reveal a "judgment," definitely pre-Advent, before which the "little horn" power is arraigned.
This arraignment is before the assembled hosts of Heaven. (Dan. 7:9-10)
On the other hand, the typical services of the sanctuary were connected with a covenant. The covenant is primary; the services secondary.
The text in Hebrews does not say "The worldly sanctuary with its ordinances of divine service had also connected with it a covenant." (See Heb. 9:1)
{9:1} Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinancesof divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
It was the covenant which had "also" the sanctuary with its services.
Just so, Jesus as "the mediator of a better covenant" is also "a minister of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man." (See Heb. 8:6, 2)
{8:6} But now hath he obtained a moreexcellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of abetter covenant, which was established upon betterpromises.
{8:2}A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle,which the Lord pitched, and not man.
The "judgment" of Daniel 7 involves the whole problem of sin and the key players in that problem, while the shadowy ritual of the earthly sanctuary tells how a covenant people must relate to the provision for sin to escape the condemnation of the judgment.
It must be kept clearly in mind that the "little horn" of Daniel 7 is continued in symbolism in Revelation by the first "beast" of Chapter 13, and by the "woman in scarlet" in Chapter 17. Through these symbolisms, runs a continuous thread - "the dragon gave [the beast] his power, and his seat, and great authority." (Rev. 13:2) The final dictum upon "spiritual Babylon" is that "in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." (Rev. 18:4) The "little horn" stands in the judgment as the embodiment of all wickedness and the symbol of rebellion against God. "The man of sin" in II Thess. 2, another designation of the "little horn", is noted as "the Wicked." (ver.8) The Greek is anomos defined by Thayer as "he in whom all iniquity has as it were fixed its abode." (Greek-English Lexicon of the NT, p. 48)
In the book of Hebrews, the message which God speaks "unto us in a Son" (Heb.1:2 Gr.) is that having become "in all things like unto His bretheren that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest" (2:17), He is first "a son over His own house."(3:6) Then seated as "a priest upon His throne" (Zech. 6:13), He dispenses mercy and "grace to help in time of need." (4:16) This is His first apartment ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary.
But what happens when the judgment is set and the books are opened before the Ancient of Days? Here the ritual agenda of Leviticus 16 provides the detail. The first entry with blood into the Most Holy Place on the day of Atonement was by the High Priest with the blood of a bullock which was for himself and "for his house." Not only is Jesus "the Lord's goat" but He also "offered Himself." (Heb. 9:14)
{9:14} How much more shall theblood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offeredhimself without spot to God, purge your conscience fromdead works to serve the living God?
Thus the dual entry on the Day of Atonement with "cleansing blood."
The agenda of Leviticus further indicates that the atonement of the Most Holy Place is necessitated "because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins." (16:16) however, no blood of any sin offering ever reached the Most Holy Place during the yearly ritual, but the sins and transgressions of the children of Israel had been recorded in "the books."
What was to be done?
The judgment must begin where and over what sin began.
Sin began at the Throne of God and over the creation of man.
The creation plan intended man to be only "a little while inferior to the angels." (Heb. 2:7 margin)
But in sin man fell even lower than the "inferior" position. Now can God bring an end to sin, and carry out His original plan and none of the angelic host become jealous as did Lucifer?
The judgment is set in the presence of that assembled host. (Dan. 7:10) Jesus coming with His sacrifice asks not only pardon full and complete for His covenant people, but a seat upon His throne. Was His sacrifice sufficient to grant this request?
The next step of the agenda was the blood of the Lord's goat.
This was God's sacrifice. (See Gen. 22:8)
{22:8} And Abraham said, My son, Godwill provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so theywent both of them together
Here the lots had been cast, a choice had been made. Standing in the Court was the other goat, representing Azazel. Could God roll back on him the sins of His Son's "house"? Again the assembled host must respond, for they, too, had cast their lot, made their choice. Was the cost of Calvary sufficient so that God having paid the price could do with "sins" as He so chooses?
Another question must be settled. What about the "uncleanness" of the "children of Israel?" In the agenda of the ritual service, this was the last act of the atonement. {Lev. 16:19-20) Is the "decree" for the removal of the uncleanness then entered to be carried out at the time indicated in Daniel 7:13-14?
The second phase of the ritual agenda was concerning the registry on the horns of the Alter of Burnt Incense.
Here has been made during the year the record of corporate confession. In Daniel 7, none could be found for the "little horn." Of this "horn" under the symbolism of "Jezabel," Jesus declared, "I gave her space to repent ... and she repented not." (Rev. 2:21) the "horn" and all corporate bodies who have not repented during the time allotted for repentance are at this point in the judgment declared "found wanting."
In the time sequence of Daniel 7, this would occur just prior to the coming of the Son of man to the Ancient of Days to receive His kingdom of "saints" - holy ones made holy by His cleansing.
The agenda next indicates a third phase of judgment.
In the Levitical ritual, the final atonement involved a cleansing of the confession of guilt registered on the horns of the Altar in the court. Here in the daily service the individual only was involved. No blood was carried into the sanctuary recording the fact that confession had been made and the penalty paid. The common priest had eaten of the victim. He carried the record in himself. So likewise, Jesus as a common priest having in all things been "made like unto his brethren" offered the sacrifice of Himself and all who place their full dependence in Him are carried in Him. They do not come into judgment but pass from death into life. (See John 5:24, Gr.)
{5:24}Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, andbelieveth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, andshall not come into condemnation; but is passed from deathunto life.
In the typical ritual, the High Priest went in for the people, none even entered the court.
Having completed His work of cleansing, Jesus comes before the Ancient of Days to ask for His kingdom, and His people who have made a covenant with Him by sacrifice. And the Ancient of Days, declares, "Granted." All the host that witnessed the Judgment declare with a loud voice - "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." (Rev. 5:12)
The "agenda" of the Judgment as revealed in the shadowy type gives us a clue as to where we are in the stream of time. It is after the corporate phase, the individual cleansing begins. According to Jesus' own prophecy, the times or probation of the nations (corporate bodies) would end with the fulfilling of the sign spoken of in Luke 21:24. This has occurred. This projects for our thinking some interesting questions:
1) Is the "man clothed in linen" (Eze. 9:2-4) now sealing those among the professed house of Israel who have and are afflicting their souls, trusting not in their own works - doing "no work in that same day"? (Lev. 23:28) Do these become in the final hour "His own house" cleansed as represented by the mingled blood of the bullock and the Lord's goat at the Alter of the Court? Do these become marked with the mark of redemption, "the sign of the cross of Calvary"?
2) Has the "man in linen" reported back to the One on the Throne saying - "I have done as thou has commanded me." (Eze. 9:11) Are we at the time when from the Throne will come the command to the "man clothed in linen" to "take coals from between the cherubim" so as to do for His "marked" people as was done for Isaiah? "Eze. 10:1-2;
{10:1} Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament thatwas above the head of the cherubims there appeared overthem as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of thelikeness of a throne. {10:2} And he spake unto the manclothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels,[even] under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals offire from between the cherubims, and scatter [them] overthe city. And he went in in my sight.
6-7.
{10:6} And itcame to pass, [that] when he had commanded the manclothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between thewheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, andstood beside the wheels. {10:7} And [one] cherub stretchedforth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that[was] between the cherubims, and took [thereof,] and put[it] into the hands of [him that was] clothed with linen: whotook [it,] and went out.
See also Isa. 6:6-7,
{6:6} Then flew one of the seraphimsunto me, having a live coal in his hand, [which] he hadtaken with the tongs from off the altar: {6:7} And he laid[it] upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips;and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged
compare with Rev. 14:5)
{14:5} And in their mouth was found noguile: for they are without fault before the throne of God
The sanctuary teaching is not a "stale, flat, and unprofitable" doctrine, but vibrant with meaning for this very hour.
A fuller understanding of Daniel 7, and its interrelationship with the agenda of Leviticus 16 challenges us today, even as the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 challenged those who perceived that prophecy as pointing to the beginning of the hour of God's judgment in 1844.
"Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks to the memory of His sanctuary." (Ps. 97:11-12, margin)
"The Lord has made His peoplethe repository of sacred truth.Upon every individual who has had thelight of present truth devolves the dutyof developing that truth on a higher scale than it has hitherto been done." -- Ellen G. White
--- End --- 1989 Special 3 -- Light From the Throne -- Part 3
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Think about it carefully, very carefully. Up until now you might not have ever given any of this a thought. You might be rejecting all of this. You might not want to think that we could be in a time so close that those that are God's individually are being sealed right now, that judgment for you and I might be up.
We know the Bible says--
2 Thess. {2:7} For the mystery of iniquity dothalready work: only he who now letteth [will let,] until he betaken out of the way. {2:8} And then shall that Wicked berevealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit ofhis mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of hiscoming: {2:9} [Even him,] whose coming is after theworking of Satan with all power and signs and lyingwonders, {2:10} And with all deceivableness ofunrighteousness in them that perish; because they receivednot the love of the truth, that they might be saved. {2:11}And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, thatthey should believe a lie: {2:12} That they all might bedamned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure inunrighteousness.
Strong delusion that they should believe a lie...
Because they received NOT the love of the truth...
That they might be damned who believed not the truth.
If we turn from the truth, if we shake our heads and turn away saying we don't want to know all this, we don't want to even try to understand then we condemn ourselves.
God has shown us His plan throughout history and that plan will continue on until the end. We will be accountable for accepting or rejecting the truth in Christ.
Christ is our savior, our redeemer, Christ is our truth.
At some point in history before Christ comes again all those alive in Him when He returns will have been sealed it's inevitable. There will be no last second reprieves when the brightness of the Lord is revealed, by then all that would be saved are sealed.
Isa. {55:6} Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call yeupon him while he is near: {55:7} Let the wicked forsakehis way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let himreturn unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him;and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
May the Lord help us all and keep us, may we be found in Him, all our hope and trust in Him and His promises now and forever by His grace, amen.