The Sanctuary Pt. 4

Our sanctuary study continues and picks up with us learning more and more about the symbolic meanings of the rituals performed in the sanctuary service.
We learned about the daily offering of incense morning and evening which is a call to morning and evening prayers.
Luke 1:10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
We all know how important prayer is. Prayer is something we're encouraged to do by Jesus himself. Jesus prayed. So being called to pray morning and evening is something that can only enhance a spiritual life.
Communicating with the Lord through prayer by the Holy Spirit. Communication with someone only brings you closer to them, only gives you more knowledge of them. Communication fosters a relationship. While some believe prayer to be one-sided talking, in truth God hears every word we speak in prayer and we are given His word, His guidance through the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge in prayer that God is the one and only true God, worthy of our worship and praise. We acknowledge the Creator as creatures of His. We acknowledge our Savior, our Redeemer, that we are in need of being saved from our sins.
Prayer is an amazing thing it really is.
More about the symbolic elements of the Sanctuary as we pick up the study--
1981 Jun -- XIV 6(81) -- LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ATONEMENT - II William Grotheer--
The Bible pictures not only Christ as the minister of the true tabernacle where in its first apartment He ministers as "a Lamb as it had been slain;" but also as the One who has obtained from the Father, the light of the seven golden candlesticks which is "sent forth into all the earth." (Rev. 5:6)
*{5:6} And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.*
It is through this Holy Spirit that where two or three are gathered together in His name partaking of the heavenly Shewbread - He is in the midst of them. This church on earth and the Church of the heavenly Jerusalem become one through the ministry of Jesus "the mediator of the new covenant" and "the blood of sprinkling." (Heb. 12:22-24)
*{12:22} But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, {12:23} To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, {12:24} And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.*
From an individual judicial atonement resulting from the acceptance of the Substitute sacrificed "in the court," and the mediation of that blood upon "Mt. Sion," we enter an individual-corporate atonement process in the first apartment ministry, a process which is to be completed in the Most Holy Place as a corporate atonement, or as prefigured in the type - a national atonement.
***
Individual judicial atonement from accepting the sacrifice made in the court.
Mediation of the blood on Mt. Sion.
We are in a process of individual-corporate atonement - in the first apartment.
The process which will be completed in the Most Holy Place symbolically as the Day of Atonement - a national atonement.
***
In the Most Holy Place -- It is of utmost importance to note that 0. R. L. Crosier in his study - "The Sanctuary" - first appearing in the Day Star, Extra, February 7, 1846, and reprinted again in the 1850 Advent Review, a 48-page pamphlet, notes the daily ministry in the earthly sanctuary which pertained to the sin offerings as "the individual atonement," and the once-a-year ministry in the Most Holy Place as "the National Atonement." To this concept, we have given little attention. In simple language, it means a corporate atonement.
Introducing this concept, Crosier used Hebrews 9:7 - "But into the second [apartment] went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people." He emphasized - "errors of the people," defining people as "nation" from the Greek word used - AaoV.
This was to emphasize the corporate idea involved rather than the result to a single individual.
This concept is emphasized in the Levitical detailing of the ritual to be performed on the Day of Atonement.
The two goats over which the lots were cast were to be taken from "the congregation of the children of Israel." (Lev. 16:5)
The one which became the Lord's goat is designated as "the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people." (verse. 15)
The atonement was made "because of the uncleaness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins." (ver. 16)
The ritual commanded was declared to be an "everlasting statute" by which "to make atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year." (ver. 34)
Further, this was noted by God as "the sin offering of atonements" (Ex. 30:10)
All previous offerings by which atonement was realized find their ultimate objective in this final atonement. It was national, collective, and corporative.
This atonement of atonements involved "the holy place within the vail", because "of the uncleanness of the children of Israel." (Lev. 16:2,16)
It involved "the tabernacle of the congregation" [the first apartment];
"the altar that is before the Lord" (ver. 18);
and the priests and "all the people of the congregation." (ver. 33)
Its purpose - that the people "be clean from all [their] sins before the Lord." (ver. 30)
In this study of the services of the Day of Atonement, it must be clearly understood that the people's involvement in the ritual of this day, whether considered collectively, or individually was absolutely nil.
It was the blood of the goat designated as "the Lord's goat" (See Lev. 16:8-9) which accomplished the atonement.
It was the High Priest arrayed in his holy garments who entered the Most Holy Place alone to minister the atonement of atonements.
This Day was to be to the people a holy convocation (Numbers 29:7)
As they assembled, and throughout the day, they were to "afflict their souls." (Lev. 23:27, 32)
In it they were to do no work - for if anyone did he would be destroyed from "among the people." (ver. 30)
This people as they assembled, assembled as "forgiven sinners" not as "cleansed saints."
That was to be the result of the atonement made on this Day.
Even though throughout the year, they had assembled morning and evening at the time of prayer; even though they had diligently sought to know and practice the precepts of the Lord, they still were unclean before the Lord.
And nothing which they could do on the Day of Atonement could gain them merit.
They were to do no work, and anyone who attempted to accomplish something by his works was to be destroyed from among the people.
The blood of the Lord's goat, and the ministry of the High Priest alone would attain the atonement of atonements. This was the type.
In the great antitypical Day of Atonement in the sanctuary which the Lord pitched and not man, our great High Priest, with His perfect holiness and by His own blood will accomplish the cleansing of not just one individual, but the cleansing of His people.
This cleansing will be of a people who know they have been forgiven, and that at the foot of the Cross - before the altar of the court - is the highest place they can attain; a people who are not seeking perfection by their own works, but who find in their communion with God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit that humility of soul, that distrustfulness of self which God delights to honor. "Blessed are they who know their spiritual poverty, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:3 RBV)
It must also be recalled from the type given that as God made a covenant with Moses as representative of the people - a covenant to which the people did not assent to as a nation, but which through the "daily" services of the sanctuary they individually acknowledged by the bringing of their sin offerings, so Christ has been accepted by the Father as the representative of the individuals who accept Him as their Substitute - their Sin-Offering.
For these people - collectively - He will make the atonement of atonements. They are His people. As a Representative of them, He has covenanted to "make a man more precious than gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir." (Isa. 13:12) This He will do; but it must be kept in mind that He and He alone will do it! He does it in and for those who recognize themselves as sinners, not perfected saints. It was this He made painfully clear to the "religious" during the days of His earthly ministry. He said "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matt. 9:13)
As our High Priest, Christ will obtain from the Father all power necessary for the accomplishment of His part of the covenant so that the ultimate objective of the at-one-ment may be realized - "Father, I will that they also, whom thou has given me, be with me where I am." (John 17:24) For who is like unto our heavenly Father, who "pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will [respond], He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; [He] will cast all [our] sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:18-19) And when this shall have been accomplished in the atonement of the atonements, then we shall see His face, and His name shall be in our foreheads. In that hour we shall experience the fullness of the atonement (Rev, 22:4)
Our Father, as He sees the host of the redeemed - His earth-born children come home - will rejoice over [them] with joy, He will rest in His love, He will joy over [them] with singing." (Zeph. 3:17)
Isaiah 13:12 is a very important text. The promise to make a man more precious than fine gold is placed in a time setting in context with "the day of the Lord." Following the fulfillment of the prophecy - "the sun shall be darkened in his going forth" (verse 10) - and before "the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, I and in the day of His fierce anger" - this promise is to be fulfilled. Thus between the Dark Day, May 19, 1780, and the close of human probation, Christ will make a man as precious as the golden wedge of Ophir. Thus the timing of this promise coincides with the antitypical Day of Atonement - the Day of the Atonement of the Atonements. (See Isa. 13:9-13; Dan. 8:14)
"Let no one take the limited, narrow position that any of the works of man can help in the least possible way to liquidate the debt of his transgression. This is a fatal deception. If you would understand it, you must cease haggling over your pet ideas, and with humble hearts survey the atonement. This matter is so dimly comprehended that thousands upon thousands claiming to be sons of God are children of the wicked one, because they will depend on their own works."(Ms 50, 1900; 6BC: 1071)
*******
We're going to pause here.
So much to contemplate, so much truth.
Over and over we are reminded that our *good works*, anything we do as a result of our born again (In Christ) state, any outcome of our desire to walk with Christ will not save us, can't save us, we cannot save ourselves. We can only rely on the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
May we each realize our sinfulness and our need, it is only in realizing our need that we can truly seek the saving grace of Christ. People who say they have no need, are people deceived.
We know many are going to claim to know Christ and that Christ knows them, when in truth they are being deceived.
I pray that we aren't deceived that our knowledge of Christ, that our relationship permits Jesus to know us so we may be claimed by Him to be His now and forever.
By the grace of Christ, by His mercy and love I pray.
Amen.