More on the Sanctuary Service - this time on the Final Atonement
2000 May XXXIII 5(00) -- The Final Atonement - Part 1 -- Editor's Preface (William Grotheer)-- This issue of WWN is different than any previous issue. It will be a true "thought paper," as others have been.
A "thought paper is written to stimulate thinking.
It is not perceived as an infallible or dogmatic pronouncement on the subject discussed, but rather a discussion of the subject from a viewpoint not previously investigated.
In this issue, we intend not only to stimulate thinking but also to explore as far as possible all texts which relate to the subject of the Final Atonement.
It is admitted from the start that in so doing, there is the possibility that cherished traditional concepts will come under close scrutiny. It is also possible that some of these traditions will be found to be at variance with the Biblical data. This has been the record of religious contention in all time. This was a key factor of conflict between Christ and the Pharisees of His day. (Matt. 15:2-3).
Is not the counsel given in connection with the 1888 experience still apropos today? It read: "If the pillars of our faith will not stand the test of investigation, it is time that we knew it. There must be no spirit of Pharisaism cherished among us" (TM. p. 107).
Standing as we are at the end of time with the coming of the Great High Priest as King of kings and Lord of lords, should we not carefully explore every aspect of the Final Atonement?
Since the book of Revelation (15:8) indicates a brief period of time between the close of the High Priestly ministry of Christ and His return as King of kings during which the saints must live in the sight of a holy God without an Intercessor, should we not be sure that our position is truly Biblically sustainable?
This issue will not complete our intended study on the subject of the Final Atonement: others will follow.
"Review, and then Review again, and Review all that you've Reviewed"
The Final Atonement - Part 1--
The typical services of the Wilderness Sanctuary evidenced a dual atonement. The convicted sinner who brought the prescribed offering in confession of his guilt was, through the ministry of the officiating priest, forgiven.
The text reads - "The priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him" (Lev. 4:26).
The second atonement was typified in an annual yearly service. The tenth day of the seventh month was called the "Day of Atonements" (Plural in the Hebrew, Leviticus 23:27-28). On that day the High Priest alone ministered an atonement which resulted in cleansing. The text reads - "For on that day shall (the high priest) make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord" (Lev.16:30).
It was around these typical services and their anti-typical significance that the present theological crisis in Adventism evolved. Following the Great Disappointment, a small group seeking to find an answer as to why Jesus did not return according to expectation on October 22, 1844 turned their attention once again to the services of the wilderness Sanctuary. The message as had been given by William Miller was focused in the summer of 1844 on Daniel 8:14 - "Unto two thousand and three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed" - and was related to the annual date for the Day of Atonement - "the tenth day of the seventh month."
One who had embraced this message, 0. R. L. Crosier, after the disappointment, produced a lengthy and detailed study on "The Sanctuary." In this study, he designated the two atonements of the typical services as "the individual atonement" and "the National Atonement."
In meeting objections to his emphasis of the National Atonement as the answer to the Disappointment, he rejected the position taken by the mainline churches' theologians, that the atonement had been completed at the cross. In doing so, he denied that there was an atonement made at the cross, holding that the cross was merely the sacrifice by which the atonement was made in the sanctuary in heaven by Christ as the great High Priest.
The early pioneers of Adventism adopted Crosier's position publishing his study in 1850, along with other articles, in a 48 page pamphlet called the Advent Review.
In 1853 into all unsold copies, James White "tipped" a leaf which contained this comment regarding the Crosier study - "The subject of the sanctuary should be carefully examined, as it lies at the foundation of our faith and hope." The 1872 Statement of Beliefs, the first to be drawn up after the organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1863, echoed Crosier's position. It read concerning Jesus Christ - He "ascended on high to be our only mediator in the sanctuary in Heaven, where with His own blood He makes atonement for our sins; which atonement so far as being made on the cross, was but the offering of the sacrifice, is the very last portion of His work as priest" (Article II).
During the 1955-1956 Conferences with the Evangelicals, the Adventist conferees not only adopted the position that the atonement was completed on Calvary, but denied the final atonement, thus reversing the original position.
In the published answer to questions asked by the Evangelicals, Questions on Doctrine, the new position taken is stated with emphasis: Adventists do not hold any theory of a dual atonement. "Christ hath redeemed us" (Gal. 3:13) once for all" (Heb.10:10). (p.390)
This denial of faith ruptured Adventism.
If the Adventist conferees really were convicted that the positions of the Evangelicals had merit, then the only honest approach would have been to say, "It appears we have some 'home work' to do, so that our positions harmonize with the Word of God." Then there should have followed a prayerful and diligent study of the Word to bring our doctrinal concepts into harmony with the revealed truths of the types and their fulfilment in the reality of Jesus' sacrifice and high priestly ministry. There should have been no abandonment of the original position, nor a denial of the faith, until such was done. It is true that research was permitted, as in the case of Dr. Desmond Ford, but it was to defend a position assumed, not to discover truth. In this there is a distinct difference.
It is our objective in this "review" of the final atonement to:
1) Consider the Scriptural facts and data given regarding the typical Day of Atonement; and2) Note other texts which contribute to the questions raised which reflect on traditional perceptions. After examining carefully the questions and problems which surface from the data thus obtained, we will detail the actual services performed on that day by the high priest.
Leviticus 23 -- The 23rd chapter of Leviticus lists with instructions "the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations" which were to be observed during the ceremonial year beginning with the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month (vs 4-5).
The anti-typical fulfilment of this "feast of the Lord" is noted in the New Testament.
Paul writing to the Corinthian church declared, "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" (I Cor. 5:7).
Thus this ceremonial year of ancient Israel as outlined in the services of the wilderness Sanctuary could serve as an overlay of the Christian era beginning with the sacrifice of the Lamb of God and finding Its climax in the High Priestly ministry of Jesus Christ during the anti-typical Day of. Atonement.
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We agree that it's important to understand what the Bible is revealing to us through the Holy Spirit. We are given the Word of God and we are told to study. To me the Sanctuary study is obviously important as I've looked up everything I could on what William Grotheer, a biblical scholar as written on it and I'm trying to incorporate it into my own study so I can comprehend better. The Bible is our first standard and to the Bible all this has to go. I want to understand what Christ is doing in Heaven for us right now as our High Priest. I want to comprehend all I can because I believe our time here on earth is fast running out and it's very important we know what's going to happen to the best of our abilities.
People grab up the prophecies and formulate all sorts of theories on things and that's not a bad thing it's a good thing if it has people studying their Bibles for truths. Prophecies are very important to study and so is anything that has to do with our futures.
Understanding where Christ is now and what He is doing prior to His soon return is important.
The Sanctuary service was given to God's people for a reason to point to the way of their Salvation. Man had fallen away from God, from their intended purpose of existence. God wanted man to have a way to return to their intended purpose. Our lives now are all about returning to God and our intended purpose in Him.
God gave us the Sanctuary service pointing the way to restoration. Restoration is found in Jesus as typified. We know that our salvation is found in Jesus and we are told so much about living in Him. Understanding the Final Atonement so we can understand our typified own ending leading to our final restoration with God is very important.
This study is going to continue for awhile because *I* need to study and understand.
More tomorrow by the grace of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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