Sunday, April 20, 2014

A Fuller Understanding...

---1989 Special 3 -- Light From the Throne -- Part 3 (WWN)


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)

(((Dan 7:9  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.
Dan 7:10  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. ))))

 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)

(((Heb 9:1  Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of 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)

(((Heb 8:6  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Heb 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 brethren 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) 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)

(((Gen 22:8  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went 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 "Jezebel," 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 Alter 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.) In the typical ritual, the High Priest went in for the people, none even entered the court.

(((Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. ))))

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; 6-7. See also Isa. 6:6-7, compare with Rev. 14:5)

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 people the repository of sacred truth.
Upon every individual who has had the light of present truth devolves the duty
of developing that truth on a higher scale  than it his hitherto been done." -- Ellen G. White

--- End --- 1989 Special 3 -- Light From the Throne -- Part 3

*******

Please, Lord, help us to comprehend the times we are living in. There is TRUTH for us today!  There is truth that we need to know, that we can know.  This truth isn't hidden from us, it's there for us to see!

The plan has been made and will unfold as needed, as predicted.

The END will come.  There was a beginning and there is an end of sin! Sin is the intruder, the interloper, the interruption, the hiccup, the very EVIL of all that, in the plan God intended for humans.  Sin will be destroyed.  We ALL know that life isn't supposed to be this messed up existence we all find ourselves in, it just isn't. We know deep down that all things evil shouldn't exist, and WON'T exist when everything is all over.

It will end.

We are told how it is to end.

Please LORD, let us be YOURS now and when it ends.

All by YOUR grace, YOUR love, YOUR mercy, all by YOU!


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