The Sanctuary Study Pt. 11

We're going to continue our Sanctuary Study, but first I want to make something clear, I'm not a Seventh-Day Adventist.
Yes, I believe in the Seventh-Day Sabbath, and various other things they believe but I am not one, but that won't keep me from being able to discern the truth they might have from the falsehoods with the Holy Spirit's guidance.
I'm also not saying that all Seventh-Day Adventists are bad, individually only the Lord knows the heart.
With all that in mind let's continue with the Thought Papers of William Grotheer to guide us, but once again, believe nothing but your Bible! Check everything!
1989 Special 2 -- Light From the Throne -- Part 2 --
This first quarter of 1989, the Sabbath School lessons for the Adult Division center on the book of Leviticus. Written by two conservative Seventh-day Adventist scholars, there was cause for hope that some of the previously questionable conclusions regarding the sanctuary service might be corrected. However, this is not the case.
In Lesson 4, January 28, near the close of Section I, subtitled - "Sins of Ignorance" - the traditional explanation is found as to what was transferred to the sanctuary. The first sentence of the note reads - "Priest transfers sin to the sanctuary:" This error should be transparent.
It was blood only that the priest took into the sanctuary for sin and fingerprinted on the Altar of Incense, and sprinkled before the veil.
Now the blood is the life. It is the blood that maketh atonement. (Lev. 17:11)
If, therefore, it is sin, then sin makes the atonement.
No, a thousand times no!
The blood is the record that the penalty has been paid, and the sinner forgiven.
Further thought reveals why sin is not transferred to the sanctuary.
It is already recorded at the moment of transgression. The whole ceremony of Leviticus 4 has to do with sins of ignorance, not on God's part, but on the sinner's part. When the sinner was convicted, a prescribed ritual was performed.
Why then double record sin? This is not what the sinner needs. He needs the assurance of forgiveness and that the penalty for his sin as recorded has been paid.
We nullify a key lesson of Leviticus 4, when we assume that it is teaching the transfer of sin to the sanctuary. There was a transfer of sin, but it was the transfer to the sacrifice.
It was the recognition that a sin had been committed; the transfer of that guilt through the substitute required; and the assurance of forgiveness which is taught in the law of the sin offering.
I repeat, while the animal became sin through transfer and was destroyed when the blood was taken within the sanctuary, it was the blood, the life, indicating that the penalty for sin had been paid that was recorded.
The other method to get sin into the sanctuary as noted by the authors of the Sabbath School lessons was, that the priest who ate of the victim in the case of a ruler or common person's sin, ministered in the daily services offering incense, thereby "symbolically transferred" the sin "to the sanctuary."
(Teacher's Quarterly, p. 54)
Transfer is accomplished in the type by the symbolic laying on of the hand.
Where is such a record in the type for the transfer of sin to the sanctuary when the priest ate of the sacrifice?
In fact, even in the services on the Day of Atonement, the bullock which was offered as a sin offering for Aaron and his house, never had a hand laid upon its head. (Lev. 16:6)
There is further evidence from the Day of Atonement ritual that sin was not transferred to the sanctuary, but had been previously recorded. During the year, no blood was ever taken into the Most Holy Place.
The closest the blood, denoting that the penalty had been paid, ever came to the Most Holy Place, was that blood which was sprinkled before the veil separating the two apartments.
On the Day of Atonement, when the cleansing ritual did bring blood into the Most Holy Place, it was stated that it was being done "because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins." (Lev. 16:16)
If for sake of argument, we should grant that the record of blood was a record of sin, and not a record of the penalty paid for sin, then how did the transgressions and sins get into the Most Holy Place when no such blood over which confessions were made ever entered there?
What we have failed to realize is that the sanctuary services in type are an adjunct to the Reality of the Heavenly Sanctuary explaining how an individual in covenant relationship with God can escape the finality of the judgment.
We refuse to face up to the meaning of Jesus' promise in John 5:24. This verse does not destroy the sanctuary doctrine as some have sought to do with it; but rather it does focus on an area of teaching which needs to be corrected and brought into line with the true revelation of the sanctuary model. This issue of the Commentary will seek to do just that, as well as the issue to follow.
Some have cited Jeremiah (17:1) as proof that sin was transferred to the sanctuary. I, too, have so used this text in times past. Sensing that such a use of this text violates the meaning of the ritual of the sin offering in Leviticus, I checked the context in which Jeremiah was writing. The verse in Jeremiah reads:
"The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of the heart, and upon the horns of your altars."
The next verse introduces "the Asherim" (KJV - "groves") which were worshiped by the green trees on the high hills. The connection between the idolatrous worship or the "hills" and the blood placed on the horns of the altars of the temple must be related to the prophecy of the verses that follow. God would give these "high places for sin" to the spoiler (ver. 3), and Judah herself would serve their enemies in a strange land because what they did provoked the anger of the Lord (ver. 4).
The sin that came upon the altars was a sin so engraved upon their hearts that it could not be erased. Keil and Delitzsch comment as follows:
"It was because the altars and the images of the false gods had entwined themselves as closely about their hearts as their children, so that they brought the sin of their idolatry along with their sacrifices to the altars of Jahveh. The offerings which they bring, in this state of mind, to the Lord are defiled by idolatry and carry their sins to the altar, so that, in the blood which is sprinkled on its horns, the sins of the offerers are poured out on the altar. Hence it appears unmistakably that ver. 1 does not deal with the consciousness of sin as not yet cancelled or forgiven, but with the sin of idolatry, which, ineradically implanted in the hearts of the people and indelibly recorded before God on the horns of the altar, calls down God's wrath in punishment as announced in vers. 3 and 4." (Vol. 8, p. 278)
To cherish the sin for which we ask forgiveness and for which we present the Substitute is duplicity and makes of "the blood of the covenant ... an unholy thing."
The sin of the heart is retained while outwardly confessing its surrender.
This is hypocrisy which God hates.
In the typical service, this stage acting brought sin upon the altars of the sanctuary which God did not intend should be done.
A second error occurs in this same section of the Quarterly.
It states - "In the case of the sin offering for a fellow priest, or for the whole congregation" the blood was taken into the first apartment of the sanctuary. The authors failed to see, and the editors did not catch, that the offering for the priest wherein the blood was taken into the sanctuary, only pertained to the High Priest when he in his official capacity had sinned causing the whole congregation to transgress.
The text reads - "If the anointed priest shall sin so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin ... a young bullock." (Lev. 4:3 ARV)
As an individual sinner, the priest was included in the category of a ruler. See Numbers 3:32, where the same Hebrew word translated "ruler" in Levitucus 4 is there translated, "chief."
We suggest a careful study of all the material which is presented in this Commentary comparing Scripture with Scripture.
**
If you've read this far and feel a little overwhelmed, don't worry it's normal. We really do need to study. Study and understand, not just read and forget, not just read and let it go as something we don't need to really know.
It might not be easy, it might not be *exciting*, but it is important.
Some might counter that it's just semantics and who cares who believes what, but God does care.
Remember a counterfiet is no good if it doesn't mimic almost perfectly the real thing. Being deceived by something that is almost the real thing will leave you saying.. Lord, Lord didn't I do this and that in your name... and the Lord is going to say get away from Him, He never knew you.
Matthew {7:21} Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shallenter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the willof my Father which is in heaven. {7:22} Many will say tome in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thyname? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thyname done many wonderful works? {7:23} And then will Iprofess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, yethat work iniquity.
People are going to fully and truly believe they are doing God's work, but they won't be and the deception seeps in when we turn our backs on the truth, on learning, on delving deeply and wresting scripture against scripture to gain understanding. If you want a flippant, feel good, all play no work walk with God you can have one, I don't want that. I want to understand all I can understand.
It's important to know that details can matter. The tiniest detail can reveal a counterfiet.
No sin enters the Sanctuary.The blood that enters is the sacrifice made for the sinner.
God cannot abide sin. Sin separates from God the two can never be joined. God forgives sin through the sacrifice of His Son, He doesn't condone it.
May we all seek a much closer walk with Christ, a better understanding so that Christ will know us through and through.
In our Savior's all merciful name, by His grace...
Amen.

The Sanctuary Study Pt. 10

Recapping from yesterday - The gospel's principles are in the Sanctuary given back in the desert to Moses. We tend to think of the gospel only in a New Testament way- the Gospel as the good news of Jesus. Taking a bit from yesterday we'll see otherwise...
Basic Principles From God's Viewpoint -- Light From the Throne -- Continued William Grotheer --
The Basic "Gospel" In Leviticus -- The unfolding of the "gospel" revealed in the sanctuary is found in the book of Leviticus. In the instruction for the first offering - the law of the burnt offering - fundamental principles were enunciated.
First, the offering was to be "voluntary" - no coercion. (Lev. 1:3) Even as God freely provided for man's redemption, so man's acceptance of the means of redemption must be from a willing heart.
Secondly, it was to be offered at "the entrance of the tabernacle of the congregation." A significance of this rule will be seen when we study the sin offerings in particular.
Thirdly, the offerer "put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering." (Lev. 1:4) The Hebrew word, samach, means "to lean upon in full support." This word is also used in Amos 5:19 describing a man who leaned with his hand upon a wall. This placing of the hand in full support upon the offering signified total dependence.
Fourth, the offering was "accepted for him to make atonement." This principle is fundamental and applies to all offerings wherein the hand is laid upon the victim. It is especially significant when understood in relationship to the sin offering. In the Hebrew, one word - chatta' th - is used for both "sin" and "sin offering." The sacrificial animal became sin, and was accepted in the place of the offerer. In the elementary burnt offering and in the sin offering, the one offering sacrifice slew the victim. (Lev. 1:5) The disposition of the blood differed, and in the elementary burnt offering, the whole of the animal was burned on the altar. (Lev. 1:7-9) Of Christ, Paul wrote - God "hath made Him to be sin for us." (II Cor. 5:21) Jesus is accepted in our stead to make atonement. Upon Him, we must place our full dependence.
There is deep meaning in the fact that the one bringing the offering, slew the sacrificial victim.I, by my sin, slew the Lamb of God.I, at Calvary, pounded the nails;I, too, pierced His side.I placed the crown of thorns the curse because of sin (Gen. 3:18) upon that holy brow.I mocked;I derided;and I scoffed...because my pride would not accept such a provision.
In all the actions and the attitudes of the people who literally surrounded Golgathal's hill, I can see myself as I am, or ought to be. But when I am willing to go "without the camp, bearing his reproach" (Heb. 13:13), I will find peace with God once more at one with Him - at the altar.
What Is Sin ? -- The basic purpose of the sanctuary rituals was to deal with the sin problem so that communion between God and man might be restored - an at-one-ment be realized.
God desired to dwell among His people whom He had chosen.
In the services prescribed were outlined how man could approach God; and God revealed through them how He planned to eradicate that which had separated -sin.
But first, what is sin? We have a very pat definition for sin -- "Sin is the transgression of ;the law. " But it is more than that. The text reads - note all the words: Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (I John 4;3)
Sin is more than merely the outward act by which the law is violated.
Consider, what God is, not who He is.
In the song of Moses, God is declared to be "a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He." (Deut. 32:4)
He with whom sin began "abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him." (John 8:44)
Deviation from truth leads to sin, and thus separation from God, who is truth., The way back to God must be a way of truth. That way is in the sanctuary. (Ps. 77:13) This is why the sanctuary truth as entrusted to Adventism is so vital. ((I'm going to interject here in the thought paper and say it is vital to us ALL. Not just Adventists.))
Because God is just and right, He demands that justice be met. Every sin must be accounted for. None - not a single one, no matter how small - dare be overlooked.Every vestige must be ultimately removed from the universe - root and branch. (Mal. 4:1) To ensure this, the most meticulous record system ever devised was set up in Heaven. There the record of every sin is recorded and by whom committed; for all must give an accounting. The Bible is specific that there are books in heaven and the nature of the records contained therein. (Dan. 7:10; Rev. 20:12) With our knowledge of computer technology and recording devices, a text strikes at us: Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice." (Eccl. 5:6)
In this time when we wish to project God as only a God of love, we must keep in mind that the Bible plainly teaches - "Our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29'); and "it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31). God is just and requires that justice be meted out against sin and those who persist in sin.
In the first two categories of the law of the sin offerings, the bullock which had been accepted for those confessing was burned without the camp. The text says: The skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, ... and burn him on the wood with fire. (Lev. 4:11-12; See also verse 21)
The symbol is very clear. Either a substitute was to be "accepted" for the sinner, or else he himself would suffer extinction. God is serious about the sin problem. It will never arise the second time.
In the sanctuary of the Heaven of heavens, all sin will be accounted for, and all sinners will give an accounting.
The earthly sanctuary, as a parable, was cast down beside to show how a sinner can escape the final judgment of God against sin.
For just as surely as we live, we face a judgment.
There is only one exception to this rule. Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life - the living tabernacle in flesh - declared - "Verily verily, I say unto you, He that is hearing my word, and is believing on Him that sent Me, hath life eternal, and shall not come into judgment, but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24, Greek)
While the Heavenly Sanctuary involves the whole universe, the earthly "model" pictures a way - light from the Throne -- whereby those who enter into covenant relationship with Christ as "minister ... of the true tabernacle" and "mediaor of a better covenant" escape the wrath of God against sin.
(The Sanctuary Studies will be continued in Commentary, Vol. III, Number 2.) --- End --- 1989 Special 1 -- Light From the Throne -- Part 1
*******
There is a way of escape from sin for all of us. The price paid beyond our imagining. As we continue studying the more enlightened we can become with the Holy Spirit guiding us, by the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Amen.

The Sanctuary Study Pt. 9

Good vs. Evil

The great cosmic battle that involves the whole world and each and every individual.

A battle being fought, sides being chosen, and yet a battle won.

Sometimes hearing the words, 'You don't have to decide just yet.' Are a good thing. They bring relief from pressure, they give you time to think things over and make a decision. Other time hearing those words simply prolongs the agony of indecision. Then again, sometimes hearing the words are nice but being able to make that decision right away feels good- knowing your mind without having to think about it at all.

Too many people live in that world of indecision when it comes to choosing the side they want to be on, good or evil. Too many hover about the middle ground thinking it to be a nice place to hang out not choosing either side. Some lean in one direction or another but aren't making that ultimate choice just yet. It's sad really and life threatening. However, in our world today we've so much confusion that we've pretty much taken the life threatening aspect out of the decision and made it easy for people to hover.

Sin is punishable by death.

The penalty must be paid.

Jesus paid it for all, but all don't accept His sacrifice.

The action on our part towards salvation is to repent and accept sincerely.

Let's read more about the Sanctuary and God's plan for us sinners, the intricate details involved in things can be quite amazing if you're willing to dig deep for them and have more than a surface salvation.

Picking up with William Grotheer's thought paper bits on the Sanctuary we continue here--

Basic Principles From God's Viewpoint -- Light From the Throne -- Continued --

Can God forgive sin as a matter of fact?

The answer is - NO!

Consider the terms of the 40-Day Covenant.

Moses was told - which he in turn conveyed to the people - "Behold, I send an Angel before thee .... Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him." (Ex. 23:20-21)

To forgive sin per se would reflect upon the very character of God, and place in jeopardy the entire universe. A whole series of questions arise. Is God just? Does He mean what He says? Is He infallible? Are there alternatives? Can pluralism exist in the universe? Or is there just one way of righteousness? These questions are as new as today, and as old as eternity, yet basic to the question - Can God forgive sin?

Does God forgive sin?

The answer is YES.

When Israel sinned and broke the 40-Day Covenant, Moses told the people that he would "go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin." In speaking with the Lord, Moses made confession for Israel "This people have sinned a great sin." Then he said - "Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their, sin -;" (Ex. 32:31-32) An extended pleading followed on the part of Moses, climaxing in the request - "I beseech thee, show me thy glory." (Ex. 33:18) To this God consented, and placing Moses "in a clift of the rock" and covering him with His hand, He passed by proclaiming "the name of the Lord." In this self-revelation, God declared Himself to be "merciful and gracious ... keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin." (Ex. 33:22; 34:5-7)

How then do we reconcile the Name of the Lord which cannot pardon transgression, and the revelation of that God as merciful, "forgiving ... transgression and sin"? Paul answers this question by stating that "through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, God can remain "just" and yet show forgiving mercy to the one believing "in Jesus." (Rom. 3:24-26)

Romans {3:24} Being justified freely by
his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
{3:25} Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation
through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for
the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God; {3:26} To declare, [I say,] at this time his
righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him
which believeth in Jesus.

This reconciling revelation of God's character is portrayed in the sanctuary services of types and shadows.

Another basic principle from God's viewpoint can be recognized by asking the question - "Can I provide for the forgiveness of my sins?"

The answer is an emphatic - NO!

To do so would be my demise for time and eternity. This is what the Judgment of the Great White Throne is all about. Those who stand to be judged before that Throne must provide for their own transgressions. These can be satisfied only in the second death. (Rev. 20:12-15)

Rev.{20:12} And I saw
the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books
were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the
book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things
which were written in the books, according to their works.
{20:13} And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and
death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them:
and they were judged every man according to their works.
{20:14} And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.
This is the second death. {20:15} And whosoever was not
found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire.


God is just. There is a wrath of God against sin. The Third Angel's Message reveals how His wrath will be manifest against those who persist in worshiping the epitome of iniquity. (Rev. 14: 9-10)

Rev. {14:9} And the
third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any
man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his]
mark in his forehead, or in his hand, {14:10} The same shall
drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out
without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall
be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the
holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb


There is only one escape. Having been justified by the blood of Christ, "we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (Rom. 5:9) Again the sanctuary reveals the way.

Romans {5:9}
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall
be saved from wrath through him.



Vignettes -- In the book of Genesis, there are vignettes revealing man's inability to face his Maker in an acceptable way. The record states that as soon as the first pair sinned, they perceived their nakedness, and made for themselves "aprons" of fig leaves. (Gen. 3:7) But when the Lord God called to Adam - "Where art thou?" - he responded - "I was afraid because naked I (am); and I hid myself." (3:10, Heb.) You will observe that in the KJV, the word, "was," is supplied. The word order of the Hebrew would indicate the use of "am" rather than "was". Even though Adam, and Eve had covered their nakedness with a garment of their devising; when facing God, they sensed how totally inadequate was the "apron" of their making. To meet their need, God Himself took the first life ever taken in the universe from all eternity, and made for them "coats of skins." (3:21) In the light of this sketch, how vain is the hope that man can by his works obtain the favor of God, and thereby atone for his transgressions.

The word sketch from the life of Cain and Abel reveals a fundamental principle upon which the message of the sanctuary is based.

Cain brought of the fruit of the ground and expected the Lord to accept his offering. He perceived of it as something he had produced, even as his parents had made "aprons" from the things of nature.

Abel, on the other hand, brought of the flock, and life was taken.

God can forgive sin, but only when the penalty of that sin is met.

Abel provided his recognition of that fact. "The Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering: but unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect." (Gen. 4:4-5)

How is man to regain acceptance with God? Through his works? A thousand times - No!

How then?

Through the acceptance from God of the Offering He has provided.

In other words, Abel "obeyed" the gospel. He accepted the basic principle upon which God could be just and the justifier of those who would accept His provision for sin. Tragically, there will be untold millions even professed Christians - who will suffer the "vengeance" of "flaming fire" because they "know not God and ... obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Thess. 1:8)

God is just and cannot condone sin. Because man cannot provide for his own nakedness, God has provided a covering in Jesus Christ. This is the gospel.

This is the way of God in the sanctuary. The acceptance of that way is to "obey the gospel."

The Basic "Gospel" In Leviticus -- The unfolding of the "gospel" revealed in the sanctuary is found in the book of Leviticus. In the instruction for the first offering - the law of the burnt offering - fundamental principles were enunciated.

First, the offering was to be "voluntary" - no coercion. (Lev. 1:3) Even as God freely provided for man's redemption, so man's acceptance of the means of redemption must be from a willing heart.

Secondly, it was to be offered at "the entrance of the tabernacle of the congregation." A significance of this rule will be seen when we study the sin offerings in particular.

Thirdly, the offerer "put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering." (Lev. 1:4) The Hebrew word, samach, means "to lean upon in full support." This word is also used in Amos 5:19 describing a man who leaned with his hand upon a wall. This placing of the hand in full support upon the offering signified total dependence.

Fourth, the offering was "accepted for him to make atonement." This principle is fundamental and applies to all offerings wherein the hand is laid upon the victim. It is especially significant when understood in relationship to the sin offering. In the Hebrew, one word - chatta' th - is used for both "sin" and "sin offering." The sacrificial animal became sin, and was accepted in the place of the offerer. In the elementary burnt offering and in the sin offering, the one offering sacrifice slew the victim. (Lev. 1:5) The disposition of the blood differed, and in the elementary burnt offering, the whole of the animal was burned on the altar. (Lev. 1:7-9) Of Christ, Paul wrote - God "hath made Him to be sin for us." (II Cor. 5:21) Jesus is accepted in our stead to make atonement. Upon Him, we must place our full dependence.


***

I'm going to stop here for now, but there is so much more to go into, so much more to understand. If you can, look up each and every verse mentioned here, study the word of God, study as if your life depends upon understanding because it really does.

We need to understand that there is only one sacrifice acceptable to God and it's not anything we have to offer, not one single thing. We can be the best person in all the world giving millions to millions, helping in everyway we can, we can devote our lives to the service of others living frugally just so we can give more to others and in the end that will mean absolutely nothing if we haven't Christ. If we don't realize that nothing we do will save us but go on trying to save ourselves, we're lost.

The Sanctuary services were in place for thousands of years. The Sanctuary was given to God's chosen people so that they might know the way to God. The Sanctuary was a type, a shadow of the heavenly. Christ came as a living Sanctuary and we need to realize that just as those before Christ who came to the earthly sanctuary and with a sincere heart of repentance brought a sin offering to God, pleading for forgiveness, leaning on that living sacrificial lamb and then knowing that the price of their transgression warranted an innocent life, they took the knife and sliced the throat of the lamb. Just as that person was truly forgiven by the realization of sin demanding death and sacrifice, we too are truly forgiven when we realize that our sins are placed upon Jesus and he died so he could save us, He is our Sacrificial Lamb without Him there is no hope. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves, nothing.

May God help us, keep us, teach us, show us all we need to know to be His and for us to know Him and for Him to know us.

By His Grace and Mercy, now and forever.

Amen.

The Sanctuary Study Pt. 8

If there was one lesson above all others which the 40-day Covenant taught, it was that man is unable to keep his promises, or to do what God commands, no matter how sincere his intentions. Centuries later, Jeremiah the prophet would express it in these words - "0 Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jeremiah 23:10) However, there was a way, and that way, the way of God, was in the sanctuary. (Ps. 77:13)
We talked yesterday about breaking promises to God. We can barely keep promises to each other, how often has someone asked you to keep something a secret, to promise and then you turn around and whisper it to someone *you* trust not to tell anyone? It's human nature we say and it a way...it is. Even in matters of life and death sometimes it's hard to keep promises. Not believing God, well, we want to say that's horrible, how could they. I've said it myself how could they when they had the advantage of so many miracles to witness? Yet, we do it all the time, we don't believe God and it is a matter of life and death for us too.
No one will be able to say they didn't know or have a chance and that's a scary prospect for those who want to be able to use that excuse. It's going to be even harder on those who believe they know God, are following Him and they are told they aren't known by Him.
We are told things! Do we listen to them?! Do we follow them?
Only Jesus can save us, and it's so true that God's way is in the sanctuary. It's the sanctuary that reveals Jesus fully.
Let's continue with our sanctuary study using William Grotheers Thought Papers to help us, but most important by using our Bibles.
The Covenants and the Sanctuaries -- Light from the Throne -- (Continued)
A Microcosm of the Reality -- The experience at Sinai reflected the experience of the human race. When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden, He said to them - "Of every tree in the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." (Gen. 2:16-17)
It was a commanded covenant. It was obey and live; disobey and die.
There was no mercy revealed.
Our first parents chose to disobey, and had not One stepped in, as did Moses, they would have died.
A promise was given. (Gen. 3:15) In fulfilling this promise, Jesus, the Surety of a better covenant, suffered in reality what Moses offered to suffer.
Jesus experienced the meaning of having one's name blotted out, when from the darkened, clouded skies that hung mercifully about Calvary, He cried - "My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
Adam's transgression necessitated another covenant.
With a second Adam, God entered into a covenant. He would deal with humanity again, in and through Jesus.
Paul wrote that "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 5:1) The ancient prophet declared that "the counsel of peace shall be between the Two of Them." (Zech. 6:13, Heb.)
This Mediator between God and man ministers in the Heavenly Sanctuary, which is the sanctuary of the New Covenant
A Continual Service -- Before a single act of work had been performed on the sanctuary - it was merely in blueprint stage - God gave instruction concerning the morning and evening sacrifice.
The revelation of all other sacrifices - including the, sin offerings - did not come till after the sanctuary was completed and erected. The only thing that preceded the instruction for the morning-evening sacrifices was the provision for the priesthood.
Concerning this continual burnt offering, God commanded:
This is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually. The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer in the evening ... This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. And there will I meet with the children of Israel and [Israel (margin)] shall be sanctified by my glory. (Ex.. 29:38-39; 42-43)
Before instruction was given as to how sin could be confessed and forgiven, provision was made to continually cover Israel.
Even as the morning and evening sacrifices of a lamb formed the foundation of the whole typical system, so Christ was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world and on Him the whole redemptive process rests.
While we were yet in sin, Christ died for us. It must also be realized that this was a covering for a covenant people. Those outside of Israel could only realize this blessing, when, they too, joined "themselves to the Lord" and took "hold of [His] covenant." (Isa. 56:6)
{56:6} Also the sons of the stranger, that jointhemselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the nameof the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth thesabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant
The place of meeting between God and His people, and where God would converse with Moses is defined as "the entrance of the tabernacle of the congregation."
Thus the meeting which would bring "sanctification" to Israel was focused on the first apartment of the sanctuary.
It was not the Shekinah glory of the Most Holy Place which Israel needed, but the glory of the revelation for which the symbols of the first apartment stood.
When Christ came, the glory He revealed was the fullness of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
{1:14} And the Word was made flesh, anddwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as ofthe only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth
It was this truth that sanctifies. (John 17:17)
{17:17} Sanctify themthrough thy truth: thy word is truth.
Only once each year was Israel to appear before God' in the Most Holy Place, and then only through a representative.
Grace and truth were revealed at the Altar and at the entrance of the tabernacle the first apartment.
The Erecting of the Sanctuary -- One year following the Exodus, the sanctuary was ready for erection.This became the responsibility of Moses in the first month of the second year "on the first day of the month." (Ex. 40:17) When all things were in order, Moses annointed "the tabernacle, and all that is therein." He also annointed "the altar of burnt offering" as well as "the laver" at the base of the altar. (Ex. 40:9-11) Thus Moses entered into the Most Holy Place before any services were performed by Aaron, the high priest. (40:20-21)
Further, Moses set the bread in order on the Table of Shewbread; he lit the lamps of the Golden Candlesticks; he burnt incense upon the Golden Altar before the veil. Then upon the Altar of Burnt Offering, he offered sacrirfice. All of this was done before Aaron entered into his priestly ministry. (40:22-32)
The final act was the erecting of the curtain about the court and tabernacle. (40:33) Then the text reads -- "So Moses finished the work." "The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" and from that time on the priestly ministry began. Immediately from the tabernacle, the Lord, in conversation with Moses, started the instructions concerning the sacrifices and offerings to be performed by priests and people. (Lev. 1:1-2)
The significance of these typical acts dare not be overlooked.
God had told Moses that He would raise up a "Prophet" from the midst of Israel "like unto thee" and in His mouth would be the words of God. (Deut. 18:15, 18)
Thus Jesus Christ, that "Prophet," when He too, had "finished" His work (John 19:30) would go into "the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched" (Heb. 8:2) and "anoint" the Holy Places of Heaven prior to the beginning of His service as the great High Priest after the Order of Melchisedec.
All during His earthly ministry, Jesus was revealing what He would do and be. He lit the lamps. He was "that true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (John 1:9) He declared Himself to be "the light of the world." (John 8:12) He was the true "candle of Israel." (II Sam. 21:17, Heb)
He provided the bread for the table of the Lord. He said, "I am the living bread." (John 6:51) The symbolic bread of the communion service represents His body which He gave for the life of man.
He provided in that sacrifice,' the "incense" to be offered with the prayers of the saints on the Golden Altar before the throne. (Eph. 5:2; Dan. 9:24; Rev. 8:3)
Combining in Himself not only the typical role of Moses, but also He is an High Priest ministering according to "the example and shadow" of the Aaronic priesthood.
Yet much more, He is a Priest-King after the Order of Melchisedec.
The prophet declared that in building "the temple of the Lord," He would "be a priest upon His throne." (Zech. 6:12-13)
This throne, Paul tells us, is "the throne of grace" from whence we obtain "mercy and find grace ... in time of need." (Heb. 4:14-16)
It is the ministry of the light and bread of Heaven in answer to the prayers of the saints made acceptable through the meritorious righteousness of the High Priest which meets the need. It is the ministry of the First Apartment, and there on "the Throne of Grace", Jesus and the Father have joined together. "The counsel of peace shall be between them Both." (Zech. 6:13)
It must not be forgotten that when the ministry moves to the second apartment, mankind faces the Throne of Judgment (Dan. 7:9-10), as preparation is made for Christ to take His "throne of glory." (Matt. 25:31; Rev. 11:15-17)
The sanctuary in type and shadow reveals how we can face the throne of judgment, and be included in the kingdom of glory.
We all need to know this don't we? We all need the revealation from the sanctuary that shows how we can face the throne and be included in heaven's glory.
All of us need this.
We study, we learn, we live, we pray and may God's great mercy bless us through the sacrifice of His only Son now and forever, with the Holy Spirit continuing to guide us in all things.
Amen.

The Sanctuary Pt. 7

Sanctuary Study Continued...
-- The Covenants and the Sanctuaries -- Light from the Throne -- (Continued) --
The sanctuary in type cannot be disassociated from the first or "type" covenant.
In Hebrews Paul stated -
"Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary." (Heb. 9:1)
This text does not say - There was a worldly sanctuary and with it was associated the first covenant.
The primary instrument was the covenant.
The secondary - the "ordnances of divine service" - provided for breaches by those under the covenant.
Neither can the ministry of Christ in the Heavenly Sanctuary be disassociated from the new covenant.
In setting forth Jesus as High Priest forever after the Order of Melchisedec, Paul declares the "sum" or chief point of the whole matter is that Jesus is "a minister of the sanctuary" and that "He is the mediator of a better covenant." (Heb. 8:1-2, 6)
Heb.{8:1} Now of the things which we have spoken this isthe sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on theright hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; {8:2}A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle,which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Heb. {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.
The word translated, "minister" (leitourgos), is a compound word derived from leitos meaning public, and ergon meaning work.
It referred to a person with sufficient means who performed a public duty or rendered a service to the state at his own expense.
How much greater the ministry of Christ who though "rich" rendered a service to the universe at a personal cost difficult for the human mind to grasp.
One who died amid the agonies of Calvary, and who chose to be evermore associated in nature with those for whom He rendered such a service is the "minister of the sanctuary."
But He is also a mediator (mesites), an internuncius, the medium of communication between God and man, and man and God.
Prior to the communication of a single sanctuary ritual, the relationship between the "type" covenant and the earthly sanctuary was established.
The 40-Day Covenant -- Before the proclamation 'of the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai, God sent a message to "the children of Israel." - If they would "obey [His], voice and keep [His] covenant" then they would be a "peculiar treasure" to God, a "kingdom of priests and an holy nation."
Without waiting to hear His voice, the people responded, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do." (Ex. 19:3-9)
Exodus {19:3} And Moses went up untoGod, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain,saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tellthe children of Israel; {19:4} Ye have seen what I did untothe Egyptians, and [how] I bare you on eagles' wings, andbrought you unto myself. {19:5} Now therefore, if ye willobey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shallbe a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all theearth [is] mine: {19:6} And ye shall be unto me a kingdomof priests, and an holy nation. These [are] the words whichthou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.{19:7} And Moses came and called for the elders of thepeople, and laid before their faces all these words which theLORD commanded him. {19:8} And all the peopleanswered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spokenwe will do. And Moses returned the words of the peopleunto the LORD. {19:9} And the LORD said unto Moses,Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people mayhear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. AndMoses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
But when "the children of Israel" heard God's voice, they had second thoughts.
They said to Moses, "Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die." (Ex. 20:19)
God obliged, and had Moses set before them "judgments." (Ex. 21:1 23:19)
These "judgments" were prefaced with a very specific command - 'Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold." (Ex. 20:23)
After receiving from the people a verbal affirmation, Moses wrote these judgments and the preamble in a book which he read to them in a solemn convocation.
They reaffirmed their commitment and Moses sprinkled the blood of sacrifice on both the altar and the people declaring - "Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord made with you concerning all these words." (Ex. 24:3-8)
[This "altar" was not the altar associated with the sanctuary, but an altar of worship in harmony with the instruction found in Ex. 20:24-26]
Following this service, Moses repaired to the mountain and was there forty days. (Ex. 24:18)
There was a condition in this covenant which needs to be especially noted.
It was a covenant without mercy.
The "Angel" who would go before Israel to the promised land would "not pardon their transgressions." (Ex. 23:20-21)
{23:20} Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep theein the way, and to bring thee into the place which I haveprepared. {23:21} Beware of him, and obey his voice,provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions:for my name is in him.
Further, it was based on human promises.
A - single transgression would annul it and break the covenant relatonship.
Two things happened while Moses was in the mount.
First, God gave to Moses a plan whereby mercy could be extended to a transgressor, and through that mercy, He would dwell among the people whom He had chosen. God said "Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them." (Ex. 25:8)
This instruction is recorded in Exodus, Chapters 25-31. God also gave to Moses, the Ten Commandments which He had spoken 40 days prior, but which now He had engraved in stone to be placed in the heart of the sanctuary. (Ex. 32:15-16; 25:16)
This would be fundamental in the covenant God would make with Moses, and the basis of the "new" covenant of which Christ would be the mediator.
The other thing which occurred during the forty days was a continuing experience even as Moses descended the mount.
The people had induced Aaron to make a golden calf in direct violation of the preamble of the covenant to which they had so solemnly committed themselves. Their worship of the calf had turned into a licentious orgy which was in progress as Moses entered the camp. (Ex. 32:1-6, 25)
The enormity of Israel's sin and the fact there was no pardoning provision in the covenant caused Moses to become deeply involved.
He said to them - "Ye have sinned a great sin; and now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin." (Ex. 32:30)
He did plead with the Lord that if forgiveness could not be granted, then "blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." (ver. 32)
The intercession of Moses resulted in a "type" covenant.
After a prolonged interchange between the Lord and Moses, God said - " I make a covenant." (Ex. 34:10)
But it was on a different basis. He instructed Moses - "Write thou these words" - similar to the 40-day Covenant, but much abbreviated - "for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel." (Ex. 34:27)
Moses was to be the "surety" of this covenant and under it, the "worldly sanctuary" functioned.
****If there was one lesson above all others which the 40-day Covenant taught, it was that man is unable to keep his promises, or to do what God commands, no matter how sincere his intentions.***
Centuries later, Jeremiah the prophet would express it in these words - "0 Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (23:10)
However, there was a way, and that way, the way of God, was in the sanctuary. (Ps. 77:13)
**
Pausing here I find it so completely true and worthy of noting again-
****If there was one lesson above all others which the 40-day Covenant taught, it was that man is unable to keep his promises, or to do what God commands, no matter how sincere his intentions.***
Have you ever found yourself making promise after promise to God? Your intention when making the promise is sincere. Then somehow without even knowing quite how you turn around and immediately break that promise? Or maybe it took an hour to break it, or a full day, or a week, a month...a year. Promises, we make them and I can't imagine we don't mean what we're promising God. Of course there are numerous parodies of people in dire straits suddenly promising God to give up this and that and the old other thing, but when things turn around they laugh it off as something not really meant and all. Occasionally we'll get a show with a sincere change of heart, a promise made and then kept.
Promises.
Here are a people that HEARD God. Here are a people that witnessed firsthand MIRACLES of God. Here are a people that had God in a pillar of fire by night guiding them and a cloud by day. These chosen people promised God and in less than 40 days they'd gone back on their promise as if it was of no consequence to do so. They learned otherwise.
I sit here right now and I think about all this and I know that promises do matter and we're accountable for those promises we break. I thank God through Jesus Christ we have a savior, One who was able to keep from all sin and prove that it is possible to live as a human, sinless by the grace of God alone. No human will ever be sinless in and of themselves, never. Any sin we see in our lives and by the grace of God are able to commit to Him to save us from that which would bring us down, well all glory and praise to our mighty Savior and King, because we can't by our own power rid ourselves of it at all.
God made a way for mankind to be saved, we have to grasp hold of that way tightly and never let go, never.
Romans {7:24} O wretched man thatI am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?{7:25} I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So thenwith the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with theflesh the law of sin.

The Sanctuary Study Pt. 6

Sanctuary Study Continue-
(II Chron. 6:18)
'But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!'
A Sanctuary on earth can't contain God, and yet His way is in the Sanctuary.
The Sanctuary He gave to His chosen people signified so much. As with a lot of things we only see the surface layer. How many people used the Sanctuary service of old bringing their sacrfices to repent and ask for forgiveness of their sins and only did so because it was expected of them and not because it had any real meaning to them?
How many people live that way? How many go through the motions? How many never delve under the surface to see what is there?
With the Holy Spirit's guidance we are endeavoring to dig under the surface into the Sanctuary and it's meanings. We know that no earthly Sanctuary can contain God, and yet he's in so many aspects of it in so many ways that we have to strive to understand all we can.
Continuing our study with the aid of William Grotheer's thought paper, where we find within his entreaty for us to use our Bibles with everything he says, checking, searching, comparing, seeking, may God bless us and aid our earnest desire not only for a better understanding of Him, but that in learning of Him we learn of His Son and His Son will learn and come to know us too.
1989 Special 1 -- Light From the Throne -- Part 1 (Thought Paper)
A Comparison and a Contrast -- The wilderness tent was 30x10x10 cubits. See Exodus 26, and the explanation in the SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, p. 640. The Temple built by Solomon was 60x20x30 cubits. (II Chron. 3:3; 1 Kings 6:2). The extra 10 cubits in height can be explained by the size of the cherubim for the most holy place which "stood on their feet" rather than made a part of the mercy seat. (I Chron. 3:10-13) Besides this enlargement, a moulten sea was made - ten cubits across - in which the priests washed. Then ten lavers were formed for the washing of the sacrifical offerings. Instead of one candlestick and one table of shewbread in the holy place, there were ten of each in the Temple of Solomon. (II Chron 4:1-8) The text states that "Solomon was instructed for the building of the house of God." (II Chron 3:3) This instruction came from David of "the pattern ... that he had by the Spirit." (I Chron. 28:12)
{28:12}And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courtsof the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers roundabout, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of thetreasuries of the dedicated things:
Thus in each instance, the two sanctuaries were built from divinely revealed patterns, and each structure when completed was filled with the visible glory of God. (Ex. 40:33-35; 11 Chron. 7:1-3)
{40:33} And he reared up the courtround about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up thehanging of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.{40:34} Then a cloud covered the tent of thecongregation, and the glory of the LORD filled thetabernacle. {40:35} And Moses was not able to enter intothe tent of the congregation, because the cloud abodethereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.
{7:1} Now when Solomon had made an end of praying,the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burntoffering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filledthe house. {7:2} And the priests could not enter into thehouse of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD hadfilled the LORD'S house. {7:3} And when all the childrenof Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of theLORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with theirfaces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped,and praised the LORD, [saying,] For [he is] good; for hismercy [endureth] for ever.
Why the difference, and each constructed from a divine blueprint?
Each was adapted to the time then present.
In the wilderness a structure that would be mobile was required; but made permanent in the established kingdom.
By contrast, the Heavenly Sanctuary in size, even in the Most Holy Place, accommodates an angelic host numbering "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands." (Rev. 5:11; Dan. 7:9-10)
{5:11} And I beheld, and I heard the voice of manyangels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders:and the number of them was ten thousand times tenthousand, and thousands of thousands
{7:9} I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and theAncient of days did sit, whose garment [was] white assnow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne[was like] the fiery flame, [and] his wheels [as] burning fire.{7:10} A fiery stream issued and came forth from beforehim: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and tenthousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgmentwas set, and the books were opened.
Even in the articles of furniture, there is a contrast between the "shadow" and the reality. The golden candlestick of the Mosaic structure was a single column with six branches topped by bowls to hold oil for light. (Ex. 25:31-32) The representation of the heavenly as seen by John is declared to be "seven torches of fire burning before the throne." (Rev. 4:5 Greek)
{4:5} And outof the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings andvoices: and [there were] seven lamps of fire burning beforethe throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
What is all of this saying?
The earthly models were "not the exact image"; but the services performed in each were a "delineation" (hupodeigma) of the reality.
delineate (dî-lîn´ê-ât´) verb, transitivedelineated, delineating, delineates1. To draw or trace the outline of; sketch out.2. To represent pictorially; depict.3. To depict in words or gestures; describe. See synonyms at represent.
Excerpted from The American Heritage®
The emphasis is on the priests "who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things." (Heb. 8:5) Even in their service, there were the "shadowy" sacrifices which could not "make the comers thereunto perfect." (Heb. 10:1)
What is it not saying?
1) It does not deny the reality of "a Heavenly Temple." (Rev. 11:19)
{11:19} And the temple of God was opened inheaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of histestament: and there were lightnings, and voices, andthunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
Heaven is not the sanctuary, no more than the earth was when so taught by William Miller. There is in the Heaven of Heavens a sanctuary.
2) Neither is it denying a movement of God's throne from one apartment to the other as the ministry of Jesus, the High Priest, changes.
At the time of judgment, thrones were placed, "and the Ancient of days did sit." (Dan 7:9) The place where God is pictured enthroned in Revelation 4, is not the place described when "the temple of God was opened in heaven."
(Compare Rev. 4:5 with 11:19) The "movement" of God and Christ in the heavenly ministration is from the "throne of grace" on which Christ sat at the Father's right hand upon entering His high priestly ministry to "the throne of judgment" before which He appears to receive His kingdom. (Heb. 4:14-16; Dan. 7:13-14)
{4:14} Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that ispassed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us holdfast [our] profession. {4:15} For we have not an high priestwhich cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] withoutsin. {4:16} Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne ofgrace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help intime of need.
{7:13} I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one]like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, andcame to the Ancient of days, and they brought him nearbefore him. {7:14} And there was given him dominion, andglory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, andlanguages, should serve him: his dominion [is] aneverlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and hiskingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.
Then following the judgment, "shall He sit upon the throne of His glory." (Matt. 25.31),
{25:31} When the Son of man shall come in his glory,and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon thethrone of his glory
and "He shall reign forever and ever" (Revelation 11.15)
{11:15} And the seventh angelsounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, Thekingdoms of this world are become [the kingdoms] of ourLord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever
***
Going to pause here.
There is so much to take in, there really is. How many people think of a heavenly sanctuary? And yet the earthly was modeled after the heavenly. It's something we need to think about and this study is truly helping us to understand things a little better.
Just thinking about Jesus ministering in the Heavenly Sanctuary on our behalf is awesome.
We do have a High Priest ministering on our behalf, we need to know our High Priest and for Him to know us. It stands to reason that in type a High Priest ministering for someone needed to know them, right? We really have to contemplate this aspect of Christ knowing us, making ourselves available for Christ to know.
May the Lord bless and keep us now and forever, by His grace and mercy. Amen.

The Sanctuary Pt. 5

We're continuing our Sanctuary study learning about the various aspects of the Sanctuary, it's services, it's meanings.
Typifying the ulimate sacrifice for our sins, Jesus Christ, the daily morning and evening animal sacrifices were made as well as the yearly Day of Atonement sacrfices. There is a lot to study here and so lets get on with it.
We're using studies from William Grotheer's Thought Paper to help us along, but most of all we're searching the Bible for the answers we need, praying to the Holy Spirit for understanding by the Grace of Jesus.
1981 Jun -- XIV 6(81)
THE GOSPEL IN THE LIGHT OF THE ATONEMENT -- Now having talked about the Atonement - God's atonement with man, and man's atonement with God - what is the Gospel, the good news about our redemption?
In the KJV of the New Testament, the word, atonement, is used only once.
In Romans 5:11, it reads - "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."
The word translated - "atonement" - is the Greek word katallage (katallagh), which means reconciliation. This word is used only by Paul in the New Testament; and by Paul only in Romans, and his letters to the Corinthians.
In II Cor. 5:18-20, Paul sets forth this reconciliation - this atonement, and indicates that God has committed to us "the ministry of reconciliation."
The message to be given is - "Be ye reconciled to God."
God by the Cross has been reconciled to man, but now man must be reconciled to God.
The good news is that God can still be just; and yet the justifier of those who believe on Jesus.
The story of that reconciliation and how it is to be attained on the part of man, and how it will be achieved is to be found in the message of the Sanctuary for the way of God is in the sanctuary. (Ps. 77:13) This, too, is good news - the Gospel. To mitigate it, to deny it, is to preach an incomplete and partial gospel - another gospel.
*
1989 Special 1 -- Light From the Throne -- Part 1
...
Since the way of God, the way of holiness, is in the sanctuary, and we are admonished to follow "holiness, without which no man shall see God," it is mandatory that we know and understand the light which came from the Throne of God. (Ps. 77:13; Heb. 12:14)
((((Ps. 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a Godas our God?
Heb. 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without whichno man shall see the Lord)))
"If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." (I John 1:7)
Is not this cleansing the promised result of Christ's final atonement? Would not the "fellowship" fulfill the High Priestly prayer which Christ prayed just before entering the Garden of Gethsemane? (John 17:21-23; 18:1) Then let us walk progressively and understandingly in the light from the Throne, and soon we may walk in that light at the Throne.
(((({17:21} That they allmay be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, thatthey also may be one in us: that the world may believe thatthou hast sent me. {17:22} And the glory which thou gavestme I have given them; that they may be one, even as we areone: {17:23} I in them, and thou in me, that they may bemade perfect in one; and that the world may know that thouhast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
{18:1} When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forthwith his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was agarden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.)))
We would suggest that this Commentary, and the one to follow, be read only with the use of the Bible, and that every text cited be carefully checked and studied. It would be well not to read these issues unless one has time to think about what he is reading. In other words, do not read it hurriedly, but meditatively, comparing Scripture with Scripture and conclusion with conclusion. All human work is fallible, and only truth with asolid basis in the revealed Word of God gives a firm foundation. All else is sand. "But the path of the just is as a shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day." (Prov. 4:18) As we approach that perfect day, we can expect the brilliancy of that light to increase. To ignore or to discard past light - the sanctuary truth - is to take us from the pathway to the Throne, and leave us stumbling on in darkness. God forbid!
Light From the Throne -- Part 1 -- At the John W. 0sborn Lectureship Series held in Riverside, California, October 23-25, 1988, commemorating the historic message given at the 1888 General Conference session, William G. Johnsson, Editor of the Adventist Review, presented a paper on "The Biblical Message of Righteousness by Faith." In this presentation, he said:
We gain insight into the biblical message of righteousness by faith as we look at the language of salvation the biblical models of salvation.
The Bible sets forth a series of models to describe the message of righteousness by faith.
What God has done and, is doing for us in Jesus Christ is too rich to be encompassed by any one term.
Among the many expressions the principal ones are justification, reconciliation, forgiveness, adoption, and sanctification.
While the New Testament does use these illustrations - illustrations drawn from a court of law, financial transactions, human relations, and family ties - the editor omits -other major illustrations, except by allusion - warfare, and the model revealed in the Scriptures for man's redemption, the sanctuary.
The book of Hebrews clearly declares that the saving work of Christ can be understood by the model which the Hebrew sanctuary services revealed. In that book, Jesus Christ is presented as the great High Priest, who at the Throne of Grace ministers, to those who come boldly, the mercy of God. (Heb. 4:14-16)
{4:14} Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that ispassed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us holdfast our profession. {4:15} For we have not an high priestwhich cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet withoutsin. {4:16} Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne ofgrace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help intime of need.
The sum of the whole matter is declared to be that we have an High Priest who is able to save to the uttermost, seated at the right hand of that Throne, "a minister of the sanctuary," even'"the true tabernacle." (Heb. 7: 25; 8:1-2)
{7:25} Wherefore he is able also to save them to theuttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever livethto make intercession for them.
{8:1} Now of the things which we have spoken this isthe sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on theright hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; {8:2}A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle,which the Lord pitched, and not man.
Paul further testifies that the Aaronic priesthood served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things." (8:5)
{8:5} Who serve unto the example and shadow ofheavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when hewas about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, thatthou make all things according to the pattern shewed to theein the mount.
He further writes that when the wilderness tent had been erected, "the priests went daily into the first" apartment "accomplishing the service; but into the second, the high priest alone once every year." (See 9:6-7)
{9:6} Now when these things were thusordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle,accomplishing the service of God. {9:7} But into thesecond went the high priest alone once every year, notwithout blood, which he offered for himself, and for theerrors of the people:
It should be thoughtfully noted that it was the Holy Spirit who signified that this dual service was "cast down beside" the heavenly reality that we might understand its ministry (Heb. 9:8-9; see below on parabole).
{9:8} The Holy Ghost this signifying,that the way into the holiest of all was not yet mademanifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:{9:9} Which was a figure for the time then present, inwhich were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could notmake him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to theconscience;
The Holy Spirit sent to guide into all truth unequivocally set forth the duality of the Hebrew sanctuary service as the model.
This sanctuary model dominated the Old Testament revelation and became the foundation of Adventist theology. This is not saying that the New Testament illustrations are not found in the Old Testament, nor is it saying that Adventist theology rejects these New Testament illustrations. It is saying that true Adventist theology accepts the dictum of Jesus that "salvation is of the Jews." (John 4:22)
{4:22}Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship:for salvation is of the Jews.
This dictum must be understood in context. Jesus was conversing with a woman of Samaria. The different places held sacred by the Jews and the Samaritans had been interjected into the conversation. Jesus declared plainly - "Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews." Basically, the two religions did not differ much at the time of Christ, but Jesus declared the model associated with the temple revealed the way of salvation.
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The relationship of the earthly sanctuary model to the Heavenly reality is expressed by different words:1) Hupodeigma. In Hebrews 8:5, it is translated, "example" and in Hebrews 9:23, the word, "patterns," is used. It means: figure, copy, representation, or a delineation of a thing.2) Skia. In both Hebrews 8:5 and 10:1,
{8:5} Who serve unto the example and shadow ofheavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when hewas about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, thatthou make all things according to the pattern shewed to theein the mount.
{10:1} For the law having a shadow of good things tocome, and not the very image of the things, can never withthose sacrifices which they offered year by year continuallymake the comers thereunto perfect.
It is accurately translated, "shadow." The language of Hebrews 10:1 is emphatic that skia is the exact opposite of "the very image (eikon). Now eikon transliterated into English is "icon" or an idol. How often we have been guilty of making the "shadow" the very image, and have theologically worshipped the idols thus created by going into great detail, giving significance to every article and symbol of the sanctuary structure beyond the meaning and purpose revealed in Scripture. Whole series of studies have been built around the furniture, curtains, walls, and vestments of the ancient sanctuary layout, neglecting the objective indicated by the Holy Spirit the significance and lessons of the service performed.
3) Tupos. Transliterated this word is "type," but translated "pattern" in Hebrews 8:5.
{8:5} Who serve unto the example and shadow ofheavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when hewas about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, thatthou make all things according to the pattern shewed to theein the mount.
It means "the pattern in conformity to which a thing is made."
4) Parabole. This word is translated "figure" in Hebrews 9:9.
{9:9} Which was a figure for the time then present, inwhich were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could notmake him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to theconscience;
Transliterated it is our word, "parable," and means literally - "to cast down beside." It is a comparison of one thing with another.
This last concept, that the earthly sanctuary is a figure, a comparison - "symbolic" (NKJV) - needs to be rigidly adhered to; and that in comparing the two, we dare not project onto the reality, the limitations of the "shadow." The prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the Temple needs ever to be kept in mind.
He asked - "But will God in very deed dwell with men on earth?" Then in answering declared - "Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house which I have built!" (II Chron. 6:18)
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Pausing here for today.
Seriously studying this we find this-
Ps. 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
Heb. 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
I John 1:7 If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
We need to understand the symbolic aspects of the sanctuary. We can't however bring God down to our level. We have to look up to His level, not that we'll understand fully, but we are in danger when we try to bring God down to us. God will forever be our Creator, Christ our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit our guide, anything that can help us to learn the ways of the the Lord, ways that can guide us and enlighten us are worth studying.
May God continue to bless us as we delve into things even further.
{4:14} Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that ispassed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us holdfast our profession. {4:15} For we have not an high priestwhich cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet withoutsin. {4:16} Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne ofgrace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help intime of need.
By His Grace.
Amen.