| God's Thrones Lord's Day Change God? |
For a better understanding of the provenance of the Hebrew scriptures study the `Toledoth' of Genesis. |
English: Toledoth in Genesis German: Toledoth im 1.Buch Mose |
Hebrews 9 Satans Thron Answers Master Key |
Great Concepts of the Power of God and the Hebrew Faith Since there are so many websites on Archaeology and Egyptology discussing the many gods of Egypt and concepts behind them, we thought to present the Hebrew concepts of faith and God to balance the available information on gods and God. |
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Introduction
The whole Jewish economy was a compacted example of their faith [20] in salvation from sin. While we have many wall sculptures, temples and gods in Egypt, there is only one God and one Temple in Hebrew beliefs.[50] Every act of the priest in the shadowy (Hebr. `skia', Hebr. 8:5; 10:1) service, as he went in and out, was an example or prophecy of the Saviour's work when he would enter heaven as the repentant sinner's substituting High Priest.[100]
"It was the good news of redemption in examples and figures", the Lord's object lesson or kindergarten for the "children" of Israel. Being surrounded by the idolatry [150] and burdened down from years of slavery in Egypt the Israelites had only a dim understanding of the faith of their patriarchal fathers. They had become children in comprehension, and in order to reach them, God taught the gospel in a way that the senses could grasp.
The concept of sin and Saviour goes hand in hand in biblical themes. There once was a being whom God had placed over all of his created beings. This highly placed being, Lucifer [200], became haughty and self-centered in his own imagination which at last led him to want to take the place of God himself. A created being wanted to take the place of his creator. From that time on, in distant eons, Lucifer sowed thoughts of doubt and lies among other angelic beings. All the universe knew that sin would bring death but Lucifer told them in essence when he insinuated:
`No! You and I were created immortal. If you die, it is God who killed you.'
"And the serpent said to the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God does know
With such untruths about God Lucifer succeeded in bringing 1/3 of the angelic host on his side, Rev. 12:4. But what is God's answer to the lie of Lucifer about death? Sin is the transgression of God's law and thereby separation from God, the source of life. It is like unplugging the battery charger. The radio will still play as long as there is sufficient energy coming from the battery, but once the battery charge is used up the radio will play no more, all sounds from it will die. Sin has occurred and we live, so to speak, on battery power today. But a day of restoration was promised, restoration for those who repent of their mistakes, change their life [300] and claim the Saviour's redemptive power [400]. Some day there will be no more sin and sinners, for God promised to restore the world to the way it was originally planned to be.
All God's beings have their own free will and so did Lucifer. Sin [500] was first born in his heart. Let us in imagination go back to the wilderness tabernacle, and see if we can discern the glorious gospel of the Saviour, the Christ, shining from the Jewish temple service economy.
Already in the days of Abraham God told the patriarch that his descendants would be strangers in a land that is not theirs and serve them; and that they shall afflict them (a part of) 400 years. And the end of that time God will judge and they shall come out with great wealth and in the fourth generation after being freed they shall come again into the land Abraham was living in. (Genesis 15:13-16)
Following the great Flood in the time of Noah, the Lord God chose Abraham as the father of a people who would teach the plan of salvation by type and symbol.
And God entered into a covenant with His servant, employing such forms was customary in his days for the ratification of a solemn covenant agreement. By divine direction, Abraham sacrificed a heifer, a she-goat, and a ram, each three years old, dividing the bodies and laying the pieces a little distance apart. To these he added a little turtle dove and a young pigeon, which were not divided into portions. After this, Abraham reverently passed between the parts of the sacrifice, making a solemn vow to God of perpetual obedience. Watchful and steadfast, he remained beside the carcasses till evening time, to guard them from being defiled or devoured by birds of prey.
About sunset, he fell asleep; and, amazingly, "a horror of a great darkness fell upon him." And the voice of God was heard, telling Abraham that the Promised Land would not be immediately his.
With this covenant the plan of redemption was made comprehensible to Abraham. In the death of the sacrifice, the death of Christ on the cross was prefigured, the reign of sin by the preying birds and the darkness and God's coming in glory by the
"smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces" of the offerings." Abraham learned here that the glory of God is a smoking, hot burning furnace to the sinner and a burning lamp to God's people to see their way. (Genesis 15:9-12, 17; Deut. 18:16)
It was the experience of Sodom and Gomorrah who were destroyed by the glory of God for sin cannot exist in the presence of the Lord and the cities melted away to a gaping hole in the ground. It was the experience which the three friends of Daniel had in Babylon that only their righteous character saved them from certain, fiery death. The king's hotly burning furnace could not singe even a hair on them, but slew the stokers.
The days of Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt, was the time of the birth of the Hebrew nation. It was the occasion when the annual observance of the Passover was introduced to God's chosen people. Together with additional celebrations, Israel was to learn what it means to serve the living God Almighty. Their release from servitude was a picture of release from sin, it was an object lesson of redemption which Passover was a memorial of.
The paschal service was a release from worldly cares, and a reminder of release from incessant and cruel slavery, the wages of sin and a picture lesson of their granted freedom and escape from a hostile land.
While being trained how to bring sacrifices to the Lord, Israel was reminded that it was a grievous sin to eat the blood, Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 17:10,12-14. Not eating blood was a great blessing to the people. It not only saved them from many blood born pathogens and diseases which other nations suffered with greatly, it also set them apart as a special nation, one of whom the Saviour from sin-death would arise.
One of the greatest events in the annals of history is the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai within the hearing of the Israelites. That is why we read,
"For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there has been any such thing as this great thing is, or has been heard like it? Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live?" Deut. 4:32,33.
How glorious an event the proclamation of God's law was is underscored by the record stating that tens of thousands of holy angels, attended this event [510]. We read,
It was evident, before Israel could appreciate the gospel, they must know and understand the meaning, the grandeur, the majesty, and the purpose of God's universal law. So we must know this before. These events have been written down long ago and it is unwise to ignore them. The Bible represents God's recorded testimony for man. Like a nation publishes a law and it is up to the citizens to read it or not, they are held responsible for its demands, so too, and much more so is God's published law, His entire scriptural record, for which the universe is responsible. Such a book is the Bible. We are held responsible for all its contents.
That is why Satan ceaselessly sows doubt. We must not pay attention to his continuous criticism. We must give God our undivided attention by reading and learning His Word. Doubt makes struggle more difficult than the test of faith intended. The Bible teaches we must learn to wait upon the Lord, 2.Chr. 13:10; Isa. 30:18.
Moses was on Mt. Sinai on two occasions, each lasting 40 days and nights, Ex. 34:1-4,28; Deut. 9:9. During this time he neither ate food nor drank water. The whole time his attention was fixed on (prophetic) visions as God was showing Moses how to build the sanctuary and conduct the services therein. Once having experienced this close communion with God, he continually craved that during his ministry. Based on these occurrences Jesus said the words, "Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Matth. 5:6. It is therefore no idle assurance that from the heavenly manna and the water of life springing from the rock which followed Israel, refreshing satisfaction for the soul is derived.
Day and night, for nearly 12 weeks altogether without physical sustenance, the prophet Moses was intensely observing what was demonstrated before him. To Moses was being revealed the sanctuary in heaven. His mind and thought were concentrated on what was being shown to him. Repeatedly the admonition was given: "Look! See! Watch! Make all things according to the pattern, Ex. 25:40; Num. 11:23; 27:12; Ezra 8:29.
God impressed upon the mind of Moses the scenes which were being revealed to the prophet. He was commanded to make such careful and strict observations that every detail of the sanctuary he was to construct would be in perfect agreement with what was revealed to him. Let us notice that the sanctuary and its ministrations did not come to man by study, or by investigation, or by research. It came to Moses directly from God by prophetic (vision) revelation. It was for this purpose that Moses was called to climb upon the mountain to be with God. In this link we show the important highlights of the sanctuary.
The salvation of man and the restoration of the world is God's plan, and not man's. Man is unable to save himself. God's Word has recorded the following: "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceases forever)." Psalm 49:7,8.
The following parable, spoken by the wise woman of Tekoah when she appeared before David to appeal for the return of Absalom, well illustrates God's arrangement for the restoration of man:
A man enters the court with a lamb, which he brings to the door of the tabernacle. With solemn awe, and eyes raised to heaven, he lays his hand upon its head, while his moving lips, like Hannah's of old, betray the burden of his heart. Then he lifts the knife, and takes the life of the sacrifice [520]. His faith lays hold of the bleeding Lamb which would later die on the cross of calvary, and his sin rolls from off his burdened heart on to the great sacrificial lamb. The blood is carefully caught in a pointed silver vessel; every drop is precious, for by faith he views the real sacrifice. The priest meets him, takes the blood of the sacrificed life, and passes from sight within the first veil, while the worshipper awaits with anxiety his return.
Thinking back to the years of his childhood he remembers how his father had told him [580] of the "ark of the covenant [585] overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded [590], and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubim [600] of glory shadowing the mercy seat"; that at times the bright glory of the shekinah above the mercy seat shone out and filled the sanctuary. Hezekiel 9:3; 10:4
He had been told of that mystical table, with its twelve loaves covered with frankincense; also of the beautiful candlestick, whose seven lamps were ever burning; how the golden-plated walls on either side reflected the light, and like great mirrors reproduced again and again the brilliant hues of the richly embroidered curtains with their shining angels. Before the second veil [700], which concealed the sacred ark, he pictured the altar, from which the fragrant incense constantly ascended.
Soon the veil is lifted, and the priest returns. The offering has been accepted. The priest has made atonement, a covering, for him, and he is forgiven (Ps. 32:1,2). In the joy and freedom of forgiveness he prays: "O that the influence of all my sins might be forever wiped away!" when lo, he sees the priest go to the brazen altar in the court, and "pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar". As he sees that blood, symbol of the perfect sacrifice of the Saviour and precious to him, because it represents his own ransomed life as well as the sacrificed life of the Saviour, poured out upon the ground, his heart bounds with joy.
But the slaying of the victim was not accomplishing the atonement since it was the sinner who slew the victim (Lev. 4:1-4, 13-15), etc., and it was the Priest afterwards, who took the blood and made the atonement (Lev. 4:5-12,16-21). Calvary was prefigured by the activities in the forecourt where the altar of burnt offerings stood, not by those of the sanctuary. Therefore, the shed blood of Jesus Christ, while it released the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, could not cancel the sin; the sin would remain on record in the sanctuary until the day of the final atonement [805]. In the Israelite tabernacle the same occurred. The blood of the sin-offering removed the sin from the penitent believer, but it rested in the sanctuary until the day of atonement. On the day of Jom Kippur, the final atonement, the sins of the truly penitent were blotted from the records of heaven, no more to be remembered or come to mind. They were to be laid upon Azazel, the scapegoat and carried into the wilderness to complete the atonement, Lev. 16:10.
The Jewish father grasps the fact that the decree, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake", is met in Christ, and that the promised Saviour will finally cleanse the earth from all the effects of sin.
The body of the lamb still lies near the door of the sanctuary, where the life was taken. He next turns to it, and with a sharp knife separates from the flesh every particle of fat -- "all the fat that covereth the inwards", etc. "All the fat is taken away, and the priest burns it upon the altar of burnt offering for a sweet savor unto the Lord". The fat is burned as a type of the final destruction, when "the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs [810]; they will consume away."Psalm 37:20
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Moses' Teachings About the Messiah and How Jesus Fulfills Them The people of Israel have for centuries been taught that the Jewish people are expressed in the Bible as being God's son. There are many texts they use to prove this, but the most conspicuous one they refer to is the following:
When Moses was inspired to write, "... Israel is my son, even my firstborn" was he thinking of the people of Israel as a whole or one Israelite in particular? Actually Moses wrote, that Israel is the son of the Lord God. But does the Lord God have a human son or a nation of human sons? We know the Lord God has always had faithful people on earth which He loved and cared for. They were the apple of His eye because they put Him first in their lives. They kept His Commandments and obeyed His sayings. They passed on this faith to their children and taught in public how to please God. If they did not do so, hardship would ensue and they would be reminded to return to God, humble themselves, ask for forgiveness, repent and obey. So we read also these words,
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"For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. -- I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. - - The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. -- And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. -- But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. -- I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. -- He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. -- Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. -- My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. -- His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. -- If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; -- If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; -- Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. -- Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. -- My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. -- Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. -- His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me." Psalm 89:18-36. The blessed promises of the Lord are sure "IF" ... they Remember the many scriptures on the "Holy one of Israel": Isaiah 43:3,13; 47:4; 48:27; 49:7: 54:5. |
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| This may sound harsh but we should understand it as a natural consequence. God is not overseeing executions of sinners, Satan is. What the scriptures are trying to say is that a person refusing the saving grace of God has separated him/herself from the source of all life and in effect reaps the consequences of that decision. Because of unbelief about the assertions of God that he offers life, and they die without having asked God for forgiveness, they placed themselves outside the saving grace of God. There is scriptural evidence that hellfire finds those who opposed God's spirit of reprove and promise of salvation in the condition of dry branches or stalks of dry stubble, in other words, when the fire falls they are dead already, not breathing anymore. For if one would try to plant stubble or dry branches, would they grow?[Malachi 4:1; John 15:6] |
How could it be lost on so many that at the beginning (of the sanctuary) is the symbol of sacrifice and at the end in the Most Holy Place is God's law of Love -- the 10 commandments. But over and above the commandments is "the 'mercy' seat".
We notice also that the height of the mercy seat is given as 1.5 cubits and the height of the altar of sacrifices is given as 3 cubits. However, the altar's sides held a brass grate which was sunk down half the height of that altar to the 1.5 cubit mark. Therefore the height of the Mercy Seat and the altar's grate on which the fire was made, and on which the sacrifice was placed, were equal. [Exodus 27:1, 5.] Mercy and judgment combined. One was not greater than the other. There can be no mercy without justice. And no justice without mercy. And God's law is just and His mercy is equal to the task to cover those who stand humble and helpless before the throne in need of a Saviour.
Christ, His character, His sacrifice, His love and mercy are the foundations of the sanctuary. This is why we read,
When Satan tells you that you are a sinner, tell him that Jesus came to save sinners. We have nothing to recommend us to God; but it is our utter helplessness that is the reason why His redeeming power was set into effect. These words of Paul in his letter to Titus reflect the Christians experience in the beginning of his walk with Christ. Overall, Titus is reminded to be well versed in all doctrines and trends at his time in the church to be able to distinguish, counsel and teach. He reminds Titus that He, ... who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Tit. 2:14), expects of us to cooperate with God in removing our iniquities, so God has unto himself a peculiar people. The text teaches that God "might" redeem us from all iniquity, not `has' or `will' but `can' do that with our consent (faith), when we willingly cooperate [818]. The text also teaches that there are "good works" which such a willing person will show.
Therefore, the mercy of God is of course unearned no matter how willingly we cooperate, but without our small part in this salvation, God will not do His. So the underlying gospel, in context, is the same as in all other books of the Bible, we are not saved without our small part of cooperative effort.
Every piece of furniture and every service in it points to Jesus. We understand that the Holy Spirit moved Isaiah to pen these words
The people of Israel did not understand the meaning of these words. Many looked upon sacrificial offerings the way the heathen people looked upon their sacrifices - as gifts by which they themselves might influence the Deity favorable toward them. But the true God desired to teach them that from His own love comes the gift which reconciles people to Himself.
Jesus grew up from birth as any other human being. He had no memory of his divine preexistence. As he lay there in the crib, he reacted just like any other neonate. As he grew up, the stories of his parents concerning the events of his birth and their gentle influence directing him toward the ancient books of the law, the poetry and the prophets were instrumental in patterning his life. These books he was raised on and learned to cherish. When Jesus reached his early Teens his mind expanded and he began to ask questions and grasp deeper thoughts. Having seen the Temple services at Jerusalem, he desired to know their meaning. No one could tell him why the blood of sacrificial animals had to be shed.[820] Knowing the ancient books and the special circumstances of his birth, he wondered if the blood of a lamb could take away sins. The Apostle Paul tells us the thoughts which led Jesus to realize that his life would culminate to that of a `lamb'. We read:
He said to God:
"You do not want the sacrifice and offering of animals, but You have prepared a body for Me.
You are not pleased with the offering of animals burned whole on the altar, or with sacrifices to take away sins.
Then I said,
`Here am I, O God, to do what You want Me to.'"
We learn here the subtle message that Jesus realized at that young age that the millennia of sacrifices fulfilled no purpose in themselves unless they pointed forward to a real sacrifice, Hebr. 9:9; 10:1. From that time on Jesus realized that He must be the Lamb. He realized that He could give His body, that He must bring to an end all these services by offering Himself as the real sacrifice. We read:
As Jesus began to reason that someone as innocent as a young lamb, someone without sin, holy and unmarred by evil, must die the death of such a sacrifice in order to plant in human hearts a hope which He Himself had ascertained for Himself, He knew that His life must come to a dramatic ending. This insight the earthly priests had failed to comprehend. After such thoughts there surged through young Jesus a strong resolve to pattern His life to become the lamb which taketh away the sins of the world. The twelve year old boy now
With the knowledge of His sonship of God unknown to Him, except of what He gathered by faith from the written Word, He grew in the realization of His calling. The mystery of His mission had to unfold to Him when He began to grow in years of accountability. He had to read the scriptures for Himself and find Himself there and take His nature, His mission and all as a matter of faith.
From now on He makes the same decisions He made as the Commander of all the heavenly hosts. He chooses to lay down His life on the cross.[822] The procession of the cross was usually preceded by a trumpeter to clear the road; then followed the herald announcing the name of the criminal who was being led to execution.. Sometimes the name of the criminal and the reason for his condemnation was written on a board and hung on his neck.
Two witnesses of the council which sentenced the one condemned to death were also to accompany the procession. A centurion mounted on horseback, along with a considerable detachment of soldiers, formed part of the procession. Then there were the thieves and the Lord Himself. - The Sunday previous He was hailed as their "King"; that morning the people shouted: "No King but Caesar." The Jerusalem that saluted Him was now the Jerusalem that disowned Him. Since the temple priests had found Him accursed, they exiled Him from Jerusalem. This was the Law of Leviticus that the sin offering should be driven outside the city gates or the camp, as we read,
Then we read,
Simon did not bear the cross willingly, For the Greek word `aggareuw agg' "compel", used in the Gospel, was adopted from a Persian word which stood for compulsory employment Persian despots would require their subjects to perform. Though at first reluctantly, because he was compelled or pressed into service, Simon must have found later "my yoke is easy and my burden light", (Matth. 11:30; 1.Jh. 5:3) otherwise his two sons Alexander and Rufus would not have been mentioned by Paul later as believers in Christ and pillars of the Church, Rom. 16:13.
Our Lord Jesus, during His public life, taught gentleness in return for injury:
Simon may never have heard these words himself; but words were not needed when he followed the Word.
According to the providence of God from long ago, it was the 3 day long Passover when Jesus was led out to die. The first day was the day when the Paschal/Passover lamb was sacrificed. In 31 AD that was a Friday. The second day was the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Christ in His grave. The third day was the day of the First Fruits which symbolized the resurrection of Christ. Even though Israel celebrated these days for centuries, they never cared to earnestly inquire of God their deep meaning, Ezekiel 20:3-8; Jer. 29:19; Isa. 30:9; Gal. 4:21. They could have. They were not illiterate or slack in other types of learning. But somehow they never cared to learn about the deep meaning of the faith of their fathers. Instead they came up with their own opinions and that of the sages.[824]
Jesus chose to lay down His life. Each separate offering presented some different phase of the work of Christ. The incense constantly ascending from the altar was an object lesson of the inexhaustible fund of perfect, Holy Spirit empowered obedience [825], accruing from the sinless life of our Saviour, which, added to the prayers of all the saints as they are offered upon the golden altar in heaven, makes them acceptable before God. The perfume of the incense filled the air far beyond the temple court. Likewise the sweet influence of Christians who live a life of faith in God, is felt by all who come in contact with them. For a true Christian is one who lives a life of continual Holy Spirit empowered obedience to God which comes from the faithful heart and has nothing to do with morality. [828] Morality is outward conformity to right principles of conduct and only strong people can produce it. Morality is good but it has nothing to do with the saving graces of God. Morality can be fake obedience and has nothing to do with the biblical concept of the gift of righteousness which comes from Jesus Christ [830]. Christian living has to do with surrendering our will, our `power of choice' to God learned only through daily communion with God in the study of His Word and never allow another medium (i.e. hypnosis, transcendental meditation) to take over our mind for at first such may appear innocent but in time, a once subtle beginning may turn one's mind toward self, away from the graces of God, for such activities do not originate from God. We are not to give over control of our mind to another entity. The gifts of God for his followers also include repentance (1. sorrow for sin and 2. turning away from sin; Acts 5:31; `gave'). The biblical concept of the nature of man [840] (Romans chapter 6) is that we are at all times either controlled by God or by Satan. There is no middle ground [841]. Putting it in such a way that it may sound to us more positively, however, would be to say, `There are just two kinds of people in the world: those who know that God loves them, and those who don't.' Therefore, saying `Sorry' for a wrong deed is not the way to control our allegiance to our two choices. Saying `Sorry' can easily produce fake obedience. What we need to know is that because of the substituting death of Jesus Christ on the cross we have the option of choosing by means of our `power of choice' who it is we want to control us. Depending on God hones our mind, our `gate keeper', our center of `power of choice' to make right choices because of such a person's faith in a loving God . Therefore instead of saying, `Sorry', we should perhaps say something like, `God willing I shall choose Him instead of doing a wrong deed'.
"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." Revelation 14:1.
In summary: Forgiveness is having Jesus cover our sins so that we can begin to turn our life around and become like him. That way the initial step along the pathway of Christian faith leads to a more advanced step - being more like Jesus until we reach the final step - being with Jesus on the day he prayed for (John 17:24).
What about those who say, we could never reach such a point in life? Can we ever be without sin? None of the apostles and prophets ever claimed to be without sin, neither should we. Read on.
As followers of Jesus, therefore, we ought to contemplate the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, where he suffered and died for you and me. We then should follow him to the tomb and consider the risen saviour and how, a little later, he returns to heaven. By faith we follow him into the heavenly sanctuary, in the very presence of God. There, He will know my name and offer his blood for my repented and confessed sins [845]. By doing so I have transferred my sins to the divine sin-bearer, Jesus Christ, the Substitute. As Christ goes in before the Father's throne, bearing my sins in His blood (Lev. 17:11), they are symbolically transferred from me to the altar by Jesus sprinkling his own calvary blood offering for me. My sins have been transferred to the sanctuary. I am now without a known sin, John 1:9; Psalm 32:1. The same applies to you and anyone seeking to live such a life.
But what about those who are alive and shall see the Coming of the Lord in Glory?
The last generation, those who are alive on that great day of the Lord spoken of so many times in the Bible, how can they, who stand on this sinful world, see the Lord without perishing?
The last generation is a special group. Their experience is described by the prophet this way:
While Jesus came after the time of the prophet Malachi as the Messiah, the book expands on aspects of this coming relating to end time events by speaking of the judgment (Mal. 3:5). The last generation, those who see His Coming, are spoken of as the `sons of Levi'. This is so, because the saints of God, those alive at that time, are also considered to be priests (Hebr. 7:5; 1.Peter 2:9). These `sons of Levi' are being purified and purged like through a fiery trial. They then are spoken of as being represented as an `offering in righteousness', which must mean that the blood of Jesus covered all their sins. [See here and here for more details on how God purifies His people.]
Heavenly agencies are watching a growing Christians life and keep reminding him, `Keep coming, don't give up' through His Word.
Representations of Family Worship
The fire was replenished morning and evening, representing the morning and evening worship in the family. "The whole multitude of people were praying without at the time of incense" [Luke 1:9.10] The lamps were a type of the seven lamps of fire before the throne of God in heaven, which are the seven spirits of God. These "are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth." Seven denotes the complete Spirit of God that enlightened every man that cometh into the world. Its life-giving rays lead the Christian to the celestial city. [847]
The golden table held the "bread of His presence", which represented man's dependence upon God for both temporal and spiritual help and strength.
The ark was the center of all worship; it was the first article mentioned in describing the sanctuary. The law hidden in it was the great standard of judgment, and a perfect copy of that heavenly law before which the character of every child of Adam will be tried in the tribunal on high. If that law witnesses to a character cleansed from sin by the blood of the atoning sacrifice, then the name will be confessed before the Father and the holy angels.
The continual burning of that which typified sin pointed forward to the time when sin and sinners would be consumed in the fire of the last day. As the ashes accumulated upon the altar of burnt offering, they were carefully collected by the side of the altar; and at a certain time the priest laid aside his priestly robes[850], carried the ashes without the court, and deposited them in a "clean place". They were not thrown carelessly to one side, but put in a clean place. These ashes represented all that will be left of sin and sinners after the fires of the last day. "For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
But to you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise, with healing in His wings, and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts."
As the Jewish father walked to the sanctuary with his child, the mind of the child would be attracted by the ashes in the clean place. He would ask, "Why are those ashes put in a clean place, when you throw the ashes from our fire upon the dunghill?" The father's answer would explain the beauties of the new earth, when it shall be made like Eden, and sin and sorrow shall be forever removed. With it would come the gentle admonition to separate from sin, and keep the body temple pure, that in the great burning day the sin may be consumed without the sinner, and he be among the ransomed of the Lord.
After speaking of the peculiar manner in which the Passover should be eaten, God adds, "Your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?" showing that He intended that it should call forth questions from children of all ages, and thus the children become acquainted with the saving blood of the great Passover Lamb. [Exodus 12:26, 27; Deuteronomy 11:19]
The sight of the pile of stones by the Jordan was to arouse inquiries in the minds of the children of future generations, which, if answered properly, would acquaint them with the mighty power of God. The same was true of the whole Jewish service.
The leper that sought cleansing was to bring two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood and scarlet and hyssop. The priest commanded that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel, over running water. The live bird, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop were all dipped in the blood, and the leper was sprinkled with the blood; then the live bird was let loose in the open field. It flew through the air, bearing on its feathers the blood, which was a type of Christ's blood that will purify the air, and remove from it all the germs of sin and death. Now death comes in at our windows, but the blood of Christ will give us a new atmosphere.
Earth, air, and water are elements which compose our planet. All are tainted by sin. The earthen dish containing the blood held over the running water typified the time when earth, air, and water would be freed from the curse of sin by the blood of Christ. The cedar wood and hyssop represented the two extremes in vegetation, from the giant of the forest to the hyssop on the wall. They were dipped in the blood, thus teaching Israel that Christ's blood would free the entire vegetable world from the curse, and again clothe the earth in Eden beauty.
It might seem to man that the curse was so deeply marked upon the earth, air, and sea that it could never be removed; but the little piece of scarlet wool, dipped in the blood with the live bird, the cedar, and the hyssop, was a pledge that the blood of Christ would remove the deepest marks from the sin-cursed earth.
We have the real sacrifice to study as well as the shadow. Type met antitype. The blood of Christ has been shed; the price has been paid that will restore the purity of the earth, air, and sea. The sin-cursed earth received the blood of Christ as He prayed in the garden. "From His hands and feet the blood fell drop by drop upon the rock chiseled for the foot of the cross". Thus through the air passed the precious blood. From the wound in His side "there flowed two copious and distinct streams, one of blood and the other of water." [900] The blood of Christ was brought in contact with the earth, air, and water. The two extremes in vegetation also met at Calvary.
The cross was made of wood taken from the trees of the forest; "and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth."
Was there an antitype of the scarlet while His blood was trickling from those cruel wounds?
Yes. In Jesus as He hung upon the cross, bruised, mocked, and bleeding, the thief beheld the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. Hope kindled his soul, and he cast himself upon a dying Saviour. With full faith that Christ would possess the kingdom, he cried, "Lord, remember me, when Thou comest into Thy kingdom." In a soft, melodious tone, full of love, the answer was quickly given: "Verily I say unto thee today, Thou shalt be with me in paradise." As these words were spoken, the darkness around the cross was pierced with living light.[910] The thief felt the peace and joy of sins forgiven. Christ was glorified. While all thought they beheld him conquered, He was the conqueror. They could not rob Him of His power to forgive sins.[911]
He has fully met antitype; the price has been paid; the blood of the worlds Redeemer has been poured upon the ground. It has dropped through the air from the cruel cross. It has flowed with water from the wound of the cruel spear. The extremes of vegetation also came in contact with it, and he whose sins were as scarlet; experienced the peace of having them made white as snow by the precious blood, even while it was flowing from the open wounds.
It is God's grace which gives us the power to obey the laws of God. For salvation includes the work of Christ for us and in us. These two positions can hardly be separated.
The various feasts throughout the year typified different phases of the gospel. The gospel that convicts and inclines our heart to accept God's free gift for us. Now we look upon the Passover as a type of Christ in an especial sense, for Christ is our Passover. The first fruits offered the third day after the Passover lamb was slain, taught the resurrection of Christ. Type met antitype, and was fulfilled when Christ, the first fruits of them that slept, came forth on the third day, and presented himself before the Father.
Annual sacred feasts included the Feast of a) Passover, b) unleavened bread, c) first fruits, d) Pentecost, harvest or of weeks and e) tabernacles. These were happy occasions with singing, visiting, making friends and eating as the law proscribed. More than a month each year were devoted to feasting underscoring the importance of keeping the purpose and implications of these now instituted occasions before all the people to understand and comprehend their significance. They were not events dreaded but they were looked forward to until sin turned away minds and affections from God and His Word. In time idolatrous tendencies and neglect set in and the former joy disappeared. People looked at themselves, not seeing in each other fellow created beings of God, worthy to be supported with love and compassion, but noticing the thorns and not the roses.
Throughout the varied services of the year, everything pointed forward to the Lamb of God, while it also taught the lesson of cleansing the body, and keeping the temple pure for the Spirit of God.
In the autumn, on the tenth day of the seventh month, came the crowning service of the year. All other services were a preparation for this Day by day the sins of the people had been transferred [920] in type and shadow to the priest and the sanctuary; and once each year these were to be cleansed, and the sins forever removed. Yet, even the fixed date for the event, according to the Bible, was determined by God and of significant symbolic importance. The seventh month stood for the seven days of the week crowned by the seventh day, the Sabbath. The tenth month stands for the 10 commandments.
When the sun gilded the western hills of the land of Judea, on the ninth day of the seventh month, the trumpet was blown throughout Israel. The solemn warning of the trumpet produced a marked effect in every home. All work was laid aside, and quiet reigned. It was not the ordinary rest of the weekly Sabbath, for no evening meal was spread. There was not the usual baking and seething customary on the preparation for the Sabbath. No food was prepared, for this was not a feast, but a fast day. The father of the household gathered his family about him, and read from the Sacred Scroll:
In all these sacrificial offerings there were some things the repentant sinner would accomplish and others were accomplished by the attending priest. The functions of the sinner were:
1. laying on of his hands on the sacrifice
During the years when Israel was faithful in the Gentile homes around them were eating and drinking and all the busy activities of daily life, but quiet reigned in the homes of Israel. In the temple court all was activity. The bullock without blemish was brought (the rabbis counted 73 blemishes), and the high priest laid his hands on his head, confessing his sins and the sins of his household, and with the blood he made an atonement for himself and his household, that he might be prepared to perform the solemn service of the day.
When he came out, after presenting the blood of the bullock before the Lord, two goats were brought, lots were cast, and one was chosen for the Lord's goat, while the other, Azazel, the scapegoat, represented the evil one. The Lord's goat was slain (Hebr. 9:22) while the blood of the Asasel goat was not shed. With the Lord's goat's blood and the golden censer, the priest entered within the second veil of the sanctuary. As he neared the mercy seat with the glorious light of the shekinah glory shining above it, he sprinkled "much incense" upon the coals in the censer, "that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that he die not." Then with his back toward the sun rising, he sprinkled the atoning blood seven times above and before that broken law within the ark. He paused in the holy place, and made atonement for it, and for the tabernacle of the congregation. The golden altar, that had so often during the year witnessed to the sins of Israel by the scarlet spots upon its horns, was now cleansed from all defilement by the blood of the Lord's goat. The people without listened attentively to the sound of the bells on his robes, as he moved about within the sanctuary. [950]
Then, in his character of mediator, the priest took the sins upon himself, and, leaving the sanctuary, he bore with him the burden of Israel's guilt, Hebr. 8:3-6. "When he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat." Lev. 16:20.
Important truths concerning the atonement are taught by the typical service. A substitute was accepted in the sinner's stead; but the sin was not canceled by the blood of the victim for it was sprinkled, deposited, on the ark in the sanctuary. A means was thus provided by which it was transferred to the sanctuary. By the offering of blood, the sinner acknowledged the authority of the law, confessed his guilt in transgression, and expressed his desire for pardon through faith in a Redeemer to come; but he was not yet entirely released from the condemnation of the law as now explained as follows. On the day of atonement the high priest, having taken an offering from the congregation, went into the most holy place with the blood of this offering, and sprinkled it upon the mercy-seat, directly over the law, to make satisfaction for its claims (for it is God's law which defines sin). Then, in his character of mediator, he took the sins upon himself, and bore them from the sanctuary. Placing his hands upon the head of the scape-goat, he confessed over him all these sins, thus in figure transferring them from himself to the goat. The goat then bore them away, and they were regarded as forever separated from the people. As they beheld the high priest lay his hands on the head of the Asasel scapegoat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and sending "him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness", their hearts filled with the peace that passeth understanding. God and man were one. The at-one-ment had been made in figure. The separating sins had been forgiven by the symbolic blood of the Lord's goat and removed. The people rejoiced in God that He had accepted them, and that their sins were all removed from before the Lord.
They praised God for the wonderful gift of His love in giving His Son to die for sinful man, delivering him from sin and the final death.[1000] It was not until the Asasel goat (symbol of Satan who is ultimately responsible for sin and must suffer for what he has caused) was sent away into the barren wilderness that this peace filled the hearts of the people, and they felt that they were forever free from their sins.
But this does not include future sinning. Repentance and conversion are not one time events. They are a continual, daily, hourly process. Jesus says to those who want to serve him, "I (abide) in them, and thou, God the Father, (you) abide in me." John 17:23. That is also the reason why the sanctuary services [1050] continued daily and the passover took place every year.
In the type the sins were laid upon the scapegoat in the presence of the congregation; in the antitype, the Saviour, in the presence of the Father, the angels of God, and all the redeemed host, will lay the sins of the righteous upon the head of Satan, and a mighty angel will lead him away to the desolate earth, where he will remain a thousand years. At the end of the thousand years, he will go into the fire which destroys the earth. Type will fully meet antitype when all the sins of the righteous are burned up with Satan, and nothing remains but the ashes in a clean place. It will then be seen that "Satan bore not only the weight and punishment of his own sins, but also the sins of the redeemed host, which had been placed upon him; and he must also suffer for the ruin of souls which he has caused."
The sins of Israel will never again be found. The former things will not be remembered nor come into mind. Throughout eternity, joy and peace will forever reign. The prophet says, "He will make an utter end; affliction shall not rise up the second time." Nahum 1:9
Type must meet antitype. According to the Bible the great High Priest in heaven is now performing His service. In homes scattered all over the earth faithful children of God will carry out the antitype in the way God directed the Israelites to spend the typical day of atonement.
The pure white royal robe or wedding garment is a gift of God to the believer and covers our deceit, impurity, corruption, and hypocrisy [1060] of our past life but now it must be worn in this life and remain spotless like the character of Christ. Even though we still may sin, if we pray and ask, he is willing to forgive not for us to sin again but to overcome, and with the help of the Holy Spirit refrain from falling again one small step at a time until we are grown up into maturity. For if we love Him, we want to be like Him. How is that done? God chose to reveal Himself to humanity through His Son and the account of His life and that of His chosen messengers as penned in the pages of His Holy Word - By the daily study of His Word.
Probably the heathen who looked upon the Tent of the Tabernacle saw nothing he desired but much he might despise. Nothing he could see on the outside would lead him to want to see the inside. The outward coverings were dusted, dulled colors. A heathen would have to pass the altar of sacrifice in order to enter the Tabernacle and see the beauty inside. Those who would behold the beauty of Christ cannot do so by merely looking on. They must come into the kingdom through the door, pass the altar of sacrifice, where Christ was slain, and enter into the sanctuary by seeking Him. Only then they would realize the contrast of the outside to the gleaming walls of purest gold on both sides, tapestry of white linen overhead, in front and behind, and the light from the golden candlestick sparkling as of many mirrors for the display of each piece of furniture. Inside the Holiest Place would shine the glory of God. And so it is that many who look upon Christianity with contempt, seeing no beauty in the Jesus Christ we worship, after repenting of sin and entering into the sanctuary will cry out, "The half was not told me." Psalms 27:4.
To the devout and earnest Jew the second Temple must in comparison of the house in her first glory, have indeed appeared as nothing.[1100] True, in architectural splendor the second, as restored by Herod, far surpassed the first Temple.[1200] But, unless faith had recognized in Jesus of Nazareth "the desire of all nations," who should "fill this house with glory," [1300] it would have been difficult to draw other then sad comparisons. Confessedly, the real elements of Temple-glory no longer existed. The Holies of Holies was quite empty, the ark of the covenant with the cherubim [1400], the tables of the law, the book of the covenant, Aaron's rod that budded, and the pot of manna, were no longer in the sanctuary. The fire that had descended from heaven upon the alter was extinct. What was far more solemn, the visible presence of God in the Shechinah was wanting. Nor could the will of God be now ascertained through the Urim and Thummim, nor even the high-priest, be anointed with the holy oil, its very composition being unknown.[1500] Yet all the more jealously did the Rabbis draw lines of fictitious sanctity, and guard them against all infringement.
Yet, we read about Jesus, upon contemplating the near end of the Temple, nay, even the city of Jerusalem and the dissolution of the Jewish nation because they would not regard the voice of God's Word, trespassed against His Son and did not repent.
"As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." Luke 19:41-44.
Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed in 70 A.D.
From all we have presented then it is important to recognize that the believer is made acceptable to God by the justifying and sanctifying work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.[1550] This work is directed from the sanctuary in heaven but it is made effectual in the life of the believer on earth. Thus while the heavenly sanctuary is being cleansed, a simultaneous, connected work of cleansing is taking place in the lives of believers on earth. When the source of sins is dried up, then the sanctuary will be closed in heaven.[1552] See here for more.
Some Christian groups seem to view the messages or doctrines [1600] taught in the Bible as static instead of progressive. According to the `static' view, nothing new, or at least very little, has changed with respect to aspects of faith and truths about God and how He works for man today. The `progressive' view recognizes stages in the life of individuals, nations and believers which hopefully advance peoples understanding about God, salvation, events and how God plans to bring to an end the sin problem in this world. The sanctuary services also taught the progressive nature of the gospel. When a sinner first arrived he was still in sin, when he left he could be forgiven. The priest brought offerings on the altar outside the tabernacle, he accomplished services inside the Holy department and once a year in the Most Holy. Many Christians stop at the Holy. They believe that prayers (incense) are being answered, that the bread symbolizes the body of Jesus Christ, and the golden candlestick the Spirit of God working among people. The seven lamps or stars represent the bearers of the light of God to the world, that is the evangelists, preachers, teachers, gospel workers, medical helpers, missionaries - all those involved in the work for the growth of the Kingdom of God, Rev. 1:16.
The Most Holy is Stacked Full of Meaning
If Christians would advance and take a look inside the Most Holy department of the tabernacle sanctuary, what would they see? Well, there is mostly just one item inside, the Ark of the Covenant covered with the lid referred to as the Mercy Seat which in turn is overshadowed by two angels - all items of direct and symbolic meaning. Inside the Ark of the Covenant they would see the two tables of stone inscribed with the eternal Law of God. In an outside pocket they would see the scroll or book written by Moses containing the laws pertaining to the priests, services, sacrifices, etc. in the temple. In the center of the 10 laws inside the Ark they would read who God is, the creator of heaven and earth. They would read how and when we are to worship Him [1700]. God at times would visit the Most Holy and his glory gleam visibly for those nearby. This is also the message of the first angel in the Book of Revelation:
We find, therefore, something like a health message here presented - all emanating from the Most Holy in the sanctuary by the term `glory'.
Can we find any other `hidden' messages in the sanctuary and the Most Holy?
We certainly can. Click Here for it.
What we have for now highlighted in the Most Holy are the Ten Commandment Law of God proclaiming God's sovereignty as our Creator [1705] deserving our unreserved allegiance and giving us the Sabbath Day to keep holy. We also have the injunction to glorify God in our mind and body. Are God's professed followers patterning their life to worship the God of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Mary and Joseph, John the Baptist (whose mother was of the tribe of Levy - the daughters of Aaron, Lk. 1:5), the disciples and Paul, this way? What do we hear them say?
What do they say about healthful living and taking care of our body temple?
We hear some say, `Anything goes!' `It's not what you eat that defiles a man.' `God has made everything clean!' `Just pray!'[1710]
Is there anything else that we can begin to comprehend when we look inside the Most Holy? Well, we mentioned the law. What does the (Ten Commandment) law do? It points out our sins, James 1:22-25. We recognize our utter sinfulness which leads us to repentance and to confessing them. In doing so we send our sins to Jesus - into the Most Holy place.
And what does Jesus do with those sins?
As we learned above, he puts them in the sanctuary covered by his blood - but today it is the sanctuary which is in heaven from which the design of the Hebrew sanctuary was copied according to divine instructions, Exodus 25:40; Hebr. 8:5; 9:23.
What happens to all those sins that have been repented of and confessed on the Day of Atonement?
They are going to be taken out, as we read in Leviticus and the whole Bible, and cleansed, and not held against God's people.
The phrase, "by the name of Jesus ... whom ye crucified" (Acts 4:10), helps us realize that the cross is just one part of a whole system of redemption - for the word `by' makes the death of Jesus on the cross instrumental - the means to achieve - it implies this redemptive act of God is a planned undertaking. The entire scope of redemption scans over the whole of salvation and human history. Sin first arose in heaven and the path laid out by God to bring it to an end involves tasks in heaven and on earth. Jesus dying on the cross is the assurance for victory over sin once a person accepts and applies the implications of this event in his or her own life.
Much is being said about the atonement being completed at the cross. Such a view can easily be taken when one studies the sanctuary services superficially, not in enough detail, assuming reading a verse here and there is enough. We endeavor to present the details, the whole picture. We need to consider the following points to answer the question:
We understand that the blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, did not cancel the sin. The sin would remain on record in the sanctuary until the final atonement on Yom Kippur in the earthly sanctuary; a different `Yom Kipur', in the heavenly sanctuary, began initially as the Investigative Judgment, explained above as the searching for the fat (sins) in 1844. What we have then is this, the perfect sacrifice was complete at the cross, but the atonement was not complete until the High Priest came out of the Most Holy place through the Holy to the Outer Court, before the accumulated sins of God's people for the year were laid upon the scapegoat to complete the atonement, Lev. 16:20-24.
After his ascension, we established, Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary. Since the heavenly sanctuary, of which the Israelite was a copy, is also described as having a holy
The sanctuary and God's faithful people
Another thought on the sanctuary often overlooked is that, when the saints were defiled, the sanctuary was defiled at the same time.
All agree that it is the heavenly sanctuary referred to in this prophecy of Daniel. But does the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary involve and affect the people of God? Some believe that this cleansing is only a judicial act of God in heaven which does nothing for the human soul. That is also the reason why this verse in Daniel 8:14 has little impact on the heart of the Church![1800]
We must clearly establish the identity between the sanctuary and the worshippers. This relationship is close and decided.
"And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." Rev. 13:6
According to these scriptures the saints "worship" in the heavenly sanctuary; they "dwell in heaven."
Their bodies are on earth, but their thoughts, minds, affections, sympathies, and prayers are by faith in the heavenly temple, John 15:1-4. In the same way and in the same sense that they dwell in Christ, they dwell in the temple. Just as Jesus and His people are one, so the sanctuary and God's people are one. This was quite clearly taught by the earthly type sanctuary.
When the saints were defiled the sanctuary was defiled at the same time (Lev. 20:1-3; Ezekiel 5:11; Num. 19:13,20).
When the sanctuary was cleansed the people were cleansed (Lev. 16:30,33).
The inseparable identity of the sanctuary and the people is also clearly demonstrated in the book of Daniel. Here the prophet saw the sanctuary and the people of God being stepped on, trodden down. They shared a common fate at the hands of the Antichrist (Dan. 8:10-12).
Then the question is being asked, "How long shall the vision ... to give the sanctuary and the host (God's people) to be trodden under foot?" The answer given is, that at the end of the 2300 days,
Why did the angel not answer the question by saying, "Then shall the sanctuary and the people of God be restored?" Clearly, the restoration of the people is implicit in the restoration of the sanctuary. If the question had not been answered, the inquirer would certainly have asked, "When will the people also be restored to their rightful state?" The conclusion follows that the restoration of the sanctuary includes the restoration of the faithful.
It must be obvious that the sanctuary cannot be cleansed until those who dwell in it are cleansed. Leviticus 16 plainly states that both the sanctuary and the people were typically cleansed by the special services of the day of atonement. Numerous other Bible passages show that the cleansing performed in the heavenly sanctuary includes a cleansing of the saints because God wants to "dwell" with His people, Malachi 3:1-3; Acts 10:43,44; John 20:21,22; Rev. 21:3.[1850] Not the wickedness of the world, but the attitude of God's people has delayed the Second Coming of Jesus. Heaven is not waiting for Satan's sold-out followers to become more evil. Heaven is waiting for those who claim to be Jesus' followers to become more Christ-like. God is waiting for Christians to become more Christian. Accept God's Travel Package from Genesis to Revelation to His world.
Here we read the same meaning we found in Daniel 8:14, "The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple ... and he shall purify the sons of Levi" (God's people), Mal. 3:1,3.
Hebrews 8:1,2 also echoes Daniel 8:14, "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man."
We learn from this that the Jewish tabernacle was a type of the Christian Church. The church on earth, composed of those who are faithful and loyal to God, is the `true tabernacle' of which the Redeemer is the minister. The Bible teaches that God has only one church, singular, on earth.[1900] God, and not man, pitched this tabernacle on a high, elevated platform. This tabernacle is Christ's body, and from north, south, east, and west He gathers those who shall help to compose it. A holy tabernacle is built up of those who receive Christ as their personal Saviour. Christ is the minister of the true tabernacle, the high priest of all who believe in Him as a personal Saviour.
Conclusion: While Christ is cleansing the temple in heaven from the sins of the people, we must work in harmony with him on earth, cleansing the soul temple from its moral defilement.
That is an essential part of the message of the sanctuary!
The Hebrew Sanctuary and its expanded meaning
For centuries the Jews had some form of services going on in their Temple, perhaps except during phases of spiritual decline and effects of wars. But it is among the very important lessons which God used to drive home the gospel message to His people. It is of great relevance even today and is highlighted in the ministry of Jesus, in the writings of the apostles, in the Book of Hebrews and in Revelation. There are two main phases to the services - the daily (as the suffering sacrifice) and the annual Day of Atonement (culminating as a conquering King). The Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, took place on a certain date each year - the 10th day of the 7th month. So even this date has symbolic meaning. What could it mean? The 10th day, the Ten Commandments, and the 7th Hebrew month Tishri, the Sabbath, are highlighted here.
This idea of date we shall now explore. Jesus came and died on the cross when the time was fulfilled! Each year during the Christmas season Christians can think of these things - but usually that is where it ends and the gifts take over our imaginations. To help us understand what comes now, we shall use earthly examples. Earthly societies are governed by laws which are often held in such a high regard that offenses against them are punished by various means, including jail time and even harsher sentences. So the law is nothing to be trifled with. If that is true for man's law, what about God's law? Of course church creeds teach law keeping, at least those laws they want to comply with. In our courts, dates are set for a trial. What about God, does he conduct a trial? And so it is that we read and hear of a `Judgment Day' where God will appear and do something. To get around the Judgment Day of God, some may claim that God will be judged? God will be judged?
What is that about the date for this `Judgment Day' to happen? When is `the summons' served, to use language we understand?
In the Jewish calendar Yom Kippur was and still is for some an important day just like for us certain anniversary dates are. On those dates we show up where the action is. We also show up in earthly courts on the date specified in a summons, but in the Bible God dealt with millennia of history, long range time for many tongues and nations of people. He chose not to use just one calendar method to pin down a date. God gives prophetic time based on scriptural verifiable events and used his mouthpiece, the prophet Daniel to lead out in instructing us for this purpose. That Daniel was a good choice is easy to see. He was among those Jews who ended up in captivity in Babylon - jail time, so to speak, was being served for the sins of their fathers who did not follow God's requirements. Well, that is the way man frequently looks at it, but in God's view, there are also natural consequences for sin.
Being stuck in Babylon, and knowing the 70 year prophecy for the duration of their captivity, Daniel desired to know when the 70 years would end. As a result he prayed to God for answers which he received. But as we soon discover, many Christians shrink back when they encounter such prophetic interpretations. Why is that? Is it perhaps because we, after being steeped in this sinful world for so long, became adapt at doubting God on some issues because faith in them may lead to uncomfortable conclusions? Conclusions which the church headquarters have not supported over the years because they too are made up of people whose faith is rooted in the level of understanding of their predecessors? And so theologians explain or spiritualize many relevant things away and sometimes it seems that some make Bible truths appear as if they disgust them. In such cases we need to remember, who it is who is working to make it look like that the Word of God is failing. But we need to remember that we, as thinking people, appear before God without these men at our side, but only Jesus, when we are summoned. We are to seek after these things on our own. The Bible was not written only for pastors and theologians. We are to pray for understanding and study every day to gain knowledge about God's Word for us. Then, when they preach, we are to listen if that is so.
Elsewhere we pointed already out the two central aspects of the Hebrew sanctuary:
Thus we see that the central object of the first square of the Israelite sanctuary compound was the altar of burned offerings - an object lesson of Jesus dying on the cross for all mankind.
In the second square we find the ark of the covenant at its center with the Mercy Seat and the Law of God in the inside. This law represents the character of God. Since man broke it, the cross became necessary to resolve the problem of sin. Many churches teach about the altar of burned offerings when they speak on the cross and what happened there. Fewer speak on the equally central and important standing of the ark and the law contained therein in a respectful, obedience counseling way. Jesus, our example, obeyed God's law [1970]. In the Bible we are reminded to follow His example - no excuses accepted.
It is the problem of sin which brought on the need for a `Judgment Day'. The main defendant is Satan, but nevertheless, our record will also be examined and decisions made by ourselves will be examined, if we are save to be saved for eternal life or not, or if we decided against God, and shall reap the consequences of that. In that sense, the judgment is a finalizing step for those who are already settled in faith to God, as the apostle Paul considers the sweeping view from "before the foundation of the world" to be "himself" with Jesus in heaven, which of course does not happen until after his second coming, Ephesians 1:6:
But its easy to be saved. Its so easy. Everyone can be saved. All God asks us to do is `Have faith in Him'. Believe Him and accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour. Read his letters to us and learn His will for us. Instead of reading all those novels, why can't you read God's novel to us? Is that so hard to do?
For some it may be. Reading God's Word apparently, does not come naturally. We have to `fight' every day for time to spend in His Word. But even so, its still easy considering the life enhancing blessings we shall receive [1980]. Blessings we already mentioned above.
`Yom Kipur' is and was a day of reckoning. People had to prepare themselves to meet God and confess their sins so they could be taken into the sanctuary with the blood of the sacrifice symbolizing the blood of Jesus, and be placed on the scapegoat and thus be carried out (cleansed) of the sanctuary (Lev. 23:27; Num. 29:7, "afflict your souls"). Unless people followed these ceremonies their sins remained with them. So it is still today. While we do not celebrate or have a `Yom Kipur' day in Christianity, we know from the Bible that Jesus serves in the Heavenly Sanctuary as our High Priest. From the days of the apostles, and on during the time of the reformations, Jesus served in the heavenly realms hearing the repentend sinners prayers for forgiveness of sins and applying his blood and deposit them in the heavenly sanctuary as only God can do it. The earthly services were to show us these proceedings, which are necessary, for sin is a serious thing which cannot just be swept under the rug. There are books of record the Bible says. That alone ought to cause us to take a serious look at these proceedings.
We discuss the views on the time prophecies of Daniel in more detail here. We learn from these prophecies that the 490 day/year period and the last week, the seven day/years of it, signify the ministry, death and early apostolic ministry. These 490 years were cut off from something. To be cut off, this `something' had to be longer and therefore the 2300 prophetic day/years reach from the same starting point as the 490 day/years beyond the time of Jesus on earth into the future. The math is simple. They began in 457 BC ended in 1844 AD [2000]. At that time, scripture teaches, the heavenly `Yom Kipur' started - Jesus' put on the robes of a high priest and began this last phase of the two part phases of the sanctuary services - a period of judgment. The idea of judgment is made obvious by the simple fact that in the Most Holy the law was deposited, the law which the heavenly judge uses to decide our cases. Unless Christianity proceeds from dwelling on the teachings having to do with the holy apartment, the alter of burnt offerings, the incense alter and shew bread, they will miss following Jesus into the Most Holy. This is what has happened. Most Christian churches have failed to understand the time prophecies and remained in the outer courts while Jesus proceeded into the Most Holy [2100] and the significant lessons God wants us to understand from in there as already explained above. That is why Bible faith is progressive, not static. We must not fall behind for then things can happen which will side track our faith. Here is how:
This cluster of truths we need to comprehend now that we are not as ignorant as when we first believed. We have grown and so should our faith and character grow. God in his long suffering [2250] is waiting for us to fall into line. But there will be an end.
We have talked about how the sanctuary services in the heavenly realm are portrait in the Bible, how God accomplishes them in the holy and later in the Most Holy according to the `shadowy' services of the Israelite tabernacle. At some point in time, the high priest would enter into the Most Holy on the day of `atonement' to remain inside for the short time needed to `cleanse' this portion of the tabernacle. These ceremonies, being images of what Jesus would be accomplishing in reality in the heavenly sanctuary, our question may be: Since Jesus serves now in the Most Holy, how much longer will that be the case and what happens when his services are finished? These are interesting and important considerations to study!
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The Importance of Keeping in Order Our Own Sanctuary - Our Mind Today we live in perilous times because man has learned to influence the public, you and me, by using sophisticated forms of mind control when it comes to decision making. Notice, I don't say `Our decision making', for we may not even realize that we are not following our own decisions but those, highly trained advertisers suggest to us. At various times these concepts of mind control were known by such terminology as phrenology, psychology, mesmerism - called hypnotism today, channeling, anchoring and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming).[Please read Ministry of Healing, Medical Ministry and other SoP books to fortify your mind on truth from God and not fall into such wicked plots.] Changing minds was used extensively on POWs during and after the Korean War. While in the days of WWII GI's would attempt or accomplish escapes from prison camps, none of those took place in the 50's wars in Asia. Why? Because the Chinese, well trained in American Institutes in Psychology, learned how to change the soldiers minds about their situation and their country. Thousands of POW's were kept in check by psychological means and attempted no escapes even though only six armed guards were on duty. Today job interviewers, employers, authorities, sales men and even church ministers are sometimes thought to use similar tactics. In the case of church ministers, if a preacher does not reproof and rebuke sin, watch out. Here is how it may work out. To reproof and rebuke sin is commanded by God. [2.Tim. 3:16; Jeremiah 2:19; John 3:20] In fact Christians are even supposed to denounce sin. Well, on hearing these words `reprove' or `rebuke' the first time our eyes may narrow and we may get a negative feeling about it. However, we should not think of `reprove' and `rebuke' as something negative. Instead, we should think of it as warning signs - `Do Not Touch'. Signs we may see on electrical equipment. These signs are intended to save lives, not in order to give us negative feelings about electricity. To `rebuke' and `reproof' sin is also intended to save us from choosing a path in life which would lead away from the source of Life - God. But the days when Jesus and his disciples walked this earth are long gone [2900] and today some of these concepts have different connotations. Someone who speaks against sinning may be viewed as too critical - a buzz word which causes many people to react negatively. This may be an example of mind altering words. We have here terminology, which is supposed to result in positive attitudes, turned into something negative. Call `reproof' by a different name, which gives it a different meaning, and you have changed a person's mind. Now that warning sign on the electric fence is viewed as a critical statement insinuating that we would touch everything we see. The intended meaning has undergone a subtle change many may not know how to describe. Such tactics may also be used in churches where they may get known under such terminology as smooth talking, silver tongued ministers. The serious minded clergy men are now regarded as stuffy, no fun and too critical and narrow minded. But they may take their cues from the Word of God and try to warn people of consequences to bad choices. But since consequences often do not show up until much later, few, or even nobody, can understand them. When, eventually, consequences do show up people have already forgotten what led to them. They may attribute even wrong causes for ruined lives. What we should learn today is to know something about the power of psychology as used today on the public and how it makes us into something like automatons, people who follow the crowd, Hollywood-star craziness, looks and wealth crazy and on it goes. Our educational system and the media has people turned into automatons who actually can believe now that 50 foot long dinosaurs could emerge from one celled amoebas without hundreds of thousands of intermediate creatures in the fossil record. Now that is exercising faith in something based solely on the words of men who made people believe they know how to explain everything. But in biology, an explanation does not mean it occurred that way, does it? We know that Spiritualism teaches that it makes no distinction between good and bad, that man is the creature of progression; that it is his destiny from his birth to progress, even to eternity, toward the Godhead. Evolution, therefore, has its roots in a form of Spiritualism. In the larger religious realms people are following the wonder makers, healers, and miracle makers as if they were sent from God. People even let strangers at the county fair grounds use hypnotism to put them asleep, that is a most dangerous undertaking and no one should ever participate in it. They forget the council of Jesus and the apostles to proof everything by what the Word of God teaches and hold fast only that which is good and solid. Among the proof questions may be these:
1. Does it lead to faith in God? Beware of the snares of the master psychologist who knows how to use many astounding mind tricks to snare people into believing that black is white and white is black. Our question ought to be, `Are these things so after a thorough research study of the Word of God?' Therefore, we are reminded to ".. put on the whole armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:11-12. The Sacrifice Challenge Study Question: Speaking of the New Covenant, the prophecy of Malachi says:
Can you explain when and in what manner this prophecy is fulfilled in the New Covenant?
Our Answer: Please allow me to paraphrase this scripture so we think of it in terms understood today.
Incense represents the prayers of God's people seeking to be forgiven. In OT times sinners brought an innocent lamb (Christ) to be offered in their stead, thus a pure sacrifice means to say that before the offering the sinner confessed, repented and prayed to God (purposing in his mind not to fail God ever again this way), offered his sacrifice and when accepted was forgiven. In NT times, our spiritual eyes are to look at what Christ does in the heavenly sanctuary today. - Thus we realize, because Israel had no Scriptures in the days of Moses, the Lord's blessings would be seen in their delivreance from slavery, the crossing of the Red Sea, and the provisions made for their food and water. His keeping power would have to be seen by His presence in the sanctuary, whose ritual of burnt offering, incence, and the menorah - burned day and night. - Here is clear evidence that OT religion was all of grace (Numb. 5:24-26; Gal. 3:7-14; Hebr. 4:1,2), since only God could bless Israel according to the Aaronic prayer and bring peace in their life, Matth. 11:28-30. |
Notes and References with pale yellow background
[0020] "Faith is expecting and depending on the Word of God to do what it says, Mt. 8:10. `Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.' (Elliott J. Waggoner) It is the medium through which truth or error finds a lodging place in the mind. It is by the same act of mind that truth or error is received, but it makes a decided difference whether we believe the Word of God or the sayings of men." 1SM 346; 1.Timothy 1:19. Faith is neither sight nor feeling, Hebr. 11:1. It is not reality yet. It means opportunity for change, the initiation of which rests jointly with God and man. Faith is about changing what we are; not about getting stuff. The very fact that He allows you to undergo a temptation means that He is giving you a vote of confidence. He knows that in His strength you may overcome. We need to learn how to take advantage of the faculty of faith our heavenly Creator has built into us. He loves to recreate us in His moral image for without faith man only dies. He draws close to us, but are we willing to draw close to Him? The choice, as ever, is our own. Let us seek Him now while He may be found.
"People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become 7th Day Adventists, and keep Saturday holy." [Saint Catherine Catholic Church Sentinel 5/21/1995]
"Seventh-day Adventists . . . are the most fundamental of all the fundamentalist sects, holding to literal interpretation of the Bible. . . ." [Kenneth Ryan, What Else Would You Like to Know About the Church, p.137.]
"If the Bible is the only guide for the Christian, then the Seventh Day Adventist is right in observing the Saturday with the Jew." [Bertrand L. Conway, `The Question Box', p. 254]
Catholic: Is the Bible the rule or guide of Protestants for observing Sunday? |
| gold | - the gold of sanctification, symbol of fire/breastplate/Pentecost- tongues of fire; | ||
| blue | - the character of God and perfection, signified the perfectness of the law - Exodus 28:31; Numbers 15:38,39; Psalms 19:7. Priests and devout Jews wore garments with a blue band around the hand and bottom fringe the significance of which was to remain in the circle of God's law in where we go and what we touch, Deut. 22:12. | ||
| red | - stands for death - Isaiah 1:18; | ||
| white | - fine linen, stands for purity, Exodus 28:39; | ||
| purple | - a mixed color, means mixed; glory - the glory of God, means `theology'; | ||
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The colors worn by a priest in his clothing reflected the colors used in the making of the sanctuary indicating his `go between' status between heaven and earth. These services and the symbols attending it where described in the handwritten ordinances placed in the side pocket of the `Ark of the Covenant' which contained the 10 Commandments underneath the lid. While the Law of God is always in effect, the handwritten ordinances were not needed any longer after the real sacrifice was accomplished when God's chosen Lamb, Jesus Christ, died on the cross. To wear these colors and practice priestly services of the type accomplished in the Israelite worship services after the cross constitutes blasphemy, for such a people follow their own imaginations and care not about the symbols and purposes of God. One church uses all these colors in their services at one time or another except `blue'. Thought question: Why is that? [0900] After a person dies, the blood does not continue to circulate in the body and the red blood cells settle leaving the fluid portion to become a clear, light yellow fluid. However, in victims of crucifixion, we are told, the fluid accumulating may be more watery. (The Gospel of John 19:34) This is also the biblical way of proof that Jesus Christ indeed had died. However, while the death of Jesus on the cross is attested in the pages of the scriptures in all details to the best of the ability of the pen men in those days, His resurrection is equally strong verified and proclaimed and the crowning event in Christian believes. Both, the cross and resurrection frame God's holy Sabbath, eternal memorial of His love and power for His creation. In this short paper we are not intending to verify all these biblical assertions. [0910] There was no eclipse or other natural cause for this darkness, which was as deep as midnight without moon or stars. It was a miraculous testimony given by God that the faith of later generations might be confirmed. In that thick darkness God's presence was hidden. He makes darkness His pavilion, and conceals His glory from human eyes. (Psalm 18:11;Amos 8:9) God and His holy angels were beside the cross. The Father was with His Son. Yet His presence was not revealed. Had His glory flashed forth from the cloud, every human beholder would have been destroyed. And in that dreadful hour Christ was not to be comforted with the Father's presence. He trod the wine press alone, and of the people there was none with Him. In the thick darkness, God veiled the last human agony of His Son. All who had seen Christ in His suffering had been convicted of His divinity. That face, once beheld by humanity, was never forgotten. As the face of Cain expressed his guilt as a murderer, so the face of Christ revealed innocence, serenity, benevolence,--the image of God. But His accusers would not give heed to the signet of heaven. Through long hours of agony Christ had been gazed upon by the jeering multitude. Now He was mercifully hidden by the mantle of God. DA, 754; Lk. 24:44,45. [0911] Part of the events happening in our time seem to underscore that Satan knows his time is short and he works triple overtime to sow hate and mischief everywhere in this world. God's people must fasten their gaze upon what Jesus did for us. We must not look upon the evil and sins in this world. As Jesus said, `Our redemption draws nigh', Lk. 21:28. [0912] Salvation must be understood in the context it is talked about. Sometimes it can mean justification, conversion, forgiveness, or even sanctification. Other times it may mean glorification. A key chapter dealing with salvation and aspects pertaining to it, is Jesus' story of the `Wedding Feast' in Matthew 22. In essence it teaches that salvation is a cooperative effort where man must do his small part for God to do his large part. We read, the bride (God's church) has made herself ready, meaning she is cooperating with God - doing her small part. Christ's righteousness is not earned by her, it is granted. They washed their robes in the blood of the lamb, access to which is granted by God. They are now God's obedient servants described amazingly as "worthy". After having been impressed of our unworthiness, how can we become "worthy"? It is not us who are "worthy", but Christ in us. If a righteous man is just `barely' saved, where will the ungodly and sinner appear, 1.Peter 4:18? The answer is, the sinner will not be in heaven but the righteous person will. Why? Because the only man or woman who will be there has put on the righteousness of Christ, the wedding garment, Rom. 3:22. Satan may not be opposed for his followers to go to the Wedding. He knows the guests will be inspected bringing ruin on those who are not properly prepared. They believed Satan's lies which say, `Sin and live', and `The gospel is passive.' He makes many believe that one can actively sin and passively be saved and calls it `grace.' But does believing in Jesus free us from obeying God? God provides the white wedding garment. One guest refused to put it on. His speechless embarrassment went deep. Who does he represent? Wearing the white wedding dress of Christ's righteousness means our life will show it. The person we used to be will be changed. Self will die in us. This makes God to be our friend and Satan our enemy. Drastic changes take place in our life. We are a new creature. The refuser will be cast out. How much sanctification is necessary to be saved? The Bible answers this question for us: "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1.Thess. 5:23. Our sanctification must, therefore, be total. It is better to say, that we are being saved than to say, we are saved. Saving (step by step sanctification) is the process of a life time, not a done deal for some expect to be saved by Christ's death while refusing to live His life of self-denial. They misunderstand God's grace and have an appearance of righteousness without transformation. Our all belongs to the Lord. Of course, the Bible is equally clear that believers are not held accountable for sins of ignorance, Acts 17:30; James 4:17. The Baptist Christian who dies ignorantly breaking the Sabbath, the Catholic Christian who dies ignorantly breaking the commandment against image worship, even the New Ager who dies ignorantly rejecting Jesus or the agnostic who spurns nominal Christianity while living for the betterment of mankind - all are judged solely on the basis of the light and truth shown them, Romans 2:14-16. Christ imparts His righteousness to those who consent to let Him take away their sins. The evil of sin is a forgotten doctrine of our time. [0920] The `transfer' of sin as a biblical doctrine. Some state that guilt of actual sin cannot be transferred from one soul to another. Reference 950 shows positively that sin can be transferred. [0930] Prayer, like breathing, is the most important we are called to cultivate in our life. "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:4. But prayer to be heard of God is under a condition. This condition reads like this, "He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." Proverbs 28:9. Is that too hard to do? Obey His commandments instead man's corruption of them? Our world looks the way it is today because, "... there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities." Isaiah 64:7. Satan laughs at our toiling, winks at our wisdom; but trembles when we pray." The scientists of the nation have fervently, persistently, and successfully studied into the secrets of nature obtaining from her destructive power. What has the church been doing? It is still willing to go in her warfare against evil, using only spiritual bows and arrows instead of the power that brooded over chaos and created order and beauty. [0950] Question: `Does this mean that Satan is the joint sin-bearer, the vicarious substitute of the sinner?' Answer: Satan is not a vicarious substitute. Far from it. Satan the devil, symbolized by the scape goat, revealed himself to be the instigator of sin. He tried to slay the Son of God and seat Himself on the Throne of the Almighty God. He bestirred those who crucified Jesus to act out their evil design. As the unfallen worlds watched the drama unfold, Satan revealed his true purpose and before their gaze condemned himself to suffer the consequence of his choices. Satan is guilty of all sin committed in God's universe. As the priest transferred sin from the sanctuary upon the scapegoat, so too, the heavenly jury will pronounce Lucifer guilty and he will be destroyed never to rise again. So it is true that atonement was made on the cross as far as people is concerned (Isa. 53:5; Mt. 8:17; 1.Pet. 2:24), final atonement in effect blots our sins off the heavenly records and is taking place in heaven (Heb. 8:1-5; 9:23-24). Jesus was the perfect sacrifice who died for us. For this sacrifice to become effective for us, the life of Christ must show itself in the way we live. The last act in the Great Controversy will load the burden of sin on Satan, his evil angels and those who sided with him to be destroyed forever. The Christian life is a co-operative effort between man and God. The following passages proof positively what Adventists teach is indeed found in scripture: "And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD'S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness." Leviticus 16:8-10 "And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness." Leviticus 16:20-22 "It was seen, also, that while the sin offering pointed to Christ as a sacrifice, and the high priest represented Christ as a mediator, the scapegoat typified Satan, the author of sin, upon whom the sins of the truly penitent will finally be placed. When the high priest, by virtue of the blood of the sin offering, removed the sins from the sanctuary, he placed them upon the scapegoat. When Christ, by virtue of His own blood, removes the sins of His people from the heavenly sanctuary at the close of His ministration, He will place them upon Satan, who, in the execution of the judgment, must bear the final penalty (since death is the consequence of sin, Rev. 20:10,15). The scapegoat was sent away into a land not inhabited, never to come again into the congregation of Israel. So will Satan be forever banished from the presence of God and His people, and he will be blotted from existence in the final destruction of sin and sinners." (EGW, `The Great Controversy', p. 422). It was William Tyndale who is said to have been the first Bible translator, influenced in this by the Latin Vulgate, who translated the Hebrew word `Azazel' as `scape goat, the escaped goat' which was led out of the camp of Israel never to return. Others saw in `Azazel' a personal being and his title, namely Satan. We concur with that. [1000] While we all die the first death, called sleep by Jesus, because there can be a resurrection from this death, the final death, according to the Bible, would be the second death from which there is no resurrection. See John 11:11; Acts 7:60; Job 14: 12-14; John 5:28; Acts 2: 29, 34; Revelation 20:6; Second death: John 3:36; Matthew 10:28; Ezekiel 18:4; Psalm 37:20; Matthew 25:41; Jude 7; 2. Peter 2:6; Malachi 4:1,3; 2. Peter 2:4,9; 3:7,10,12; Revelation 20:5,12-15; Job 21:30. Question: How then do you explain John 8:51? "... I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." Answer: The scriptures represent the first death as a sleep. When we go to sleep we have no sensation of the passing of time. When a loved one dies, on resurrection day he will not know for how long he was in the grave. For him the time was just the twinkling of an eye. But most of all, the person who is a true follower of Jesus Christ shall never see the second death, the death Jesus died on the cross and since He was without sin, this second death could not hold Him in its grip. It is the death `he shall never see', from which He saves us. That is why a follower or disciple of Christ does not fear the first death for he knows that God knows him/her so well that he can recreate him/her on resurrection day to be with God forever. This is the message and the power of the gospel. Matthew 10:30; 1.Peter 5:7; Haggai 2:23. [1050] The office of priest became a fully developed institution in the Israelite sanctuary (`teraphim', Hos. 3:4) worship. Whereas the earlier system seemed to have focused upon the sacrifice, a new emphasis is made in the sanctuary upon the priesthood and its manipulation of the blood of the sacrifices. This way God intended to further enlighten his chosen people on additional truths necessary to eventually end the reign of sin. The shedding of blood symbolized the giving of a life. It spoke of forgiveness. The knowledge God wanted them to understand, was the need for mediation between God and man. The concept of the priesthood points at the seriousness of sin, the sharp cleavage it had made between heaven and humanity, the ugliness of the estrangement between the creature and the Creator. How could the holy God who "dwells in unapproachable light" (1.Timothy 6:16) be approached by sinful people? Through Jesus, our Mediator. In the sanctuary the chasm that separates God and man was symbolically bridged by the priesthood composed of persons certified by God to mediate between Him and the people. Through the various ministries of the priesthood, Israel could approach the holy God in penitence, praise, and worship with full acceptance on God's part, His favor secured by priestly intercession. Thus in figure the priesthood belonged to two different spheres, the heavenly and the earthly. *) We like to think that perhaps some of these `additional truths' may include the restoration of the history of the Bible lands, finding `Noah's Ark', the `Route of the Exodus' and how the `Book of Genesis' was written may qualify in addition to the truth about what happens when we die, keeping Sabbath holy and the end of the wicked. [1060] On the subject of hypocrites and hypocrasy, probably all of us have been guilty of it. Hypocrasy is a problem to what degree one is such an individual. When someone says, `I would go to church, but I don't because there are too many hypocrites.' An experienced soul winner may then say in a friendly and compassionate voice, `Oh, friend, one more wouldn't hurt.' For we are all guilty of it. [1100] Haggai 2:3. [1200] The Talmud expressly calls attention to this, and mentions as another point of pre-eminence, that whereas the first Temple stood 410, the second lasted 420 years. [1300] Haggai 2:7. [1400] "Decisive evidence as to the disappearance of the ark probably in the days of Manasseh is found in one of Jeremiah's earliest prophecies: and `when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, says the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more." Jeremiah 3:16. (ital. our own to replace `after') M. Haran, `The Disappearance of the Ark' in IEJ, Vol. 13, 1963, p. 46-58. [1500] While we apparently do not know the composition of the anointing oil of the ancient Israelites, there exists a tablet of the seven sacred oils found in the burial chamber of one `Senedjemib' indicating that such was anciently used. [KMT, Vol. 13, No. 1, p. 28] [1550] What does sanctification mean? Sanctification ought not to be thought of in isolation from other aspects playing a role in the Christian life of growth in Christ. It is God who inspires our determination to be saved. How? Most often perhaps by the hearing or the preaching of His Word. Once a person's thinking processes lets the Holy Spirit start to include his/ her relationship to God, that person will begin to read God's letter to humanity, the Holy Bible, to learn of Him. He/ she will be sorry for past sins and begin to avoid sin which results in justification. All the while this is going on a person may not actually think of these terms but just attribute his change in direction for `the' life with God to the grace of God alone which is bestowed upon him freely. We see so far that the stimulus to begin the road to a life with Christ is a) the hearing and believing of the spoken word, the message of the cross, b) the continuing reading and believing in His Word, c) the response is thankfulness for the grace of God resulting in changes for the better in his life in cooperation with the Spirit of God. d) the sense of excitement how the guilt during the life in sin is being taken off his shoulders, and realizing he is now becoming part of a new life in God, So far so good. The spark of God given grace and faith was the initial stimulus to desire change and start this new life. Such an experience is like a person arriving at a cross road and deciding which direction to take. He could take the downhill or the uphill road. But the prompting of the still, small voice, the Holy Spirit's working inside, helps him make the decision for God and against sin (2.Cor. 7:1). Once he has a sense of being now part of the family of God, being justified, he continues on this road of righteousness by faith which God adds to daily as long as the person remains in connection with the `letter writer - the Bible' by reading it, resisting sin, praying and believing. This is the work, the effort we must put in and which no one can do for us - set aside time each day to keep on reading, or remembering His Word and never let it slide however long or brief that time may be. This is the energy we must put forth to completion each day, study His Word, resiste sin as Jesus did and pray. Once that becomes a habit, we cannot help but become willing to obey Him each moment in our life. We now grow more easily and the promised power of God will be displayed in our life. [1552] One might ask, `Just how does cleansing the heavenly sanctuary and blotting out of sins on a heavenly record have any direct connection with cleansed people on earth?' In a sermon preached at the 1974 Annual Council it was said: The work in the Most Holy Place will one day be finished simply "for lack of business." Sinners will stop resisting sin and go on sinning (James 4:7) but will not ask the Lord for forgiveness; their sins will not get into the Most Holy Place. The righteous eventually, by help of their all-powerful Mediator, no longer are sinning, "there is no more need for an offering for sin." "Why must Jesus stand there in the sanctuary with uplifted hands and present the sacrifice of Himself? Because of the constant commission of sin. ... But the close of probation brings us to this wonderful fact that as surely as the wicked have reached the point of no return, so the righteous have passed the point of no return." W.D. Frazee, 1974, R&H, Marcg 6, 1975. `A prepared people on earth corresponds to a cleansed sanctuary in heaven.' Haskell, R&H, 1901. [1600] To define `doctrine' is like defining a large rock, there are many aspects to it. One may look at all its facets, another may look at its `rockness'. Biblical doctrines have to do with `God Talk', i.e. theology. In such studies one needs to be aware that, while concentrating on one facet, another whole array of facets may lay outside. Methodical doctrinal search is often sought after, but scriptural examples exemplify firstly scriptural knowledge, letting words mean what they declare in common usage, i.e. Jesus using parables. We should remember, any doctrine that makes God look bad, is a bad (     pachdah, alarm, fear) doctrine.[1700] The Sanctuary teaches the following 20 principles: 1) there is order in the worship of God (Num. 4:17-20; 1.Sam. 6:19-20; 2.Sam. 6:6-7, 12-13); 2) the principle of tithing (Num. 18:26-28; Heb. 7:1-2; 6:20; John 8:39); 3) there is life only through Christ (Lev. 4:29; Rom. 6:23); 4) we are to live healthy (Gen. 6:2 {7 pairs clean & 2 unclean animals}; Lev. 23:27-29; Isa. 58:5; 66:15,17; 22:12-14; 66:15-17; Luke 21:34-36; Deut. 23:12-14). Our humanness involves two centers, I) our higher powers - intellect, reasoning, discernment, moral principles - II) our lower powers - appetite, passion, desire, emotions=flesh. These two centers are to be controlled by our will. We should strife to let our higher powers govern our behavior.; 5) righteousness by faith (`being able to walk a straight line') (Lev. 16:13; Rev. 8:3; Deut. 15:19,21; Lev. 22:24-25); 6) the Lord's Supper (Lev. 7:15-21; 19:5-8; Gen. 14:18; John 11:39; Psa. 16:8-10; Acts 2:24-27,30) 7) wear decent clothing (Num. 15:37-39; Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:5; Gen. 35:1-5; Josh. 7:20-21,11; Isa. 3:16-24; 1.Tim. 2:9; 1.Pet. 3:3-5; P&P, 578.2; 4T 647) 8) baptism (Ex. 30:17-20; 40:12-16; John 1:25; 1.Cor. 10:1-2) 9) Christian Education (Ex. 12: 26-27; 13: 8,14; Deut. 4:9-10; 6:7-9; 32:7; Josh. 4:6-7; Psa. 78:6-7) 10) spiritual gifts (Ex. 28:30; Num. 27:21; 1.Sam. 23: 9-12; 28:6) 11) Christian relief efforts (Ex. 28:30; Num. 27:21; 1.Sam. 23:9-12; 28:6) 12) repentance (Lev. 4:27-29 plus every sin offering) 13) the law of God (Ex. 25:30; 31:18; Rev. 11:19) 14) the second coming (Lev. 16:20-25; Isa. 63:1-6; Zeph. 2:1-3; Rev. 19:16) 15) judgment (Eccl. 12:13-14; Jer. 17:12; Dan. 7:9-10) 16) the fate of the wicked (Lev. 3:14-17; 4: 8-12; 6:10-11; Psa. 37:20; 73:12-17; Mal. 4:3) 17) the Millenium (Lev. 6: 9-11; 16:20-22; Job 1:7; Jer. 4: 23-28; Eze. 28:19) 18) the New Earth (Gen. 3:17; Ex. 15:23; Num. 19:6; 35:33; Lev. 4: 7,18,25,30; 7:11-13; 14:4-7; 15:23-24; Deut. 15:23; Jer. 9: 21; 1.Kings 4:33; John 19:29) 19) the ministration of angels (Ex. 25:20; 36:8,35; Dan. 7:9-19) 20) the Sabbath (Ex. 25:30; Lev. 24:5-9; 1.Sam. 21:6; 1.Chr. 9:32; Rev. 11:19). Sabbath morning worship of God ought to be of the highest consecration. First, we ought not to come late, ever, for church services. We ought to teach our young people that worship and church is the important institution this side of heaven. Quiet should reign. Wherever true worship takes place we ought to honor conventions of respect for the divine presence, not wearing our daily caps, wear decent clothing with no slogans printed on them, do not display your tattoos if present from your former life - also for the young people's sake ... We ought to sing praise songs first and foremost but not merely short, repetitious phrases. We ought not to use percussion instruments or recorded music with heavy background in bass and beats so as not to confuse the difference between worldly and sacred music. Nothing in our music should remind people of pagan influences. We should not keep getting up and leaving unless absolutely necessary. We ought to train our mind to dwell on Jesus, His life, heaven and the Second Coming instead of listening to the things which distract us during quiet times. It is ok to be warm and friendly to our brothers in sisters in Christ and make each one feel welcome. [1705] We need to know how God is sovereign over the wicked and yet never uses force. How does God deal with the saints? They are impelled, moved, by God's love. God is sovereign over every person, and He is sovereign over the wicked by the power of the cross. But it is God who shields His creatures and hedges them from the power of the destroyer. But the Christian world has shown contempt for the law of God; and the Lord will do just what He has declared that He would - He will withdraw His blessings from the earth and remove His protecting care from those who are rebelling against His law and teaching and forcing others to do the same just like He said He would do in Isaiah 24:1-6; Hosea 13:9; 14:1. Satan has control of all whom God does not especially guard. He will favor and prosper some in order to further his own designs, and he will bring trouble upon others and lead men to believe that it is God who is afflicting them. Basically when a person rejects Jesus that one yields himself to Satan. That is also why we should know that Jesus never crosses over and carries out the role of Satan and Satan never crosses over and carries out the role of Christ. Satan can cause some things to look good to his subjects, but they never really are good. God punishes us less than our sins deserve because He is holding back the pain, because He suffered it all on the cross, but what He permits is stated as if He does it. [1710] How should we understand these words of Jesus? The One who had spoken through Isaiah (Is. 1:4-9) was now speaking to His people face to face. He was seeking to weed out the traditions and the false doctrines which had become mingled with the pure principles of God's Word. |
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The scribes and Pharisees had accused Him and His disciples of transgression because they did not observe the traditions of the elders. Christ now showed them that it is not that which enters into the mouth that defiles the soul, but that which proceeds from the heart, and that by exalting the traditions of men above the law, they were polluting their own souls and the souls of others. Calling the multitude, He said, "Hear, and understand; not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." Mt. 15:16-19; Mk. 7:19-23. These words aroused the indignation of the Pharisees. That their aged traditions should be set aside and treated as fallacious, made them terribly angry. They were angry also that their deceitful hearts should thus be laid bare to the view of the people. "Then came His disciples, and said unto Him, Knowest Thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But He answered and said, Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone. They be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." |
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By the words, "Let them alone," He did not mean that His followers were to make no effort to correct their untruthful doctrines. He was charging His disciples to enter into no controversy with them. "Let them alone," He said. Do not be indignant because they set aside My words. They are blind, and blind men can not see. They are leaders of the blind. They have an influence, and many believe their assertions. But because they do not open their understanding to the Word of God, they walk in darkness. If I tell them that they have no foundation for their tradition, and show them truth in contrast with error, they will not believe Me. It is not evidence of the truth they want; they want an excuse for holding to their traditions. To Peter, who had imbibed the teachings of the Pharisees, the words of Christ seemed new and strange. He said to Christ, "Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies; these are the things which defile a man; but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man." The teachings of Christ were just what the nation needed to save them from eternal ruin. He taught them pure requirements. He showed that no man who has not first offered himself to God as a living sacrifice, who is not a fit temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell in, is fit for the service of God. He taught that purification of life and character could be obtained only through Christ. They could discern heavenly things only by becoming partakers of the divine nature, by laying hold of the light and power and knowledge that He was bringing within their reach. Were Jesus personally teaching in our world today, we should hear from His lips the same truths. If we will submit to the working of the Holy Spirit, God will make us partakers of the divine nature. Only by walking according to the commandments of God can we be clean. Many ask, `Why does God not heal me now?' Consider this. If God should heal us miraculously of sickness caused by our own transgression of known health laws and harmful habits in the middle of us still transgressing - He would thereby set His seal to our sins, and as a result we would be confirmed in our sins rather than led away from them, and our preparation for His return would be hindered rather than helped. Comment: The cited verses in Matthew 15 and Mark 7 were not spoken by Jesus to set aside the Old Testament ordinances on foods fitted for human consumption and those which are not. These words were not so understood by the disciples and those hearing Jesus that day. Jesus did not speak on diet, but on spiritual matters. Explanation of Mark 7: Jesus, speaking to Jewish people, is talking about laws of the elders. He references certain terminology like `received, hand down, hold, delivered and tradition' which are all technical terms which describe a particular rabbinical concept of the transmission of truth. The Jewish rabbis taught that there were many truths, not recorded in the writings of Moses, which were of equal authority to Scripture (in actual practice, of superior authority). In their view, these had been transmitted from generation to generation by an unbroken succession of elders. This view sounds very much like the Roman Catholic view of Apostolic Succession, the Magisterium and the `Deposit of Faith'. - - Mk. 7:8, Jesus indicates here that the issue of ceremonially washing hands before breaking bread was only the tip of the iceberg. The whole of Jewish life was unbearable by the stringent rules and regulations of the Scribes and Pharisees. The Sabbath commandment, for instance, was strangled by some 613 rules and regulations added because of their traditions. - - "There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man." Mk, 7:15, Jesus could not possibly have meant that there is nothing which we ingest which can defile us, because there are many things which do cause great physical harm. Jesus is saved from a great scientific inaccuracy when we realize that He is speaking about ceremonial ablutions (ritual washings) before eating and not about the particular foods we consume. Comment on Pharisees: The word means `separate ones'. One group of them were the Hasidim, the `pious' ones. Pharisaic righteousness included: dress code (Mt. 23:5), attend the synagogue (Mt. 23:6), evangelism (Mt. 23:15), tithing (Mt. 23:23), good behavior (Mt. 25-28), prayers (Mt. 6:5), fasting (Mt. 6:16), Sabbath keeping (Mt. 12:1), good diet (Mt. 15:1). These are all good principles, but they lacked humility. Pharisaism is/was characterized by withdrawal and separation from the world, plus dedication to the Torah which is seen to be possible only through Pharisaism. Jesus said, "Unless our righteousness surpasses that of the pharisees and the teachers of the law, we will certainly not enter the kingdom." Matth. 5:20. How can we surpass their religiosity? Answer: Every day we must spend time with Jesus, Mk. 10:17-21. [1750] What are the works of the devil? He is the father of lies. He manufactures hate. He revels in profanities. He takes the name of God in vain, and on it goes. [1800] The link between Daniel chapter 8 and Leviticus is the word sanctuary. We learn from Leviticus 16 that the Sanctuary is to be "cleansed" (Lev. 16:19) from sin as the final work there, that it may be restored to its original purity (Lev. 16:29-34). In Daniel 8:14, the Sanctuary (   , "sadaq") is "restored" (`nisdaq') to its original condition, and that as a result the offense of the Little Horn power may be forever destroyed (Dan. 8:9-14). Daniel chapter 7 reveals the careful work required in this restoration process spoken of in chapter 8 and 1.Chr. 23:28 where the Hebrew word `  taher' (purified) is used while Daniel 8:14 uses the word "nisdaq"` '
. Daniel 7 speaks of the work of the Investigative Judgment which will result in the taking away of the dominion of the Little Horn (7:26) and be given to the people of God (7:27) as co-heirs with Christ (7:14).The other item of Daniel 8:12,13; 11:31;12:11 in particular which has been interpreted one way or another is the word    , `tamid' = "daily, continual." It can be used either as an adjective or an adverb. In Daniel 8:14 it is used as an adjective standing for a noun. In Exodus 29:42 `tamid' is used as an adjective, "... shall be a continual (throughout) burnt offering" (`olah'). In Numbers 28 and 29 it is used 27 times, always in connection with "burnt offering". The usual word for days is `yami,' but in Daniel 8:14 the phrase for evening and morning (`ehreb boker') is used, the language used in connection with `burnt offering.'
One author, trying to find an explanation, wrote: "The word here rendered "daily"(`tamiyd') occurs 102 times in the OT. ... In the majority of instances it is rendered "continual" or "continually." The idea of sacrifice is not attached to the word at all. Nor is there any word in the text which signifies sacrifice. That is a supplied word ... by the translators ... But it appears to be more in accordance with both the construction and the context to suppose that the word "Daily" refers to the desolating power ... to describe paganism." [Uriah Smith, `Daniel & the Revelation', p. 164,165.] With this interpretation, that "daily" references paganism directly, this writer would disagree. Instead I prefer the following view. The word "daily" also occurs in Daniel 11:31: "... they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily [1850] Whenever events take place in the sanctuary, people turn to God, we can rest assured Satan gets busy and tries his tricks to draw people away from seeking God and remain in sin. This side of his deceptions is brought out in the following scriptures, Rev. 12:9; 1.Tim. 5:15; 2.Cor. 2:10,11 and 2.Cor. 11:14-15. [1900] Just like Adam had only one wife in holy marriage, so God's one true church on earth, dressed in white, which is always spoken of in the singular, is a point all those which are part of the many churches found today ought to consider. While God has only one true "church" or `congregation of believers,' the others are spoken of as illegitimate daughter churches, Rev.17:2,16-18; Rev.18:4. The task everyone has is to figure out what are the characteristics of God's one true church and come out of the daughter churches of the women dressed in red for she has no natural beauty of her own according to the Bible. The true church is spoken of as dressed in white because she teaches the truth about God and not necessarily because all its members are so very lovable for everyone, Rev.19:6-10. [1970] Some preachers may claim, since Jesus told the man he healed at the pool of Bethesda to carry his `bed' (blankets?) with him as he left the place, Jesus must not have considered the sacredness of the Sabbath day as binding anymore, John 5:8-9. How should we understand this situation? Jesus "... had chosen the Sabbath upon which to perform the act of healing at Bethesda. He could have healed the sick man as well on any other day of the week; or He might simply have cured him, without bidding him bear away his bed. But this would not have given Him the opportunity He desired. A wise purpose underlay every act of Christ's life on earth. Everything He did was important in itself and in its teaching. Among the afflicted ones at the pool He selected the worst case upon whom to exercise His healing power, and bade the man carry his bed through the city in order to publish the great work that had been wrought upon him. This would raise the question of what it was lawful to do on the Sabbath, and would open the way for Him to denounce the restrictions of the Jews in regard to the Lord's day, and to declare their traditions void. Jesus stated to them that the work of relieving the afflicted was in harmony with the Sabbath law. It was in harmony with the work of God's angels, who are ever descending and ascending between heaven and earth to minister to suffering humanity. Jesus declared, "My Father goes on working, and so do I." Jh. 5:17, The Jerusalem Bible) All days are God's, in which to carry out His plans for the human race. If the Jews' interpretation of the law was correct, then the Lord God was at fault, whose work has quickened and upheld every living thing since first He laid the foundations of the earth; then He who pronounced His work good, and with that instituted the Sabbath to commemorate its completion, must put a period to His labor, and stop the never-ending routine of the universe. Should God forbid the sun to perform its office upon the Sabbath, cut off its genial rays from warming the earth and nourishing vegetation? Must the system of worlds stand still through that holy day? Should He command the brooks to stay from watering the fields and forests, and bid the waves of the sea still their ceaseless ebbing and flowing? Must the wheat and corn stop growing, and the ripening cluster defer its purple bloom? Must the trees and flowers put forth no bud nor blossom on the Sabbath? ... Nature must continue her unvarying course. God could not for a moment stay His hand, or man would faint and die. And man also has a work to perform on this day. The necessities of life must be attended to, the sick must be cared for, the wants of the needy must be supplied. He will not be held guiltless who neglects to relieve suffering on the Sabbath. God's holy rest day was made for man, and acts of mercy are in perfect harmony with its intent. God does not desire His creatures to suffer an hour's pain that may be relieved upon the Sabbath or any other day. The demands upon God are even greater upon the Sabbath than upon other days. His people then leave their usual employment, and spend the time in meditation and worship. They ask more favors of Him on the Sabbath than upon other days. They demand His special attention. They crave His choicest blessings. God does not wait for the Sabbath to pass before He grants these requests. Heaven's work never ceases, and men should never rest from doing good. The Sabbath is not intended to be a period of useless inactivity. The law forbids secular labor on the rest day of the Lord; the toil that gains a livelihood must cease; no labor for worldly pleasure or profit is lawful upon that day; but as God ceased His labor of creating, and rested upon the Sabbath and blessed it, so man is to leave the occupations of his daily life, and devote those sacred hours to healthful rest, to worship, and to holy deeds. The work of Christ in healing the sick was in perfect accord with the law. It honored the Sabbath. ... These adversaries of Christ had no arguments with which to meet the truths He brought home to their consciences. They could only cite their customs and traditions, and these seemed weak and vapid when compared with the arguments Jesus had drawn from the word of God and the unceasing round of nature. Had the rabbis felt any desire to receive light, they would have been convinced that Jesus spoke the truth. But they evaded the points He made concerning the Sabbath, and sought to stir up anger against Him because He claimed to be equal with God. The fury of the rulers knew no bounds. Had they not feared the people, the priests and rabbis would have slain Jesus on the spot. But the popular sentiment in His favor was strong. Many recognized in Jesus the friend who had healed their diseases and comforted their sorrows, and they justified His healing of the sufferer at Bethesda. So for the time the leaders were obliged to restrain their hatred. Jesus repelled the charge of blasphemy. My authority, He said, for doing the work of which you accuse Me, is that I am the Son of God, one with Him in nature, in will, and in purpose. In all His works of creation and providence, I co-operate with God. "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do." The priests and rabbis were taking the Son of God to task for the very work He had been sent into the world to do. By their sins they had separated themselves from God, and in their pride were moving independently of Him. They felt sufficient in themselves for all things, and realized no need of a higher wisdom to direct their acts. But the Son of God was surrendered to the Father's will, and dependent upon His power. So utterly was Christ emptied of self that He made no plans for Himself. He accepted God's plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will." [1980] The Bible definition of the phrase "bless you" is this, "... God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from iniquity." Acts 3:26. [2000] Just as God had a time appointed for the Messiah to come to this world, so he also had a time appointed for the Messiah to begin the last phase in the Plan of Redemption. The starting point of the 490 year day period was the date of the third decree of the Persian king Artaxerxes to let the Jews return to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:11-13; Daniel 9:25) which was given in 457 BC. 457 + 2300 = 1844. Remember that the year 1 BC was followed by the year 1 AD, there was no year 0. The year 1844 marks the time when, according to the pattern of the Hebrew sanctuary, the high priest entered the Most Holy department on the day of Yom Kippur to cleanse it from the previous years accumulation of the sins of the repenting people. These believers looked at the law of God and found themselves condemned as sinners but confessed their sins and found forgiveness. Likewise, Jesus began his ministry in the Most Holy of the heavenly sanctuary at that time to draw attention to His law and the need to cleanse our life from sin and develop a character fit for heaven to be ready for his Second Coming - for Jesus does not save us in our sins, but from our sins. This is the home run for each faithful believer. [2100] The first phase of the ministry of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary took place in the holy department, the first door, of the sanctuary and is highlighted in the Book of Hebrews and in Revelation 4. By the symbolism of the key (key of David Isaiah 22:22,23; Isaiah 9:6,7; Rev. 4:1,2) Please note that in Rev. chapter 4 Jesus and his angels are not yet present in the sanctuary. They do not arrive until chapter 5. Upon arriving Jesus is opening the door to the holy where God father sits on His throne surrounded by the 24 elders (1.Chr. 28:11-13,19; 9:22; 24:3-18; Mat. 27:33; Eph. 4:8) and the judgment is give to him as he establishes his kingdom. This opening of the first door takes place during the time of the 6th church of Rev. chapter 3, Philadelphia, shortly before the time of the 7th church of Laodicea. It also takes place after the 1260 years days of prophecy. The opening of the second door leads to the scene in the Most Holy department of Rev. chapter 5 where and when the judgment sits and Jesus receives his kingdom. Who is being judged? The professed believers are being judged. The results of this judgment are the reason that the angels know who will rise from the dead on the day of the return of Jesus Christ. [2200] How is this supported by the Bible? In the earthly tabernacle there was a curtain or door from the forecourt into the holy department and a curtain or door from the holy into the Most Holy. The church of Philadelphia (`brotherly love') represents the historical time from 1755-1844, a span of time of many awakenings among Christian believers. Basically, they preached the cross, living a Christian life and being a good person. By and large, they taught that the law was not binding and did not keep the Sabbath, they taught that the dead are not dead but in heaven and they believed one can eat and drink whatever is desired. But as we already pointed out, the Most Holy reveals the truths of these items which the Church of Philadelphia did not believe. Closing ones eyes to the need to advance with Jesus to the next stage, made it nearly impossible for them to recognize the need for continued Christian reform started by the early reformers to mend the fences of unbelief and be on target with God's goal to prepare himself a people who would feel at home in heaven after being saved. For, according to Isaiah and really also Revelation, Sabbath will still be kept even in heaven. Protestantism in the Book of Revelation Protestantism as an organized entity is characterized in the message to the seven churches and in particular the churches of Sardes ("song of joy") and Philadelphia. The church of Sardes was the time of the formation of many dogmas. It was the time when rationalism led to deism which led to apathy toward spiritual growth and religion and the rise of the period of romanticism. But like Ephesus the church of Philadelphia is not being reproved. During the period of Philadelphia also occurred the three signs Jesus said (Mat. 24:29; Rev. 6:12-14) would occur shortly before his Second Coming [3000]: 1. the earthquake (Lisbon, 1755), 2. the dark day and the moon as blood (1780), 3. the great meteor showers (falling of the stars) of 1833. We saw that the total period of the seven churches of Rev. 2&3 reach from the time just after Christ's ministry to the mid 19th century. Enclosed in that time span is another one characterized as a period of persecution of those who champion Bible faith. The length of the period of religious persecutions is specifically highlighted seven times in the Bible: | ||
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Daniel 7:25 Daniel 12:7 Revelation 12:6 Revelation 12:14 Revelation 13:5 Revelation 11:2 Revelation 11:3 |
Duration=3 ½ times Duration=3 ½ times Duration: 1260 prophetic days Duration: 3 ½ times Duration: 42 months Duration: 42 months Duration: 1260 days |
3 ½ times corresponds to 3 ½ years. A prophetic year has 360 days: (360x3)+180=1260 days = 42 months. So we see that these three ways of describing the length of time of persecutions are of the same duration. The `little horn' power persecuted Bible believing Christians for that length of time, from 538 to 1798. In 538 the Roman emperor Justinian (527-565) in a letter, which became a legal document, acknowledged the bishop of Rome as the head of all churches. In 1798, 1260 years later, the French general Berthier arrested and imprisoned the Pope who died in prison, thus ending the absolute power of the papacy.
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Sources on the 1260 day/year period: Abbe Joachim von Floris (ca. 1260 AD), Concordia, Vol. II, Sec. 16; Vol. V, Sec. 118; Comments on Rev. 9:10, p. 131b. The Roman Emperor Justinian removed the influence of the Arian Heruli potentate Odoaker in north Africa (Gibbons, ch. 41, p. 21). After also removing the threat of the Ostrogoths from Rome, Silverius, the son of pope Hormisdas, through the efforts of Theodat, became pope in 536 AD without having been elected.  As soon as Belisar entered Rome, the jealous archdeacon Bigilius, a favorite of Empress Theodora, spared no sums of money to get Belisar to depose Silverius who also was accused of sympathy with the Goths. Accused of treason, Silverius was exiled and Bigilius/Vigilius became pope, again, without having been elected. He was not a Christian. We read, "Vigilius, a pliant creature of Theodora, ascended the papal chair under the military protection of Belisarius (538-554)." [Schaff, `History of the Christian Church', Vol. III, p. 327.] With this Vigilius or Bigilius began a new order. Though personally he was humiliated by the emperors demands, and the Papacy itself was brought into a state of subjection that it had not known even under heretical Gothic kings, yet this very arbitrary use of the papal prerogative by Justianian, strengthened the idea that the Pope of Rome was the supreme authority in religion, to speak for the universal church. So we read, "Down to the sixth century all popes are declared saints in the martyrologies. Vigilius (537-555) is the first of a series of popes who no longer bear this title, which is henceforth sparingly conferred. From this time on the popes, more and more involved in worldly events, no longer belong solely to the church; they are men of the state, and then rulers of the state." [Bemont, Monod, Medieval Europe, p. 120. - With respect to Vigilus year 537, the exact date should be 538, as given in the quotation from Schaff's history. "From the death of Silverius (June 538) the Roman Catholic writers date the episcopacy of Vigilius." (Bower, History of the Popes, under year 538.] - - Following Vigilius came Pelagius (556-560), who ascended the throne by "the military aid of Narses," then the imperial general in Italy. And Pelagius, who had been set in the papal see by imperial power, began to demand that the sword of the empire should be used against bishops or members in the church who did not give way to the authority of the Pope. His letters on the subject "are an unqualified defense of the principles of persecution." [See Dictionary of Christian Biography, by Smith & Wace, art. "Pope Pelagius."] We learn here that in 533 came the memorable imperial declaration recognizing that supremacy, and in A.D. 538 came the stroke with the sword of Rome, cleaving the way; and there began the new order of the popes - "men of the state, and then rulers of the state." These decisive events clearly mark the beginning of the prophetic period of the 1260 years. And just 1260 years from the decree of 533, in recognition of the papal supremacy, came a decree, in 1793, aimed against that supremacy; and just 1260 years from that stroke with the sword at Rome in behalf of the Papacy, came a stroke with the sword at Rome against the Papacy by 1798. Let us remember that in 538, on orders (letter) of Justinian, Pelagius I. was "elected" pope in Rome. [See Oncken, W., Allgemeine Geschichte, 1884, Vol. II, 2. 1, 315; Hefele, C.J., Konziliengeschichte, 1886, Vol. II, p. 571.]The Decree of Emperor Justinian of 533 AD (Decrees are laws which can be quickly passed by the stroke of a pen.): "We have been sedulous to subject and unite all the priests of the Orient throughout its whole extent to the see of Your Holiness .... For we do not suffer that anything which is mooted, however clear and unquestionable, pertaining to the state of the churches, should fail to be made known to Your Holiness, as being the head of all the churches. For, as we have said before, we are zealous for the increase of the honor and authority of your see in all respects." [Codex Justinian, lib.1, title 1, Baronii "Annales Ecclesiastici", Tom. VII, anno 533, sec. 12 (Translation as given in `The Petrine Claims', by R.F. Littledale, p. 293.)Though written in 533 AD, the decree came not into effect until the crushing defeat of the Ostrogoths before the walls of Rome in 538 AD. The Truth of the Matter We present this material to show that the period of the seven churches reaches over a long period of time and that the opening of the first door mentioned in Rev. 4:1, occurs when Jesus goes through that door to receive his kingdom and deals with the same information we read in Rev. 3:7-8. Then John the Revelator shifts his attention from the opened and shut door to `the synagogue of Satan'. Of course we know that the Jews worship in synagogues, but we also know that the apostle Paul says: "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly ... but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly." Romans 2:28,29.Paul is saying a true Jew is one who has been converted to Jesus Christ and has received the Holy Spirit. By the same analogy, `Christians, who are not Bible believing Christians are counterfeit Christians', for we read: "Not as though the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children of God ... They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God" Romans 9:6-8; Galatians 3:29In essence Paul is saying, any church entity which ignores or casts aside a key point of faith like the law of God confuses the distinction between good and evil in their disobedience. And in Revelation 3:9, and in fact the whole section on the church of Philadelphia, such are referred to in strong language as of the `synagogue of Satan', which finds its parallel in Revelation 14:8 and Revelation 18:1-2. The members of this `synagogue of Satan' then are apostate Christians for "they say they are Jews (think Christians), but are not." Why? Because they keep not the whole Bible for they did not follow Jesus from the holy to the Most Holy apartment where the Ark of the Covenant with the law of God inside resides. When should they have gotten up and followed Jesus to the Most Holy*)? Well, sometime after the end of the 1260 day/years, when Jesus put on the robes of the high priest in order to officiate in the Most Holy to cleanse it from the accumulated sins. At the end of which time period did this take place? The 2300 year/days of Daniel 8:14. This is the only prophetic time period which extends beyond the 1260 years which ended in 1798. The approach of these momentous prophetic events was heralded, announced by the power of God through a great earthquake, the dark day followed by a night were the moon was dark with the color of blood and the unique spectacle the `falling of the stars' in 1833. Events which were to draw the minds of the people to these prophecies in the Bible, for God intended to perfect a people unto Himself, for we are not saved in our sins, but from our sins. A people that knowingly leaves the Sabbath will always leave the God of the Sabbath. All true worship of God is based on Sabbathkeeping. *) Getting up and following Jesus into the most holy should be seen in carrying further the work of reformation, the Lord wanted to guide his people "continually', they were "to build the old waste places ... raise up the foundations", and be "the repairer of the breach. The restorer of paths to dwell in" for "the Sabbath was made for man" and had and still has the "blessing" of God who sent these signs for people to search and obey, be "repairers of the breach". Instead the popular churches have forsaken reformation and engaged in deformation, each generation accepting more untruth. After the Sabbath message was presented to them, they turned away from the commandments and regarded God's holy day as nothing. Isaiah 58:11-14; 56:2,4; 61:4; Mark 2:27-28; Matthew 5:17-19. The Book of Revelation teaches, it is Satan who is diligently working to undermine the authority of God and he has a large following who do likewise. The members of `his church', in essence, carry on with their rebellion against the law of God. They profess truth and loyalty but commit treason and apostasy (Isa. 59:14) - and Revelation brings out that all this happened, because they refused to follow Jesus from the creeds and faith connected with the holy apartment - which were necessary and good in their time and still are - to advance with Jesus to the next phase of his heavenly ministry brought into focus by him going through the second, now open door, into the Most Holy, since the first has been shut and no one can open it, Lk. 13:25. (For the message proclaimed by the prophet Isaiah to repair the breach and restore the paths to obedience to God is still to be proclaimed today. For the fourth Sabbath commandment is tied to the foundation of the world, creation week, and not so much to the cross, Isaiah 58:12-14. Such words were not applicable for a season, they are eternally true.) From the second door shines the heavenly light of God on the claims of the law, the need to make our body and mind the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, by turning away from sins pointed out by the 10 commandments, realizing the dead are really dead, for they must be judged before they can enter heaven and thus be saved from the snares of Satan, who deceives many through the work of evil angels in the guise of spirit mediums. We are to concentrate on such truths and not the limelight of thrill seeking worshippers in the synagogue of Satan. It is our task to save a generation from falling away from the pleadings of God through his prophetic word to follow Him. We are to prepare ourselves and `get dressed' in the white robes of heaven (Rev. 19:8) by developing a character, that God can safely save for a life in eternity. God is patiently waiting for you and me, but we must present this gospel before he announces, `The time is at hand', Rev. 22:10-11. [2250] On the question of why God allows suffering we may consider that we live in what the Bible describes as a fallen world, a world in sin. Having experienced suffering which is part of all his creation, we can realize that God is giving us just a taste of what life is like without Him when he does not hold everything together perfectly. Because we sinned and thus committed high treason against the God of creation, we don't even deserve to exist, but his mercy is even greater and even in suffering we can praise God like Jesus did. It is instructive to read Proverbs chapter 3 on this subject (1.Peter 2:19-20). [Partly adapted from AiG] [2300] We present three aspects of reason: 1. natural reason, ruling within its proper domain, the Earthly Kingdom.; 2) arrogant reason, trespassing upon the domain of faith, the Heavenly Kingdom.; 3) regenerated reason, serving humbly in the household of faith, but always subject to the word of God. Within the 1st context, reason is an excellent gift of God.[Fritz Guy, Thinking Theologically, 1999, p. 96. Other aspects having to do with reason are a) magisterial and b) ministerial reason. Magisterial reason is refuted by Isa. 55:8-9; Rom. 9:19-21 where God basically says that `My reason is not higher than ours' but that He knows every true proposition while we know only a part. Ministerial use of reason occurs when reason submits to the Bible. This means that all things necessary for our faith and life are either expressly set down in Scripture or may be deduced by good and necessary consequence from Scripture, Isa. 1:18; Mt. 22:36-38; Rom. 12:2; 1.Cor. 2:16. The Bible does not support that rational thinking is of the flesh, Christians are to try to understand things or figure them out in their mind, for faith is based on knowledge, Isa. 40:21,28; Mt. 22:29; Rom. 6:3,16; 11:2; 1.Cor. 3:16; 5:6; 6:2-3, 9, 15-16, 19; 9:13,27; James 4:4; Acts 8:30. In Hebrew thinking `heart' is equivalent to our `mind' or `intellect'. That is why `heart' is often contrasted with the `lips' - sincerity vs. hypocrisy, Gen. 6:5; Ps. 14:1. Faith means being sure about what we hope for and certain about what we do not see, Hebr. 11:1. [2900] The disciples of Jesus were: (1)Simon also called Peter and his brother (2)Andrew (Mt. 4:18), (3)James, son of Zebedee, and his brother (4)John, (5)Philip, (6)Bartholomew, (7)Thomas, (8)Matthew, (9)James, son of Alphaeus, (10)Lebaeus surnamed Thaddaeus, 11)Simon the Canaanite and (12)Judas Iscariot (Mt. 10) who was replaced by Matthias (Acts 1:26). [3000] The Second Coming (SC): Is it a `Rapture' of the Saints or a visible, worldwide event? A brief explanation may help some. Here follows a sequence of events: 1. Like in the Flood in the days of Noah so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Mat. 24:39) We notice that at the Flood the wicked were taken away first. The SC will be a) quick (Mt. 24:27; Rev. 3:11), b) unexpected for the wicked (Rev. 3:3; 1.Th. 5:4), c) it will be noisy (2.Pet. 3:10-12; 1.Th. 4:16), d) the wicked will be gathered together first (Mat. 24:39-42); Verse 39 explains the following verses - at the Flood the wicked were taken (perished) first. Therefore, of the `two in the field' and the two `grinding', please notice, the first one taken is the `wicked' one, not the one on God's side based on verse 39. The `secret rapture' theory is a reverse application of these verses. Jesus elsewhere confirms again that the wicked will be taken away first while God's people are still among them, "So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth." Mat. 13:49-50. Advocates of the secret-rapture theory believe that all righteous followers of Christ are taken up to Jesus secretly, leaving a startled, non-Christian world in ignorance as to what happened to them. The verses just cited say, it ain't so. The rapture theory is not based on strict biblical interpretation but rather on a few (misinterpreted) texts while leaving out the major texts about the same event. Is God such a small God that he can't appear on stage just like He says, in might and power? Does God have to do things in secret, does he have to hide? Thus, the Rapture theory is just that, and an unscriptural one at that. We are not intending to offend anyone, but there are some biblically dangerous falsehoods preached today. According to pre-tribulation believes on the Book of Revelation: a) none of the 7 seals have been opened, b) none of the trumpets have sounded, c) the antichrist has not yet been revealed, d) the mark of the beast is not yet understood, e) the seal of God is not yet clear [3100], f) the false prophet is not yet identified, g) the church will be raptured before the staging of the antichrist, before the plagues and the mark of the beast, h) if you miss out on being part of the rapture, there will be a second chance during the millennium. Point (h) is particularly dangerous to Christians for it is biblically untrue, there is no second chance, but all other points can also be shown to be untrue. The opposite of the pre-tribulation views may be Preterist views which hold that most prophecies were fulfilled in the past. In particular the Book of Revelation is said to have been fulfilled with the event of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and emperor Nero. This view is not scriptural either, for the overall topic of the whole Bible is how God solves the problem of sin. INSERT: However, the loss of Jerusalem and their Temple led later Jews to write, "While the altar and the sanctuary were still in their places, we were atoned for by the goats, designated by lot. But now for our guilt, if Jehovah be pleased to destroy us, He takes from our hand neither burnt offering nor sacrifice." And in a Jewish-prayerbook can be read, "We have spoken violence and rebellion; we have walked in a way that is not right. . . . Behold, our transgressions have increased upon us; they press upon us like a burden; they have gone over our heads; we have forsaken Thy commandments, which are excellent. And wherewith shall we appear before Thee, the mighty God, to atone for our transgressions, and to put away our trespasses, and to remove sin, and to magnify Thy grace? Sacrifices and offerings are no more; sin and trespass offerings have ceased; the blood of sacrifices is no longer sprinkled; destroyed is Thy holy house, and fallen the gates of Thy sanctuary; Thy holy city lies desolate; Thou hast slain, sent from Thy presence; they have gone, driven forth from before Thy face, the priests who brought Thy sacrifices!" Accordingly, also, the petition frequently occurs, "Raise up for us a right Intercessor, I have found a ransom." And on the Day of Atonement, as in substance frequently on other occasions, they pray: "Bring us back to Jubilee to Zion, Thy city, and in joy as of old to Jerusalem, the house of Thy holiness! Then shall we being before Thy face the sacrifices that are due." [Edersheim, Alfred, The Temple, its Ministry and Services, p. 93,94.] - Alas, the looking for the Messiah is not even alluded to in these sayings; and what do they mean to keep on offering sacrifices, have they not heard that the fulfilling sacrifice of sacrifices has taken place?Of course the important ground work has been laid already when Jesus conquered the sting of sin/death on the cross, but in this world, sin still reigns. Until it is destroyed, there can be no permanent, worldwide, godly peace in this world. Solving this problem until it ceases to exist is still a project in progress. It takes millennia, not a short time span at the destruction of Jerusalem. Therefore, interpreting the Bible like Preterists do, is putting one's head in the sand, for God is still engaged into the final phases of this task to take away the causes and germs of sin. What Presterists really do is, they can't stand the thought how some Bible prophecies are interpreted by just using history to identify leading apocalyptic characterizations or characters for it results invariably in the unflattering identities historical interpretation has taught over the centuries. It is God's faithful people who are responsible to uphold the Bible, teach faith in our creator God and not lead away from Him. As if that was not enough, there is still another view, Futurism. It was developed by the Jesuit Francisco Ribera in the 16th century as a response to Protestantism's prophetic teachings which made Rome come out to be not very flattering. [See George Eldon Ladd, `The Blessed Hope', 1956, Wm. B. Ermans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan, p. 37-40.] But the Puritan scholar Thomas Brightman (1562–1607) confuted Ribera's Futurism and stressed the year-day principle for interpreting the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation. But as it often happens, there were some Protestants that compromised with the Catholic views on the prophecies. These included Hugo Grotius (1583-1645) a Dutch jurist, statesman, historian and theologian (the founder of modern international law) and Henry Hammond (1605-1660), called the "Father of English Biblical Criticism." These men, among others, adopted the Catholic Preterist theory. According to this view, the prophecies of Revelation were descriptive of the victory of the early church as fulfilled by the downfall of the Jewish nation and the overthrow of Pagan Rome, thus limiting them to the first six centuries after Christ and implicating Nero as the antichrist. [3100] The seal of God, is it an identifying mark or the work of the Holy Spirit? Scriptures which show it to be an object rather than the Holy Spirit: Revelation 12:2-4. It is like an object the angel holds in his hand. Scriptures which show God's seal to be the work of the Holy Spirit: Revelation 14:1. Here the Holy Spirit is involved in this work of sealing which is now a work of sanctification. Those sealed are not described as having the Holy Spirit in their foreheads, but rather the Father's name. This would signify that they fully belong to God and reflect His righteous character. But there are scriptures which are sandwiched between the just mentioned verses bearing on the subject. They are Revelation 12:17 and 14:12. These two verses indicate that this end-time struggle between the mark and the seal has something to do with the commandments. Consider also Isaiah 8:16, "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." The seal is to go in the forehead. The mark may go in either the forehead or the hand. This is imagery taken from the Old Testament: In Deuteronomy 5, Moses repeats the Ten Commandments. In 6:8 he says, "And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes." Again, this indicates that the end-time seal has something to do with the commandments. A seal shows ownership or authority. It shows who the ruler is who gave the law in question, and typically contains both his name and his title. Looking through the Ten Commandments, we find that eight or nine of them might be given by just about any god on the planet. Various gods command their adherents to be good moral people, not killing, not stealing, and not committing adultery.
How the 4th commandment contains the seal of God we showed already elsewhere. | ||
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and most holy apartment, we must clarify into which of these two apartments Christ entered subsequent to his ascension. Of course most of the priests work took place in the holy apartment. The work outside at the altar of burnt offerings had been fulfilled by his death on the cross. Now he would plead his blood and offer the prayers of the saints by the altar of incense inside the holy room. 
`from holy myriads' underlined in red. A few translators followed a geographical interpretation by using `Meribah-Kadesh', or `Meribat-Kadesh,' while others followed a translation referring to the God's mighty appearance on Mt. Sinai. It is here not only the appearance of God on Mt. Sinai illustrated but also the march of the Lord's victory through to the holy land. The main locations where divine revelations took place are mentioned. With the word 
setai, the ending `setai' (Passive 3rd person) is an aorist conjunctive of `lutro