Sabbath Afternoon - April 29, 2023

Reading for the Week

Daniel 8, Daniel 9, Ezra 7, Matt. 3:13-17, Rom. 5:6-9, Mark 15:38, Lev. 16:16. 

Prayer Thought

In this time of well-nigh universal apostasy, God calls upon His messengers to proclaim His law in the spirit and power of Elias. As John the Baptist, in preparing a people for Christ's first advent, called their attention to the Ten Commandments, so we are to give, with no uncertain sound, the message: "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come." With the earnestness that characterized Elijah the prophet and John the Baptist, we are to strive to prepare the way for Christ's second advent. {FLB 290.5}

The hour of God's judgment has come, and upon the members of His church on earth rests the solemn responsibility of giving warning to those who are standing as it were on the very brink of eternal ruin.


Memory Text

And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.  

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  {Rom. 13:11, 12}


This week's SS Lesson will dig deeper into the mine of truth concerning the prophecies which have to be understood in these last days with the connection of God's judgment for the dead and the living. This will include the prediction of William Miller which has been misunderstood by many.


Study Outline

Sunday - April 30, 2023

The Day of Atonement - Cleansing of the Sanctuary and Judgment 

Rev. 14:7; Dan. 8:14, 19-22, 24-27; 9:27, 22

Monday - May 1, 2023

Unto 2,300 Days the Sanctuary be Cleansed

Dan. 8:10-12,14, 17, 19, 23-26 

Tuesday - May 2, 2023

The 70 Weeks Determined for the Jews

Dan. 8:14; 9:23-27; Ezek. 4:6; Num 14:34

Wednesday - May 3, 2023

Confirmation of the Covenant

Ezra 7:13-17, 27; Amt. 3:13-17; Rom. 5:6-9; Dan. 9:24-27; Mk. 13:38; Mat. 3:15-16

Thursday - May 4, 2023

The Judgment has Come on October 22. 1844

Rev. 14:6, 7; Lev. 16:16; 23:26-29; Dan. 7-9


Friday - May 5, 2023

Further Study and Meditation

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Sunday - April 30, 2023

The Day of Atonement - Cleansing of the Sanctuary and Judgment 

Rev. 14:7; Dan. 8:14, 19-22, 24-27; 9:27, 22

“Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, ‘How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?’ And he said to me, ‘For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.’” (Daniel 8:13-14)


The Most Holy Place in the Heavenly Sanctuary

Jesus is in His holy temple and will now accept our sacrifices, our prayers, and our confessions of faults and sins and will pardon all the transgressions of Israel, that they may be blotted out before He leaves the sanctuary. When Jesus leaves the sanctuary, then they who are holy and righteous will be holy and righteous still; for all their sins will then be blotted out, and they will be sealed with the seal of the living God. But those that are unjust and filthy will be unjust and filthy still; for then there will be no Priest in the sanctuary to offer their sacrifices, their confessions, and their prayers before the Father's throne. Therefore what is done to rescue souls from the coming storm of wrath must be done before Jesus leaves the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. {EW 48.1}                         

As the prophetic period ended in 1844, the "Most Holy" place in the heavenly Sanctuary was opened, into which Christ entered.  If this incident marked the beginning of the atonement, there would have been no better, or more opportune time for a call from heaven than at the end of the great prophetic period; the day of atonement being the most solemn time for the church.  Seventh-day Adventists were called out by a prophet, and are practically the only people who believe in the 2300 days.  We are the only people who have proclaimed it since 1844, and are now in the atonement, or the time of the judgment.  The text for this is here quoted: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Rev. 14:6, 7.  Seventh-day Adventists only can fulfill the type, for just at this time they were called by a prophet of God, to organize as a denomination, and to proclaim the glad news: "This gospel in all the world in this generation."  Thus the symbol "seventy" met its fulfillment at that time. 


The Typical Day of Atonement

We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be put away. There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth. Everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. {CCh 348.5} 

To make this clear we must comment on the typical day of atonement.  That notable day in the ceremonial system was a day of cleansing, judgment, and covering.  The command was given that in the seventh month and on the tenth day of the month (day of atonement) every Israelite was to afflict his soul, confess his sin, and bring a sacrifice.  He who failed to respond to the divine call was cut off (perished) from among God's people.  Therefore, it was a day of judgment and purification of the camp of Israel.  While the sinner perished, the godly were preserved.  This living example was set forth for our benefit at this present time, upon whom the anti-typical day of atonement is come.  This picture in the earthly tabernacle is intended to point out the work in the heavenly. 


Consider the Following

Leviticus 16 explains how the cleansing of the sanctuary in the Day of Atonement was performed (Leviticus 16:16). It was a symbol of our High Priest (Jesus) cleansing the Heavenly Sanctuary (Hebrews 9:23-24).

❖ The Day of Atonement was a moment of judgment for the people of Israel. They should repent and ask for the forgiveness of their sins to be sure they were actually forgiven (Leviticus 16:29-30).

❖ The prophecy about the cleansing of the sanctuary in Daniel 8:14 refers to the End Time (Daniel 8:19). Daniel was told when the Heavenly Sanctuary would be cleansed with a Judgment based on the sacrifice of Jesus (not because there’s sin in Heaven, but to end evil)


Monday - May 1, 2023

Unto 2,300 Days the Sanctuary be Cleansed

Dan. 8:10-12,14, 17, 19, 23-26 

And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told [is] true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it [shall be] for many days. (Daniel 8:26)


The Prophetic Period had been Declared and Explained

 In explaining Daniel 8:14, “Unto two thousand and three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed, “Miller, as has been stated, adopted the generally received view that the earth is the sanctuary, and he believed that the cleansing of the sanctuary represented the purification of the earth by fire at the coming of the Lord. When, therefore, he found that the close of the 2300 days was definitely foretold, he concluded that this revealed the time of the second advent. His error resulted from accepting the popular view as to what constitutes the sanctuary.  {GC88 352.1} 

In the typical system,—which was a shadow of the sacrifice and priesthood of Christ,—the cleansing of the sanctuary was the last service performed by the high priest in the yearly round of ministration. It was the closing work of the atonement,—a removal or putting away of sin from Israel. It prefigured the closing work in the ministration of our High Priest in Heaven, in the removal or blotting out of the sins of his people, which are registered in the heavenly records. This service involves a work of investigation, a work of judgment; and it immediately precedes the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; for when he comes, every case has been decided. Says Jesus, “My reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” [Revelation 22:12.] It is this work of judgment, immediately preceding the second advent, that is announced in the first angel's message of Revelation 14:7: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his Judgment is come.”  {GC88 352.2} 


The Great Work of Atonement 

In the great day of final award, the dead are to be "judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Revelation 20:12. Then by virtue of the atoning blood of Christ, the sins of all the truly penitent will be blotted from the books of heaven. Thus the sanctuary will be freed, or cleansed, from the record of sin. In the type, this great work of atonement, or blotting out of sins, was represented by the services of the Day of Atonement—the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary, which was accomplished by the removal, by virtue of the blood of the sin offering, of the sins by which it had been polluted. {CCh 348.2} 


Consider the Following

A weird vision: a ram with two horns (Daniel 8:3-4), a male goat with a horn that breaks into four (Daniel 8:5-8), a little horn that takes away the daily sacrifices and casts down the sanctuary (Daniel 8:9-12), two saints that speak about days and cleansing (Daniel 8:13-14). Daniel couldn’t understand it (Daniel 8:27).

— However, Gabriel explained it to Daniel (Daniel 8:15-26).

(1) Ram: Media and Persia (v. 20)

(2) Male goat: Greece (v. 21-22)

(3) Little horn: After Greece (i.e. Rome) (v. 23-25)

(4) 2,300 days: It is true (v. 26)

— Gabriel didn’t explain the section of the 2,300 days. That’s the part that Daniel didn’t understand. In Hebrew, the word hâzôn is used to refer to the whole vision (v. 1), while mar’ah is used to refer to the 2,300 days (v. 26-27).


For further study please visit and click the links below"


Tuesday - May 2, 2023

The 70 Weeks Determined for the Jews

Dan. 8:14; 9:23-27; Ezek. 4:6; Num 14:34

At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show [thee]; for thou [art] greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.  (Dan. 9:23)


Dan. 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.  


Ascertaining the start of the 2,300 days/years Prophecy

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city. . . . Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself. . . . And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.”  {GC88 325.3} 

The angel had been sent to Daniel for the express purpose of explaining to him the point which he had failed to understand in the vision of the eighth chapter, the statement relative to time,—“Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” After bidding Daniel “understand the matter, and consider the vision,” the very first words of the angel are, “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city.” The word here translated “determined,” literally signifies “cut off.” Seventy weeks, representing 490 years, are declared by the angel to be cut off, as specially pertaining to the Jews. But from what were they cut off? As the 2300 days was the only period of time mentioned in chapter eight, it must be the period from which the seventy weeks were cut off; the seventy weeks must therefore be a part of the 2300 days, and the two periods must begin together. The seventy weeks were declared by the angel to date from the going forth of the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem. If the date of this commandment could be found, then the starting-point for the great period of the 2300 days would be ascertained. In the seventh chapter of Ezra the decree is found. [Ezra 7:12-26.] In its completest form it was issued by Artaxerxes, king of Persia, B. C. 457. But in Ezra 6:14 the house of the Lord at Jerusalem is said to have been built “according to the commandment [margin, decree] of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” These three kings, in originating, re-affirming, and completing the decree, brought it to the perfection required by the prophecy to mark the beginning of the 2300 years. Taking B. C. 457, the time when the decree was completed, as the date of the commandment, every specification of the prophecy concerning the seventy weeks was seen to have been fulfilled.  {GC88 326.2} 


Consider the Following

Gabriel came before Daniel again to explain him the “vision.” He used the Hebrew word mar’ah, which is used in Daniel 8 to refer to the 2,300 days. This way Daniel could understand what he didn’t before.

— 70 weeks (490 years according to the day/year principle) are “decreed” or “cut” [chathak] for the people of Israel (Daniel 9:24).

(1) During the first 48 years (7 weeks), they had to rebuild Jerusalem. This happened during the times of Ezra and Nehemiah since 457 BC.

(2) They should prepare to receive the Messiah during the following 434 years: 62 weeks, until 27 AD. (Daniel 9:25)

(3) After the death of the Messiah, Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed (Daniel 9:26)


Wednesday - May 3, 2023

Confirmation of the Covenant - The One Week

Ezra 7:13-17, 27; Amt. 3:13-17; Rom. 5:6-9; Dan. 9:24-27; Mk. 13:38; Mat. 3:15-16

“Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.” (Daniel 9:27)


Christ the True Sacrifice Confirms His Covenant

Then, said the angel, "He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week [seven years]." For seven years after the Saviour entered on His ministry, the gospel was to be preached especially to the Jews; for three and a half years by Christ Himself; and afterward by the apostles. "In the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease." Daniel 9:27. In the spring of A. D. 31, Christ the true sacrifice was offered on Calvary. Then the veil of the temple was rent in twain, showing that the sacredness and significance of the sacrificial service had departed. The time had come for the earthly sacrifice and oblation to cease.  {DA 233.2}  

The one week--seven years--ended in A. D. 34. Then by the stoning of Stephen the Jews finally sealed their rejection of the gospel; the disciples who were scattered abroad by persecution "went everywhere preaching the word" (Acts 8:4); and shortly after, Saul the persecutor was converted, and became Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles.  {DA 233.3}  


The Anointed One (Messiah) has Come to Confirm the Covenant

At that time this prophecy was fulfilled. The word “Messiah” signifies “the Anointed One.” In the autumn of A. D. 27, Christ was baptized by John, and received the anointing of the Spirit. The apostle Peter testifies that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.” [Acts 10:38.] And the Saviour himself declared, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor.” [Luke 4:18.] After his baptism he came into Galilee, “preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled.” [Mark 1:14, 15.]  {GC88 327.1} 

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week.” The “week” here brought to view is the last one of the seventy; it is the last seven years of the period allotted especially to the Jews. During this time, extending from A. D. 27 to A. D. 34, Christ, at first in person, and afterward by his disciples, extended the gospel invitation especially to the Jews. As the apostles went forth with the good tidings of the kingdom, the Saviour's direction was, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not; but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [Matthew 10:5, 6.]  {GC88 327.2} 

“And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” In A. D. 31, three and a half years after his baptism, our Lord was crucified. With the great sacrifice offered upon Calvary, ended that system of offerings which for four thousand years had pointed forward to the Lamb of God. Type had met antitype, and all the sacrifices and oblations of the ceremonial system were there to cease.  {GC88 327.3} 


Consider the Following

Jesus and the apostles gave Israel the last chance to accept God’s covenant for 7 years (from 27 AD to 34 AD). Israel definitely rejected the Messiah by killing Stephen (34 AD). They rejected the covenant as a nation.

— In the middle of that period, Jesus was crucified (3 and a half years after He was baptized). He confirmed the covenant with His death (Matthew 26:28), and the sacrifices of the temple became meaningless (Mark 15:38).


Thursday - May 4, 2023

The Judgment has Come on October 22. 1844

Rev. 14:6, 7; Lev. 16:16; 23:26-29; Dan. 7-9

“Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come;” (Revelation 14:7)


The Proclamation of a Special Message 

In the proclamation of the first and second angels of Revelation 14, a special message has come to our world. Speaking of these messages, John says: "I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."  {RH, October 31, 1899 par. 7}  


Behold, the Bridegroom Cometh

 Under the proclamation of these messages the cry was made, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh." The believers in these messages were compelled to go out from the churches because they preached the second appearing of Christ in the clouds of heaven. The whole world was to hear the message, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." Many who heard these messages thought they would live to see Christ come; but there was a delay in the coming of the Bridegroom, in order that all might have an opportunity to hear the last message of mercy to a fallen world.  {RH, October 31, 1899 par. 9}  


Consider the Following

Gabriel ended his explanation in Daniel 9 (Daniel 9:21). However, Daniel 9 only covers the first 490 years of the 2,300-year period.

❖ What happened during the other 1,810 years?

❖ The “little horn” (Pagan and Papal Rome) tries to destroy God’s people and replaces the sacrifice of Jesus with false worship. It attacks the foundations of the Heavenly Sanctuary where Jesus is interceding for us (Hebrews 7:25; 9:24). It teaches a false images of God and His justice.

❖ The cleansing of the Sanctuary began in 1844. God is vindicated, and His people are judged and redeemed. What should we do? Repent and preach the Gospel (Leviticus 16:29; Revelation 14:7).


Friday - May 5, 2023

Further Study and Meditation

The first, second, and third angels' messages are to be repeated. The call is to be given to the church: "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. . . . Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities."  {RH, October 31, 1899 par. 11}  

Many who went forth to meet the Bridegroom under the messages of the first and second angels, refused the third, the last testing message to be given to the world, and a similar position will be taken when the last call is made.  {RH, October 31, 1899 par. 12}  


Questions to Ponder

For more studies please click and visit the following links:

https://3angelscry.org/pdf-the-cleansing-of-the-sanctuary-of-daniel-814/

https://3angelscry.org/pdf-the-judgment-and-the-seven-seals/


From the Pen of Inspiration

“Solemn are the scenes connected with the closing work of the atonement. Momentous are the interests involved therein. The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above […]

All who would have their names retained in the book of life, should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin, and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart.” E. G. W. (Sons and Daughters of God, December 14)


SSL-Q2-L6-The-Hour-of-His-Judgment-April-29-May-5 (fliphtml5.com) 

SSL-Q2-L6-The-Hour-of-His-Judgment-April-29-May-5.pdf