Monday - May 20, 2024
In the Holy of Holies - The Purification
Leviticus 16:1-34; Leviticus 23:26-32; Hebrews 9:23-28; Jeremiah 17:1.
“In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been” (Lev. 16:16a)
Another Message of Warning and Instruction was to be given to the Church.
Says the prophet: "Who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above, are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort, they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God's people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14. {SW, January 24, 1905 par. 6} (The Southern Watchman)
For further study on the subject presented in Rev. 14, please visit the links below:
Present Truth Lessons 2020 - Lesson 3 The 3 Angels and Other Angels (google.com)
Meat In Due Season - First Angel's Message - Rev. 14:6, 7 (google.com)
Meat In Due Season - Second Angel's Message - Rev. 14:8 (google.com)
Meat In Due Season - Third Angel's Message - Rev. 14:9-10 (google.com)
Christ's Work in the Holy and the Most Holy Places
Then he [Moses] was carried down to the period of time when a view of the heavenly sanctuary should be given to God's people; when the veil would be parted, and by faith they would enter within the Holy of Holies. Moses knew something about the sanctuary in heaven. He understood the sacred ministrations connected with the holy place and the Most Holy. The significance of the typical service in the earthly sanctuary was made light and clear by the reflection of the Sun of Righteousness upon the types and symbols. {11MR 54.1} (Manuscript Releases Volume 11, 1990)
A Closing Work of Atonement - in the Most Holy Place
“The temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” [Revelation 11:19.] The ark of God's testament is in the holy of holies, the second apartment of the sanctuary. In the ministration of the earthly tabernacle, which served “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things,” this apartment was opened only upon the great day of atonement, for the cleansing of the sanctuary. Therefore the announcement that the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and the ark of his testament was seen, points to the opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, in 1844, as Christ entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement. Those who by faith followed their great High Priest, as he entered upon his ministry in the most holy place, beheld the ark of his testament. As they had studied the subject of the sanctuary, they had come to understand the Saviour's change of ministration, and they saw that he was now officiating before the ark of God, pleading his blood in behalf of sinners. {GC88 433.1} (The Great Controversy, 1888)
The High Priest that Enters the Most Holy Place
In 1844 our great High Priest entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, to begin the work of the investigative judgment. The cases of the righteous dead have been passing in review before God. When that work shall be completed, judgment is to be pronounced upon the living. How precious, how important are these solemn moments! Each of us has a case pending in the court of heaven. We are individually to be judged according to the deeds done in the body. In the typical service, when the work of atonement was performed by the high priest in the most holy place of the earthly sanctuary, the people were required to afflict their souls before God, and confess their sins, that they might be atoned for and blotted out. Will any less be required of us in this antitypical day of atonement, when Christ in the sanctuary above is pleading in behalf of His people, and the final, irrevocable decision is to be pronounced upon every case? {1SM 125.1} (Selected Messages Book 1, 1958)
The Purification of the Church - Investigative Judgment for the Living
The true people of God, who have the spirit of the work of the Lord and the salvation of souls at heart, will ever view sin in its real, sinful character. They will always be on the side of faithful and plain dealing with sins which easily beset the people of God. Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel most deeply the wrongs of God's professed people. This is forcibly set forth by the prophet's illustration of the last work under the figure of the men each having a slaughter weapon in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side. "And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof." {3T 266.2} (Testimonies for the Church Volume 3, 1872-1875)
For further studies, please visit the links below:
Present Truth Lessons 2020 - Lesson 7 Purification of the Church (google.com)
Meat In Due Season - 25. Purification of the Church - Ezekiel 9 (google.com)
Meat In Due Season - 2. The 144,000 (google.com)
Consider the Following
Although the Israelites were forgiven by presenting their sacrifices, their guilt was “transferred” to the sanctuary. Therefore, its purification was necessary. This happened on the day of atonement, known even today among the Hebrews as the day of judgment.
If someone did not grieve that day, repenting of their sins, they were “cut off” (Lev. 23:29-30). His fate was sealed that day. In the same way, when the purification of the heavenly sanctuary is completed, our destiny will be sealed. Meanwhile, today is the day of afflicting our souls, the day of decision (Heb. 3:14-15).
