按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
penitent to the sanctuary。
Such was the work that went on； day by day； throughout the year。 The sins of
Israel were thus transferred to the sanctuary； and a special work became
necessary for their removal。 God commanded that an atonement be made for
each of the
419
sacred apartments。 〃He shall make an atonement for the holy place； because
of the uncleanness of the children of Israel； and because of their
transgressions in all their sins： and so shall he do for the tabernacle of
the congregation； that remaineth among them in the midst of their
uncleanness。〃 An atonement was also to be made for the altar； to 〃cleanse
it； and hallow if from the uncleanness of the children of Israel。〃 Leviticus
16：16； 19。
Once a year； on the great Day of Atonement； the priest entered the most holy
place for the cleansing of the sanctuary。 The work there performed completed
the yearly round of ministration。 On the Day of Atonement two kids of the
goats were brought to the door of the tabernacle； and lots were cast upon
them； 〃one lot for the Lord； and the other lot for the scapegoat。〃 Verse 8。
The goat upon which fell the lot for the Lord was to be slain as a sin
offering for the people。 And the priest was to bring his blood within the
veil and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat。 The
blood was also to be sprinkled upon the altar of incense that was before the
veil。
〃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。〃 Verses 21； 22。 The scapegoat came no more into the camp of
Israel； and the man who led him away was required to wash himself and his
clothing with water before returning to the camp。
The whole ceremony was designed to impress the Israelites with the holiness
of God and His abhorrence of sin； and； further； to show them that they could
not come in contact with sin without becoming polluted。 Every man was
required to afflict his soul while this work of atonement was going forward。
All business was to be laid aside； and the
420
whole congregation of Israel were to spend the day in solemn humiliation
before God； with prayer； fasting； and deep searching of heart。
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。 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。 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。 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 scapegoat； 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。
Such was the service performed 〃unto the example and shadow of heavenly
things。〃 And what was done in type in the ministration of the earthly
sanctuary is done in reality in the ministration of the heavenly sanctuary。
After His ascension our Saviour began His work as our high priest。 Says
Paul： 〃Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands； which are
the figures of the true； but into heaven itself； now to appear in the
presence of God for us。〃 Hebrews 9：24。
The ministration of the priest throughout the year in the first apartment of
the sanctuary； 〃within the veil〃 which formed the door and separated the
holy place from the outer court； represents the work of ministration upon
which Christ entered at His ascension。 It was the work of the priest in the
421
daily ministration to present before God the blood of the sin offering； also
the incense which ascended with the prayers of Israel。 So did Christ plead
His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners； and present before Him
also； with the precious fragrance of His own righteousness； the prayers of
penitent believers。 Such was the work of ministration in the first apartment
of the sanctuary in heaven。
Thither the faith of Christ's disciples followed Him as He ascended from
their sight。 Here their hopes centered； 〃which hope we have；〃 said Paul； 〃as
an anchor of the soul； both sure and steadfast； and which entereth into that
within the veil； whither the forerunner is for us entered； even Jesus； made
an high priest forever。〃 〃Neither by the blood of goats and calves； but by
His own blood He entered in once into the holy place； having obtained
eternal redemption for us。〃 Hebrews 6：19； 20； 9：12。
For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first
apartment of the sanctuary。 The blood of Christ； pleaded in behalf of
penitent believers； secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father； yet
their sins still remained upon the books of record。 As in the typical
service there was a work of atonement at the close of the year； so before
Christ's work for the redemption of men is completed there is a work of
atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary。 This is the service
which began when the 2300 days ended。 At that time； as foretold by Daniel
the prophet； our High Priest entered the most holy； to perform the last
division of His solemn workto cleanse the sanctuary。
As anciently the sins of the people were by faith placed upon the sin
offering and through its blood transferred； in figure； to the earthly
sanctuary； so in the new covenant the sins of the repentant are by faith
placed upon Christ and transferred； in fact； to the heavenly sanctuary。 And
as the typical cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of
the sins by which it had been polluted； so the actual cleansing of the
heavenly is to be accomplished by
422
the removal； or blotting out； of the sins which are there recorded。 But
before this can be accomplished； there must be an examination of the books
of record to determine who； through repentance of sin and faith in Christ；
are entitled to the benefits of His atonement。 The cleansing of the
sanctuary therefore involves a work of investigationa work of judgment。
This work must be performed prior to the coming of Christ to redeem His
people； for when He comes； His reward is with Him to give to every man
according to his works。 Revelation 22：12。
Thus those who followed in the light of the prophetic word saw that； instead
of coming to the earth at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844； Christ
then entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the
closing work of atonement preparatory to His coming。
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。 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。
（423）
Chapter 24
In the Holy of Holies
The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the
disappointment of 1844。 It opened to view a complete system of truth；
connected and harmonious； showing that God's hand had directed the great
advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light the
position and work of His people。 As the disciples of Jesus after the
terrible night of their anguish and disappointment were 〃glad when they saw
the Lord；〃 so did those now rejoice who had looked in faith for His second
coming。 They had expected Him to appear in glory to give reward to His
servants。 As their hopes were disappointed； they had lost sight of Jesus；
and with Mary at the sepulcher they cried： 〃They have tak