The Incarnation of the WORD: the Death of the Testator

Jesus shed His sacred blood, and separated His Own Holy Spirit as a sacrifice for us

In His incarnation He had reached the prescribed limit as a sacrifice, but not as a Redeemer. {12MR
409.1}

Hebrews 9:16,17 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the Testator. For a
testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the Testator liveth.

Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their
advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on earth.
The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof. He would
represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent. {14MR 23.3}

unfathomable mystery
When we consider the incarnation of Christ, that is when Jesus left His throne in heaven and took upon Him
the form of a servant and became one with the human race, we are contemplating an unfathomable
mystery, one which we will never FULLY understand. But the things which are revealed to us by God are
indeed to be our study and meditation, for in this epochal event is our whole redemption centered.

Study the incarnation of Christ

The Lords prophet for the end time, Ellen G. White, had this to say concerning studying the incarnation of
Christ:

The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden chain that binds our souls to Christ,
and through Christ to God. This is to be our study. Christ was a real man; He gave proof of His humility in
becoming a man. Yet He was God in the flesh. When we approach this subject, we would do well to heed the
words spoken by Christ to Moses at the burning bush, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place
whereon thou standest is holy ground" (Ex. 3:5). We should come to this study with the humility of a
learner, with a contrite heart. And the study of the incarnation of Christ is a fruitful field, which will repay
the searcher who digs deep for hidden truth. {Selected Messages Volume 1 page 244.1}

EGW plainly states here that the incarnation is a fruitful fieldshe is letting us knowing that there will be
more and more treasures which have yet to be discovered. We do not have ALL of the light upon this subject
and we never will for it is unfathomable mystery; this will be our study throughout the ceaseless ages of
eternity and we will continue to see in it hidden truth.

But let us surely heed the warning, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is
holy ground" (Ex. 3:5). And come to this study with the humility of a learner, with a contrite heart. AMEN

Two important points to be addressed

There are two very important issues we hope to reveal clear answers to in this study. First, in the last study on
The Image of God: A Rejection of Numeric Monotheism, we very clearly showed that in the beginning there
were Two: God the Father and Jesus Christ. (follow link to study
here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/142127304/The-Image-of-God-A-Rejection-of-Numeric-
Monotheism )
In this study we will proclaim the principles which have been revealed concerning the change in the
Godhead from Two (Father and Son) to Three (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and the eternal significance of
this sacrifice.

Second we want to address a very serious statement concerning our Redemption that few have tried to
reconcile. Paul states in Hebrews that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the New Testament, and that by means
of death Jesus is the Mediator of the New Testament. In giving the reason for this, Paul goes on the say the
following: For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the Testator. If it is
impossible for God to die, then how did Jesus fulfill this requirement? - for the Testator of the Covenant was
in heaven and was in the form of God. This we hope to reconcile, as it relates directly to how and why the
Holy Spirit is now the separate, third Person of the Godhead.

We glory in the incarnation of Christ and Gods triumph in the Great Controversy
The issues involving the incarnation of Jesus are eternally important; we are not attempting in this short
study to completely build the foundation of all the implications and necessities involved. But will we tarry for
a moment to behold some of the glorious reasons why Jesus consented to become one with the human race.
The most important reason was it was Gods chosen way to put down the rebellion which Satan had begun in
Gods perfect universe. It is because of the appearance of sin that Jesus had to die. Indeed, the creation of
humans and the whole earth have their Genesis in the fulfillment of this purpose: the vindication of the
character of God against Satans false charges and the rendering of Gods kingdom eternally secure from
future apostasy. It is a glorious thought when we consider that the great purpose for our creation was first to
be Gods instruments whereby He would accomplish His triumph in the Great Controversy can we fully
comprehend how precious we are to God? At the same instant, Jesus came to earth as a man to demonstrate,
as nothing else could do, how great love our God has for His created beings and the lengths He would go to
so to gain our trust and our love and allegiance to Him in return. Our God created intelligent beings for to
love and to be loved by; the creation of mankind and the earth and the incarnation of Jesus are necessary
elements to accomplish this grand purpose for ALL of His vast creation.

With these grand, eternal goals in view (to win the Great Controversy which Satan began and to reveal His
great love and win the loyalty and hearts of all His creation forever), we can proceed to understand how great
a sacrifice would be required to accomplish these desires of God.

Gods character revealed

Surely God might have accomplished our redemption and put down Satans rebellion by display of His
omnipotent POWER of itself. But this he could not do; because Gods character is more at heart of who God
is than His great power. The process of saving humans who had sinned because of being tempted by Satan
(which we call plan of Redemption) comes to us by virtue of Gods character attribute of Mercy; God is
Merciful and Gracious and He condescended to pity us and save us, even when we had turned from our
allegiance to Him. But on the other hand, Gods character attribute of Justice must be upheld and also
expressed Man had sinned and the penalty for sin, which is violation of Gods law, is ETERNAL death. God
could not save us (exercise Mercy), nor win the Great Controversy, unless the demands of Justice were met.
God will not at all clear the guilty; God by His nature (His character) must (visit) the iniquity because of
transgression. A way must be made whereby the penalty for sin is satisfied and man is purged from being
guilty.

Justice must be satisfied so that God could exercise Mercy

Let us look to the Spirit of Prophecy now, to see these things clearly:

When man rebelled, all heaven was filled with sorrow. The penalty of disobedience to God's law is death.
There appeared to be no escape for those who had transgressed the law. The law could not be changed in
order to meet man in his fallen condition. But God's love for humanity can never be measured. Instead
of condemning the human race to eternal death, He gave His only begotten Son for their redemption. {The
Sign of the Times, July 23, 1902 par. 10}

Jesus lived the character of God. He was willing to be, or to do, or to suffer anything in order to save men
from eternal death. He condemned sin that He might not be compelled finally to condemn the
sinner. Jesus bore the penalty of death in order that the sinner might not suffer this terrible consequence,
and made an atonement for us. {Manuscript Releases 14 page 81.4}

What did Jesus have to endure to make an atonement for us?

He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. {The Desire of
Ages page 25.2}

What great cost did Justice require?

What kind of death was ours, which Jesus must suffer in our place?

"The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23.
While life is the inheritance of the righteous, death is the portion of the wicked. Moses declared to Israel: "I
have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil." Deuteronomy 30:15. The death referred to in
these scriptures is notthat pronounced upon Adam, for all mankind suffer the penalty of his transgression. It
is "the second death" that is placed in contrast with everlasting life. {The Great Controversy page
544.1}

With His life Christ has purchased every human being. He died a cruel death to save human beings
from eternal death. {Manuscript Releases page 88.1}
While we were yet sinners, Christ died to save us from eternal death. {Testimonies Volume 9 page 50.2}

I heard another angel answerThe soul that sinneth, it shall die an everlasting death-- a death from
which there will be no hope of resurrection; and then the wrath of God will be appeased. {Early Writings
page 218.1}

It was our lot to suffer everlasting or eternal death, and EGW stated that, He suffered the death which
was ours. We were appointed a death from which there will be no hope of resurrection.

The question we now have before us is, did three days in the tomb satisfy this requirement?

Now consider this revelation from the Spirit of Prophecy:

When Christ was crucified, it was His human nature that died. Deity did not sink and die; that would
have been impossible. EGW - {Manuscript Releases 21 page 418.6}

Christs human nature did not die an eternal death

The death of Christs human nature, while also necessary for our redemption and therefore of eternal
importance, did not satisfy the requirement of Eternal death. Jesus died a painful, humiliating death with
all the sins of a lost world upon Him; but there was still a death or consequence which must also be eternal
and everlasting. Christs human nature was resurrected after suffering the pains of the second death
which include separation from God and He also suffered under Gods just wrath for the sin of mankind. These
things were necessary for Jesus to suffer and become our Redeemer, because this was also the lot of man: to
be separated from God and to suffer the wrath of Divine Justice. But what we are also attempting to
demonstrate is that Christ ALSO fully satisfied an eternal consequence of sin, which was also an equally
necessary requirement for Divine Justice to be satisfied Christ suffered a death from which there is no
hope of resurrection

The death of the Testator of the Covenant

Now we must consider the Testator of the Everlasting Covenant:

Hebrews 9:15-17 And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the
redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the
promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the
Testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the
Testator liveth.

Our redemption required Jesus to suffer all that those who are finally lost must suffer in consequence of
sin. We glory in the Cross of Calvary, for there our Redeemer died a humiliating death, even the death of
the Cross, to redeem mankind from the curse upon us for violating Gods law; and He endured this while the
iniquity of us all (Isa. 53:6) was laid upon Him. He experienced the agony of the hiding of His Fathers face,
which is the separation from God the lost sinner must finally understand. He felt supreme anguish as the just
Wrath of God was poured upon Him. Then the sins of the world crushed His soul and He died

Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me (Hebrews 10:5) Jesus
offering upon the Cross was acceptable to God because of His spotless, sinless life and because upon Christ
was no yoke of obligation; He only was One equal with God, the fountain of all Law. Jesus freely chose to
die as our Redeemer and bear the penalty of the Law. Christs death on the Cross demonstrated how great
love God has for us and what He is willing to endure to save us But there was still more that the sinner was
sentenced to endure: a death from which there will be no hope of resurrection.

Our Bible text from Hebrews states that where a Testament is, the One Who covenanted, the One Who made
the Testament must die before it can be in force. And what is more, the Testament is not in force if the
Testator liveth (Selah) This shows us clearly that the Testator must die a death from which He cannot be
resurrected because if He was and He yet liveth, His Testament would not be in force.

Jesus, the Testator of the Covenant, was not human when He covenanted with the Father

How do we reconcile this? We must consider Jesus estate when He made the Testament with The Father.

The covenant of mercy was made before the foundation of the world. It has existed from all eternity, and is
called the everlasting covenant. {The Sings of the Times, June 12, 1901 par. 7}

Christ was not alone in making this great sacrifice. It was the fulfillment of the covenant made between the
Father and the Son before the foundation of the earth was laid. With clasped hands they entered into the
solemn pledge that Christ would become the substitute and surety for the human race if they were
overcome by Satan's sophistry. { SDA Bible Commentary Volume 5 page 1149.8}

At the time Jesus clasped hands and made a covenant with the Father, before the foundation of the earth
was laid, Jesus existed in the form of God (Philippians 2:6). He was not a human when He made this
Testament, but He was fully God in heaven. But EGW says that when Jesus came to earth as a baby formed in
Marys womb, in His glorious mysterious Incarnation, she wrote this:

But Christ, "being in the form of God, counted it not a thing to be grasped to be on an equality with God,
but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men." Phil. 2:6, 7, R. V.,
margin. {The Desire of Ages page 22.3}

How could the Testator, a Deity Being, die eternally?

When Jesus became a man He emptied Himself (Selah)... But what did He empty Himself of?

Behold this insight EGW shares in her book The Desire of Ages, concerning Christs taking upon Himself
the form of a servant:

Chapter 35 Peace, Be Still - When Jesus was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peace. There
was no trace of fear in word or look, for no fear was in His heart. But He rested not in the possession of
almighty power. It was not as the "Master of earth and sea and sky" that He reposed in quiet. That
power He had laid down, and He says, "I can of Mine own self do nothing." John 5:30. He trusted in the
Father's might. It was in faith--faith in God's love and care--that Jesus rested, and the power of that word
which stilled the storm was the power of God. {The Desire of Ages page 336.1}

Jesus could not be our example if He came to earth with His omnipotent powers as God. Meditate on the
words: That power He had laid down. Jesus laying down His omnipotent Power and emptying Himself
are the same event; this is what happened in the incarnation of Christ. But the Omnipotent power of God Jesus
laid down when He emptied Himself didnt just vanish or simply remain in a place in heaven until Jesus
should return and once again assume the form of God, for this He covenanted to give up forever

An Everlasting Sacrifice
In becoming a man Jesus made an everlasting sacrifice. We have already shown that He laid down His
Omnipotent power. He also laid down His Omniscience (an attribute of God, that He knows and understands
all things past, present and future). This is clear also from the quote above because if Jesus had His
Omniscience He could not exercise faith, and again could not be a true example to us. Lastly, it is clearly
manifest that Jesus laid down the ability residing only with God to be Omnipresent.

We say again, that when Jesus laid this Power down, which was inherent in Himself in the form of God, that
Power did not simply vanish away or rest in heaven until He should return to take it up again and return to
the form of God - for this He will never do

In taking our nature, the Saviour has bound Himself to humanity by a tie that is never to be broken.
Through the eternal ages He is linked with us. "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son."
John 3:16. He gave Him not only to bear our sins, and to die as our sacrifice; He gave Him to the fallen race.
To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace, God gave His only-begotten Son to become one of the
human family, forever to retain His human nature. This is the pledge that God will fulfill His word.
"Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder." God has
adopted human nature in the person of His Son, and has carried the same into the highest heaven. {SDA
Bible Commentary Vol. 7 page 456.4}.

The Power He laid down, or divested from Himself

This quote by EGW is eternally helpful at this point in our study:

He divested Himself of the form of God, and in its stead took the form of man. He laid aside His glory,
and for our sakes became poor, that we through His poverty might be rich. {17MR 339.1}
Also here:
Cumbered with humanity, Christ could not be in every place personally; therefore it was altogether for their
advantage that He should leave them, go to His father, and send the Holy Spirit to be His successor on
earth. The Holy Spirit is Himself divested of the personality of humanity and independent thereof.
He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent. {Manuscript
Releases 14 page 23.3}

Here we see clearly revealed that the Holy Spirit is Jesus! But the Holy Spirit is divested and independent of
Christs personality in humanity. Until Jesus took upon Himself humanity, it was IMPOSSIBLE for His own
Spirit to be independent of His form of God. But this did take place when Christ was incarnated. The
incarnation of Jesus satisfies the eternal, everlasting requirement of the sacrifice He was to make for us,
which was also a necessary requirement of Justice to have been met. It is in this way that the Testator of the
covenant, Who was in the form of God, could die. Jesus will forever be cumbered with humanity, and
therefore cannot be in every place personally; Jesus in the form of God has ceased to exist forever.
That power He had laid down But now He would represent Himself as present in all places
by His Holy Spirit

We can receive Christs Own Holy Spirit because of His eternal sacrifice in the incarnation

Jesus will forever bear the humanity He assumed when He came to earth as a man. He has forever laid aside
and given His Holy Spirit as an eternal sacrifice, an unspeakable gift to us and as a regenerating agent for us
to receive and be saved thereby. Jesus will never again return to the form of God which He emptied
Himself of; in the incarnation, Jesus in the form of God (His estate prior to the incarnation) died and
ceased to exist forever.

It is through the incarnation of Jesus Christ that the Holy Spirit became the separate third Person of
the Godhead.
Here are a few quotes to consider:
In His incarnation He had reached the prescribed limitas a sacrifice, but not as a Redeemer.
{Manuscript Releases 12 page 409.1}

The work of redemption is called a mystery, and it is indeed the mystery by which everlasting righteousness
is brought to all who believe. The race in consequence of sin was at enmity with God. Christ, at an infinite
cost, by a painful process, mysterious to angels as well as to men, assumed humanity. Hiding His divinity,
laying aside His glory, He was born a babe in Bethlehem. In human flesh He lived the law of God, that He
might condemn sin in the flesh, and bear witness to heavenly intelligences that the law was ordained to life
and to ensure the happiness, peace, and eternal good of all who obey. But the same infinite sacrifice that is
life to those who believe is a testimony of condemnation to the disobedient, speaking death and not life (MS
29, 1899).

Christs Holy Spirit, inseparably connected to the Blood of Jesus

We believe that Jesus infinite, eternal sacrifice of His own Holy Spirit is also represented when the Bible
speaks about the Power in Jesus blood which He shed.

We are taught by God in Leviticus this profound revelation:

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make
an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

We have established that Jesus laid down His mighty Power, which includes Omnipresence. And we have also
seen that it was when Jesus became cumbered with humanity that the Holy Spirit was divested of the
personality of humanity and that the Holy Spirit is Himself Now considering that the Bible teaches that
the LIFE is in Blood, contemplate this truth revealed in the Spirit of Prophecy:

Christ declared that after his ascension, he would send to his church, as His crowning gift, the Comforter,
who was to take His place. This Comforter is the Holy Spirit,--the soul of His life, the efficacy of his
church, the light and life of the world. With His Spirit Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that
takes away sin. {The Review and Herald, May 19, 1904 par. 1}

Now we want to learn more about the importance of the Blood of Jesus. We have learned that the LIFE is in
the Blood. And now EGW shows us that the Holy Spirit is the Soul of HIS LIFE now also notice that the
Holy Spirit is a power that takes away sin.
The Bible says that the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (John 1:7)

Consider these quotes concerning Christs Blood/Holy Spirit:

Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the
Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. {Desire of Ages
page 671 paragraph 2}

through the infinite sacrifice of the Son of God complete provision has been made that man may become a
partaker of the divine nature, and through the merits of the blood of Christ be an overcomer. {The
Review and Herald, August 27, 1901 par. 4}

It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. {Desire of Ages page 671 paragraph 2}

Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. {The
Great Controversy page 425.2}

Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature. {Desire of Ages page 671
paragraph 2}

through the blood of the atonement, we become partakers of the divine nature {Testimonies Vol.
5 page 740.3}

The virtue of the merits of the blood of Christ {Faith and Works page 86.4}

We believe that when Jesus offers up His sacred blood before God, included in His righteous virtue (the
merits of His blood) is not only His sinless life and shameful death on the cross, but also His infinite
sacrifice in separating His Holy Spirit for us to receive as a reconciling influence and a power that takes
away sin.

A Latter Rain message

We will now turn our attention to fundamental knowledge concerning the Final Atonement taking place in
the sanctuary in heaven, which is necessary to our receiving the final act of cleansing, when our sins are to be
blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. It is these very
truths which the church should have been advancing unto; which the doctrine of the Trinity has effectively
hidden from view for too many years now.

The whole message of the SDA church, yea, the whole purpose for the SDA church to exist, is to promulgate
the truths and impart the light we have received by understanding Christs ministry in the heavenly
sanctuary. This is where the entirety of our whole work proceeded from (the Three angels who carry the last
threefold message of mercy are sent forth from the heavenly sanctuary see Early Writings pages 245-258).
The Sabbath and the three angels messages came to us inseparably connected with the Biblical teaching of
the sanctuary. We were to always advance in this light. The following quote from Vol. 4 of the Spirit of
Prophecy will for us chart out the key points for the rest of this study:

those who followed in the advancing 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, into the presence of God, 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 scape-goat 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 scape-goat. 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 scape-goat 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. {Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4 page 266.2,3}

Thus is brought to our view the time since Christ entered into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary
until the final expulsion of sin and the close of the Great Controversy. First we are told that the light which
brought SDAs this knowledge is advancing light. It doesnt rest. The light doesnt stop advancing until
the people of God have their sins blotted out; the Light advances until He becomes in us Himself the full
measure poured out in the latter rain of Christs Spirit!

Advancing Light from the Sanctuary in Heaven: The virtue of the blood of the (Great) sin offering

The rest of our study will focus on another point brought out in the quote; specifically this, by virtue of the
blood of the sin-offering, removed the sins from the sanctuary We need to study more about
the VIRTUE of the blood of the sin offering by following in advancing light. Listen to what EGW had to say
further about growing specifically in THIS understanding:

We need to keep ever before us the efficacy of the blood of Jesus. That life-cleansing, life-sustaining
blood, appropriated by living faith, is our hope. We need to grow in appreciation of its inestimable value,
for it speaks for us only as we by faith claim its virtue, keeping the conscience clean and at peace with
God. {SDA Bible Commentary Volume 7 page 947.11}

So let us with fear and trembling study what is now revealed concerning the virtue of blood of the sin
offering.

Leviticus chapter 16: The Day of Atonement

In going back to Leviticus chapter 16 to review what the Bible teaches about the Day of Atonement, we will
learn something very significant which must be considered if we are to grow in our appreciation of the virtue
of the blood of the sin offering. We learn there that the High Priest on the Day of Atonement actually
makes two sacrifices which are both called a sin offering.

Leviticus 16:5: And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a
sin offering

Leviticus 16:3: Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering

Two types of blood used to cleanse the sanctuary

Once these two beasts were slain, the blood of BOTH was used to sprinkle upon the mercy seat and make
atonement for the sins of Israel.

Leviticus 16:14-16: And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the
mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil,
and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and
before the mercy seat:

And 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.

After this, the blood of the two sin offerings was to be used to cleanse the altar:

Leviticus 16:18,19: And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for
it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of
the altar round about.

And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the
uncleanness of the children of Israel.

It is now manifest that for us to grow in appreciation for the inestimable value of the blood of Jesus and to
by faith claim its virtue, we need to appropriate all the light and knowledge God is pleased to give upon this
subject. Let us look at how Christ fulfills the full ministry of these two types represented by the sin offering of
the bullock and of the Lords goat.

And what was done in type in the ministration of the earthly sanctuary is done in reality in the
ministration of the heavenly sanctuary. {The Great Controversy page 420.2}
How Jesus fulfills the two sin offerings from the typical service

First the young bullock which the High Priest slays, we are told in Leviticus the purpose of this sin offering:

And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for
himself, and for his house. Lev. 16:6

While Jesus, unlike the High Priest on earth, does not need to make an atonement for Himself; He still fulfills
the type in that the bullock represents the atonement for His house. Christs church, the people of God, is
His house even as Aaron the first High priest of the earthly tabernacle made an atonement for his house,
the house of Aaron:

And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. Exodus 19:6

But Christ as a Son over His Own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the
rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Heb. 3:6

The young bullock represents the sin offering when Christ took upon Himself humanity and partook of
flesh and blood that He might be a faithful and merciful High Priest.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Heb 2:17

The blood of Christs perfect humanity was necessary for to be sprinkled upon the Mercy Seat in the
antitypical Day of Atonement, in His ministry of Final Atonement in the heavenly sanctuary, when our sins
shall be blotted out. This was represented by the blood of the young bullock.

The Lords goat and the scapegoat

As we turn our attention to the offering of the Lords goat, which was also for a sin offering, many hidden
truths are revealed. It is significant that in the typical service, two goats were brought before the Lord and
lots were cast to determine which one would be the Lords goat and which the scapegoat. We believe this is
not meant to teach that in the anti-type they are equal, but to focus our attention on the fact that in some
ways, the Lords goat and the scapegoat were at one time very much in league with each other.

We know that the scapegoat represents Lucifer and the Lords goat represents Christ. They are obviously not
equal, but let us consider, how they were in league in some way in Heaven before sin.

The two covering cherubs

Lucifer, "son of the morning," was first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled. He stood in the
presence of the great Creator, and the ceaseless beams of glory enshrouding the eternal God rested upon
him. {Patriarchs and Prophets page 35.1}

We know from the earthly sanctuary, which stands as an example and shadow of heavenly things, that there
are two covering cherubs which veil the glory of God in the Most Holy Place. EGW states that Lucifer was
the first of these two

also consider these significant revelations given the Testimony of Jesus:

Christ Himself called him forth to life. Satan the tempter had claimed the body of Moses because of his sin;
but Christ the Saviour brought him forth from the grave. Jude 9. {The Desire of Ages page 421.3}

Jude 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses,
durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Michael, or Christ, with the angels that buried Moses, came down from heaven, after he had remained in the
grave a short time, and resurrected him and took him to heaven. {Story of Redemption page 173.2}

The Bible reveals that Christs position before His incarnation was as an Archangel in heaven; now behold
what is revealed about Lucifers position as covering cherub:

Rebellion originated with Satan. Notwithstanding the exalted position which he occupied among the
heavenly host, he became dissatisfied because he was not accorded supreme honor. Hence he questioned
God's purposes and impugned his justice. He bent all his powers to allure the angels from their
allegiance. The fact that he was an archangel, glorious and powerful, enabled him to exert a mighty
influence. His complaints against God's government, at first met with no favor; yet being urged again and
again, they were finally accepted by those who had before been loyal and happy subjects of the King of
Heaven. There was not the shadow of justification or excuse for disaffection; but envy and jealousy, once
cherished, gained a power that paralyzed reason and destroyed honor and loyalty. As the result, Satan and all
his sympathizers were cast out of Heaven. {Signs of the Times, September 14, 1882 par. 9}

We believe that Christ condescended to the position of a covering cherub, also called an archangel, as is in
harmony with His character of meekness and humility and, in Gods counsel, made necessary because His
were the hands which created the angels. Jesus was called the Angel of the LORD; according to His
wonderful character, He comes very near to His created family members, He calls them sons and dwells
among them as a brother. It seems that even though God made Lucifer exceedingly beautiful and more
exalted than all the other created angels, He suffered a test to come upon Lucifer after he cherished envy in
His heart for Christ. That test was that after Lucifer indulged in envy of Christ, God the Father openly
conferred (restated, surely made clear) supreme authority upon Jesus, Who had condescended even to take
the less prominent role as the covering cherub in the second position, seeing that it is revealed that Lucifer
was first of the covering cherubs.

EGW declares by the Spirit of Prophecy that Lucifer made this revealing remark:

Satan, who was once an honored angel in Heaven, had been ambitious for the more exalted honors which
God had bestowed upon His Son. He became envious of Christ, and represented to the angels who honored
him as covering cherub that he had not the honor conferred upon him which his position
demanded. He asserted that he should be exalted equal in honor with God. {The Review and Herald,
February 24, 1874 par. 2}

And again,
There were some who looked with favor upon Lucifer's insinuations against the government of God.
Although they had heretofore been in perfect harmony with the order which God had established, they were
now discontented and unhappy because they could not penetrate His unsearchable counsels; they were
dissatisfied with His purpose in exalting Christ. These stood ready to second Lucifer's demand for equal
authority with the Son of God. But angels who were loyal and true maintained the wisdom and justice of
the divine decree and endeavored to reconcile this disaffected being to the will of God. Christ was the Son
of God; He had been one with Him before the angels were called into existence. He had ever stood at
the right hand of the Father; His supremacy, so full of blessing to all who came under its benignant control,
had not heretofore been questioned. {Patriarchs and Prophets page 38.3}

Lucifers demand for equal authority with the Son of God seems to be based on his idea that as covering
cherubhe had not the honor conferred upon him which his position demanded.

Lucifer was first of the covering cherubs in terms of the responsibilities of the position as covering cherub, yet
the Son of God condescended to take the other position as covering cherub. Still, Lucifer understood that
Jesus was taken into councils which he was not permitted to. This maddened him and tested his loyalty to
God the Father and to the Son. Instead of being reconciled to the fact that this was by Gods arrangement,
Lucifer rebelled and incited rebellion among the angels because they could not penetrate (Gods)
unsearchable counsels; they were dissatisfied with His purpose in exalting Christ.

In all the councils of God, Christ was a participant, while Lucifer was not permitted thus to enter into the
divine purposes. "Why," questioned this mighty angel, "should Christ have the supremacy? Why is He thus
honored above Lucifer?" {The Great Controversy page 495.1}

These two covering cherubs are represented in the earthly type of the Day of Atonement service as the two
goats which are brought before the Lord. As the scapegoat represents Satan who was an archangel who is a
spirit being, so also The Lords goat requires the sacrifice of the Archangel Who was also a Spirit Being (God
is a Spirit John 4:24) and He was in the form of God and equal to God the Father (Phil. 2:6).

In His incarnation He had reached the prescribed limit as a sacrifice, but not as a Redeemer. {12MR
409.1}

Another Important Distinction

Another important distinction which must be brought out concerning the special significance of the
Blood of the Lords Goat on the Day of Atonement, which is especially singular in comparison to all the other
sacrifices, both in the daily service and to the Blood of the bullock on Day of Atonement is this:

The Lords Goat had no sins confessed over it before it was slain. The blood of all the other sacrifices are/were
substitutionary and accomplish the transfer of sins to the sanctuary But the Blood of the Lords Goat,
ALONE, cleanses the sins from the sanctuary and finally blots out the records of sin recorded there
FOREVER!!!

What the blood of the Lords goat typifies

God said this about the virtue of the great sin offering:

Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make
an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

In a painful process, God the Father and Jesus committed Themselves to perform the Incarnation of Jesus
Christ, at which time Christs very own Holy Spirit was separated from Jesus and the Holy Spirit Himself
caused Jesus to begin to develop inside of Marys womb as a human baby. We must needs also acknowledge
this eternal sacrifice when we by living faith appropriate the blood of Jesus, because it speaks for us only as
we by faith claim its virtue

The sacrifice of the One Who was in the form of God was typified in the sacrifice of the Lords goat. Jesus
also shed His sacred blood, the Soul of His Life, in emptying out Himself for us His own Holy Spirit. This is
the meaning of the mingling of the blood of the two sin offerings, in the types of the bullock and the Lords
goat in the earthly sanctuary where both life bloods were necessary to obey the Lords direction in cleansing
the sanctuary on the Day of Atonement.

Final Atonement

When the high priest, by virtue of the blood of the sin-offering, removed the sins from the sanctuary, he
placed them upon the scape-goat.

When the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, then the sins of the
repentant soul who received the grace of Christ and has overcome through the blood of the Lamb, will be
removed from the records of heaven, and will be placed upon Satan, the scapegoat, the originator of
sin, and be remembered no more against him forever. The sins of the overcomers will be blotted out of the
books of record, but their names will be retained on the book of life. {The Sign of the Times, May 16, 1895
par. 4}

To receive the latter rain, we must pray for the blood of sprinkling to be applied to our hearts. Now, in the
light of this truth, we must grow in our appreciation of the blood shed upon Calvary (and is yet shed in the
heavenly sanctuary) and also the blood (Spirit Life is in the blood) when Christ in His incarnation shed the
Holy Spirit,--the soul of His life, the efficacy of His church, the light and life of the world. With His
Spirit Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes away sin. {The Review and Herald, May
19, 1904 par. 1}

The blood of His unblemished sacrifice in humanity, when the sins of the whole world were laid upon Him,
and the blood of His sacrifice in giving up the form of God are inseparably connected May this truth
go forth to finish the work and make a perfect people (to our Lords glory), prepared for the trying hour
before them:

We need to keep ever before us the efficacy of the blood of Jesus. That life-cleansing, life-sustaining blood,
appropriated by living faith, is our hope. We need to grow in appreciation of its inestimable value, for it
speaks for us only as we by faith claim its virtue, keeping the conscience clean and at peace with
God.

This is represented as the pardoning blood, inseparably connected with the resurrection and life of our
Redeemer, illustrated by the ever-flowing stream that proceeds from the throne of God, the water of the river
of life (Letter 87, 1894). {SDA Bible Commentary Volume 7, page 948.1}

Illustrated in Habakkuks vision for the end time

The meaning of the two sin offerings from the typical service are illustrated in Habakkuks vision made plain
upon tables for the end time:
 This great truth is plainly illustrated in the vision which Habakkuk saw, which is now made plain upon
the two tables of the Ten Commandments. Upon the first table is pictured Christ with bright beams coming
out of His side, and there is the hiding of His power Hab.3:4. Upon the second table is pictured Jesus upon
the Cross having received the cruel wound in His side; and also clearly depicting from the wound thus made,
there flowed two copious and distinct streams, one of blood, the other of water. {The Desire of Ages, page
771.4} Here, in the vision ordained by the Lord for the end time to be an ensign unto all nations, is made
manifest the twofold, mingled virtue of the blood of the sin offering: the blood which flowed from the Cross
(and yet flows from Christs pierced side) and the bright beams of Christs Own Holy Spirit - both pouring
forth from the heart of our Sacrifice, Redeemer and Lord. Jesus would have us grow in appreciation of its
(His bloods) inestimable value. Concerning this virtue, Habakkuk well said:and there is the hiding of
His Power. Habakkuk 3:4

The blood was sprinkled to make atonement for transgression of the Law of self-sacrificing love

God required the High Priest to bring the blood of the two sin offerings into the Most Holy Place and to then
sprinkle the blood upon the Mercy Seat which covered the Ten Commandment Law contained in the Ark of
the Covenant. The broken law of God demanded the life of the transgressor. {GC 418.1} The blood, (which)
represent(ed) the forfeited life of the sinner, whose guilt the victim bore {GC 418.1}, was sprinkled above the
Law to make atonement for the transgression of its sacred precepts.

The 10 precepts of the Law can be summed as Love for God and Love to Man. It is also called in EGWs book
the Desire of Ages: the law of life for earth and heaven and the Law self-sacrificing love: the love which
"seeketh not her own" (which) has its source in the heart of God. In Habakkuks vision of Christs pieced side
made plain upon the two tables of the Ten Commandment Law illustrate the two sacrifices Jesus made in
fulfillment of the two sin offerings in the typical service on the Day of Atonement. The image of the bright
beams coming out of His side is depicted on the first table representing Love to God. Jesus voluntarily
consented to become the Lords goat: the sacrifice of the Father This represents when Jesus emptied
Himself of the form of God and separated His own Holy Spirit, sent to us as a power that takes away sin.
Also in Habakkuks vision the sacrifice of Christs perfect humanity upon the Cross is illustrated upon the
second table of the Ten Commandments representing Love to man. In this sacrifice Christ fulfilled the reality
foreshadowed in the sin offering of the bullock for the family or house of the High Priest. In these images of
Christ made plain upon the two Ten Commandment tables the glory of self-sacrificing love is clearly
illustrated.

God has ordained that the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the
waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14) in the last days of earths history, heralding the soon coming of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This shall be accomplished by lifting up this mighty standard of
Righteousness.

A revelation of Love that must go to all the world

This is the purpose for lifting up the vision of Jesus made plain upon tables at this time. It is only by
beholding Christs infinite sacrifice that we gain the true conception that sin is exceeding sinful and heinous
in character. The world must be brought understand this, so that all may choose Christ and His light or they
shall choose to walk in darkness and then shall the end come. In lifting up the vision of Christs pierced
side, revealed to Habakkuk the prophet to be declared in the end time, God has commanded that the bright
beams of His character of self-sacrificing love be shined into our dark world. The scripture declares that
The law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Romans 4:15 Where there is no
clear revelation of the Love of Christ and His infinite sacrifice made in our behalf men are left to feel that it
is right for every man to follow the depraved impulses of his own heart; for there is no standard by which
evil can be detected. {Signs of the Times, October 2, 1893 par. 4} Again, this is the purpose for lifting up the
vision of Jesus made plain upon tables at this time; it shall bring the people of earth to face the great moral
mirror, the law of God, which discovers to them the defects in their character {4MR 185.2} and our hidden
selfishness, to drive us all to the Savior of all mankind.

Here are the three that bear witness. The blood, the Spirit, the Water illustrateded in Habakkuks
vision for the end time which has been made manifest for you, now made plain upon tables that all
may look and live. These revelations show plainly the infinite sacrifice that Jesus poured out
the Soul of His life, The Holy Spirit of Christ. We want to meditate upon these things and in faith believe
that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds: renewed in knowledge after the image of
Him that created (us) As we in faith look and live, we are changed into His image, from glory to glory
even as by the Spirit of the Lord. We are imbued with the attributes of Christs character: the perfect balance
of Justice and Mercy as it was in the life of Jesus.

The Life is in the Blood

The Holy Spirit is the breath of spiritual life in the soul. The impartation of the Spirit is the
impartation of the life of Christ. It imbues the receiver with the attributes of Christ. {The Desire of
Ages page 805.3}

Christ declared that after his ascension, he would send to his church, as his crowning gift, the Comforter,
who was to take his place. This Comforter is the Holy Spirit,--the soul of His life, the efficacy of his church,
the light and life of the world. With His Spirit Christ sends a reconciling influence and a power that takes
away sin. {The Review and Herald, May 19, 1904 par. 1}

Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift.

2 Corinthians 9:15