Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
ANSWERS ON
ATONEMENT
Question by one speaking against our belief:
Why do you believe in more than one atonement? Do
you not know the atonement was completed at the
cross?
Christ has for sin atonement made.
The full and complete provisions for that atonement He
provided at the cross. Christ's sacrifice was once and
for all, totally sufficient. Jesus, as our high Priest is
now applying that atonement to those who come to
Him with contrite and humble hearts, surrendering
their lives to Him.
Again, full provision for the atonement was made at the
cross, however the atonement is not applied until the
priest makes the atonement.
The lamb does not make the atonement, the lamb only
provides the blood and sacrifice by which the
atonement can be made.
Several steps are required before the atonement is
complete.
1. The sinner must first transfer, that is confess, his sin
upon the head of the substitute. If he does not confess
the sin remains upon himself.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1
John 1:9
2. The lamb is slain. He has died because of those sins.
Full provision for atonement is made.
3. The priest then makes the atonement for sinner.
Lev. 4:20, 26, 31, 35,
Lev. 5:6, 10, 13, 16, 18
Lev. 6:7 (and more) STATES THAT:
"and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and
it shall be forgiven them."
Our opponent states:
Well all your sins are personal are they not. They are
yours and yours alone. I guess Jesus' atonement is not
sufficient for your personal sins so you have to
complete what he could not. Give yourself a break and
let Jesus' atonement be complete for you.
Response: We are letting Jesus complete the atonement
for us. It's you guys who don't want Christ to complete
the atonement after the sacrifice has been made!
The provision for all to have atonement was made at
the cross, the application of that atonement however is
still in progress. The provision is complete and perfect.
No sinner need despair that he cannot be forgiven. Yet,
to be made "at one" with our Lord again, these
provisions must be applied to the individual and
therefore we need our heavenly high Priest to carry on
the work of atonement in our behalf.
Our opponent continues:
Adventism has generated a plethora of atonement
theories. Yours, T, goes along with salvation by
character development.
Response:
True understanding of the atonement and sanctuary
doctrine is not a plethora of theories. What has
happened is that a host of "strange people" who call
themselves Adventists have corrupted the doctrine and
brought much confusion. There are many good solid
references within Adventism which carefully and
logically present the subject.
Of course when we have people presenting "two
atonements" "atonement without the Day of
Atonement" "making are own atonement" it all starts
looking like a plethora of theories. The true
understanding of the sanctuary conveys the full picture
of God's work dealing with sin, removing sin from the
sinner, reconciling him back to God, and in the whole
process demonstrating to the whole universe, not only
the great love of God, but also His great justice,
righteousness and infallible standards which constitute
righteousness His law.
The opponent continues:
The previously presented theory is unique also. Jesus
can't come till he completes the atonement??
Response:
The previously presented "theory" is declared unique
because it is the one "theory" that must be gotten rid of
by the opposers of Adventism! That belief shows Christ
is in the heavenly sanctuary as our High Priest
completing the work of the Atonement.
Of course Jesus WILL NOT COME UNTIL HE
COMPLETES THE ATONEMENT! When the atonement is
completed, probation has closed.
Do you notice the whole "Jesuit" thrust here. The plan
to render opposing churches "docile" to the takeover of
Catholic ecumenicalism, is to bring so many confusing
"theories" into the churches, so people get disgusted
with doctrines and simply don't bother with any
doctrinal understanding any more. Then they will be
easily swept away by any emotional "celebrationistic"
service.
Now our opponent comes and says THE ADVENTIST
doctrine is just a theory. Then he declares we have a
plethora of theories. He is one with a host of others
that have covered the truth of the sanctuary with so
much rubbish in the hopes that people will not find it
for it is the very essence of truth of salvation.
Our opponent continues to quote texts by which to try
to prove his point that everything was completed at the
cross yet these very texts support the Adventist
Sanctuary doctrine, not his short circuited "all was
done at the cross".
The witness of the New Testament is:
God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through
faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his
justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins
committed beforehand unpunishedhe did it to
demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be
just and the one who justifies those who have faith in
Jesus. Rom 3:2526
Response:
Here you see the stated that Christ was THE
SACRIFICE of the atonement. Yes, the sacrifice is
absolutely essential for any atonement to made.
However, as we noted before, the priest still has to
apply that atonement.
Notice how the text continues:
HE JUSTIFIES THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH IN JESUS in
other words, the work of justification was made
possible because of the sacrifice, but it is an on going
process to them that come to Him in true faith.
Our opponent quotes Hebrews:
"After he had provided purification for sins, he sat
down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven...."
Yes, the cross provided FOR THE PURIFICATION it does
not say it automatically purified everyone. It provided
the means by which purification could be applied.
Continues quote from Heb.
Both the One who sanctifies and those who are
sanctified are of the same family. So Jesus is not
ashamed to call them brothers....saying, behold I and
the ones which God has given me... For this reason he
had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order
that he might become a merciful and faithful high
priest in service to God, and that he might make
atonement for the sins of the people....
Again this stresses the fact that Christ's life and death
were absolutely and totally essential before any real
atonement could be made. But look NOW HE IS A
FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST MAKING THAT ATONEMENT
FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE. Christ died the lamb
so an atonement could be made, He is NOW priest,
applying that atonement for the sins of the people!
Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what
he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the
source of eternal salvation for all who obey him...
FOR ALL WHO OBEY HIM!
When Christ came as high priest of the good things that
are already here, he went through the greater and more
perfect tabernacle that is not manmade, that is to say,
not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means
of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the
Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having
obtained eternal redemption....for this cause he is the
mediator of the new covenant that by means of His
death , for the redemption of their transgressions. . .
Again we see the work of Christ, our High Priest. A
work which was made possible by His sacrifice and
enables Him to apply that atonement.
Our opponent quotes:
we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the
body of Jesus Christ once for all....
Let's look at this in context with the other "once for
all" texts. Hebrews 9:12 9:26 10:10 "By his own blood
he entered in once into the holy place having obtained
eternal redemption for us."
"He does not offer himself often..every year..but now
once in the end of the world has he appeared to put
away sin by the sacrifice of himself..so Christ was once
offered to bear the sins of many..
"We WILL be sanctified through the offering of the body
of Jesus Christ once for all."
There are not two atonements. Once and for all Christ
shed His blood so He could, as our High Priest enter the
heavenly sanctuary and apply that blood for the
atonement of all who come to Him to confess their sins
and be cleansed from all unrighteousness. It is one
atonement, one sacrifice, one priest applying the blood
of the atonement for each repentant sinner.
Our opponent continues to quote:
But when this priest had offered for all time one
sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.
Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his
footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect
forever those who are being made holy. Heb 1:3; 2:11,
17; 5: 8, 9; 9:1112; 10:1014
NOTE "BEING MADE HOLY" Christ made full and perfect
provision for atonement with His sacrifice on Calvary,
but now He is our Priest, administering that
atonement.
Our opponent continues:
Jesus is not involved in some continuing atonement
that was done once and once for all time.
Response:
Sorry, but that is not what I read in Hebrews at all.
Hebrews is all about Christ's priestly work in the
heavenly sanctuary where He is making atonement for
us with the His own precious blood that was shed ONCE
and covers all the requirements of the atonement.
Our opponent continues:
You, who hold to the SDA position should take notice
that the only thing Jesus is waiting for is his enemies
to be made his footstool and not some imaginary
unfinished atonement that is dependent on us.
Response:
One text misunderstood, is given as some type of
proof that Christ is not doing all the things Hebrews
says he is doing?
2 Peter 3.9,1112 reads:
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise (of
coming again), as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should
perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,(the
earth and the things in it) what manner of persons
ought we to be? In all holy conversation and godliness,
looking for and HASTENING the coming of the day of
God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be
dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat?"
Our opponent continues:
Crosier started this thing with his Day Star article. His
theme was that the atonement could not have begun
till 1844 when Jesus supposedly went into the Most
Holy Place. That is why the article, which Ellen
endorsed via vision, denigrates what took place at
Calvary and denies the atonement occurred at the
Cross.
Actually the whole business of sin over the 6000 years
is one continuous work of dealing with the rebellion
and sin. Our earth is the theater of the universe! The
cross is the focus where provision was made for
atonement, but full and complete "at oneness" with God
when all sin is completely eradicated from the earth is
not complete until it is FINISHED! And anyone trying
to tell me it is finished now is totally out of touch with
reality. It is not finished the cry of sin is swelling to
an unbelievable roar upon this earth.
It only makes sense that near the END of earth's
history the final work of the High Priest should
commence and be completed.
Our opponent continues:
Those who hold to your position must realize of course
that the real hindering factor to Jesus' coming,
according to Ellen, is that there are no folk that fully
reflect his character.
Response:
1 John 5.25
"By this we know that we love the children of God,
when we love God, and keep his commandments. For
this is the love of God, that we keep his
commandments: and his commandments are not
grievous. For whatsoever is born of God over cometh
the world: and this is the victory that over cometh the
world, even our faith. Who is he that over cometh the
world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of
God?"
1 John 3.23
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not
yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him
as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself, even as he is pure."
REVELATION STATES IT SEVEN TIMES:
TO HIM THAT OVERCOMES will I give to eat of the tree
of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
HE THAT OVERCOMES shall not be hurt of the second
death.
TO HIM THAT OVERCOMES will I give to eat of the
hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in
the stone a new name written,
HE THAT OVERCOMES, the same shall be clothed in
white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of
the book of life, but I will confess his name before my
Father, and before his angels.
How does one overcome?
1 John 5.45 "This is the victory that overcometh the
world, even our faith.
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that
believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"
This is far more than simple intellectual
acknowledgment. This faith is an active faith that
changes the life and purifies it. Without Him we can do
nothing, but when we open our hearts' door and let Him
in, we become "new creatures, old things are passed
away." Yet it is ALWAYS OUR CHOICE. Christ "knocks",
He has made full provision for our salvation, yet we
must respond and surrender our lives to Him.
Our opponent continues:
You folk need to get with the program and shape up
what Jesus does is dependent of you!!!!
Actually, Jesus' waiting and seeming delay is in mercy
to each one of us. As the apostle Peter tells us, "He is
not willing that any should perish but that all come to
repentance." What our opponent is doing here is
mocking God's longsuffering toward each of us.
For when the time has come all decisions will be
final.
Revelation 22:1014
"The time is at hand.
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which
is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous,
let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him
be holy still."
"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with
me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I
am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the
first and the last. Blessed are they that do his
commandments, that they may have right to the tree of
life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
Return to Home Page
Ulrike
THE ATONEMENT
God Longs for Our Fellowship, but Sin Separates.
The Lamb Is Slain
The Priest's Role In the Atonement
The Day of Atonement
What constitutes
true fellowship? Is
it not perfect
trust, love, and
appreciation one
for the other? God
has declared:
"These people I
have formed for
Myself that they
may proclaim My
praise." Isaiah
43:21 "For the
Lord delights in
His people." Ps
149:4 And Jesus
said, "I will come
again, so that where I am you may be also." John 14:3
Amazing thought is the atonement. God wants to be at
one with us! He longs for intimate fellowship with us.
Like Enoch, who walked with God, till God took him
home then and there to continue that walking and
talking for eternity. "Before his translation Enoch had
the record that he pleased God" Heb. 11:5. He made
God happy! He met the heart need of the Infinite One,
and there are many Enochs today! (COL 332)
GOD LONGS FOR FELLOWSHIP, BUT SIN SEPARATES.
But there is one huge, sometimes seemingly
insurmountable problem which destroys this fellowship
and separates us from God. THAT PROBLEM IS SIN.
Ever since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden
and ran away to hide when they heard God's voice
calling them to come and walk with Him in the cool of
the evening, sin has separated people from God. "Your
sins have separated between you and your God." (Is
59:2)
God hates sin, He cannot tolerate sin. Sin has caused
unspeakable pain and anguish to the creatures God has
created and loves. Sin is a poisonous plague that brings
untold misery and ultimate death. God cannot forever
live with sin, He must eradicate it, but how can He do
that when he loves and yearns for our fellowship? How
can he destroy sin without destroying the ones He
longs to save? How does one save sinners without
perpetuating sin?
The answer is in the sanctuary. The truths of the
sanctuary reveal the sacrifice for the atonement, the
cleansing blood of Jesus, and the reunion this
atonement makes possible for any sinners who answer
the heart call from the infinite God to come and find
atonement with God.
"Have no other God's before Me" God declares. Sin is
setting up other gods, setting up things and desires
that come between us and the only One who really
loves us. Sin must be gotten rid of. That wall that
barricades us from the very source of all that alone can
meet the deepest needs of the human soul, must be
cast aside as we hasten into the warmth of fellowship of
the One who has the complete "atonement" for each of
us.
God said, "Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may
dwell among them." (Exodus 25:8) God's purpose for the
sanctuary is that he may dwell with us! Awesome
thought! The sanctuary is God's call to us who are
agonizing behind the dark, hideous wall of sin which
stands like a huge formidable barrier between us and
any hope of satisfying the soul with the fellowship with
our Creator for which the heart craves.
Basic to the plan of bringing human's back into "atone
ment" with God is Christ's sacrifice which provides for
all the atoning requirements. The Sinless Creator of the
human race was the only One Who could step in and
take the punishment of the rebellious treason of His
creation.
Yet to really understand the WHOLE wonderful plan of
God to bring mankind back into union with His Creator,
one must look at the pattern shown in the sanctuary.
Let's visit the sanctuary in the wilderness, which was a
pattern of Christ's work in the plan of our salvation.
THE LAMB IS SLAIN
There is a man leading a sacrificial animal. We see him
approach the altar. The innocent victim is tied to the
horn of the altar as the sinner places his hands upon
his head and confesses his sins. "And he shall lay his
hand upon the head of the sin offering (Lev. 4:33.) The
genuine confession is specific. Leviticus 5:5 points out:
"He shall confess that he has sinned in that thing."
Thus the sin is transferred to the sacrificial animal.
And since the wages of sin is death, the one who bears
the sin must die.
Who slays the sacrificial animal? "If any one of the
common people sin...He shall bring his offering, a kid of
the goats...a lamb...he shall lay his hand upon the head
of the sin offering, and he shall slay it for a sin offering
in the place where they kill the burnt offering."
(Leviticus 4:2733)
The man who came for forgiveness took the life of the
sacrifice.
So we bring our sins to Jesus and lay them upon His
head. Here we can find true repentance as we look at
Calvary and see "Him whom we have pierced, ..." (Zech.
12:10) For He was wounded for our transgressions, he
was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our
peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are
healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
As we confess our sins with the full realization that
these sins put Jesus on the cross, something happens
inside our hearts. To be cleansed from sin we need a
heart change. That heart change comes as we behold
what our sins have done to Christ. If we want to have
the power of sin broken in our lives, if we want a heart
change, we must do what repentant sinners did back
there. We must place our sin on the innocent sacrifice,
which is Jesus Himself. We must behold the Lamb of
God, which takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)
THE PRIESTS ROLE IN THE ATONEMENT
Full provision for the atonement was made at the cross,
however the atonement is not applied until the priest
makes the atonement.
The lamb does not make the atonement, the lamb only
provides the blood and sacrifice by which the
atonement can be made.
Several steps are required before the atonement is
complete.
1. The sinner must first transfer, that is confess, his sin
upon the head of the substitute. If he does not confess
the sin remains upon himself.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1
John 1:9
2. The lamb is slain. Christ has died because of those
sins. Full provision for atonement is made.
3. The priest then makes the atonement for sinner.
Lev. 4:20, 26, 31, 35
, Lev. 5:6, 10, 13, 16, 18
Lev. 6:7 (and more) STATES THAT:
"and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and
it shall be forgiven them."
Leviticus relates important details concerning the
priest's role in making an atonement. In 4:13 20 we
see the sin being transferred from the people to the
substitute. Then the animal is killed. Yet this is not the
end! Many people want to stop the atonement at this
point saying that once the sacrifice dies the atonement
is complete. But no, the work has just begun. The
priest takes some of the blood into the sanctuary and
sprinkles it seven times before the Lord, in front of the
veil that separates the holy from the most Holy place.
Then he touches the horns of the altar of incense with
the blood. This is all part of making an atonement for
the sinner.
Christ has died for us. Then He arose from the dead and
returned to heaven as our High Priest. By His own blood
He enters the sanctuary of heaven to cover our sins
with His blood. The only way sin can get into the
sanctuary is for the priest to take it there, but Jesus
will never take your sin unless you ask Him too. He will
not grab your sins from you, you must confess them
just as the repentant Israelites confessed their sins
upon the head of the sacrificial lamb. When we do this
Christ will "sprinkle" His blood and cover those sins.
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose
sin is covered." (Psalm 32:1)
Where are your sins now? Are they still upon you or
have they been confessed and through Jesus' blood
transferred and covered in the sanctuary of heaven?
The record is in the books of heaven. When we give
those sins, through confession, to Christ He takes them
into the sanctuary and covers them with His blood. The
books then show these sins to be covered, pardoned.
They are no longer against us, we are forgiven and
justified.
The altar of incense represents our prayers of petition.
Christ's blood purifies our prayers and makes them
acceptable to God.
"And the priest shall make an atonement for his sin
that he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him."
(Lev. 4:35)
THE DAY OF ATONEMENT.
God desires not only to cover sin but also to blot out all
sin forever.
Some have scoffed at the idea that the heavenly
sanctuary must be cleansed of the sins placed there by
repentant sinners. Yet Hebrews 9:22,23 tells us that "It
is needful that the copies of the things in heaven
should be cleansed in this way, but the heavenly things
shall be cleansed with better blood."
It is evident that the blood ritual on the day of
atonement is different from the blood ritual of sin
offerings. In the sin offerings the blood being sprinkled
in the sanctuary means the transferring of sin and
uncleanness into the sanctuary. In these cases the
blood is not the detergent for cleansing the sanctuary.
It is plainly declared that "atonement is made for the
sinner" (4:20) and not for the sanctuary.
On the day of Atonement, the cleansing is of the
sanctuary. (16:16) as well as for the altar of burnt
offering (16:18) The blood of the sin offering carries
sins into the sanctuary. The animal which was slain
had sins confessed upon it's head, the sins which were
then transferred into the tabernacle. On the day of
atonement no sins were confessed upon the sacrifice.
It's blood was not sin laden.
Christ's blood was once and for all and covers all
requirements for the complete process. When we come
to Him confessing our sins Christ covers them with His
blood. Yet, He Himself is perfect and sinless therefore
His blood not only covers but also cleanses.
What is the difference between the sprinkled blood in
the holy place and the sprinkled blood in the most holy
place? The first provides for the covering of sin, the
forgiving of the repentant sinner, the second for the
blotting out of sin when the final decision is made.
Why does not God blot out sins as soon as they are
confessed?
Micah 7.1819 asks the amazing question:
"Who is a God like unto thee, that pardons iniquity,...
because he delights in mercy?
He will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our
iniquities; and He will cast all their sins into the depths
of the sea."
Yes, God will forgive, He delights in mercy, He will
forgive "if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." (1John 1:9) He will help us overcome
and He casts our sins far away and will look upon us as
if we had never sinned. But He never removes from us
the power of choice. If we wish to go out and pull our
sins back out of the depths of the sea and continue in
them He will not forcibly prevent us.
In Ezekiel 18.21,22 God promises:
"If the wicked will turn away from all his sins that he
has committed, and ..do that which is lawful and right,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
All his transgressions that he hath committed, they
shall not be mentioned unto him."
His sins are covered. His sins will not be remembered
by God. He shall live!
For Ezekiel continues to tell us in (18.23) that God
doesn't have any pleasure at all that the wicked should
die? But that he should return from his ways, and live?
However the next text states (18.24)
"But when the righteous man turns away from his
righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does the
things that the wicked man does, shall he live? All his
righteousness that he has done shall not be mentioned:
in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin
that he hath sinned, in them shall he die."
The purpose of the Day of Atonement was the removal
of sin, from the sanctuary and from the people. They
were to afflict themselves before God. This was a very
serious day, of deep spiritual selfexamination to be
sure everything was made right before God. Everyone
was to be sure their sins were in the sanctuary and
covered. Those who chose to hang on to their sins were
"cut off". It was a day of judgment.
Those whose sins are covered are declared righteous,
those who clung to their sins and refused to afflict
themselves, are cut off. (Lev. 23:28) The priest then
transfers the sins from the sanctuary and places them
on the scape goat. (Lev. 16:21) All sins are then sent
out of the camp. The scape goat is sent into the
wilderness. Those who refused to take the day of
atonement seriously are also sent out of the camp, "cut
off" from the people of God. Thus the sanctuary and the
people are clean. (Lev. 16:30,19)
Revelation 22:1115 gives the final fulfillment, the
reality — the ending of Christ's work in the Day of
Atonement in heaven, when He comes forth from the
sanctuary declaring: "He who is unjust, let him be
unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he
who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is
holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming
quickly and My reward is with Me to give to everyone
according to his work, Blessed are those who do His
commandments, that they may have the right to the
tree of life and may enter through the gates into the
city. But outside are the immoral, murderers, idolaters
and whoever loves and practices a lie."
Thus the totality of the atonement process is achieved
with finality in an irrevocable manner. People are
either forgiven and cleansed, or they bear their own
sins unto destruction. Now God has a community of
believers to stand before Him from all ages, tribes,
nations, and tongues who are in complete communion
with Him. They have been separated from their sins
and united in fellowship with their God. They will have
the right to everlasting life with Christ their Savior,
their Lord, and best Friend. They are a people "at one"
with their God, Who declares:
"They shall be my people, and I will be their God."
Return to Home Page
SIN TRANSFER
IN THE SANCTUARY
From sacrifice into the sanctuary
The Role of the Two Goats on the Day of Atonement
The Final Cleansing
Sin confessed, sin transfered
We often hear the argument that sin was taken care of at the
altar of sacrifice and all the priest had to do was present the
blood before the mercy seat as proof that the penalty was
paid and the sins blotted out. They say sins were never
transferred anywhere. Yet is this the Biblical presentation?
We will see that indeed, the priests transfer the sins of the
penitant into the sanctuary. Then, on the day of atonement,
when the sanctuary is cleansed, the sins are once again
transferred out of the sanctuary and eliminated. Let's look at
the Levitical process.
After the penitent sinner has confessed his sins upon the
head of the sacrificial animal and taken it's life (Lev.
4:4,15,24,29) the priest performs one of two kinds of rituals.
1. In the case of the sin offering for a fellow priest, or for the
whole congregation, the officiating pries sprinkled some of
the blood seven times before the veil in the holy place as well
as on the horns of the altar of incense. (Lev. 4:6,7, 17,18)
2. In the case of the sin offering for other individuals, the
officiating priest sprinkled the blood on the horns of the altar
of burnt offering in the court. Pours out the blood at the base
of the altar and then he eats some of the flesh of the sin
offering. (Lev. 6:26; 10:17) By eating the flesh, the priest
became the sin-bearer. "to bear the guilt..to make an
atonement for them."
We see the priest always had to have his own sins taken care
of before he could make atonement for anyone else's sins.
No priest can atone for his own sins. In those cases sin was
transferred to the sanctuary through the sprinkling of blood.
The purified priests then could eat of the flesh of the sacrifice
and make atonement for the people.
It is not until the day of atonement at the end of the Jewish
cerimonial year, that the sins are dealt with in symbolically
final way.
The Passover at the beginning of the year showed that God's
children could be "under the blood". To have Christ's blood
applied to their lives. They could have their sins covered. For
blessed is the person whose sins are covered.
Romans 4.7-8
"Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and
whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the
Lord will not impute sin."
The Day of Atonement is the day of the cleansing of the
sanctuary/temple. How is it that the sanctuary/ temple was
defiled. This is not dealing with mere hygienic issues, this is
dealing with the principle of cleanness and purity in
opposition to contamination/defilement. Leviticus 16:16
states that this atonement for the holy place must be made
because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and
because of their transgressions, for all their sins, — that is
why the Priest must make this atonement for the tabernacle
of meeting which stands in the midst..
Obviously the tabernacle has been defiled by the sins of the
people, and on the day of atonement, the scriptures clearly
state an atonement must be made for the tabernacle itself.
Then notice what happens at the end of the rituals on the day
of atonement.
Remember the sacrifice was already made, the priest already
entered the holy and most holy place with the blood, where
he makes an atonement for the holy place, because of the
sins of the people, it is when he returns from making an
atonement that he lays both of his hands on the head of the
live goat, and confesses over it all the iniquities of the
children of Israel, and all their transgression in regard to all
their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat"
(Lev. 16:21) Here we see a clear representation of sin being
transferred by the laying on of hands. Where did this sin
come from? Was not the sin forgiven at the sacrifice? Was
not the presenting of the blood in the Most Holy Place
enough? Did this not blot out the sins already? Where did
these sins come from which the priest placed upon the head
of the scape goat after making an end of atoning?
Here we see something so obvious it amazes me that people
refuse to see it.
The sanctuary needed to be cleansed because of the sins of
the people which had been transferred from the confessing
sinners upon the sacrificial animals throughout the year, and
then transferred into the sanctuary, either by the priest
sprinkling the blood, or eating the flesh of the sacrifice. On
the day of atonement, an atonement is made for the
tabernacle, to cleanse the sanctuary because of these sins
accumulated there.
Sacrifice is made, the cleansing blood is applied at the mercy
seat as well as at the altar of incense. The sanctuary is
cleansed. The priest returns from the cleansing of the
sanctuary "when he has made an end of atoning for the
tabernacle of meeting and the altar" (Lev. 16:20) Then he
goes and places ALL the sins upon the goat who is cast far
out, forever banned (this goat is not the sacrifice )
__________
The Role of the Two Goats
The two goats on the day of atonement represent the two
main figures in the great controversy, contending over which
is worthy to receive worship.
Satan has sought to set his throne above the throne of God.
(Isaiah 14:13,14) He is was the originator of sin, the father of
lies. (John 8:44)
Mankind has bought into his deceptive idea that living apart
from God's ways of righteousness is true liberty. The
deceptive idea that liberty means doing away with God's
laws.
God (in trinity) is the one who gave those ten
commandments and declared it the law of liberty! (James
1:25) Satan originated the rebellion against God law, for sin
is the transgression of the law. (1 John 3:4) and has deceived
people into thinking that is liberty.
Yet the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23) The results of
sin lead to uncleanliness of character, mind and soul, it
defiles and degrades and leads to misery and death.
God, sent His Son, Jesus, to take the penalty for that broken
law. To do this, Christ took upon himself our sins. Just like
the sacrificial animal had the sins confessed upon it.
Hebrews 9.28 states that "Christ was once offered to bear the
sins of many."
And Isaiah 53:11 "He shall bear their iniquities", . thus giving
every human being the full opportunity to receive atonement
of reconciliation once again with the great God of Heaven.
WORTHY WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN to
receive honour and glory!
It was Christ whose blood was shed for the remission of our
sins. On the day of atonement it is the blood of the sacrificed
goat which accomplishes the cleansing of the sanctuary with
respect to all the accumulated sins of the people.
Hebrews 9.23 tells us that, "It was therefore necessary that
the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with
these; but the heavenly things themselves with better
sacrifices than these."
Here we see the heavenly sanctuary needs to be cleansed
with the better blood of Christ. What does the heavenly
sanctuary need to be cleansed from? The earthly day of
atonement clearly says the sanctuary needed to be cleansed
because of the transgression of ALL their sins. (Lev. 16:16)
Now 1 John 1:9 rings clearer--"If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive and cleanse."
"Unto 2300 days/years, and then shall the sanctuary be
cleansed." Dan. 8:14
For Isreal the Day of Atonement was a day of judgement. It
meant life for all those who, during the ceremonial year had
followed God's plan for getting rid of sin and defilement; but
it meant being "cut off" or death, for all those who, during the
ceremonial year had refused to avail themselves of the
divinely appointed plan that would bring forgiveness and
cleansing from sin. (Lev. 23:26-32) In the heavenly day of
atonement it is also a day of judgment when "thrones are set
up, the ancient of days takes His seat, thousands and
thousands of ministering beings stood watching. The court is
seated, the books are opened. (Daniel 7:10-11) Our high
Priest "coming with clouds to the Ancient of Days." (Dan.
7:13) In the end the counterfeit system and its' followers are
"cut off" and the saints inherit eternal life.
After the priest, in the earthly sanctuary, has made a
complete end is made of the atonement the second goat
receives his just dues for deceiving a world into sin. He is
punished with all the sins and agony he has caused. He is
cast forth out of the camp. His blood is not shed for he
cannot bring any remission for anyone's sins. No ritual
atonement or expiation was executed on the scapegoat. The
rite of the scapegoat is rite of elimination of sin and
uncleanness.
The phrase "shall present it alive to make atonement over it
(lekapper alaw) is best understood that this goat would be
alive while atonement is being made for the people, it has no
role in the atonement service itself. The atonement rites were
all preformed and completed before the final elimination rite
in which this live goat was the key player. Then we see a
clear act of transferring the totality of the sins of Gods
people, in figure, upon the scapegoat. The term "zazel" is the
name of a demon, which, according to one scholar, is used in
the book of Enoch to depict the ringleader of the rebel
angels. This second goat represents God's adversary, the
instigator and deceiver of mankind, now he receives the
burden of all the misery he has caused and is cast out of the
camp along with all who refuse to search their hearts and
obtain the cleansing which comes only from Christ's shed
blood.
The Final Cleansing
When Christ comes the second time to gather His people
from the four corners of the earth, we find God's people
cleansed and righteous, arrayed in fine linen, clean and
bright, fine linen of righteousness (Rev. 19:8) The wicked are
slain. (Rev. 19:17-21)
The true instigator of all sin is sent into the wilderness for
1000 years (Rev. 20:2-3)
The false god and his worshipers will be destroyed, with a
fire whose results are eternal destruction.
Sin will never rise again.
See the sequence on the day of atonement --Sacrifice is
made, the cleansing blood is applied at the mercy seat as
well as at the altar of incense. The sanctuary is cleansed. The
priest returns from the cleansing of the sanctuary "when he
has made an end of atoning for the tabernacle of meeting and
the altar" (Lev. 16:20) Then he goes and places ALL the sins
upon the goat who is cast far out, forever banned (this goat
is not the sacrifice ) it is an elimination rite that symbolizes
the taking away of all accumulated sins of God's people
forever. Let us be at one ment with the true God! Part of that
at one ment means getting rid of the false god from our lives.
James 4.7-10
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he
will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to
you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts,
ye double minded.
Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be
turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness."
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift
you up."
Return to Home Page
Revelation 3:7-8
"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia
write; These things says he that is holy, he that
is true, he that has the key of David, he that
opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man
opens...Behold, I have set before you an open
door, and no man can shut it."
People have often questioned us concerning the "shut
door question". Why was there a "shut door" and did
we then change it back to an "open door". However, as
the text above shows, the shut door and open door is
very Biblical!
The closed and opened doors are part and parcel of the
sanctuary message, and even though the full
understooding did not happen all at once, these
messages are an important part of the sanctuary truths.
In the above quoted text in Revelation 3:7-8 we see
Christ, who holds the keys, shutting a door that no man
can open, and opening a door which no man can shut.
This happens during the Philadelphia period.
The seven letters to the churches in Revelation two and
three, correlate closely with the events of church
history.
• The altar,(Lev. 16:18)
• the sanctuary (Lev. 16:16)
• and the worshipers! (16:17)
AND THEN, in Revelation 11:19, WE SEE the
temple of God being opened!
The time of the dead, that they should be
judged, and that You should reward Your
sevants...THEN THE TEMPLE OF GOD was
OPENED in heaven, and the ark of the His
covenant was seen in His temple.
But wait a minute, this is centuries after Christ's
inauguration which we just read happened much
earlier. The door in Rev. 4:1, to the sanctuary was
opened at Christ's ascension! Is there another
door in the temple of Godin the sanctuary of
God! Yes, this is another door. When the first door
was opened in Rev. 4 we saw candles and incense,
but now, near the end of earth's history we hear
the cry, "the time has come for you to judge, that
you should give reward to the prophets, and to the
saints, and them that fear your name, small and
great; and should destroy them which destroy the
earth." THE TIME OF JUDGMENT is introduced
and THEN the temple is opened and the ARK of
the covenant is seen.
• Rev. 4 we see the door of the holy place
in the heavenly sanctuary opened.
Christ begins the work in the Holy Place.
• During the Philadephia Church period in
Rev. 3, in 1844, a door was closed that no
man can open that was when the work of
Christ in the Holy Place ended.
• The door to the Holy Place
was closed, and the door to the
Most HOLY place was opened.
The time of judgment is the time when Christ
investigates to see who "honors the Son and the
Father". For those who have been quickened from
spiritual death to walk in newness of spiritual life
by the life giving power of Christ, will not come
into condemnation in the judgment for they have
passed from death to life.
The time announced to the fifth church begins in
the sixth:
"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white
garments, and I will not blot out his name
from the Book of Life: but I will confess his
name before My Father and before His angels"
(Rev. 3:5)
So when the time comes for Christ to execute
judgement, even though they may be in their
graves, they who have done good will hear his
voice and come forth in the resurrection of life!
(See John 5:2130)
Yes, Jesus continues in John 5:39 "I judge, and
my judgment is just."
The keys belong to Christ.
"These things says He that is holy, He that is
true, He that has the key of David, He that opens
and no man shuts and shuts and no man opens."
(Rev. 3:7)
He has the keys of hell and death (Rev. 1:18)
He will determine who is saved and who isn't.
BUT the concept of these keys belonging to the
church on earth is the Catholic rendition of these
texts. They claim to have the keys of JUDGEMENT
which only Christ has.
They have claimed those keys for themselves to
the point where they say:
"The Priest has the power of the keys, or the
power of delivering sinners from hell, of making
them worthy of paradise and of changing
them...and God Himself is obliged to abide by the
judgment of his priests, and either not to pardon
or to pardon, according as they refuse or give
absolution." (Dignity and Duties of the Priesthood,
p.27 by De Liguori)
They have set up their counterfeit investigative
judgment called the "inquisition" which has now
been reestablished under a different name.
But it is Christ who is our judge. He holds the keys
of each individuals eternal destiny. "Why do you
judge one another," Romans 14:10 asks, "We shall
all stand before the judgment seat of Christ....Let
us therefore not judge one another...everyone
shall give account of himself to God! (Romans
14:12,13)
That judgment is now going on in heaven— in the
heavenly sanctuary.
Yet, it is not Christ who condemns anyone, we
condemn ourselves when we refuse to come to
Christ, the source of life. "For this is the
condemnation, that Light has come into the world
and men loved darkness rather than light, because
their deeds were evil. For every one that does evil
hates the Light, and refuses the light, because
they don't want their evil revealed, but he that
does truth comes to the light, that his deed may
be shown to be wrought in God." (John 3:1821)
The Philadelphia period ran approximately from
1750 to 1850. It was an era of revivals a time
when keeping "God's Word" was important.
It was during this time that the knowledge of the
sanctuary in heaven the temple of God was
brought forth. It was during this time that Christ
opened the door and began His work in the Most
Holy Place. "See I have placed before you an open
door that no one can shut."
Yes, it was but a small group "with little strength"
yet they "kept God's word and did not deny His
name." Even though ridiculed and mocked they
patiently endured. They saw that Christ was in the
Most Holy Place, before the ark of the covenant.
Revelation 11:19 declared the judgment AND THE
TEMPLE OF GOD WAS OPENED AND THE ARK of
the covenant was seen. This is the ark with the
ten commandments which has THE SABBATH, in
the heart of them.
The controversy in the Philadelphia church
message, is between the "synagogue of Satan" and
their lies and those who will be "pillars in the
temple of God".
"Seeing" the ark of the covenant, with Jesus
before it, made it clear to our pioneers, that
following Jesus means keeping the ten
commandments placed under the mercy seat of
the ark of the covenant. With joy they embraced
the Sabbath and surrendered their lives in service
to HIM.
Yet, what do we see in the general trend of
Christianity after they rejected the sanctuary
message? We see a turning against the ten
commandments, and declaring they are a
burdensome yoke that Christ had to nail to the
cross. The commandments were declared a
"burden" because it was revealed that they
contained the call to REMEMBER 7th day Sabbath
and keep it holy.
During the time of Philadephia:
"What He (Christ) opened, no one can shut; and
what He (Christ) shuts, no one can open. He knows
our deeds, and has placed before us an open door
that no one can shut."
Yet the passage continues to say that those who
have received the shut and the open door will be
opposed by the "synogogue of Satan" who lie. Are
these the ones who try to shut that heavenly door
to the Most Holy with lies?
Yet, those who overcome will be "pillars in the
temple of God." Again we see sanctuary imagery.
Those who advanced with Christ will
be preserved in the time of trial
ahead
Without the truths brought forth then, the
deceptions of Satan will sweep everyone into the
false KINGDOM of Babylon and have everyone
worshiping the dragon and the beast. That sounds
like "the synagogue of Satan" to me
Yet they claim like the Jews, to be the favored,
beloved people of God.
Those who reject the sanctuary message [that
Christ is NOW IN THE MOST HOLY PLACE
investigating each case personally] those are
the ones who will also give up the Sabbath which
Christ asks His people to "Remember", and think
they are saved in their sins. They will renounce
the SEVENTHDAY when the crises comes and go
with the easy religion ecumenical crowd in
accepting Sunday, the child of the papacy and the
sign which she even claims is the sign that she
has authority over the Bible. They will not be
found among those "saints, who keep the
commandments of God and have the faith of
Jesus." Rev. 14:12
Oct. 22, 1844. The door to the Holy Place was
closed, and the door to the Most HOLY Place was
opened.
Those who follow Christ
into the Most Holy
Place are those who
receive His Spirit, while
those who remain
focused only on the
ministry of the Holy
Place, receive the
deceptive spirit. (The
message here in
Revelation 3 to the
Philadephia church is
clearly dealing with the battle between those "in
the temple of my God" and those "in the
synogogue of Satan") We must accept the message
given in the Philadelphia period if we would be
kept "in the hour of temptation which shall come
upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon
the earth." (Rev. 3:10)
Hold fast to this message and believe that Christ
is coming quickly and let no man take your crown!
(Rev. 3:11)
However we cannot stay in the Philadelphia
period, We must go on to the Laodicean period,
and follow the counsel there given. That is the
counsel we must now follow we cannot sit back
and say, "We are rich and need nothing more." We
must apply ourselves of the provisions of the
sanctuary. We must obtain that white raiment, so
we will be clothed...(Rev. 3:18) "He that overcomes
will be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot
out his name out of the book of life, but I will
confess his name before my Father and before his
angels. (Rev. 3:5) We must recognize our shameful
nakedness, and "buy of Him" that white robe and
those who do will NOT BE NAKED. We must
recognize our blindness and buy of Him eyesalve
that we may see. We must recognize our lack of
the riches of heavenly grace and faith, and seek of
Him the pure gold tried in fire. And above all we
must open the door of our hearts and let HIM in!
This understanding has developed
under some misunderstandings both
originally and lately, so let's briefly
see the SDA Pioneers viewed this
subject:
From EGW B1.18460406.007
"In February, 1845, I had a vision of events
commencing with the Midnight Cry. I saw a
throne and on it sat the Father and the Son. And
I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a
flaming Chariot go into the Holy of Holies, within
the veil, and did sit. There I saw thrones that I
had never seen before."
This is in agreement with Daniel 7:910 who writes
about this scene which takes place sometime
AFTER THE 1260 (the same period depicted in
Rev. 11)
"I beheld till the thrones were set down, and the
Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white
as snow,...His throne was like the fiery flame, and
his wheels as burning fire. ...Thousand thousands
ministered unto him. And ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before him: the judgment was set,
and the books were opened."
"Those who rose up when Jesus did, kept their
eyes fixed on Him as He left the throne and led
them out a little way. Then He raised His right
arm and we heard his lovely voice saying, "Wait
hereI am going to my Father to receive the
Kingdom; keep your garments spotless, and in a
little while I will return from the wedding and
receive you to myself." And I saw a cloudy
chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, and Angels
were all around it as it came where Jesus was.
He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the
Holiest where the Father sat.
Again we see the parallel with Daniel 7:1314
"Behold, the Son of Man came with the clouds of
heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they
brought him near before Him. And there was given
Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom..."
There I beheld Jesus, as He was standing before
the Father, a great High Priest. On the hem of His
garment was a bell and pomegranate. Then Jesus
shew me the difference between faith and feeling.
And I saw those who rose up with Jesus send up
their faith to Him in the Holiest, and praymy
Father give us thy Spirit. "Then Jesus would
breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In the breath
was light, power, and much love, joy and peace.
The Holy Spirit which enables us to WALK in
newness of LIFE with Christ and writes God's law
upon the heart, and empowers us to be witnesses
for HIM.
Then I turned to look at the company who were
still bowed before the throne; they did not know
that Jesus had left it.Satan appeared to be by
the throne, trying to carry on the work of God; I
saw them look up to the throne and pray, my
Father give us thy Spirit; then Satan would
breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it
there was light and much power, but no sweet
love, joy and peace. Satan's object was to keep
them deceived, and to draw back and deceive
God's children. I saw one after another leave the
company who were praying to Jesus in the
Holiest, and go and join those before the throne,
and they at once received the unholy influence of
Satan."
The spirit of the new age movement, which isn't
really new, which places love and peace above
obedience and God's law. The movement that does
not identify sin, or acknowledge any concrete
moral authority, but only claims love and the
spirit will guide all. This is the spirit that will be
breathed on those who disregard the judgment
message.
"EW 260.. they have so darkened their
understanding that they can see no light in the
third angel's message, which shows the way into
the most holy place. I saw that as the Jews
crucified Jesus, so the nominal churches had
crucified these messages, and therefore they
have no knowledge of the way into the most holy,
and they cannot be benefitted by the intercession
of Jesus there. Like the Jews, who offered their
useless sacrifices, they offer up their useless
prayers to the apartment which Jesus has left;
and Satan, pleased with the deception, assumes
a religious character, and leads the minds of
these professed Christians to himself, working
with his power, his signs and lying wonders, to
fasten them in his snare"
Now some scoff at these words, asking "Is Satan in
heaven sitting on a throne?" The answer is, "of
course not", Rev. 12 tells us Satan was cast out of
heaven. However, you will notice that Rev. 3
makes considerable mention of another
"synogogue". Yes, the Bible pictures Satan as
having his own synogogue, this synogugue he sets
up to try and eclipse God's sanctuary. Sadly Rev. 3
describes the people who worship (and say they
are God's people) as someday coming and throwing
themselves at the feet of those who recognized the
"open door and shut door" and admitting it is
these whom God loved. (Rev. 3:79)
The next door that will be shut is the door to the
MOST HOLY in heaven. When Christ has finished
the work of the investigative judgment and the
sealing of all those found written in the book of
life. He will stand up the door of the MOST
HOLY PLACE WILL BE SHUT.
Probation will be ended Then, after the time of
trouble, the cry will be sounded: "the Bridegroom
is coming! He IS COMING!" Then we will go out to
meet Christ who comes to deliver HIS PEOPLE,
who have been driven from the face of society by
those inspired by Satan to destroy them who abide
by the commandments of God rather than the
traditions and doctrines of men. He will deliver
those who have washed their robes and made them
white and clean through His blood. He will deliver
those who would dare to keep the commandments
of God when the "peacemakers of the world
declared" that everyone must honor Sunday. He
will deliver those who bought of Him the white
robes, the eye salve and the gold tried in fire. He
will deliver those who opened their hearts to Him
and allowed Him into the sanctuary of their souls,
to cleanse them and fellowship with them. He will
deliver those Who overcame by the blood of the
Lamb, and will then invite them to sit with Him
upon His throne in heaven. Amen.
Return to Home Page