The Final Atonement/Blotting out of Sin

The doctrine of the Final Atonement going on in heaven at this time has no equal in Christendom. It is the Sanctuary doctrine or teaching which gives uniqueness to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In the “Loud Cry” the attention of the people of earth will be called to the pre-advent judgment and the closing ministration of Christ in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. This closing ministration of Christ is specifically designed to prepare a people to stand in that great day, “without sin unto salvation.” In the on going investigative judgment, God’s government grounded on selfless love is on trial. A final generation of living saints is being called to witness on behalf of the goodness of God as revealed in the face of Jesus Christ. Christ’s on going work of perfectly reproducing His character in the lives of a hundred and forty and four thousand living saints will vindicate God’s holy name throughout the universe. This ongoing work of atonement moving forward in heaven, as revealed in the type, is designed to completely restore all the damage done by sin, forever reconciling the helpless sinner to God. The Three Angles Messages of necessity includes the Everlasting Gospel which has been entrusted to spiritual Israel. Logically this complete gospel must include both Christ complete atonement at Calvary, (See Lev. 4:25, 26, 30, 31; Luke 23:39-43) and His Final atonement going on now in the heavenly sanctuary, (See Exodus 30:2, 3, 6, 10; Lev. 23:27, 28; Lev. 16:30.) The advancing light of the Everlasting Gospel as revealed in the typology of the Hebrew sanctuary service was given as a sacred trust to Seventh-day Adventism. The foundation of the three angels messages is the Everlasting Gospel and based on the “type” Christ work for His people includes two atonements. The scriptures read that should an individual – ruler, or common person -- sin, he could bring his offering, confess his sin, and “the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.” (Leviticus 4:26, 31.) The message thus conveyed is that the forgiveness is so complete, that there is an “one-ment” again between the sinner and his Heavenly Father. This was accomplished at the Altar of Burnt Offering. This “daily” service was for the forgiveness of sins, removing the guilt from the contrite believer. Then the record states that on the Day of Atonement, as the congregation of Israel afflicted their souls without the Court, the high priest made “an atonement” for Israel so that collectively and individually they should be “clean from all [their] sins before the Lord.” (Leviticus 16:30.) This special atonement was accomplished in type by the mediation of the high priest beginning in the Most Holy place of the sanctuary. (Leviticus 16:33.) It is referred to as the atonement of “atonements.” (Exodus 30:10.) This final work of atonement involves the blotting out of sins; which includes a work of cleansing for the individual soul, as well as the blotting out of sins record in heaven. (Lev. 16:30; Heb. 10:1-4, 14-18; Rev. 21:4; PP 202, 358; GC 620.) In the case of the living, they will experience the blessing of the final atonement while they are still living. This is clear from the following: “Their sins will have been blotted out by the atoning blood of Christ, and they cannot bring them to remembrance.” PP 202 The Cross of Calvary was prefigured daily at the Altar of Burnt Offering, and the work of Chirst as the High Priest after the Order of Melchisedec, was prefigured in the annual ministry on the typical Day of Atonement. This work of atonement (cancelling out all the effects of sin) become the two focuses of the Everlasting Gospel committed to the Advent Movement. Both of the foci involve atonement (reconciliation) in the fullest meaning of the word. The Atonement was not completed by the mere shedding of Christ’s blood at Calvary. In the typical service, the killing of the offering by the helpless sinner did not a complete the atonement, it was the beginning of what Christ desires to do for His people in completing the Plan of Salvation. “It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world's Redeemer.” DA 671 “Divine grace is needed at the beginning, divine grace at every step of advance, and divine grace alone can complete the work.” TM 508 Therefore, Christ at the Cross has made a complete sacrifice, but the final at – one – ment was to be made after 1844 during the anti-typical Day of Atonement. The completion of the atonement is in-separately connected to the cleansing of the sanctuary in Heaven and the blotting out of sin. This cancelling out of the effects of sin includes both the blotting out of sins record from the mind of the individual believer as well as in the record books of heaven. (Acts 3:19 RSV.; Heb. 9:1-14; 10:1-4,14-22; Isaiah 43:25; Dan. 7:9-10; 8:14.) The trust of the “everlasting gospel” based as it is in the dual atonement concepts of the Hebrew sanctuary service has been betrayed. The Seventh-day Adventist Church through its representatives have in 1955-56 SDA-Evangelical Conferences, and in the publication of Question on Doctrine, denied the final atonement. (See Question on Doctrine, pg. 390) In fact by 1980, in General Conference Session in Dallas, Texas, the Corporate SDA Church with all the delegates present voted and adopted into it’s 27 fundamental beliefs language which rejects The Special Atonement of Christ going on in the Heavenly Sanctuary. No mention is made of Christ final atonement or the investigative judgment progressing forward in the heavenly sanctuary. (See 1980 GC bulletin, #9, pg. 27 & #4 the section on “The Son”) It is the blood shed on Calvary ministered in the Holy Place which secures “eternal redemption,” for the contrite sinner. This was the position held by the Church until the betrayal of “the sacred truth” in the compromises with the Evangelicals. From those conferences in 1955-1956, came the position stated in Question on Doctrine, that when Christ “appeared in the presence of God for us,” it was not with the hope of obtaining something for us at that time, or at some future time No! He already obtained it for us on the cross.” Question on Doctrine, pg. 381 (See QD 341-402; 661-692.) During the 1955-1956 Evangelical Conferences, the Adventist conferees not only adopted the position that the atonement was completed on Calvary, but denied the final atonement going on in heaven and deep in the sanctuary of the soul of God’s church on earth, which is so clearly taught from the typology of the Hebrew sanctuary service. In Questions on Doctrine, the published answers to questions asked by the Evangelicals, the new position taken is stated with emphasis: “Adventist do not hold any theory of a dual atonement.” “Christ hath redeemed us” (Galatians 3:13.) “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10.) (P. 390.) This denial of faith ruptured Adventism and strikes at the very basic hermeneutic upon which Adventism was founded—typology. Worldliness has been the main sin of the Adventist Church down through our history. Worldliness as equated to self--love. The episode of 1955, 1956, is a supreme demonstration of our desire to receive the approbation and acceptance of the evangelical world. To do this, we had to crucify Christ afresh who is the truth, and put Him to open shame before the whole on looking universe. This proved our enmity against God, our desire deep down inside to kill Christ! These events have revealed to us that deep in our sub-conscious minds their lies hatred against God’s dear Son. Anyone who honestly considers the events during the 1955-56 SDA-Evangelical Conferences, and stands back, denouncing the men who led out in the dreadful rejection of Christ, the Crucified Saviour are worse than they. “Thou that judgest doeth the same things.” Can any of us say that we have not denied Christ, not living out our faith and compromising with the world? So, the soul without self-righteousness can cast the first stone. "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." The 1955-56 SDA-Evangelical Conferences that ended in our rejection of the advancing light of the Everlasting Gospel as revealed in the on going atonement in heaven does highlight the very heart of our problem! The heart of our spiritual sickness is Self Love. This all for myself attitude, amounts to open rebellion against Christ and His Government. Selfishness at its root is hatred of God. Self, in what ever form it operates and however it operates always aspires to the place of God. (Isaiah 14:13, 14). If we truly loved God would we trample the truth in the dust, and Crucify Christ afresh for the world to see? To the 7th Day Adventist Church, the Messenger of the Lord wrote: “In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be weighed. She will be judged by the privileges and advantages that she has had. If her spiritual experience does not correspond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost, has bestowed on her, if the blessings conferred have not qualified her to do the work entrusted to her, on her will be pronounced the sentence: "Found wanting." By the light bestowed, the opportunities given, will she be judged.” 8T 247. Please note carefully that corporate language is used – “she,” and “her.” The 7th Day Adventist Church as a corporate body faces the judgment of the sanctuary, as portrayed in the above statement. She the Church will be judged by the spiritual privileges and advantages that she has had. “If her spiritual experience does not correspond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost, has bestowed upon her, if the blessings conferred have not qualified her to do the work entrusted to her, on her will be pronounced the sentence, “Found wanting.” By the light bestowed, the opportunities given, will she be judged.” 8T 247. Some History “The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God's hand had directed the great advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light the position and work of His people…. Both the prophecy of Daniel 8:14, "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed," and the first angel's message, "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come," pointed to Christ's ministration in the most holy place, to the investigative judgment, and not to the coming of Christ for the redemption of His people and the destruction of the wicked…. Christ had come, not to the earth, as they expected, but, as foreshadowed in the type, to the most holy place of the temple of God in heaven. He is represented by the prophet Daniel as coming at this time to the Ancient of Days: "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came"--not to the earth, but--"to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him." Daniel 7:13.” GC 424 “Says the prophet: "Who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." Malachi 3:2, 3. “Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God's people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.” GC 425 The typical services of the Wilderness Sanctuary evidenced a dual atonement. The convicted sinner who brought the prescribed offering in confession of his guilt was, through the ministry of the officiating priest, forgiven. The text reads - "The priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him" (Lev. 4:26.) The helpless sinner now no longer had to bear the guilt of his sin. The second atonement was typified in an annual yearly service. The tenth day of the seventh month was called the "Day of Atonements" (Plural in the Hebrew, Leviticus 23:27-28.) On that day the High Priest alone ministered an atonement which resulted in cleansing. The text reads - "For on that day shall (the high priest) make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord" (Lev.16:30.) In Leviticus 23 is listed with instructions, “the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations” which were to be observed during the ceremonial year beginning with the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, (verses 4, 5.) On each of the other feast days, the injunction was given – “Ye shall do no servile (occupational) work therein” – (Lev. 23:8, 21, 25, 35, 36) – while for the Day of Atonements, the command was – “Ye shall do no work in that same day” (Lev. 23:28.) This placed the Day of Atonements on the same level as the 7th Day Sabbath. (Lev. 23:3.) It was around these typical services and their anti-typical significance that the present theological crisis in Adventism evolved. Following the Great Disappointment, a small group seeking to find an answer as to why Jesus did not return according to expectation on October 22, 1844 turned their attention once again to the services of the wilderness Sanctuary. The message as had been given by William Miller was focused in the summer of 1844 on Daniel 8:14 - "Unto two thousand and three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be cleansed" - and was related to the annual date for the Day of Atonement - "the tenth day of the seventh month." The prophecy of Daniel 7, points to the fact that the judgment pictured in verses 9-10, relates to the time indicated in Daniel 8:14, and that "the judgment," the "cleansing of the sanctuary," and the "final atonement" all focus on the same activity in the plans and purposes of God. A special atonement for Israel, the atonement of the judgment was to make an end to sin. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28 The prophet David emphatically states, “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary.” (Psalms 77:13.) The services of the typical day of atonement included a special work of purification, of the putting away of sin among God’s people. “Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.” (Leviticus 23:27-30.) The 7th Day Adventist Church was born in 1844 in the most holy place of the Heavenly Sanctuary. (Daniel 8:14.) Moses was given instructions regarding the typical sanctuary, “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8.) Yet in the book of Acts we read, “the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands” (Acts 7:48.) Further Paul expands this thought, “Ye are the temple of God…. the Spirit of God dwelleth in you…. Ye are the temple of the living God…. I will dwell in them and walk in them.” (See 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 2 Corinthians 6:16.) Paul is quoting directly from (Lev. 26:11, 12.) regarding the typical sanctuary service, “I will set my tabernacle among you:… I will walk among you and will be your God.” The purpose of the typical Sanctuary Service was to teach that each individual believer is to be the Temple of the living God. “Ye are the temple of the living God.” It was God’s purpose for ancient Israel to perceive that they were to be “the temple of the living God.” So the typical sanctuary service is an object lesson or teaching model of the Everlasting Gospel, the Character of Christ as revealed in and through the children of God. The Everlasting Gospel has one purpose and that is to restore to the believer everything lost by sin, this is accomplished by the abiding presence of Christ being restored to its rightful place deep in the spirit of man. So to follow Christ through the “open door” and cooperate with Him in restoring the continual abiding presence of a Holy God deep within the human spirit is the final act necessary to complete the plan of salvation. “Through Christ was to be fulfilled the purpose of which the tabernacle was a symbol--that glorious building, its walls of glistening gold reflecting in rainbow hues the curtains inwrought with cherubim, the fragrance of ever-burning incense pervading all, the priests robed in spotless white, and in the deep mystery of the inner place, above the mercy seat, between the figures of the bowed, worshiping angels, the glory of the Holiest. In all, God desired His people to read His purpose for the human soul. It was the same purpose long afterward set forth by the apostle Paul, speaking by the Holy Spirit: “"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."” 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17. (Education 36.) God’s purpose for the human soul is perfection of Christian Character. Christ ministry for His Church today is the completion of this work of the cancelling out of sins record not only in the books of heaven but also the purging of man’s conscience from the record of sin kept in their minds. This final phase of the atonement reveals in a special way the beneficence of God’s Character. The length, depth and height of God’s love are going to be wrought out in the life of the believer to the extent of perfection of mind. This is the result of the Infinite Power of God applied to the Infinite Wisdom God kept by Everlasting Infinite Love of God. God’s Eternal Love flowing into the contrite trusting saints by the Holy Spirit, brings with it the Infinite Wisdom and Power of the all mighty needed to expel sin and all its consequences. No scares of sin will remain; they cannot bring their sins to remembrance for they have been blotted out by the atoning blood of Christ. (See PP 202.) This is the power of the everlasting gospel which was committed in sacred trust to the 7th Day Adventist Church. The full revelation of the Character (Glory) of God in His Church will forever silence the charges of Satan and bring an end to sin. As a people, we are to come boldly to the foot of the Cross, ever trusting Jesus our High Priest, expecting that He will complete this final cleansing work in us. We are to enter in through the “open door” and experience the most holy place ministry of Jesus by faith, pleading the merits of Christ blood and in this way “work in harmony with Christ.” (See GC 431, 488; 5T 575, 520; 7 BC 930, 931). The high priest, alone accomplished the typical cleansing. This should speak loud and clear to all who, by their own works of righteousness, seek to cleanse themselves. When the people of God are completely settled on the truth of justification by faith alone, in the merits of Christ alone, the High Priest can make the final atonement for His people. He will blot out their sins and seal them with perfecting latter rain. Self is eternally crucified with Christ. They have stepped out forever on Christ’s merits. Complete dependence on the merits of Christ atoning blood, plus or minus nothing. No cords of human dependence remain all traces of sin, “the old man” and his wicked works are blotted forever from the heart. The saints are sealed. For it is written: “As the people of God afflict their souls before Him, pleading for purity of heart, the command is given, "Take away the filthy garments" from them, and the encouraging words are spoken, "Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." The spotless robe of Christ's righteousness is placed upon the tried, tempted, yet faithful children of God. The despised remnant are clothed in glorious apparel, nevermore to be defiled by the corruptions of the world. Their names are retained in the Lamb's book of life, enrolled among the faithful of all ages. They have resisted the wiles of the deceiver; they have not been turned from their loyalty by the dragon's roar. Now they are eternally secure from the tempter's devices. Their sins are transferred to the originator of sin. And the remnant are not only pardoned and accepted, but honored. "A fair miter" is set upon their heads. They are to be as kings and priests unto God. While Satan was urging his accusations and seeking to destroy this company, holy angels, unseen, were passing to and fro, placing upon them the seal of the living God.” 5T 475 In Conclusion We are living in this the great Day of Atonement. This brings with it the joy of the blotting out of sins. Christ has entered the most holy place to make a special and final atonement “for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all you sins before the Lord.” Lev. 16:30. This is the blotting out of sins. God’s people must gather to the sanctuary by faith in accordance with the requirements of the antitypical Day of Atonement (Joel 2:15-17). When they do so, Christ will blot out their sins and give them the latter rain (Joel 2:18-28; Acts 3:19 RV). Those who gather at the sanctuary for this special work will receive the great blessing of the Day of Atonement; those who fail to respond will be “cut off” from Israel. (EW 270-1). The great blessing of Jesus final cleansing is our eternal separation from sin. (See Acts 3:26.) The latter rain will seal the remnant for its last mighty work. The outpouring of the latter rain will be a repetition of the Day of Pentecost, only in greater measure.