The Heavenly Sanctuary

Christ's work for us now in the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary involves the cleansing of our hearts from all sin. On the Day of atonement the children of Israel were to cease from works. The fact is we can contribute nothing to that which Christ has already obtained and is now obtaining for us. The book of life was spoken of by Moses when he prayed for Israel to be spared or else his name be removed from the book. (Exodus 32:31,32.) Paul speaks, "My fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life." (Philippians 4:3) The Lamb's book of life contains name's only, no list of works or achievements are present. We have nothing by which to merit Heaven, in fact more to exclude than include us. Even our prayers must be offered with "much incense." (Revelations 8:3) All Heaven echoes one song, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor and glory and blessing." (Revelation 5:12) Some of those who had been recorded in the Lamb's Book of Life, judged, and who are now ministering with Him in the Sanctuary above join the chorus singing, He "hath redeemed us" (v.9) How can we ever expect to unite our voices in that chorus, "Worthy is the lamb who hath redeemed us," if we continue to trust in and boast about our works? We will be judged by those "works." Who is willing to face the Judgment seat on the merits of those human works? Where must our faith be? In them (our works,) or in the Lamb that was slain? Since we are to be Judged by our works all tainted by sin and worthless. We are compelled to fall on the Rock, be broken, and put our trust in Christ alone who only can atone. The children of Israel were commanded in the observance of the typical Day of Atonement, that "no work" be done (Leviticus 23:28, 30) The high priest alone accomplished the cleansing. Those who heeded the command, their names were retained in Israel. Just so, in the final Day of Atonement, the Great High Priest alone will accoplish the objective. "I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir." (Isaiah 13:12) Even as in the first atonement - forgiveness is by faith alone, so the final atonement - cleansing is by faith alone. So our names are retained in the book of life by faith in the merits of Christ Cleansing blood alone. "I will cause thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with a change of raiment." Zechariah 3:4 No man can cleanse himself by his own works, nor can he weave a robe in which there is not a single thread of human devising (self). All forgiveness, cleansing is the result of a surrender at the foot of the Cross to Him who "is able also to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25) The Israelite who did not afflict his soul upon the day of atonement was cut from among the people. (Leviticus 23:28-30) In the sin offering ritual the penitent brought his "substitute," the demand of the Law could not be abrogated, but it was the mediation of the priest alone which brought the atonement of forgiveness. Man could not of, or for himself atone. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest alone accomplished the cleansing. Man could only humbly (afflict) his soul as he awaited the final atonement. Man could only cease from works, resting by faith in the work of the High Priest. The final generation faces the atonement by which they are to be cleansed and fitted for translation. How was this regeneration to be achieved? By Works? No, not if man perceived his worthlessness. "What is regeneration? -- It is revealing to man what is his own real nature, that in himself he is worthless." (Special Testimony for Ministers and Workers - No. 9 April 8, 1897) If we can not understand that one is justified by faith alone without the deeds of the Law, then we cannot comprehend the meaning of the typical Day of Atonement when the mediation of the high priest alone accomplished the cleansing from sin. He "ever liveth to make intercession" for those who sense their constant worthlessness, and thus their dependency on a power they do not have to do for them what they cannot do for themselves. The doctrine of the Final Atonement going on in heaven at this time has no equal in Christendom. 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.” The Three Angles Messages of necessity includes the Everlasting Gospel which has been entrusted to modern Israel. Logically this complete gospel must include both Christ complete atonement at Calvary and His Final atonement going on in the heavenly sanctuary. The advancing light of the Everlasting Gospel as revealed in the typology of the Hebrew sanctuary service was 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. 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) 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 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). “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