Month: September 2021

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 30

A PARENTHETICAL CHAPTER OF THIS SERIES ON THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE

If you are one of the numberless who have been long wondering “in pain” why the ungodly and corrupt seem to be prospering and becoming more powerful over the humble and contrite ones, you are not alone. So did David—-until he found the answer by the very sanctuary he desired and prepared to build for the Lord but could not because his hands were bloody as a man of war.

The sanctuary doctrine helps explain how Almighty God is fulfilling His promise, “Vengeance is Mine: I will repay saith the Lord.” (Rom. 12: 19, 17-21; Prov. 24: 29). Here’s the answer given in chapter 73 of Psalms (emphasis mine):

“Truly God is good to Israel, [i.e..]. even unto such as are of a CLEAN [pure, margin] HEART. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. For I was ENVIOUS at the foolish, when I saw the PROSPERITY of the wicked. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men.

Therefore PRIDE compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have MORE THAN they could wish. They are corrupt, and speaketh wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore His people return hither, and waters of a full cup are rung out to them.

And they say, HOW DOTH GOD KNOW? AND IS THERE KNOWLEDGE IN THE MOST HIGH? Behold, these are the ungodly, who PROSPER in the world; they INCREASE in riches. Verily I have cleansed my heart IN VAIN, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long I have been PLAGUED, and CHASTENED every morning. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

When I thought to know this, it was TOO PAINFUL FOR ME, UNTIL I WENT INTO THE SANCTUARY OF GOD; THEN UNDERSTOOD THEIR END.” Psalms 73: 1-17, KJV (read up to verse 38).

The omnipotent God of love, mercy, and justice measures all—-individuals, generations since Adam’s to the final one, kingdoms, empires, nations, and churches with one unerring, eternal standard, His covenant-law (Deut. 4:13), “weighing them in the balances of the sanctuary,” i.e., the heavenly, not earthly sanctuary.

Christ our merciful High Priest’s last work of “cleansing the sanctuary” (Dan. 8:14), is closing soon! Do we fully understand why and how the sanctuary doctrine determines the eternal salvation or damnation of all?

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 29

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 14)

The Ark in the Most Holy of the Earthly Sanctuary Contained the Law of God: Exo. 25:16; EW 32, 33:

Moses wrote: “At that time the Lord said unto me, HEW THEE two tables of stone LIKE UNTO THE FIRST, and come up unto Me in the Mount [Sinai], and make thee an ARK of wood. And I [God] will write on the tables of stone the WORDS THAT WERE IN THE FIRST TABLE WHICH THOU BREAKEST, and thou a shalt PUT THEM INTO THE ARK.

And I [Moses] made an ark of shittim [acacia] wood, and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount having the two tables of stone in mind hand. And He [God] wrote on the tables, according for first writing, the TEN COMMANDMENTS, which the Lord SPAKE unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the DAY OF ASSEMBLY: [Exo. 20:1] and the Lord gave them unto me[the second time]. And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and PUT THE TABLES IN THE ARK which I had made; AND THERE THEY BE, AS THE LORD COMMANDED ME.” Deut. 10: 1-5, KJV.

“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. . . . “And thou shalt PUT INTO THE ARK THE TESTIMONY which I shall give thee.” Exo. 25: 1, 16.

God’s servant wrote: “The Lord gave me the following view in 1847, and while the brethren were assembled in the Sabbath, at Toosham, Maine. . . . In the holiest I saw an ARK; on the tops and sides of it were purest gold. On each of the ark was a lovely cherub, with its wings spread out over it. Their faces were turned toward each other, and they looked downward. Between the angels was a golden censer. Above the ark, where the angels stood, was an exceeding bright glory, that appeared like a throne where God dwelt.

“Jesus stood by the ark, and as the [living, not dead] saints’ prayers came up to Him, the incense in the censer would smoke, and He would offer up their prayers with the smoke of the incense to the Father.

In the ark was the golden pot of manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the TABLES OF STONE WHICH FOLDED LIKE A BOOK. Jesus opened them and I saw the TEN COMMANDMENTS WRITTEN ON THEM WITH THE FINGER OF GOD.

“On one table were four, and the other six BUT THE FOURTH, THE SABBATH COMMANDMENT SHONE ABOVE THEM ALL; for the Sabbath was set apart to be kept in honor of God’s HOLY NAME.

“The holy Sabbath looked glorious—a halo of glory was all around it. I saw the Sabbath commandment WAS NOT NAILED to the cross. If it was, THE OTHER NINE COMMANDMENTS WERE; and we are at LIBERTY to break them all, as well as break the fourth!

I saw that GOD HAS NOT CHANGED THE SABBATH, FOR HE NEVER CHANGES [‘the same yesterday, today, and forever’], But the POPE HAD CHANGED IT from the seventh to the first day of the week; for he ‘was to change times and seasons.’ [that is, attempt to, according to prophecies of Daniel and Revelation].”- E. G. White, Early Writings, pp. 32, 33.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 28

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 13)

The Ark in the Second Apartment of the Heavenly Sanctuary:

“And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ARK OF THE TESTAMENT: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” Rev. 11: 19, KJV.

God’s word specifies this: “In the mouth of two or three witnesses the truth is established.” Thus: “Those who were studying the subject found indisputable proof of the existence of a sanctuary in heaven. MOSES made the earthly sanctuary after a pattern which was shown him [at Mt. Sinai]. PAUL teaches that the pattern was the true sanctuary which is in heaven. And JOHN testifies that he saw it in heaven.

“In the temple in heaven, the dwelling-place of God, His throne is established in RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUDGMENT. IN THE MOST HOLY PLACE IS HIS LAW, the great rule of right by which ALL MANKIND are tested. The ark that enshrines the tables of the law is covered with the MERCY-SEAT, before which Christ pleads HIS BLOOD in the [repentant] sinner’s behalf.

“Thus is represented the UNION OF JUSTiCE AND MERCY in the plan of human redemption the way of salvation of the gospel’]. This union INFINITE WISDOM alone could
devise, and INFINITE POWER accomplish; it is a union that FILLS ALL HEAVEN with wonder and adoration. The cherubim of the EARTHLY sanctuary, looking reverently down upon the mercy-seat, represent the interest with which the heavenly host contemplate the WORK OF REDEMPTION.

“This is the MYSTERY OF MERCY into which angels desire to look,—-that GOD CAN BE JUST WHILE HE JUSTIFIES [not sanctifies] THE REPENTING SINNER, and renews His intercourse with the fallen race; that Christ should stoop [in the mystery of the incarnation!] to raise UNNUMBERED MULTITUDES from the abyss of ruin, and clothe them with the SPOTLESS GARMENTS of His own righteousness, to unite with ANGELS who have never fallen, and to dwell forever in the PRESENCE of God!” – E.G. White, Great Controversy, 1911 ed., p. 415.

If this does not quicken your heart and make you want to love, please, honor, adore and worship God in Christ and lovingly obey all His commandments, I don’t know what will!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 27

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 12)

The Ark in the Second Apartment of the Earthly Sanctuary:
“And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ARK OF THE COVENANT [AKA ‘the ark of the testimony’ or ‘the ark of God’s testament] overlaid round about with gold, whereupon the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant [the 2 tables of stone where the Decalogue was written with God’s finger]; and over it the cherubims of glory (order of angels) shadowing [covering] the mercy seat, of which we cannot now speak particularly.” Heb. 9: 3-5, KJV. Compare this to the following:

God commanded Moses: “And they shall make an ARK of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.” Exo. 25: 10. Read up to verse 22.

“Beyond the inner veil was the holy of holies, where centered the SYMBOLIC service of atonement and intercession, and which formed the CONNECTING LINK between heaven and earth. In this apartment was the ARK, a chest of acacia [shittim] wood, overlaid within and without with gold, and having a crown of gold about the top.

It was made as a DEPOSITORY OF THE TABLES OF STONE, upon which God Himself had inscribed the Ten Commandments. Hence it was called the Ark of God’s Testament, or the Ark of the Covenant, since the Ten Commandments were the basis of the covenant made between God and Israel.

“The cover of the sacred chest was called the MERCY SEAT. This was wrought of one solid piece of gold and was surmounted by golden cherubim, one standing on each end. One wing of each angel was stretched forth on high, while the other was folded over the body in token of the reverence and humility.

The position of the cherubim, with their faces turned toward each other, and looking reverently downward toward the ark, represented the reverence with which the heavenly host regard the LAW of God, and their interest in the PLAN OF REDEMPTION.

“Above the mercy seat was the SHEKINAH, the manifestation of the divine presence; and from BETWEEN the cherubim, God made KNOWN His will.

Divine messages were sometimes communicated to the high priest by a VOICE from the cloud [in the Shekinah]. Sometimes a LIGHT fell upon the angel [cherubim] at the right, to signify approval or acceptance, or a SHADOW or CLOUD rested upon the one on the left to reveal disapproval or rejection.”- E. G. White, Patriarchs & Prophets, pp. 348, 349.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 24

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 11)

The Table of Showbread:
“And he put the table in the tent of the congregation, upon the side of the tabernacle northward, without [outside] the veil. And he set the bread in order upon it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.” Exo. 40: 22, 23, KJV.

“The show-bread was kept EVER before the Lord as a PERPETUAL OFFERING. Thus it was part of the DAILY sacrifice. It was called show-bread, or ‘bread of the presence,’ because it was ever before the face of the Lord (Exo. 25:30).

It was an acknowledgement of man’s DEPENDENCE upon God for both temporal and spiritual food, and that it is received only through the MEDIATION of Christ [not Mary or dead saints or ancestors, etc.]. God had fed Israel in the wilderness with bread from heaven [manna], and they were still dependent upon His bounty, both for temporal and spiritual blessings.

BOTH THE MANNA AND THE SHOW-BREAD POINTED TO CHRIST, THE LIVING BREAD who is ever in the presence of God for us. He Himself said, ‘I am the living bread which came down from heaven’ (see John 6: 48-51).” E. G. White, Patriarch & Prophets, p. 354.; See also Ibid. Early Writings, p. 251.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 23

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 10)

Incense Burned on Earthly Altar:
“And Aaron [the first typical high priest] shall burn therein sweet incense EVERY MORNING when he dresseth the lamps [on the seven-branched golden candlestick], he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps AT EVEN [evening, he shall burn the incense upon it, a PERPETUAL incense before the Lord throughout your generations.” Exo. 30: 7, 8, KJV

“In the holy place was the candlestick, in the south, with its 7 lamps giving light to the sanctuary both by day and by night; on the north stood the table of shewbread; and before the veil separating the holy from the most holy place was the GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE, from which the cloud of fragrance, with the prayers of Israel [corporate], was DAILY ascending before God.” – Great Controversy, p. 412.

Incense Offered in the Heavenly Altar Antitype:
“And I saw the 7 angels which stood before God; and to them were given 7 trumpets. And another Angel came and stood at the ALTAR, having a GOLDEN CENSER; and there was given unto Him MUCH INCENSE, that He should offer it with the prayers of the saints upon the GOLDEN ALTAR which was before the throne.” Rev. 8: 3, 4, KJV.

“The solemn service of the sanctuary typified the grand truths that would be revealed through successive generations. The CLOUD OF INCENSE ascending with the prayers of Israel REPRESENTS CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS that alone can make the sinner’s prayer ACCEPTABLE to God.” – Patriarchs & Prophets, p. 367.

A precious lesson:
“In Christ’s name our petitions ascend to the Father. Christ [not Mary or dead saints, etc.] intercedes in our behalf, and the Father lays open all the treasures of His GRACE for our appropriation, for us to enjoy and impart to others. ‘Ask in My name,’ Christ says. I do NOT say that I will pray the Father for you, for the Father Himself loves you. Make use of My name. This will give your prayers EFFICIENCY, and the Father will give you the RICHES of His grace [not material wealth]. Wherefore ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.’” – Ibid, Testimonies, Vol. 8, p. 178.

(To be continued) Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 22

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 9)

The Golden Altar In the Earthly Sanctuary: God commanded Moses:
“Thou shalt make an ALTAR TO BURN INCENSE UPON: of shittim [acacia]wood shalt thou make of it . . . . And thou shalt overlay it with PURE GOLD, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about. And two golden rings shalt thou make unto if under the crown of it. . . . And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. And thou shalt put it before the [second] veil that is before the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.” Exo. 30: 1-6, KJV.

The Golden Altar in the Heavenly Sanctuary:
“And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the 7 angels which stood before God: and to them were given 7 trumpets. And another angel came and stood at the ALTAR, having a golden censer, and there was given to Him much INCENSE, that He should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the GOLDEN ALTAR which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.” Rev. 8: 1-4.

Here’s encouragement from the heavenly altar of incense: “Jesus knows the circumstances of every soul. You may say I am sinful, very sinful. You may be; but the worse you are, the more you need Jesus. He turns no weeping, contrite soul away. He does not tell to any all that He might reveal, but He bids every trembling soul take courage.

Freely will He pardon all who come to Him for forgiveness and restoration. . . . He is today standing at the ALTAR OF INCENSE [in the heavenly sanctuary], presenting before God [the Father] the prayers of those who desire His help.” -E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 568.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
September 21

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 8)

The Seven Lamps in the Earthly Sanctuary Type:

“For there was a tabernacle made; THE FIRST, wherein was the CANDLESTICK, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.” Heb. 9: 2, KJV. “And thou [Moses] shalt make the SEVEN LAMPS thereof: that they may give light over against it (see verses 31-36).

“In the holy place [of the earthly sanctuary] was the CANDLESTICK, on the south [side of the sanctuary], with its SEVEN LAMPS giving light to the sanctuary both by day and by night; on the north stood the table of the showbread; and before the veil [the second] separating the holy from the most holy [‘apartment’ or ‘place’] was the golden altar of incense, from which the cloud of fragrance, with the prayers of Israel, was DAILY ascending before God.” – Great Controversy, 1911 ed., p. 412.

Seven Lamps of Fire in the Heavenly Sanctuary: Rev. 4: 5; EW 251. In vision, God’s last-day messenger says: “I was shown what did take place in heaven at the close of the prophetic periods in 1844. . . . I was then bidden to take notice of the two apartments of the heavenly sanctuary. The curtain or ‘door’ was opened, and I was permitted to enter.

In the first apartment I saw the CANDLESTICK WITH SEVEN LAMPS, the table of shewbread, the altar of incense, and the censer. All the furniture of this [first] apartment looked like purest gold and reflected the image of the one who entered the place.”

• E. G. White, Early Writings, p. 251.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.