Tag: sanctuary

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
October 6

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 18)

The Typical Earthly Priests Offered Gifts and Sacrifice FOR Sin: Christ the Antitypical High Priest Offered Himself, the Antitypical ‘Lamb of God’ in order to ‘PUT AWAY SIN.’

The following verses of Scriptures declare these truths (emphasis and words in brackets mine]:

“For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for me in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices.” Heb. 5: 1. KJV.

“Nor yet that He [Christ] should offer Himself OFTEN, as the [earthly] high priest entered into the holy place EVERY YEAR with the blood of others [i.e., the animal sacrifices]. For then must He OFTEN suffered since the foundation of the world: but now ONCE in the end of the world (‘age’ or dispensation] hath He appeared to PUT AWAY SIN BY THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF. And as it is appointed unto men ONCE TO DIE, but after this [death] the JUDGMENT: 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 [i.e., no longer as The Sacrifice Himself again for the sins of His people but as the King of kings bringing the reward of eternal life for all His faithful dead and living commandment-keeping saints].” Heb. 9: 25-28.

Christ the Lamb of God, the antitypical “one offering” and “one sacrifice” offered Himself, according to the plan of salvation of the gospel, ONLY “once and for all” at Calvary, the antitypical altar of sacrifice located at the entrance of the outer court of typical earthly sanctuary. See Heb. 9: 26, 28; 10: 10, 12, 14.

But each time Mass is offered in the Roman Catholic Churches, according to its catechism and doctrines, her priests become the “creators of the Creator,” literally bringing Christ down repeatedly, unnumbered times, by allegedly having the power to change the wafer Into the literal body of Christ! at the “moment of consecration of the host, called transubstantiation!

They then say, “the body of Christ,” as they place the host with their finger on the open mouths of the eager participating congregants who believe they actually “ate” the flesh of the body of Jesus Christ!

Pray that the Holy Spirit, Christ’s appointed Vicegerent, not the Pope, whose work on earth will soon end, forever closing mankind’s probation, will open eyes, convict hearts, and enlighten the minds of all who yet to “come out of darkness into the marvelous light” of gospel “truth as it is in Jesus.”

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
October 5

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 17)

Christ’s Priesthood in Type and Antitype: Earthly Priests taken from among the People:

“For the law [concerning the priesthood] maketh men high priests which have infirmity [frailties of mortals], but the word of OATH, which was since the law, maketh the Son [Jesus] who is consecrated for evermore.” Heb. 7: 28, KJV.

“For every high priest taken from AMONG MEN is ordained for men in THINGS PERTAINING TO GOD, that he might offer both gifts and sacrifices FOR SINS.” Heb. 5: 1.

Our High Priest, Christ Jesus, Taken from Humanity: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest , that is PASSED INTO THE HEAVENS, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession [faith]. . . . Let us therefore come boldly INTO THE THRONE OF GRACE, that we may obtain MERCY, and find GRACE to help IN TIME OF NEED.” Heb. 4: 14, 16.

When did Christ, the Lamb of God, transition into our High Priest? “When the loud cry, ‘It is finished,’ came from the lips of Christ [at Calvary], the [earthly] priests were officiating in the [Jerusalem] Temple. It was the hour of the evening sacrifice [our 3 PM].

The lamb REPRESENTING Christ had been brought in to be slain. Clothed in his significant and beautiful dress, the priest stood with lifted knife, as did Abraham when he was about to slay his [only] son [Isaac]. With intense interest the PEOPLE were looking on.

But the EARTH TREMBLES AND QUAKES; for the Lord Himself [the Father] draws near. With a rending noise the INNER VEIL of the temple is TORN from top to bottom by an UNSEEN HAND, THROWING OPEN to the gaze of the multitude a place ONCE FILLED WITH THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

In this [most holy] place the SHEKINAH had dwelt. Here God had manifested HIS GLORY ABOVE THE MERCY SEAT. No one but the [earthly] HIGH PRIEST ever lifted the veil separating this apartment from the rest of the temple. He entered in ONCE A YEAR TO MAKE AN ATONEMENT [on the Day of Atonement, on the 10th day of the 7th month of the Jewish religious calendar] for the sins of the people.

But lo, THIS [second] VEIL IS RENT IN TWAIN. THE MOST HOLY PLACE OF THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY IS NO LONGER SACRED [or holy]!

“All is terror and confusion. The priest is about to slay the victim; but the KNIFE DROPS from his nerveless hand, AND THE LAMB ESCAPES.” Why?

TYPE HAS MET ANTITYPE IN THE DEATH OF GOD’S SON. The great sacrifice has been made. THE WAY INTO THE HOLIEST [in the heavenly sanctuary] IS LAID OPEN. A ‘New and living way’ is prepared for all.

“No longer need sinful, sorrowing humanity await the coming of the HIGH PRIEST [out of the earthly temple after the day of atonement service]. HENCEFORTH THE SAVIOR WAS TO OFFiCIATE AS PRIEST AND ADVOCATE IN THE HEAVEN OF HEAVENS.

It was as if a living voice had spoken to the worshippers: THERE IS NOW AN END TO ALL SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS FOR SIN. [it is the ceremonial LAW governing the types that was ‘nailed to the cross,’ for type had met Antitype in Christ!]. The Son of God is come according to His word, ‘Lo, I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of Me,), to do Thy will, O God,’ ‘By His own blood,’ He entereth in ONCE into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us [The blood obtained by His death is the purchase price for our redemption from Satan].” Heb. 10:7; 9:12.” – E.G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 756, 757.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
October 4

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 16)

The Priesthood in Type (Earthly) and Antitype (Christ as, in the Heavenly)

Let’s prayerfully contemplate on these awesome verses before proceeding!

“Honor and majesty are before Him: STRENGTH AND BEAUTY ARE IN HIS SANCTUARY. . . . O worship the Lord in the BEAUTY OF HOLINESS: fear before Him, ALL THE EARTH. . . for HE COMETH TO JUDGE THE EARTH: He shall judge the earth with RIGHTEOUSNESS; and the people with HIS TRUTH.” .” Ps. 96: 6, 9, 13, KJV.

“O God, Thou art my God; early [in the morning] will I seek Thee: my soul thirsterh for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is: TO SEE THY POWER AND THY GLORY, SO AS I HAVE SEEN THEE IN THE SANCTUARY.

Because Thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee. Thus will I bless Thee WHILE I LIVE: I will lift up my hands in Thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: when I remember Thee UPON MY BED, AND MEDITATE ON THEE IN THE NIGHT WATCHES. Because Thou hast been my HELP, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.” Ps. 63: 1-7, KJV.

Like David, let us mediate on our bed during the night hours when we cannot fall asleep, upon the power, beauty, and glory of Christ Jesus our ONE AND ONLY merciful High Priest, Mediator, Intercessor and Advocate who is about to finish His last work for our salvation in the most holy of the heavenly sanctuary!

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
October 1

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 15)

The Law of God Called The ‘Testimony’ and the Heavenly Ark, Called the ‘Ark of His Testimony’

“And He [God] gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, TWO TABLES OF TESTIMONY, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” Exo. 31: 18, KJV. “And thou shalt put unto the ark THE TESTIMONY which I shall give thee.” Exo. 25: 16.

John wrote, as shown to him in vision in the Isle of Patmos: “And the Temple of God was opened in Heaven. and there was seen in His Temple THE ARK Of HIS TESTAMENT [‘testimony’], and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” Rev. 11: 19.

The law of God, the foundation of His throne, kingdom, and government in heaven and on earth, and the transcript of His character, His “image,” is clearly and explicitly defined in the Ten Commandments, the only thing He ever wrote with His own finger, twice. He calls it His Covenant. Deut. 4: 13.

And because He “changeth not,” is the “same yesterday, today, and forever,”’ and is “from everlasting to everlasting”
(Ps. 41: 13) ——means “sola scriptura,” “according to the Holy Scriptures, the Bible,” “If it is written,” “Thus saith the Lord,” as determined by a Holy-Spirited guided “precept upon precept, line upon line, here a little there a little” (Isa. 28:9-13) preponderance of evidence from both the Old and New Testament.

Beginning with the proclamation of the third angel’s message of Rev. 14 it includes “the testimony of Jesus Christ” which is “the Spirit of prophecy” in the commandment-keeping remnant of her seed” church of prophecy. Rev. 12:17; 14:12; 19:10.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

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.