FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 22
THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 51)
“It is Finished!”
“Never before had the earth witnessed such as a scene. The multitude stood paralyzed, and with bated breath GAZED UPON THE SAVIOR. Again darkness settled upon the earth, and a hoarse rumbling, like heavy thunder was heard. There was a violent earthquake the people were shaken together in heaps.
THE WILDEST CONFUSION AND CONSTERNATION ENSUED. In the surrounding mountains, rocks were resent asunder and went crashing down into the plains. SEPULCHERS WERE BROKEN OPEN, AND THE DEAD WERE CAST OUT THEIR TOMBS. CREATiON SEEMED TO BE SHIVERING TO HER ATOMS.
“Priests, rulers, soldiers, executioners, and people mute with terror, lay prostrate upon the ground.
“When the loud cry, ‘IT IS FINISHED,’ came from the lips of Christ, the PRIESTS were officiating at the temple. IT WAS THE HOUR OF THE EVENING SACRIFICE [the ‘ninth hour.’ our mid-afternoon, 3 PM). The lamb REPRESENTING CHRIST [the typical paschal lamb of the Passover service] had been brought to be slain. Clothed in his beautiful and significant dress, the PRIEST STOOD WITH LIFTED KNIFE, as did Abraham when he was about to slay his son Isaac. With intense interest the people [The Jewish nation] the people were looking on. But the earth trembles and quakes; for the LORD [God the Father] HIMSELF draws near.
“With a rending noise the INNER VEIL of the temple is TORN from top to bottom by an unseen hand, THR0WING OPEN to the gaze of the multitude a place ONCE FILLED WITH THE PRESENCE OF GOD. IN THIS PLACE THE SHEKINAH HAD DWELT. HERE GOD HAD MANIFESTED HIS GLORY ABOVE THE MERCY SEAT [of the ark of the testament/testimony].
No one but the HIGH PRIEST [beginning with Aaron] EVER LIFTED the veil SEPARATING this apartment from the rest of the PEOPLE. He [only the High Priest] entered in ONCE A YEAR [ On the day of atonement, Lev. 16:1-34] to make atonement for the SINS of the people. BUT LO! THIS VEIL IS RENT IN TWAIN [half].
Meaning?
THE MOST HOLY PLACE IN THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY IS NO LONGER SACRED!” – E. G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 756, 757.
(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.