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.