Our Firm FoundationThe 7th Day Sabbath Immutable Law of God The Everlasting Gospel

•Vol. 1, No. 12

." . ...October, 1986

Twenty-fourHundred Days?

When JesusAlmost Came

Lessons fromthe Sanctuary

When the BooksWere Opened

The Preparationof God's People

Praiseye the Lord.Praise Godin His

sanctuary.,PSALM 150:1

:EditorialI N THE last few months as I

lIn ye tTa vclcd a oct preached3cross the North American Conti-nellt, people have been asking mesome vcry important Questions.Some of them I cannot answer bc-C:111SC they deal with time or spec-ulation on prophecy. But some ofthese matters, about which I amfrequently asked, deserve com-ment. Sunday laws, and the seal·ing of God's faithful, loyal, andobedient people, and the Questionof how much time we have left.:'Ire on many church members'minds today.First of all, we have only to-

day; life is the most unsure thingwe morrals possess. Just a fewweeks ago a dear docror friend, avcry dedicated Christian and astudent of God's Word and theSpirit or Prophecy. was killed ashe drove lO an emergency at thehospital. I called him one morn-ing only to hear the tragic words,"He was killed last night in a car

As 1 talked with his swcetyoung wife, she told me howclosc he livcd to God. HI wassure" she said, "that he would beamong the 144,000."

Wc can never fully understandsuch trngedies in this life. Onlyctcrnity will rcveal the answersto Our sorrowing hearts. Yes, to-day is our Day of Salvation.uHow shall we escape, if we

neglect so great salvation; whichOt the first began to be spoken bythe Lord, and was confirmed un-to us by thcm that heard him?"Hebrews 2:3

The Sunday laws arc in themaking and are ominously ap-

pea ring on the daily horizons ofour television screens and morn-ing papers. The evidence is over-whelming that the world is head-ing for chaos, which the Lord'smessenger tells us will comc as anoverwhelming surprise to boththe world and the church. SecTestimonies, vol. 8, 28, 37 .Arc we preparing daily to

meet this crisis? The scaling is asettling into the truth, both intel-lectually and spiritually so th3.twe will not be moved. (SecSel'enth-dfl,J' Adl'entisl Bible Com-mel1lar.v, vol. 4, 1161) There willbe persecution and martyrdom,for there will be many of God'sfaithful people who will losetheir lives in the little time oftrouble. See Marallalha, 199, andRevelation 20:4Daily we arc being scaled to

eternal life or death. Characterdevelopment is central to theChristian life. By surrenderingOur will to God daily our mind isthen God's, Our thoughts areGod's; then our complete life isGod's. and all of God's power isours to do everything God hasasked us to do. The cha racter ofChrist is then being perfectly re-produced in us, whieh will entitleus to 3 beautiful transl3tion fromthis world to the etcrn31, Or to 3beautiful resurrection by thepower of Christ. Sec Christ's Ob-jec/ Lessons, 69, 312How long before the Sunday

laws will be enacted God onlyknows. If He was not holdingback the four winds of strife theworld would be instantly en-gulfed in eternal ruin. Sec EarlyWritings, 38

But God is waiting for youand me to perfect our charaetersthat wc may be His witncsses tothc universe for the endless agesof eternity. He necds us to showto the unfallen worlds 3 billionyears from now that His perfectlaw can be perfectly kept by afaithful and loyal people whodesire with all their hearts to belike Jesus."Behold, what manner of love

the Father hath bestowed uponus, th3t we should be called thesons of God: therefore the worldknoweth us not, because it kncwhim not. Beloved, now are wc thesons of God, and it doth not yetappcar what wc shall be: but weknow that, when he shall appear.we shall be like for we shnllsee him ns he is. And every mallth3t hath this hope in him pur-ifieth himself, evcn as he ispure." I John 3:1-3The se31ing process is going on

in your life tod3Y, Is it possiblethat God h3s already told these31ing angel to begin his work inthe church? Sec Ezekiel 9; Tes-timonies, vol. 5. 2 J I; vol. 9. 97; IPeter 4: 17"Now is the time to prepare.

The seal of God will never bepl3ccd upon the forehe3d or animpure man or woman. [I willncver be placcd upon the fore-head of mcn Or women of falsetongues or deceitful henrts. Allwho rcccive the sc31 must bewithout spot beforedidates for heaven. Go forward.my brethren and sisters. I canonly write briefly upon thesepoints at this time, merely c311ingyour attention to the necessity ofprcpar3tion. Search the Scripturesfor yourselves, th3t you may un-derstand the fearful solemnity ofthe present haUL" Testimonies,vol. 5, 216

We stand now in thc gre3t an-titypie31 day of atoncment. Let usremember that tod3Y is our dayof salvation. For us there may notbe a tomorrow.

RON SPEAR-EDITOR

O"r Ftrm FOIfIldal/IJ11 Octobcr. 1986

Table of ContentsIt is the mission of Hope Interna-

tional and the editors of Our FirmFOl/ndation to give the straight testi-mony and to present Christ and Himcrucified. The days that yet remainof this world are few, and what wedo we must do quickly. We mustboldly proclaim the truths that placeus on so firm a foundation .in themidst of this troubled world.-THEEDITORS

Vol. I, No. 12

ARTICLES

October, 1986

lessons from the Sanctuary Ellcn G. WhiteInstruction from the throne room of the universe

The Figures of the True Owen R.L. CrosierA key article in the growth of God's work

Editor Ron SpearManaging Editor Dave FiedlerAssociate Editor Vern JenningsAssistant Editor Joseph LeathermanCopy Editor Lila Rae FrederickEditorial Secretary Clarissa FiedlerContributing Editors Colin Standish,

Ralph Larson,John Osborne

Art Director Bob Bresna ha nLayout Sharilyn KendallCirculation Joseph LeathcrmanCirculation Asst. Karcn Winkler

The Preparation of God's PeopleThe work of prime importance

When Jesus Almost CameAlmost. but just almost

Twenty-four Hundred Days?What was that again?

C.D. and R.R. Standish

Lewis Walton

Bob Bresnahan

4

8

12

16

18

TO SUBSCRIBE

The Clcansing of the Sanctuary Alonzo T. Jones 22Wh;:at it cntails, and why it is prolonged

Our Sin-Pardoning Sa\·iour Ellen G. WhiteThe central truth of salvation

Whell the Books Were Opened Dave FiedlerThe "little flock" struggle to understand

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DEPARTME TS

Editorial

Food for Thought

© Berea

Invitation to Writers

2

7

15

Looking Back

Religious Liberty Update

Melange

24

28

27

29

31

Our Firm FOlll/dationEditorialOrfiee:P.O. Box 940

Ea ton v i lie, WA 98328(206) 832-6602

Copyright" 1986Hopc International

We ore accepting article-length (1800-2800 words) manu-scripts (prcferably typewritten) for possible publication in Ol/rFirm FOl/lldation. We are not in a position to givc considerationto longer submissions. Whcn sending material for our considera-tion, please retain your original manuscript and send us a photocopy. Should you desire advance notice of a decision to publishyour article. please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.Address all editorial correspondence to M:lnaging Editor, OurFirm Foul/daLion, P.O. Box 940, Eatonville, IVA 98328

OClObcr. 1986 Our Firm FOlllldflfiol1 3

THEPREPARATION

OFGOD'S

PEOPLE

COLIN D. STANDISHAND

RUSSELL R. STANDISH

T il E IMPLICATIONS of thefinal judgment arc so

awesome that no onc may ignorethem without consequence. Justas ancient Israel prepared for theclay of atonement, so there is asolemn preparation for the finaljudgment of God's people.King Solomon has achieved

l10wn for his wisdom and hiswenlth. His folly in deserting theLord and following pugJn prJC-tices, together with his possessionof onc thousand wives and con-cubines, has won him a distinc-tion of another order. Yct. littleacknowledged among his giftshos been the gift prophecy.Solomon, like his fJthcr KingD::lvid before him, was used ofGod to elucidate the future. Hismost challenging prophecy washis description of God's lattcr-dJY church. Presenting thisprophecy in the form of a ques-[ion, King Solomon was inspiredto write, "Who is she that lookethforth the morning, fair as themoon, clear as the sun, and ter-rible as an army with banners?"Song of Solomon 6: IaSolomon had used similo'r sym-

bolism concerning the purity ofGod's last church a little earlierin his song, "Thou art beautiful,o my love, o,s Tirzah, comely asJerusalem, terrible as an nrmywith banners." 6:4

·1 0111 Ftrm Ft/lll1dtllioll October. 1986

\ ,

The imagery of Solomon's de-scription-fair as the moon, clearas the sun, terrible as an armywith banners-aptly portrays thetype of church God will have onthis earth. Only such a group ofpeople will be empowered to takeGod's last message to fellow hu-mans. They will be a shininglight to the entire world. God'speople will form a mighty armyof faith which will not falter un·til every man, woman, and childon this pbnet h3s heard the im-pelling news th'lt Jesus lovesthem.

WHO 1S SHE THATLOOKETH FORTH AS

THE MORNING, FAIR ASTHE MOON, CLEAR AS

THE SUN, ANDTERRIBLE AS AN ARMY

WITH BANNERS?

Paul's description of God'schurch in the New Testament erais no less engaging. "That he[Christ] might present it to him-self a glorious church, not havingspot, or wrinkle, or any suchthieg; but that it should be holy

and without blemish." Ephesians5:27Here is the st3ndard which

God has for His people. He iswaiting their submission to Himin order that such a church asthis can be ready. It will berecalled that upon the of3tonement God commanded: "Foron that day shall the priest mJkean atonement for you. . .That yemay be clean from all your sinsbefore the Lord." Leviticus 16:30Surely, in the 3ntitypical day

of atonement, God asks no less ofHis people. Each must afflict hissoul and confess every sin."Cleanse your hands, ye sinners;and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded." James 4:8Jesus, the High Priest, stands

in the most holy placc before thethronc of God, rcady to cleanseus from all our sins. Peter setforth thc availability or thispower. It will so transform ourminds that continual victory willbe the experience of God'speople.'''Forasmuch then as Christ

hath suffered for us in the flesh,arm yourselves likewise with thesame mind: for he that hath suf-fered in the flesh hath ceasedfrom sin; that he no longershould live the rest of his time inthe flesh to the lusts of men, butto the will of God." I Peter 4:1, 2

How CAN A POOR, SIN-PRONE MOJ,TAL WITH AFALLEN NATURE EVER MEET THE STANDARD SO

DEFINITELY SET BEFORE US?

The Revelo tor prophesied ofthe ch3ractcristics of those whowould be translated at the end oftime. They wilt be those whoselives have become so patternedafter their Master's that God willbe able to say of them, "And intheir mouth was found no guile:for they 3fC without fault beforethe throne of God." Revelation14:5Such a standard seems beyond

:lnything which mere mortals canever imagine for themselves. Andtruly, jf we look to ourselves orto other humans, we will beoverwhelmed by discouragement.Thus we m:lY yield to Satan's all-pervading lie that such a stan·dnrd of obedience is impossible,even when the individual is em-powered by the Holy Ghost. Onlythose who look to Jesus Christand accept His promises in hum-ble faith will ever . "pressrow3rd the mark for the prize ofthe high calling of God in ChristJesus," Philippians 3:14Powerful and certain are the

promises of God's Word, whiehassure us that God will have apeople who will stand before thethrone, so filled with His Spirit,thJt they will indeed be withoutspot or blemish. Jeremiah lookedforward to the day when such as-surances would accurately de-cribe God's people.

Hjn those days, and in thattime, saith the Lord, the iniquityof Israel shall be sought for, andthere shall be none; and the sinsof Judah, and they shall not befound: for I will pardon themwhom I reserye." Jeremiah 50:20Yet the solemn fact is that in

every letter to the seven churchesthroughout the ages the samemessage was proclaimcd-onlyovercomers will share eternitywith thcir Saviour.Ephcsus-uTo him that over-

comcth will I give to cat of thetree of life, which is in the midstof the paradise of God." Revela-tion 2:7Smyrna-HHe that overcometh

shall not be hurt of the seconddeath." 2:11Pergamos-HTo him that oYer-

cometh will I give to cat of thehidden manna, and will give hima white stone, and in the stone a

new name written, which no manknoweth saving he that receivcthit." 2:17Thyatira-"And he that over-

cometh, and keepeth my worksunto the end, to him will I givepower over the na tions." 2:26Sardis-"He that overcomcth,

the same shall be clothed in whiteraiment; and I will not blot outhis name out of the book of life,but I will confess his name be-fore my Father, and before hisangels." 3:5Philadelphia-HHim that over-

cometh will I make a pillar in thetemple of my God, and he shallgo no more out: and I will writeupon him the name of my God...and I will write upon him myncw namc." 3: 12Laodicc3-uTo him that over-

cometh will I grant to sit with mein my throne, eyen as I also oyer-came, and am set down with myFather in his throne." 3:21

It is not without significancethat in presenting the message tothe last church in history, Christrevealed to John the ultimatestandard of victory. He not onlyrequires victory but also em-powers it. God's stnndnrd of vic-tory is exemplified in Christ'slire. Therefore we arc exhortedto overcome even as I ol'ercame.This standard should cause everyGod-fearing Christian to fall atthe feet of the Master in sup-plication, pleading before Himfor thnt infilling or His Spiritwhich will, by faith, give weakhumans complete victory oversin. Paul clnimed God's promiseor full victory in exhorting thebelievers of Corinth to reachGod's ideal for H is people.uHa ving therefore these prurn·

ises, dearly belayed, let us cleanseourselves from all filthiness ofthe flesh and spirit, perfectingholiness in the fear of God." 2Corinthians 7:1Such an ultimate standard of

victory is called for in otherScriptures penned by the beloveddisciple."He that saith he abideth in

him ought himself also so towalk, even as he walked." (I John2:6) HAnd every man thrlt haththis hope in him purifieth him-self, even 3S he is pure." (3:3)"Little children, let no m3ndeceive you: he thnt doeth right-eousness is righteous even ns he isrighteous." 3:7Jesus also upheld the very

snme standard. Spenking to thosegathered about Him on the moun-tainside He admonished, "Be yetherefore perfect, even as yourFather which is in heaven is per-fect." Mntthew 5:48

Further, in the Old Testamentera, God set forth no less arequirement for His people. "ForI am the Lord your God: ye shalltherefore sanctify yourselves,and ye shall be holy; for I alllholy." Leviticus 11:44God again reiterates this prin-

ciple for those Christians whomake up His remnant church.deed, He foretold that theywould be obedient to His law."And the dragon was wroth withthe woman, and went to makewar with the remnnnt of herseed, which keep the command-ments of God, and have the tes-timony of Jesus Christ." Revela-tion 12: 17Lest anyone doubt the towl

victory over sin of those who willcompose God's remnant church,

October. 1986 OM Firm ;:111111(/(1/1011 5

THE FIRST STEl' IS TO SEEK THE LORD WITH OURWHOLE HEART. WE MUST SURRENDER ALL, OR WE

SURRENDER NOTHING.

we have been promised they willachieve it. "The remnant of Is·rael shall not do iniquity, norspeak lies; neither shall a deceit·ful tongue be found in theirmouth." Zephaniah 3:13It is little wonder that Peter,

when speaking of the preparationof God's people for the last days,posed the sobering, rhetoricalquestion, "Seeing then that allthese things shall be dissolved,what manner of persons ought yeto be in all holy conversation andgodliness, looking for and hastingunto the coming of the day ofGod, wherein the heavens beingon fire shall be dissolved, and theclements shall melt with ferventheat?" 2 Peter 3:11,12The prophet Isaiah, looking

down to the last days of the his-tory of this world, revealed thelevel of godliness God will em-power H is people to possess."Thus SJith the Lord, Keep ye

judgment. and do justice: for mysalvation is ncar to come, and myrighteousness to be revealed.Blessed is the man that doeththis, and the son of man thatlayeth hold on it: that keepeththe sabbath from polluting it,and keepeth his hand from doingany evil." Isaiah 56:1, 2This blessing is consistent with

Peter's promise to God's peopleon the day of Pentecost. "Untoyou first, God, having raised uphis Son Jesus, sent him to blessyou, in turning away everyoneof you from his iniquities." Acts3:26There cannot be the least

doubt as to God's requirement forHis people. All Christians do nothave a proper concept of thisstandard. Many look to their own

6 O/lr FIlm FUJIIIJalioll October. 1986

failures and the failures ofothers, and from these criteriadeduce that God will save peoplein their sins, rather than fromthem. Such a view contradicts theplain te3ching of Scripture.Others cry out as did Paul in hislost condition, "0 wretched manthat I am! who shall deliver mefrom the body of this death?"Romans 7:24Paul's immediate answer was

as succinct as it was comforting,"I thank God through JesusChrist our Lord." 7:25The question on the lips of

every true believer is how can apoor, sin-prone mortal with a faJ·len nature ever meet the standardso definitely set before us as westudy the grand theme of thesa nctua ry?The Bible is replete with the

answers to this question. But thecomplete secret is found in ashort passage of the great psalm

exploring God's standard ofobedience. The first step is toseck the Lord with our wholeheart. Indeed, unless we sur·render all, we surrender nothing.David expressed this essentialquality this way: HWith my wholeheart have 1 sought thee: a let menot wander from thy command-ments." Psalml19:IOThe sad reality is that rare is

the Christian who gives his entireheart to his Saviour. Many pres-ent-day Christians have becomegreat rationalizers of theircentered culture and interest, sothat they cannot distinguish theirown willful ways from God'sways. The root reason that theydespair of meeting the require-ment God has promised is thatthey do not look to Jesus and

thus commit all to Him. Becausethey do not forsake the things ofthis world entirely, they presentalibis and theological excuses tocontinue to fall short of God'sstandard promiscq to all who willallow Him to take all selfishnessfrom their lives.The second requirement is that

we diligently seck to place theprecepts of God in our hearts andaffections. Da vid's well-knownutterance on this matter shouldhave particular meaning forGod's people in the judgmenthour. "Thy word have I hid inmine heart, that I might not sinagainst thee." Psalm 119:1 IFurther, the true believer will

search the Scriptures and praysincerely in order to learn moreof God's will for him. He willever seek to come closer incharacter to His example, eversitting at of the MasterTeacher to learn more and moreof His will. "Blessed art thOU, 0Lord: teach me thy statutes."119: 12Finally, the born-again

rian will share his convictionswith others, seeking to directthem in the path of righteousness.To witness to God's incomparablelove and power will be hisgreatest joy. "'With my lips have Ideclared all the judgments of thymouth" 119:13A young Buddhist student

nurse in the Bangkok AdventistHospital was asked by a teacher,"What do you think of Jesus?"Her reply showed a depth of un-derstanding far surpassing thatof many Christians. uJesus is theperson who sacrificed so that'man might have eternal life," shewrote. "He teaches man to under-stand the commandments that heshould follow. He gives man afirm foundation to depend on, sowe should stop sinning."Perhaps this simple insight

into the preparation of a peopleready to meet their Lord has adepth of import that no amountof scholarly research could rc-vea I.

Food for Thought

Have you thought that your humble lot in lifewas of little import, seldom appreciated ornoticed? Think again

HAVE YOU ever wished tobe an actor? To stand

before the brilliant lights and theattentive audience? Perhaps youhave fclt that your humble lot inlife was of little import, seldomapprcci31cd or noticed. Or again,it may be that you have cntCf-t:tined the thought that to remain"inconspicuous" was an advan-tage. After all, some things arcjust best kept away from publicnotice.

Such thoughts arc common tohumanity-but only to humanity,for only the inhabitants of thisworld suffer from the short-sightedness that produces suchthinking. The Christian, however,and the Seventh-day Adventist inparticular, has no reason to pinefor a wider stage, a broader in-fluence. To humanity-frail, sin-ful, foolish-is given the oppor-tunity of addressing the citizenryof uncharted worlds."OUf little world is the lesson

book of the universe." (The Desire0/ Ages, 19) Such simple words,but have you given them anythought. We might well contem-plate the implications of this fact

for hours. Profound concepts ofduty and privilege, of shame andgratitude, might be drawn fromthis short sentence of inspiration.But sublimity of thought and

language has somehow lost irsimpact on the modern mind.Today we arc conditioned to thefast-paced reality of a frenziedworld.For now, then, let's be practi-

cal, and sec what this statementreally means. Let's break it down

into the language of OUf day,something we're used to. Let's seewhat we're really talking aboutin terms of llumbers.The 1985 edition of En-

cyclopedia Britalll/ica offers an es-timate of lOll galaxies in theknown universe. Of course, lOllis the sa me as 100,000,000,000,and is writtcn out as onc hundredbillion. The samc source alsomentions that the Milky Waygalaxy, of which planet earth is arather small part, contains ap-proximately the same number ofstars.It is true that our home galaxy

is perhaps a bit smaller thanaverage, but for our calculations

we will accept 1011 as a goodworking figure for stars per gal-axy. Multiplication gives us arough approximation of 1022 starsin the currently known universe.(Be assured that such estimatesarc regularly revised upward, andthat the figures we arc dealingwith arc most likely somewhatout of date already.) Be that as itmay, the full figure would be10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. Innormal American English, that iswritten out as ten sextillion.One more piece of raw infor-

mation to help our figuring: inround numbers, the population ofthe world is now five billion (or5,000,000,000, or 5 x 109).What docs all this mean? Well,

if the attention of the unfallenuniverse is uniformly spread outover the five billion humanbeings on planet earth, you cancount on being scrutinized by theinhabitants of about 2 x tOlD(that's 20,000,000,000, or twentybillion) galaxies. Vnfalien beings,represented by 2 x 10" (2 sextil-lion) stars are studying you,learning the lessons of your ex-perience with sin and redemp-tion.Provided, that is, that the in-

terest of the universe is dividedel'eflly. r ra ther suspect that cer-tain groups may receive morethan their share of attention, butwe really have no way to es-timate that.

Do you still want to be anactor? Still think you need moreattention? Still trying to hideyour little pet sins? Think again."Wherefore seeing we also are

compassed about with so great acloud of witnesses ...."

OctOber. 1986 01/1' ''"//"/11 Fl/lfllJml()/1 7

When Jesus AlmostCame

Lewis Walton

I T WAS autumn, 1856.Across the landscape of his-

rory the wind was rising-a stormwind, filled with hints of distantthunder. In young America noone seemed to be in clear controlanymore; there was anger in the(nod, with muffled threats of on-coming civil war, and from timeto time its onset glowed like heatlightning just over the horizon,crackling prophetically aboveplaces such as Charleston andGettysburg. Soon they would be-come altars upon which Amer-icans would offer 500,000 sons.The economy. too, was headed

for troublc. Just a few monthshence would come the famedpanic of 1857. "In the midst ofall its plenty and pride:' onc his-torian wrote, "the nation wokeone morning to find the glorywas all a dream. While specula-tion was at a fever-heat andwhen men were wild with a

for money-making, there

8 Our F/I'1I1 F01I1/do1/1II1 October. 1986

came a financial crash unprece-dented in the nation's history.,,1Other problems nibbled at the

fringes of history, some of themstill hidden from view. Americanreaders of the lew York Tribunemight have noticed regular arti-cles by a European communistnamed Karl Marx. And in ewYork, Richard Gatling was busilyinventing a six-barreled gun thatcould fire bullets as rapidly as aman could turn its crank. It wasthe forerunner of the machinegun, this engine of Gatling's cre-ation, the first in a series of newdevices designed to kill with grimefficiency. In the years to come itwould keep grnvediggers busy.So the autumn of 1856 was a

dynamic moment, filled with

events that cast long shadowsinto the future, as if historymight be on the brink of some-thing. And indeed history was-something larger than most peo-ple imagined. In the autumn ofthis year an event occurred thatwould come tantalizingly close toUShering in the coming of Jesus.It all began with an editorial

in the Review and Herald.On October 9, 1856, James

White ran a brief article on theback page of the Review; it prob-ably took most of his readers bycomplete surprise. Until now,Sabbath-keeping Adventists hadcontentedly assumed themselvesto be represented by the churchat Philadelphia (Revelation 3:8-ll)-a congregation of brotherly

love, for whom the Lord had norebuke. But White was challeng-ing them with a series of ques-tions suggesting that the Lao-dieean message might apply tothem. How well were they reallydoing the work of God? Werethey truly represented by the eraof Philadelphia, as most of themsupposed? Or was there a dread-ful possibility that they might ac-tually be Laodicca-prctcntious.proud of their accomplishments,but lacking in true godliness?His Questions could hardly

have been more revolutionary.The roots of Adventism were stillyoung and vital. Only twelveyears had passed since theautumn of 1844, and the memo-ries of that experience were stillwarm-memories of ;] golden mo-ment, when thousands believedthat the coming of Jesus was athand, and revival swept the land.In the dozen years that had goneby. those who remained faithfulfollowing the Disappointmenthad studied intensively in theWord of God. In so doing, theyhad plowed squarely into onc ofthe richest caches of truth onccould imagine. The Sabbath. Thejudgment. The truth about death.Even an emerging understandingof health. Simultaneously theybegan discovering that in theHebrew sanctuary service layenormous insights, capable of an-swering some hitherto unsolvedproblems.There was, in summary, much

to be proud of. And as JamesWhite was about to point out,that just might be part of theproblem.As one looked at Adventism in

the middle 1850s, there were mul-tiplying signs that all was notwell. A dozen years had passed,during whieh the believers hadplumbed some of the deepest spir-itual truths explored in centuries.Yet ironically, they were furtherfrom heaven than they had beenin the autumn of 1844. "I waspointed back to the years 1843and 1844. There was a spirit ofconsecration then that there isnot now," Ellen White exclaimedin 1856. "What has come over theprofessed peculiar people ofGod?,,2

A disturbing trend was devel-oping in Adventism. After twelveyea rs of grea t discoveries, God'speople were not progressing asthey should spiritua II y. Some-thing was wrong. One of thereasons was the editorial decisionto omit references to the Spirit ofProphecy in the pages of theRe)lielV, to make the paper moreacceptable as an evangelistic tool.As a result, fewer people listenedfor the prophetic voice, andfewer visions were given to El1enWhite.In late 1855 the General Con-

ference took steps to rectify thesituation, and in 1856 JamesWhite seemed to have decided tohit the crisis head-on."As a people we profess to

believe that Christ is soon com-ing. Yet professed believers rushon in their worldly pursuits, tax-ing their entire energies in pur-suit of this world as if there was

Without dissent theyagreed that the timehad come for revival

no coming Jesus, no wrath of Godto fall upon the shelterless, andno flaming judgment bar, whereall deeds will receive a recom-pense. We tremble, we shudder, aswe contemplate the condition ofthe professed people of God."s"Our positions on Bible truth

arc clearly defined in the Scrip-tures, and easily defended. Thepresent truth is so connected withthe present fulfillment or pro-phecy that the people who readand hear our views both sec andfeel the force of truth. But whereis a consecrated church on whomGod can consistently pour out theHoly Ghost, and make them flam-ing instruments in giving light tothe world? ... It does not exist,"he said sadly. "It cannot befound.,,2

He described. mournfully howworkers had "toiled over themidnight lamp" to produce tractsfor Adventist witnessing, and hetold how such publications"remain piled up in the office/'Salmost entirely undistributed. Itwould appear that in the 1850s,believers were falling into a tmpthat would ensnare them repeat-edly in the decades ahead. God'speople, immersed in the mightiestmessage that the imaginationcould conceive, were living as ifthe Second Coming were only adream. They were failing to de-liver the Advent message."0 ye Laodieeans," James

White cried out, revealing him-self at his evangelistic best, "ourmouth is open unto you. Be notdeceived as to your real con-dition ...6

It was strong medicine, but itworked. Something about the fer-vency of his appeal resonated inthe young church. Mail pouredinto Sa ttle Creek from peoplewho seem to have been just wait-ing for someone to raise thewarning. There was God's church,trembling, on the brink of themost awesome developments inhuman history, professing to havea judgment-hour message, yet act-ing as though the judgment hadnot come-and suddenly realitydawned, like sunrise over a sceneof danger, and people began towake up. There was nothing to beproud of-not while earth's lastwarning lay I'piled up" in BattleCreek, undistributed by thosewho claimed to have God's mes-sage for the world. The final timeprophecy in the Bible hadoccurred; now, according to Ad-ventism, humanity would faee 3terminal crisis. Just ahead lay ascene of trouble so severe thatthe most vivid imagination couldnot picture it beforehand. One'sonly hope of survival was thecoming of Jesus; nothing was asimportant as delivering that mes-sage.Nearly 350 lellers flooded the

Rel'ielV office, at a time when thetotal number of believers wasonly about two thousand. In otherwords, nearly 20 per cent of thechurch responded, and withoutdissent they agreed that the time

October. 1986 Qllr F,rm Fmll1dtlliol1 9

had come for revival. Consider-ing the fact that each such letterno doubt represented a house-hold, one can only conclude thata 13rge proportion of the churchwas prepared to follow leadershipinto a new era of commitment. Arevival unlike anything since1844 began to sweep Adventism.Then, tragically, it all col-

lapsed. With the stage of historyset, with a depressed economy topry people's minds away frommaterial distractions, with angelsgoing everyw.here to prepare theway, with the nation poised onthe brink of a massive civil war,with everything ready except thechurch, Adventism's revival with-ered. The bitterest irony of allwas the fact that most believershad, for a time, fUlly expectedtheir brief reformation to usherin the coming of Jesus."Nearly all believed that this

meSS3ge would end in the loudcry of the third angel," EllenWh ite wrote in 1859. 7 Yet be-tween the dream and the fulfill-ment something failed. They hadbeen ncar enough to the comingof Jesus to sense its presence, yetthe opportunity slipped throughtheir fingers.So near and yet so far. God's

people stumbled, and from thatdistant era a question cries out,reaching into our own lives, beg-ging to be answered. What wentwrong? Could we make the samemistake?On page 187 of volume I of

the Testimonies, Ellen White ex-plains quite clearly what wentwrong. "'Many moved from feel-ing, not from principle and faith,and this solemn message stirredthem. It wrought upon their feel-ings, and excited their fears, butdid not nccomplish the workwhich God designed that itshould. They had not, she saidsadly, allowed God to purifythem from "their selfishness,their pride, and evil passions,"and she described in chillingterms what ho.ppens when peopleresist the sanctifying efforts ofheaven: angels arc told, "Theyarc joined to their idols, let themalone."For 3 time the Laodicean mes-

sage had powerfully affected the

10 010' Fum 1-"01111(/(1/1011 O.:{obcr. 19$6

church, healing differences,reconciling believers to eachother, provoking heartfelt confes-sion of sin. At its height thereformation was so intense thatHnearly all" thought it wouldusher in the coming of Jesus. Butthe experience was superficial.They did not give the message"'time to do its work"-to reachcompletely into their lives,producing in them the total sur-render of heart that was neces-sary before people could standthe unimaginable challenges ofthe end of time. In other words,Adventists had failed in the onething that could blunt theirwhole mission: they had failed totake Adventism to its ultimate.It was a mistake they should

not have made-not in 1857. Forthis very year they were puttingthe finishing touches on a systemof theology that revealed, withgreat Clarity, just why earth's last

The best minds IIIChristendom had

tried to solve theriddle

generation would have to meetsuch a high standard of faith andbehavior. The clue was to befound in a truth they were justnow understanding in its full-ness-the doctrine of the heavenlysanctuary.For centuries theologians had

been struggling with an apparentcontradiction in Christian faith.On the one hand, a believer issupposed to have full assuranceof salvation. HHe that hath theSon hath life" (I John 5:12), Johnsaid, pulling the future into thepresent. Salvation is so powerfulthat in its presence even time dis-lOrts. In a moment of faith, onecan have the assuro.nce that eler-nity begins now.On the other hand, Jesus made

it clear that not every believer

would retain salvation. HHe thatendureth to the end, the sameshall be saved" (Matthew 7:21).Therein lay the contradiction:how does one harmonize Hfullassurance" with continuing hu-man free will, whereby one mayactually have salvation but laterdecide to cast it aside? Over thecenturies the best minds in Chris·tendom had tried to solve theriddle. Calvin attempted tohandle the problem at the source:Get rid of free will itself, hesaid, through the doctrine ofpredestination. Catholic theolo·gians used another approach: givesinners full assurance with thesecond chance of purgatory. Stillothers tried to accomplish it bygetting rid of human free will atthe moment of conversion so thata person C9_uld nOt later losc s:1I-vation by changing his mind.Thus they produced the soothingdoctrine of once saved, alwayssaved. None of the solutionsmade biblical or intellectualsense.

(11 1857 Adventism waslating a system of theology thataddressed that dilemma head-all,developing a model for full as-surance while preserving humanfree will. The secret lay in thesanctuary service. The conceptthey offered is astonishinglysimilar to a common-sense mecha-nism used by earthly courts oflaw to grant someone full assur·anee of a legal right that cannottake place until a future time.Let me illustrate.8 Suppose an

aggrieved spouse comes to eourtand proves that she is legally en-titled to a divorce. In most statesthe law requires that the judgedelay granting her a final decree,in the hope that her marriage canbe mended in the me3ntime. Nowthe judge faces a dilemma: he hasbefore him a person with 3n ab-solute legal right, but he eannotgrant that right-not yet. Hissolution? He enters a provisionaldecree called an "interlocutoryjudgment." He writes the person's1131l1e down in the records of thecourt. He declares lhal she istitled to a decree that will occurin the future. At the end of thnttime, if she still wishes fino.ljudgment entered, she is entitled

to return to court and ask for it.From that moment on she has alegal right that is secure, unlessshe herselr changes her mind. Shehas been given the most absoluteassurance it is possible to givewithout robbing her of free will.Thus her probationary periodends with a conscious expressionof her own will.I recognize the dangers of

trying to illustrate heavenlytruths with earthly realities, andbiblical concepts with twentieth-century institutions, but here Ithink the analogy fits. I believe Ihave just described the mecha-nism of the plan of salvation.When a sinner comes to God inthe name of Jesus, he has asserteda legol right to which even Godsubjects Himself-the right to liveforever in H is presence. It waspaid for at Calvary; Godingly grants it. In the records ofthe heavenly court his name isentered among the redeemed-entered, in biblical tcrms, in adocument called the book or lire.Out the sinner, however repen-tant, remains a free moral agent,capable in the future of turninghis back on salvation. Only at theend of one's prObation is it pos-sible to enter a final decree.When probation does close, thatperson indicates whethcr he stilldesires salvation-and he docs sowith the best possible evidence,H upon the record of his deeds"(Revela tion 20: 13, NEB). Th us,every person who ever lived,saved or lost, is guaranteed afinal trip to court.Adventism was saying 311 this

in 1857. They had even coined aterm for the act: the Uinvestiga-tive judgment."lFor the first time in centuries,

that doctrine put the plan of sal-vation on a rational legal footing.But lurking within it was a chal-lenge of almost unimaginableproportions, and that ch311cngerevolved around an event calledIhe close or probation.Throughout human history,

one's probation had simply closedat death. When lire ceased. one'sfinal decision had been maderegarding salvation; thereafter,nothing could arreet one's des-tiny. Thus, hidden in mankind's

greatest apparent tragedy couldbe round one or ils greatest bless-ings. For death gave one a finalchance at salvation. Even ifpeople had railed repeatedly inthe Christian life, God's mercycould seck them one last time asdeath approached. Even theweakest could, in the closingglimmer of consciousness, reachout like the dying thier and graspthe hand or God. Then. beroreLucifer could brew up a newagony of temptation, they couldslip into the quiet peace ofdeath, forever secure from hisdevices.In other words, for many

people death was a crutch, an es-cape route by which they couldhide at last rrom the possibilityof failurc.Therein lies a hint of a

profound truth. Everything thatGod allows to happen to Hischildren, however painful, has

Probation will closewhile a generation ofbelievers are still

living

within it an even greater blessing.In the Gorden or Eden the Lordtold Adam and Eve thO! theywould "surely die." At that in-stant it is unlikely that theyrecognized it, but in reality Hehad given them a refugc wherethey could find peace at lastfrom the nagging dangers oftemptation. Without the crutch ofdeath it is dirrieult to imaginehow Adam could have preservedhis sanity, let alone salvation, ashe watched the dcpths to whichhis childrcn would go. For himdeath was a moment of finality,beyond which he could rest cter-nally secure from thc power ofsin.So it has been ror the rest or

the human racc. Billions h::J.velivcd; a vast number h::J.ve un-

doubtedly accepted salvation. Yetin all history, we arc told or onlytwo people who didn't usc thecrutch of death, who transcendedfrom this world to the next,liftcd by translationary faith.Their names were Enoch andElijah.Enoch and Elijah-the very

persons whom Ellen White saystypify the people who will beliving when Jesus returns. SecPatriarchs and Prophets, 89;Prophets and Kings, 425And that brings us back to

Adventism. To ultimate Adven·tism. To Ihe railure or 1857 andthe challenge of the future. Some-where, sometime, the crutch ofdeath will not be availablc. Ageneration of God's people willhave to face probation'S closewithout it: and they will do so atthe very end or the human ge-netic chain, when humanity isweakest and temptation strongcst,when there is no place lert tohide, and human weapons hazardthe globe; when theologicalfusion darkcns the earth, and ourbrightest lights go oul; whenformer brethren become the mostarticulate foes of God's people.Whcn to survive the ordeal, onewill need to have the "raith orJesus."Probation will close while a

generation of believers arc stillliving. "He that is unjust, let himbe unjust still; and he which isrilthy. let him be rilthy still: andhe that is righteous, let him berighteous still: and he that isholy, let him be holy still. Andbehold, I come quickly."Quickly. but not yet. Jesus

closes probation, but He has notyet returned. A generation ofGod's people is declared to beeternally redeemed while theyarc still in this world, stilltheoretically capable or turningtheir backs on God. Like Enochand Elijah. they race the close orprobation without having deathto lean on. Here is the risk theCreator takes: He bestows salva-tion upon mortals who faec themost dreadful conditions theworld has ever seen. They mustsurvive on faith alone.

But along with the risk comesan enormous bcnefit-an ultimate,

Continued on 30

OClObcr. 1986 0111' Fum ""/IIwt!al/(JI/ II

490 Yearsr

457 B.C. 34 AD.

1810 Years

1844

Twenty-four Hundred Days?T HE TWENTY-THREE hun-

dred days. 1844, the cleans-ing or the sanctuary_ Vital topicsfor Christians, but sadly misun-derstood, or not understood at all,by many Seventh-day Adventiststoday.In trying to relate some of the

irnportancc of the sanctuary doc-trine not long ago, I had barelybegun when I was cut short with"I already know all about the2400 days." Twenty-four hundreddays? A slip of the tongue? Per-haps, but in any case a clear in-dication to me that the in-dividual was not all that inter-ested in going through the "2400days" again.

A few months ago as I wasleaching a Sabbath School class 1had an opportunity to bring outsome of the precious truths re-garding the cleansing of thesanctuary referred to in Daniel8:14. Since the class was for newAdventists, the Daniel and Reve-lation seminars they had attendedwere still fairly fresh in theirminds. After [he class severalmembers expressed appreciationfor what they had learned. One

01/1 film rO/llldll/iOIl 1986

young man told me, "You know, Iremember being t:lught somethingabout 1844. I remember thinking,What's this all about? It wasn'tmaking much sense to me; withthe charts and all, it really waskind of confusing. I didn't seewhat all that had to do with mybeing a Christian, so I just passedit over and until you mentionedit again, had almost forgottenabout it."Isolated case? I doubt it. Seven

yea rs ago when I ea me back tothe church (having left when 1was a teenager), my friend's tes-timony was mine. What was 1844all about? And who needed itanyway? Within the Seventh-dayAdventist Church today, the va-lidity of 1844 is being questionedand even attacked. It has beenstated to this writer that "Thechurch will never be able toreach the masses with the gospel,never gain the respect of theProtestants until we get rid of theextra baggage of 1844."The question then must be

asked, Why are so many of ourpeople unimpressed with the im-portance of 1844? Ha ven't they

Bob Bresnahan

been taught about the beginningof the 2300 days in 457 B.C. at theUgoing forth of the command-ment"? Daniel 9:25; Ezra 7:12-26Ha ven't they seen the Scrip-

tures, and the charts? Surely theyknow that the "seven weeks, andthreescore and two weeks/' or483 years extend to A.D. 27 whenChrist was baptized and receivedthe an'ointing of the Spirit. (Acts10:38; Luke 4:18) Jesus Himselfsaid, "'The time is fulfilled."Mark 1:14, ISnAnd he shall confirm the

covenant with many for oneweek." (Daniel 9:27) From A.D. 27,seven years bring us to A.D. 34,during whieh time Christ-at firstin person and aftcrw:,Hd by Hisdisciples-extended the gospel in-vitation to the Jews. Matthew10:5,6

In the "midst of the week Heshall cause the sacrifice nnd theoblation to cease." (Daniel 9:27)Christ was crucified in the midstof the week of years when typemet antitypc and all the sae·rifices ond oblations eame totheir end. The seventy weeks (490years) were a part of the 2300-

day/year prophecy. Starting at457 B.C. 490 years reach to A.D. 34.Subtr3cling the 490 years from2300, leaves 1810. Adding 1810 toA.D. 34 gives the A.D. 1844.Regardless or recent objec-

tions-ail of which have beenanswered time and ngain-this isthe inspired testimony of Scrip-ture, with which 1 wholeheart-edly agree. Haven't OUf peoplebeen provided this information?(And a great dC:l1 morc not in-cluded here.) or course theyhave!It seems obvious th3t the pro-

blem is not establishing the date1844, but once the minds or thepeople have been led to that date,what then?I remember attending a Daniel

Scmin3T in which the evangelistspent a good deal of time show-ing that the 2300 days or Daniel8:14 ended in 1844. His reasoningwas sound, and every onc was im-pressed with the thought thatsomething of major importnncctook place on October 22, 1844.

The next evening when wegathered, the cV3ngclist was torcve:lI what the "cleansing of thesanctuary" was. Obviously it wasnOt the earth, as the early Ad-ventists believed. He went on togive a brief history of the Mil-lerite movement and the greatdisappointment, when Christ didnOt rcturn as cxpectcd on October22, 1844. This disappointmentcaused the great majority of Ad-ventists to abandon thc movc-ment. But a few were led to studythc Bible carncstly, and dis-

Once the minds ofthe people havebeen led to thedate, what then?

covered that the Bible revealed asanctuary in heaven. (SeeHebrews 8: I, 2; 8:5; 9:9, 23; Ex-

odus 25:9, 40) They began to secc1carly that thc sanctuary to becleansed at the end or the 2300days was the hcavenly sanctu3ry.Aftcr giving a brief study on

the earthly sanctuary, our evan-gelist concluded that in the year1844 Christ began cleansing theheavenly sanctuary by goingthrough the books of heaven,starting with all those who haveprofessed belief in God fromAdam down through the ages topresent time. The purpose of Hisinvestigation is to determine whothrough repentance of sin andfaith in Christ arc entitled to thebenefits of His :1tonement. Whenthe name of the last person hasbeen rcaehed and thc detcrmina-tion made for or against his ac-ceptance to he3ven, this invcsti-g3tive judgment is finished, andall thc record of sin that has beenrecorded in the heavenly sanc-tuary will be blotted out, thuscleansing the heavcnly S3nc-tuary.Aftcr the concluding rem3rks

or the cV3ngelist, therc was a mo-mcnt of silence during which 3young m3n, 3 non-Advcntist whohad faithfully attended the mect-ings, stood up. There was nothingbelligerent in his manner. Aftcrwatching him come night aftcrnight, I was convinced th3t herewas an honest seeker aftcr truth.In a quiet voice he said, "Arc youtelling me that it has taken 136years, and who knows how muchlonger, for God to determine whowill be saved and who will belost? And until this determina-tion is finished, God cannot blotout our sins? Is that right?"To these questions the evan-

gelist replied, "What you mustrealize is that the earth is thetheater of the universe and inthis universe arc many worldsand inhabitants of these worldswho have never sinned. Eventhough God is all-knowing theyarc not. So in order that thewhole universe will see thatGod's judgments are correct, Hegives them time to review thebooks also."A confused look spread across

the young 1l13n's face. He shookhis head ;:lnd sa id, HI just don'tsec whcre any of this makes any

difference for a Christian," andsat down.This young man did not return

to the meetings. or 300 peoplewho began the meetings, only avery few were baptized-I believeabout four-and to my knowledgenone of those who were baptizedarc attending a Seventh·dJY Ad-ventist Church today.Brothers and sisters. I believe

that there is an investigativejudgment. But to say that the rcaleause of its deby h3s been the

Satan has beenseeking to rob thismessage of itspower

inability or unrallel1 beings to gothrough all the books is simply :111error.

With this kind of expl:lnntionfor thc dclay of the S:lnctu3ry'scleansing. who can blame theyoung man for his confusionregarding the sanctuary doctrine?In fact, if all that the cleansingof the sanctuary involved was go-ing over the books in heaven, ItOO would have a difficult timeseeing what "'difference" a know-ledge or 1844 and the cleansingof the sanctuary would makc to aChristian here on earth.

Would we not then have toagree with our critics thatwas a "non-event:' or at the veryleast "'extr3 baggage" for aChristian? But, praise God. wehaven't been in error for pro-claiming the importance ofThe signific3nce of the c1e3nsingof the sanctuary, when rightlyunderstood, is a message of greatimportance to the Christian. Lis-ten to this inspircd statement:"We are in the great day of

atonement, when aUf sins 3re, byconfession and repentnnce, LO goberorehand to judgment. Goddocs not now 3ceept a t3me, spir-

Ql:lobcr, 1()S6 0111 Fum rO/illd(J/llJIl 13

itless testimony from Histers. Such a testimony would notbe present truth. The message forthis time must be meat in dueseoson to feed the church of God.Blit Sawn has been seeking grad-/lally to rob lhis message of itspower, that the people may not beprepared to stand in the day of theLord." Selecled Messages, Book I,124, 125 (Emphasis supplied)What is Christ doing in the

heavenly sanctuary? What is thesignificance of the cleansing of

The righteousnessof Christ is mademanifest inobedience

the sanctuary? Much more thangoing over the books in heaven.This message has power thatSotan has been seeking to destroybecause he knows that if it isrightly understood and receivedit will prepare a people to sland inIile da.v of Ihe Lord.

""We arc in the great day ofatonement, and the sacred workof Christ for the people of Godthat is going on at the presenttime in the heavenly sanctuaryshould be our constant study."Teslimol/ies, vol. 5, 520 (Emphasissupplied)"The correct understanding of

the ministration in the heavenlys3nctuary is the foundation ofour faith." E}'allgelism, 221"Satan is striving continually

to bring in fanciful suppositionsin regard to the sanctuary, de-grading the wonderfultat ions of God and the ministryof Christ for our salvation intosomcthing that suits thc carnalmind. He rcmoves its presidingpower from thc hearts oflicvers, and supplies its placewith fantastic theories inventedto mnke void the truths of theatonement, and destroy

1-1 OUt 1-'11'1/1 tOl/lll.la!lol/ Ol.:lobcr. 1986

dcnce in thc doctrincs which wehave held sacred since the thirdangers message was first given.Thus he would rob us of our faithin the very message that hasmade us a separate people, andhas given character and power toour work." Special Testimonies,Series B, Number 7, 17"From the Holy of Holies,

there goes on the grand work ofinstruction. The angels of Godarc communicatjng to men. Christofficiates in the sanctuary. We donot follow Him into the sanc-tuary as we should. Christ andangels work in the hearts of thechildren of men. The churchabove united with the church be-low is warring the good warfareupon the earth. There must be apurifying of the soul here uponthe earth, in harmony withChrist's cleansing of the snnc-tuary in heaven." /IIfaral1alha. 249"Those who are living upon

the earth when the intercessionof Christ shall cease in the sanc-tuary above arc to stand in thesight of a holy God without amediator. Their robes must bespotless, their characters must bepurified from sin by the blood ofsprinkling. Through the grace ofGod and their own diligent effortthey must be conquerors in thebattle with evil. While the inves-tigative judgment is goingward in heaven, while the sins ofpenitent believers arc being re-moved from the sanctuary, thereis to be a special work of purifica-tion. of pUlling away of sin, amongGod's people lipon earLlI. This workis more clearly presented in themessages of Rel'elalioll 14." TheGreal COIl,,·ol'ersy, 425 (Emphasissupplied)Here Sister White states that

while the investigative judgmentis going forward, there is to be aspecial work or puririeation ofputting away of sin from God'speople, and that this work ofpurification is more clearly pre-sented in the messages oftion 14. What arc those mess3ges?Every Seventh-day Adventistshould know that they arc thethree angels' messages. (Re3dRevelation 14:7-10) But do werealize the full significance ofthese messages?

"The Lord in His great mercysent a most precious message toHis people through Elders Wag-goner and Jones. This messagewas to bring more prominentlyberore the world the upliftedSaviour, the sacrifice for the sinsor the whole world. It presentedjustification through faith in thcSurety; it invited the people toreceive the righleo/lsness of Christ,which is made mal/ifest illobedience to all the commandmelllSof Cod. Many had lost sight orJesus. They nceded to have theircyes directed to His divineson, His merits, and Hisless love for the human family.All power is givcn into His hands,that He may dispense rich giftsunto men, impartil/g the pricelessgift of His own righteo/lsness lO thehelpless human agc!lt. This is tltemessa.ge that God commanded to begillen to the world. It is the thirdangel's message, which is to beproclaimed with a loud voice,and attcnded with the outpouringof His Spirit in a large measure."Testimonies 10 A1inisters, 91, 92(Emphasis supplied)

We see then th3 t thc "specialwork of purification of puttingaway of sin among God's people"must be done in order that wemight be found "without spot orwrinkle or any such thing." Thispurification will enable us to"stand in the sight of a holy Godwithout a mediator." This workof purification is more clearlypresented in the messages ofRevelation 14, the three angels'messages.

Why is theinvestigativejudgment still IIIprogress?

We have seen that the messageof the third 3ngel is this,fication through faith in the

Advent! By Lewis R. Walton. 95pages. Review and Herald Pub-lishing Association. $6.95.

The work of publishing has beeninextricably bOllnd up wiJh thegrowth and history of theday Adl'cmist Church. Its hlflu-CI/ce, both ill the strengthening ofchurch members and as anistic 1001 10 reach those 1I0t of Ollrfaith. call scnrcel.v be estimated. Asthis work find influence cOHlillue. itis the purpose of Copyright Bereato direcl our readers' al/elltion topublicatiolls 0/ merit alld IIseful-/less.

Has the scnse of urgency andlonging for the coming of yourLord somehow slipped away fromyou? Does the glamour of theworld seem brighter, moretive than it used to? If only some-one would write a book, simpleenough for the common man, tell-ing how to revive a waningChristian experience.It has been written. of eourse-

not by Mr. Walton, but by "holymen of God" who Hspake as theywere moved by the Holy Ghost."Nothing will ever supplant theDible as a medium of instructionand encouragement from God.But sometimes it seems our eyesbecome blinded to the messagesin the events around us.

Adrent! helps put the worldbaek into perspective. But beyondthe world, it portrays the idealsof Adventism, stirring to lifethose slumberingations to nobility and holiness.This book is not a simplistic"Just wait, He's almost here," noris it a creditability-stretchingforecast of the future. Instead,much of the book is simple, wellknown. routinely ignored history.

Surety." This message invites thepeople to receive the Hright-cous ness of Christ, which is mademanifest in obedience to all thecommandments of God." It is the"imparting of the priceless giftof His (Ch rist's) own righ t-eousncss to the helpless humanagent.""The message of Christ's right-

eousness is to sound from one endof the e:.nth to the other to pre-pare the way of the Lord. This isthe glory of God, which closesthe work of the third angel." Tes-timonies, vol. 6, 19What a tremendous message!

What a tremendous responsibilityfor those who arc to proclaim it!And yet Satan has been most suc-cessful in robbing this message ofits power in order that the peoplemay not bc prepared to stand inthe day of the Lord. Sec SelectedJ\fessages, Book I, 124, 125One hundred and forty-two

years h:lVC gone by since 1844.Why has it taken so long tocleanse thc heavenly sanctuary?Why is the investigative judgmentstill in progress? Why hasn't Jesuscome to rcceive His people yet?I bclievc the answcr is pain-

fully obvious: His people arc notyet prepa red to sta nd in the da yof the Lord.HAre we striving with all our

powcr to attain to the stature ofmen and women in Christ? Arewe seeking for His fullness, evcrpressing toward the mark set be-fore us-the perfection of Hischaracter? Whcn the Lord's peo-pic rcaeh lhis mark, they will bescaled in their foreheads. Filledwith the Spirit, they will bepletc in Christ, and the record-ing angel will declare 'It isfinished.' ., Rel'iew and Herald,June 10, 1902I believe we stand at the bor-

ders of the heavenly Canaan. Inthe past, we as a people ha vebeen led to the borders only toturn away. We must not turnaway again. Let us allow Jesus toprepare us completely. [sn't ittime for hea ven to become areality? Isn't it time to enter thePromised Land? I believe it is. I!!!

© BereaWe-as 3 people. as Seventh-

day Adventists-cannot afford toremain blithely ignorant of thefacts of history. The cost hasbeen far too high for the church,and perhaps higher still for theworld-all the nations, kind reds,tongues, and peoples; the ones wewere supposed to warn.

Ad,'el1l! vividly portrays bothhistory and current events. Yetthis is not a volume of doomsay-ing True, theWord of God and the records ofthe past both present the failuresof the church. but learning wellthe lessons from former defeat isthe difference between those whocontinue to fail and those whofinally carry out the uultimateAdventism" brought fleetingly tolight in our church history.Lewis Walton's earlier books.

Omega and Decisioll at Ihe Jordoll,ha ve exerted considera ble in-fluence in behalf of historic Ad-ventism. In Adl'el11! he sharpenshis point further yet, dealingwith current issues facing thechurch. Spurning the temptationto sidestep ticklish matters, hegoes on to do morc than just walka neutral line. In a field encum-bered with I'rHtificial intelli-gencc," he has managed to pre-sent the truths of the sanctuaryservice. character development,the use of the will, Christian ef-fort. and closing events in astraightfor ward, understa nda ble,and memor:lble manner.You will find a sample of Mr.

Walton's writing in the article"When Jesus Almost Came."After getting a taste, we urge youto purchase the book for yourself.Adl'em! is available from yourregional Adventist Book Center.

"I N THE YEAR that KingUzziah died I saw also the

Lord sitting upon a throne, highand lifted up, and his train filledthe temple. Above it stood theseraphim: each onc had six wings;with twain he covered his face,and with twain he covered hisfcct, and with twain he did fly.And onc cried unto another, andsaid, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lordof Hosts: the whole earth is fullof his glory. And the posts of thedoor moved at the voice of himthat cried, and the house wasfilled with smoke." [Isaiah 6:1-4]As the prophet Isaiah beheld

the glory of the Lord, he wasamazed, and, overwhelmed with asense of his own weakness and

Praiseye the Lord.Praise Godin His

sanctuary.PSALM 150:1

unworthiness, he cried, "Woe isme! for J am undone; because Iam a man of unclean lips, and Idwell in the midst of a people ofunclean lips: for mine eyes haveseen the King, the Lord ofHostS." [6:5]Isaiah had denounced the sin

of others; but now he sees himselfexposed to the same condemna-tion he had pronounced uponthem. He had been satisfied witha cold, lifeless ceremony in hisworship of God. He had notknown this until the vision wasgiven him of the Lord. How littlenow appeared his wisdom andtalents as he looked upon the sa-credness and majesty of thesanctuary. How unworthy he was!

How unfitted for sacred service!His view of himself might be ex-pressed in the language of theapostle Paul, "0 wretched manthat I am! who shall deliver mefrom the body of this death?"[Romans 7:24JBut relief was sent to Isaiah in

his distress. He says: "Then flewone of the seraphim unto me,having a live coal in his hand,which he had taken with thetongs from off the aitar: and helaid it upon my mouth, and said,La, this hath touched thy lips;and thine iniquity is taken away,and thy sin purged." [Isaiah 6:6,7]In the previous chapter Isaiah

had pronounced a woe upon thepeople who had separated them-selves from God: "Woe unto themthat draw iniquity with cords ofvanity, and sin as it were with acart rope." [5: 18] Men may seck tostrengthen their forces by con-federating together, making, asthey suppose, strong societies tocarry out the plans they haveformed. They may lift up theirsouls in pride and self-suffici-ency; but the One mighty incounsel does not plan with them.Their unbelief in His purposesand work, and their confidencein man, will not permit them toreceive the messages He sends.They say: "Let him make speed,and hasten his work, that we maysec it: and let the counsel of theHoly One of Israel draw nigh andcome, that we may know it!"[5:19] But God says: "Woe untothem that are wise in their owneyes, and prudent in their ownsight! Woe unto them that aremighty to drink wine, and men ofstrength to mingle strong drink:which justify the wicked forreward, and take away the right-eousness of the righteous fromhim." [5:21-23]The class here represented, in

order to exalt their own opinions,employ a reasoning which is notauthorized by the Word of God.They walk in the sparks of theirown kindling. By their speciousreasoning, they confuse the dis-tinction that God desires to havedrawn between good and evil.

16 D/lr Firm FOllllda{{oll October. 1986

Ellen G. White

The sacred is brought down on alevel with common things. Ava-rice ond selfishness ore coiled byfalse names; they arc called pru-dence, Their rising up in inde-pendence and rebellion, theirrevenge and stubbornness, intheir eyes arc proofs of dignity,evidences of a noble mind. Theyact as though ignorance of divinethings were not dangerous andeven fatal to the soul: and theyprefer their own reasoning todivine revelation, their own plansand human wisdom to the admo-nitions 3nd commands of God.The piety and conscientiousnessof others arc called fanaticism,and those who practice truth andholiness arc watched and criti-cized. They deride those whoteach and believe the mystery ofgodliness, "'Christ in you the hopeof glory." [Colossions 1:27] Theprinciples underlying these thingsare not discerned by them; andthey go on in wrong-doing, leav-ing the bHs open for Satan tofind ready access to the soul.All self-exaltation and self-

3dmir:Hion arc the result of ig-norance of God and of JesusChrist, whom He has sent. Howquickly will self-esteem die, andpride be humbled in the dust,when wc view the matchlesscharms of the character of Christ!The holiness of His eharacter isrenee red by all who serve Him inspirit and in truth. If our lipsha ve need of clea nsi og, if werealize our destitution, and cometo God in contrition of heart. theLord will remove the unclean-ness. He will say to His angel,"'Take nway the filthy garments,"and clothe him with "change ofraiment." [ZeehHiah 3:4JLet every soul who claims to

be a son or a da ugh ter of GodeX3mine himself in the light ofheaven; let him consider the pol-luted lips that make him H un _done," They arc the medium ofcommunication. HO ut of theabundance of the heart themouth speaketh. A good man outof the good treasure of thebringeth forth good things: andan evil man out of the evil treas-ure bringeth forth evil things."[Matthew 12:34,35] Then let themnot be used in bringing from the

treasure of the heart words thatwill dishonor God and discouragethose around them, but use themfor the praise and glory of God,who has formed them for th ispurpose. When the cleansing coalis applied from the glowing altar,the conscience will be purgedfrom dead works to serve theliving God; and when the love ofJesus is the theme of contempla-tion, the words coming fromhuman lips will be full or prniseand thanksgiving to God and tothe Lamb.How many words arc spoken

in lightness and foolishness, injesting and joking' This wouldnot be so did the followers ofChrist realize the truth of thewords, "Every idle word thatmen shall speak, they shall giveaccou nt thereof in the da y ofjudgment. For by thy words thoushalt be justified, and by thywords thou shalt be condemned'"[12:36,37]Harsh and unkind words,

wordS of censure and criticism ofGod's work and His messengers,are indulged in by those whoprofess to be His children. Whenthese careless souls discern thegreatness of God's eh3r3eter, theywill not mingle their spirit andattributes with His service. Whenour eyes look by faith into thesanctuary and take in the reality,the importance and holiness, orthe work there being done, every-thing of a selfish nature will beabhorred by us. Sin will appear asit is-the transgression of God'sholy law. The atonement will bebetter understood; and by living,active faith, we shall sec th3twhatever of virtue humanity pos-sesses, it exists only in JesusChrist, the world's Redeemer.The seraphim before the

throne are so filled with reveren-tial awe in beholding the glory ofGod that they do not for an in-stant look upon themselves withself-complacency, or in admira-tion of themselves or one another.Their praise and glory arc for theLord of Hosts, who is high andlifted up, and the glory of whosetrain fills the temple. As they secthe future, when the whole earthshall be filled with His glory, thetriumphant song of praise is

echoed rrom one to another inmelodious chant, "Holy, holy,holy, is the Lord of Hosts." Theyarc fully satisfied to glorify God;and in His presence, beneath Hissmile of approbation, they wishfor nothing more. In bearing Hisimage, in doing His service andworshiping Him, their highestambition is fully reached.The vision given to Isaiah rep-

resents the condition of God'speople in the last days. They nrcprivileged to sec by faith thework that is going forward in theheavenly sanctunry. HAnd thetemple of God was opened inheaven, and there was seen in histemple the ark of his testament."[Revelation 11:19] As they lookby I'aith into the holy of holies,and sec the work of Christ in thcheavenly sanctuary, they perceivethat they arc a people of uncleanlips-a people whose lips have of-ten spoken vanity, and whosetalents have not been sanctifiedand employed to the glory ofGod. Well may they despoir asthey contrast their own weaknessand unworthiness with the purityand lovel iness of the gloriouscharacter of Christ. But if they,like Isaiah, will receive the im·pression the Lord designs shall bemade upon the heart, if they willhumble their souls before God,there is hope for them. God willrespond to the petitions comingfrom the contrite heart.The object of this great and

solemn work of God is to gathertogether the sheaves for theheavenly garner; for the earth isto be filled with the glory of theLord. Then let none be dismayedas they sec the prevailing wiek-edness and he:lf the languagecoming from unclean lips. Whenthe powers of darkness set them·selves in array against the peopleof God; when Satan shall musterhis forces for the last great can·f1iet, and his power seems to begreat and almost ovcrwhelming,the clear view of the divineglory, the throne high and liftedup, arched with the bow ofpromise, will give comfort, as·su ra nee, a od peace. iii

Rel'iew alld Herald, December 22.1896

O':lOhcr. 1986 OUI FI/'''' F/lIIII./t/1I111/ 17

aile of /.he Slrongest influences Oil the early del'l1/op-mew of tile sallctllar.v doctrine was n single nrtic/e writ·tell by Owen R.L. Crosier. As a .1'0IlJlg nllln. Crosier wasa close Irielld 01 Hiram Edsoll alld F.8. Hahll. 01 ,hethree. Edsall is best known to Adl'elllists for his part illredefining the sanclltary of Daniel 8: /4 followinG thedisappoilllmelll of October 22. /844. Although the initialrealizlllioll of their error came to Edson the morningafter the disappoilllment. it lOok several m011lhs of in-tensive stlld.!' on the part of all three of these menbefore they were ready fo preselll their findings ill anorganized malineI'.

As the most gifted penman of the trio. it was O.R.L.Crosier who wrote 0111 that first exposition. Published inti,e Day-Dawn (a small Alillerite publication) III theirOWIl expense. the article laid out their findings for theconsideration of their brethren. Prol'idelllially. it caughtthe allention of aile Enoch Jacobs. editor of fhe largeralld beller known Day-Star. of Cincinnati.

Again at their OWII EdSall and Hahn ar-ranged with Jacobs for tire puhlishing of nil "Extra"derated elilirel,l' to a fuller presentation of this biblicalexplanation of the disappoilllmenl. Of this pltblicatiollEllen While commel/ted: .,/ be/iel'e the sanctuary to becleansed at the end of the 2300 da.vs. is the NewJerI/salem Temple. of which Christ is a minister. TheLord shelV me iu 1'isiou. more than oue .rear ago. thntBrother Crosier Iwd the true light ou the cleansing ofthe SallclIfary. &c; and lllOt it lVas His lVill. t/rat Brothel'C. should write Ollt the view whic/r he g(lI'e liS ill theDoy-Stor Extro, Febr/lary 7. 1846. I leel IIlII)'authorized by the Lord [0 recommend that Extra toevery saini." Word to the Little Flock. 12

We gire here onl)' a portion of that arlicle. It has.admiuedl.v. a rather heav.\' writing st)'le by today'sstandards. but we trust that it will still be of interest toaliI' readers -EDITORS

"F OR IF HE were on earth heshould not be a priest,

seeing that there [margin, they]nre priests that offer gifts ac-cording to the law: who serveunto the example and shadow ofheavenly things." Hebrews 8:4. 5The features of the substance

always bear a resemblance tothose of the shadow; hence the"heavenly things" referred to inthis text must be priestly service"in the heavens" (10:1, 2) per-formed by our High Priest in Hissanctuary; for if the shadow issenice. the slIbstance is servicealso.As the priests of the law

served unto the example andshadow of the heavenly servicewe can from their service learnsomething of the nature of theheavenly service. "Moses was ad-

.18 010 1-"11111 rll/lIl.l(l//l1I/ Ot.:wbcr, 19$6

monished of God when he wasabout to makc the tabernaclc: for,See (saith he) that thou make allthings according to lhe palternshowed to thee in the mount." 8:5None can deny that. in obedi-

ence to this admonition, Mosesmade or instituted the Leviticalpriesthood; it was then uaccord-ing to the pattern" which theLord showed him, and that pat-tern was of heavenly things.(9:23) If there wos nOt anothertext to prove that the Leviticalpriesthood was typical of theDivine, this verse would abun-dantly do it. Yet some are evendenying this obvious import ofthe priesthood; but if this is notits import. I can sec no meaningin it. It is an idle round ofceremonies without sense or usc,as it did not perfect those for

whom it was performed; butlooked upon as typical of theheavenly, it is replete with themost important instruction. Asthis is the application made of itby the New Testament, so wemust regard it, while we examinethe atonement made under theLevitical priesthood." ow when these things [the

worldly snnctuary with its twoapartments and the furniture ineach] were thus ordained, thepriests went always [daily, see7:27; 10:11] into the first taber-nacle. accomplishing the serviceof God. But into the second wentthe high priest alone once everyyear, nOt without blood. which heoffered for himself, and for theerrors of the people." 9:6, 7

Here Paul divides the servicesof the Levitical priesthood into

'U'Gu® ®U@IJD®ffiJ®IJDU UGu®@IT UGu® [b®wlJ W®UU @IT UGu®

two classes-onc daily in thcHoly, and the other yearly in theHoly of I-Iolies. Their stated dailyservices, performed in the Holynnd at the brazen altar in thecourt before the tabernacle, con-sisted of a burnt offering of twolambs, one in the morning andthe other at even, with a meat of-fering which was one tenth of anephah of flour mingled with thefourth part of an hin of beatcnoil, and a drink offering whichwas one fourth of an hin ofstrong wine. The meat offering\Vas burnt with the lamb, and thedrink offering was poured in theHoly. (See Exodus 29:38-42; Num-bers 28:3-8) In connection withthis they burned on the goldenaltar in the Holy swect incense,which was a very rich perfume,when they dressed and lightedthe lamps every evening andmorning. (See Exodus 30:34-38;31:11; 30:7-9) The same was af-terwa rds done a t the tcmple. SeeI Chronicles 16:37-40; 2 Chroni-cles 2:4; 13:4-12; Ezra 3:3This did Jlol alone for sillS

either individually or collec-tivcly. The daily service de-scribed was a sort of continualintercession; but the making ofatonement was a special work forwhich special directions arcgiven. Different words arc usedboth in the Old Testament andthe New, to express the same ideaas At-one-men t.

Examples

The italicized words are, inthe text, synonymous with atoneor atonement. Exodus 29:36:"Thou shalt cleanse the altarwhen thou hast made an atone-ment for it." Leviticus 12:8: "Thepriest shall make an atonementfor her and she shall be detl/l."14:2: "This shal1 be the law of theleper in the day of his demising."14:20: "The priest shall make anatonement for him and he shallbe clean." The atonement couldnot be made for him till after hewas healed of the leprosy. (See13:45, 46) ·Till he was healed, hehad to dwell alone without thecamp. Then, 14:3, 4: "The priestshal1 go forth out of the eamp;and the priest shall look and be-

.

hold if the plague of the leprosybe healed in the leper; then shal1the priest comma nd to take forhim that is LO be cleansed twobirds alive and clean." The lawwas the same in cleansing a housefrom the leprosy. See 14:33-57:The stones affected with theplague were removed and thehouse "scraped within roundabout" and then repaired withnew material.Physical uncleanness is now all

removed and we would call itclean; but not so; it is only justprepared to be eleansed aecordingto the law. 14:49: "And he shalltake to cleallse the house twobirds." 14:52, 53: "And he shalleleanse the house with the bloodof the bird ... and make anatonement for the house, and itshall be cleall." 16:18, 19: "And heshall go out unto the altar that isbefore the Lord, nnd make an

atonement for it. ... And he shallsprinkle of the blood upon itwith his finger seven times, andclemlse it and hal/ow it from theuncleanness of the children of Is-raeL" 8:15: "And Moses took theblood, and put it upon the hornsof the altar round about with hisfinger and purified the altar, andpoured the blood at the bottom ofthe altar, and sanctified it, tomake reconciliation upon it." 2Chronicles 29:24: HAnd they madereconciliation with their bloodupon the altar, to make an atone-ment for all Israel." Jeremiah33:8: "I will cleallse them from alltheir iniquities ... and I willpardon all their iniquities."Romans 5:9-11: '"Being now jus-lified by His blood, ... by whomwe have now received the atone-ment." 2 Chronicles 5:17-19: "Who

hath reconciled us to himself byJesus Chris!." Ephesians 2:16:"And that he might reconcile bothunto God." Hebrews 9:13, 14:"The blood of bulls sallclifielll tothe purifying of the flesh; but theblood of Christ shall purge OUfconscience from dead works." Heis the Mediator for the uredemp-lion of the transgressions," nnd to"perfecl forever them that arcsanctified." (Hebrews 10:14)Ephesians 1:7: "In whom we haveredemption through his blood, thejorgil'e1tess of Dill' sins." Acts 3: 19:"Be converted thut your sillS maybe biOI/cd 0111."From these texts we Icarn thnt

the words atone, cleanse, recon-cile, purify, purge, pardon, sanc-tify, hallow, forgive, justify,redeem, blot out, and some others,arc used to signify the samework, viz., bringing into fnvorwith God; and in all cases blood

is the means, and sometimesblood and water. The atonementis the great idea of the Law, aswell as of the Gospel; and as thedesign of that of the Law was toteach us that of the Gospel, it isvery important to be understood.The atonement which the priestmade for the people in connec-tion with their daily ministrationwas different from that made onthe tenth day of the seventhmonth. In making the former,they went no further than in theHoly; but to make the latter theyentered the Holy of Holies-theformer was made for individualcases, the latter for the whole na·tion of Israel collectively-theformer was made for the forgive-ness of sins, the I:ltter for blotlillgthem ollL-the former could bemade at any time, the latter only

October. 1986 0,,1' r11'''' Flll/llda/101I IC)

!W@l(lJ]Q@] @lIT @(IJ]@lru

on the tenth day of the seventhmonth. Hence the former may becalled the daily atonement andthe latter the yearly, or therormer the individual. and thelatter the national atonement.The indil'idual ntOllemelll for

the forgiveness of sins was madefor a single person, or for thewhole congregation in case theywere collectively guilty of somesin. The first chapter of Leviticusgives directions for the burnt of-fering, the second for the meatoffering, the third for the peaceoffering, and the fourth for thesin offering, which as its nameimplies, was ::tn offering for sins,in which he who offered it ::tt-tained forgiveness or his sins.It should be distinctly remem-

bered that the priest did notbegin his duties till he obtainedthe blood of the victim, and thatthey were all performed in the

court (the enclosure of thesanctuary), and that the atone-ment thus made was only for theforgirelless of sins. These pointsarc expressly taught in this chap-ter and the following one on thetrespass offering. Here is anatonement. to m3ke which thepriests only entered the Holy, andto make it they could enter thatap:lrtment "always" or "daily.""But into the second (the Holy

of Holies) went the high priestalolle once el'ery year, not withoutblood, which he offered for him-self. and for the errors of thepeople," (laos, nation). (Hebrews9:7) This defines the yearly to bethe National Atonement, of whichthe Lord "speaks particularly" inLeviticus 16: HAnd the Lord saidunto Moses, Speak unto Aaron,thy brother, tha t he come Jlot at

a'l/ FI///I FO/llld(/l//II/ OClObcr, 1986

all times into the holy placewithin the veil before the mercyscat, which is upon the ark; thathe die 110/: for I will appear in thecloud upon the mercy seal." (16:2)For what purpose and whencould he enter it? HTo make anatonement for all Israel [thewhole n::ttion] for all their sinsollce a year" "on the tenth day ofthe seventh month." 16:34,29This was the mOSt important

day of the year. The whole na-tion h::tving had their sins pre-viously forgiven by the atone-ment made in the Holy. now as-semble about their sanctuary,while the high priest, attired inhis holy garments for glory andbeauty (Exodus 28:2), having thegolden bells on the hem of hisrobe that his sound m::ty be heardwhen he goeth in before theLord, the breastplate of judgmenton his he::trt with their names

therein that he may bear theirjudgment, also in it the Urim andThummim (light and perfection),and the plate of pure gold, Iheholy crOlVn (Leviticus 8:9; Exodus28:36) with "HOLINESS TO THELORD" engraved upon it. placedupon the forefront of his mitrethat he may bear the iniquities ofthe holy things, enters the Holyof Holies to make an atonementto cleanse them. that they may beclean from all their sins beforethe Lord. Leviticus 16:30The victims for the atonement

of this day were, for the priesthimself, a young bullock for a sinoffering (16:3), and for the peo-ple, two goats; one for a sin of-fering and the other for the scapegoat, and a ram for a burnt of-fering. (16:5-8) He killed orcaused to be killed the bullock

for a sin offering for himself.(16:11) "And he shall tnke acenser full of burning coals orfire from off the altar before theLord, and his hands full of swcetincense beaten small, and bring itwithin the veil: and he shall putthe incense upon the fire beforethe Lord, that the cloud of theincense may cover the mercy scatthat is upon the tcstimony that hedie not: and he shall take of theblood of the bullock, and sprinkleit with his fin'ger upon the mercyscat eastward; and before themercy scat shall he sprinkle ofthe blood with his finger seventimes." (16:12-14) So much inpreparation to make the 3tone-ment for the people; a descriptionof which follows:"Then shall he kill the goat of

the sin offering. which is for thepeople, and bring his blood with-in the veil. 3nd do with th3tblood as he did with the blood ofthe bullock. and sprinkle it uponthe mercy seal And he sh311make an atonement for [clc3nse,sec marginal references] the holyplace [within the veil, 16:2], be-calise of the u/lcleallness of thcchildrell or Israel, because ortheir transgressions in 311 theirsins: and so shall he do for [i.e.atone or cleanse], the t3bernacleof the congregation [the Holy]that remaineth among them inthe midst of their uncleanness."(16:15, 16) "And he shall go out[of the Holy of Holies) unto thealtar that is before the Lord [inthe Holy] and make an atonementfor it; and shall take of the bloodof the bullock [for himself], andof the blood of the goat [for thepeople), and put it upon the hornsof the altar round about. And heshall sprinkle of the blood uponit with his finger seven times,and cleanse it, and hallolV it fromthe uncleanness of the children ofIsrael." 16:18, 19This altar was the golden alt3r

of incense in t.he Holy uponwhich the blood of individualatonements was sprinkled duringthe daily ministration. Thus itreceived the unele::tnness fromwhich it is now cleansed. (Exodus30:1-10) "Aaron shall make anatonement upon the horns of itonce a year, with the blood of the

-The staff of Hope International

Our Apologies

The best laid plans still occasionally go awry. It probably is not a secret to

our readers anymore, but the August, 1985, issue of Our Firm Foundationmanaged to come off the press with pages 12 and 28 occupying each other's

position in the magazine. To mah matters worse, an undetermined number of

sub-standard copIes were mistakenly included in the subscription mailing. We

apologize for these mistakes. Though they were not under our immediate

control, we regret the inconvenience and confusion these matters may have

caused. TI,ank you [or bearing with us as we learn.

do.y of the seventh month was tocleanse it. thence by the samemeans, the o.pplication of blood.This done. the high priest borethe "iniquity of the sanctuary"for the people "to make atonc·ment for them." (Leviticus 10:17)"And when hc hath m:lde an endof reconciling the holy plnee[within the veil, 16:2] and thetabernacle of the congregation,and the altar [or when he hadcleansed the sanctuary]. he shallbring the live goat: and Aaronshall lay both his hands upon thehead of the live goat, and confessover him all the iniquities of thechildren of Israel, and all theirtransgressions, and all their sins,pUlling them upon the head of thegoat, and shall send him away bythe hand of a fit m3n into thewilderness: and the g03t sh:l.1lbeo.r upon him all their iniquitiesinto a bnd not inhabited [m:lr·gin, of separation]." 16:20-22This was the only office of the

scape goat, to finally receive andbear away from Israel all theiriniquities into an uninhabitedwilderness and there retain them,leaving lsrael at their sanctuary.and the priest to complete theatonement of the day by burningthe fat of the sin offerings, andoffering the two rams for burntofferings on the brazen altar inthe court. (16:24, 25) The burningwithout the camp of the carcassesof the sin offerings closed theservices of this important day.16:27 !iii

1Jliu®lID® [j' OJ] [FJ@J0iJ

Now at what point did hecease to bear his iniquity? Evi-dently when he had presented hisvictim slain, he had then done hispart. Through what medium washis iniquity conveyed to thesanctuary? Through his victim. orrather its blood when the priestlook and sprinkled it before theveil and on the altar. Thus theiniquity was communicated totheir sanctuary. The first thingdone for the people on the tenth

sanctuary. Provision was made tomake atonement for sins com-mitted in ignorance; but not tillafter they were known (Leviticus4:14, 5:3-6), then of course theybecame sins of knowledge. Thenthe individual bore his iniquity(Leviticus 5:1-17; 7:1-8), till hepresented his offcring to thepriest and slew it, the priest madean atonement with blood (Leviti-cus 17:11), and he was forgiven,then of COurse free from hisiniquity.

sin offering of atonement." Wesec in Leviticus 16:20 that at thisstage of the work Hhe hath madenn end of reconciling the holypl3ce, and the tabernacle of thecongregation, and the altar," i.e.the Holy of Holies, the Holy, andthe altar in the latter.We have before seen that

:ltone. reconcile. cleanse, andother terms, signify the same,hence at this stage he has madean end of cleansing those places.As the blood of atonements forthe forgiveness of sins was notsprinkled in the court, but in thetabernacle only, the entire workof cleansing the sanctuary wasperformed within the tabernacle.These were holy things. yetcleansed yearly. The holy placewithin the veil contained the arkof the covenant, covered with themercy scat. overshadowed by thecherubims, between wh ich theLord dwelt in the cloud of divineglory. Who would think of enllingsuch a place unclean? Yet theLord provided at the time, yea,before it was built, that it shouldbe nnnually cleansed. It was byblood, and not by fire, that thissanctuary. which was a type ofthe new covenant sanctuary wasclea nsed.The high priest on this da y

IIbore the iniquities of the holythings which the children of Is-rael hallowed in all their holygifts." (Exodus 28:38) These holythings composed the sanctuary.Numbers 18:1: "And the Lordsaid unto Aaron, Thou. and thysons, and thy father's house withthee shall bear the iniquity of thesanctuary." This Uiniquity of thesanctunry" we have learned wasnot its own properly. but thechildren of Israel's. God's ownpeople's, which it had receivedfrom them. And this transfer ofiniquity from the people to theirsanctuary was not a mere casu-alty, incident on scenes of lawlessrebellion, bloodshed or idolatryamong themselves, nor the devas-tations of an enemy; but it wasaccording to the original arrange-ment and regular operation ofthis typical system. For we mustbear in mind that all the instruc-tions were given to Moses andAaron before the erection of the

19l16 011I rllm F"'l'ld(/ItIJ/I

illlIpQJlpunztngof flIp

§unrfuury

A. CC.

T HE CLEANSING of thesanctuary and the finishing

of the mystery of God arc identi-cal as to time; and arc also soclosely related as to be praeti-calJy the same in character andeven t.

Tn the "figure of the truc" inthe sanctuary service made VISI-

ble, the round of service wascompleted annually; and thecleaf/sing of the SGIlClIIary was thefinishing of that figurative andannual service. And this cleans-ing of the sanctuary was the tak-ing out of and away from thesanctuary all "the uncleanness ofthe children of Israel" ubecauseof their transgressions in all theirsins," which, by the ministry ofthe priesthood in the sanctuaryhad been brought into the sanc-tuary during the service of theyear.The finishing of this work of

the sanctuary and for the sanc-tuary was, likewise, the finishingof the work for the people. For inthat day of the cleansing of thesanctuary, which was the day of

::'! 0111' F'fll/ FIJ/rIJJat/1JI1 October, 1986

atonement, whosoever of the peo-ple did not by searching of heart,confession, and putting away ofsin, take part in the service ofthe cleansing of the sanctuarywas cut off forever. Thus thecleansing of the sanctuary ex-tended to the people, and includedthe people, as truly as it did thesanctuary itself. And whosoeverof the people was not included inthe cleansing of the sanctuary,and was not himself cleansed,equally with the sanctuary, fromall iniquity and transgression andsin, was cut off forever.Leviticus 16:15-19,29-34; 23:27-32And this was all "a figure for

the time then present." That sanc-tuary, sacrifice, priesthOOd, andministry was a figure of the Jrue,which is the sanctuary, sacrifice,priesthOOd, and ministry ofChrist. And that cleansing of thesanctuary was a figure of thetrue, which is the cleansing ofthe sanctuary and the true taber-nacle which the Lord pitched andnot man, from all the uncleannessof the believers in Jesus because

of all their transgressions in alltheir sins. And the lime of thiscleansing of the true is declaredin the words of the WonderfulNumberer to be "unto two thou-sand and three hundred days,then shall the sanctuary becleansed": which is the sanctuaryof Christ in A.D. 1844.And, indced, the sanctuary of

which Christ is the High Priest isthe only onc that could possiblybe cleanscd in 1844; becausc it isthe only onc that thcrc is. Thcsanctuary that was a figure forthc time then present was des-troyed by the army of the Ro-mans who came and destroyedthat city (Daniel 9:26) and thatsanctuary; and even its place wasto be desolate "cvcn until thcconsummation." Therefore theonly sanctuary that could pos-sibly be cleansed at the time re-ferred to by the Wonderful Num-berer, at the end of the two thou-sand and three hundred days, wasalone the sanctuary of Christ-thesanctuary of which Christ isHigh Priest and Minister; the

sanctuary and the true ta bernacleof which Christ, at the righthand of God, is true Priest andMinister; the sanctuary and truetabernacle Hwhich the Lordpitched, and not man."What this cleansing means is

plainly declared in the veryScripture which we are now stud-ying-Daniel 9:24-28. For the an-gel of God, in telling Daniel thetruth concerning the two thou-sand and three hundred days,tells also the great object of theLord in this time as it rclates toboth the Jews and the Gentiles.The seventy wceks, or four hun-dred and ninety years, of thelimitation upon the Jcws andJerusalcm is definitely declaredto be "to finish the transgression,and to make 011 end of sins. and tomake reconciliation jor iniquity.and to bring in everlasting right-eOllsness. and to seal up thealld prophecy. and to anoillt themost Holy." Daniel 9:24Tho. t is the true pu rpose of

God in the sanctuary and its ser-vicc in all time: whether in thefigure or in the true; whether forJcws or for Gentilcs; whethcr onearth or in heavcn, Scventywceks, or four hundred and nine-ty years, was the limitation setfor the Jews to have this accom-plished for and in themselves. Toaccomplish this, to that people, ofall people, Christ Himself camein person to show to them theWay, and to lcad them in thisWay. But they would not have it.[nstead of seeing in Him the gra-cious One who would finishtransgression, and make an cndof sins, and make reconciliationfor iniquity, and bring in ever-lasting righteousness, to everysoul, they saw in Him only"Beelzebub the prince of thedevils"; only one instead ofwhom they would readily choosea murderer; only onc who asKing they would openly repu-diate, and choose a RomanCaesar 3S their only king; onlyone whom they counted as fitonly to be crucified out of theworld. For such a people as that,and in such a people as that,could He finish transgression,

and make an end of sins, andmake rcconci1iation for iniquity,and bring in everlasting right-eous?-Jmpossible: impossible bytheir own persistent rebellion. In-stead of His being allowed bythem to do such a gracious andwonderful work for them, fromthe depths of divine pity and sor-row He was compelled to say tothem: "0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem.thou that killest the prophets,and stonest them which are sentunto thee, how often would Ihave gathered thy children to-gether, even as a hen gatherethher chickens under her wings,and ye would not' Behold, yourhouse is left unto you desolate.""The kingdom of God shall be

CCq1' finisiIingof tiIl' mystrryof is tiIr

enDing af tqr Ulorkaf tiIr gasprl

taken from you, and given to anation bringing forth the fruitsthereor." Matthew 23:37, 38; 21:43The nation to whom the king-

dom of God was given. upon itsrejection by the Jews, was theGentiles. And that which was tobe done for the Jews, ... butwhich they would not at all allowto be done for them-that is theidentical thing to be done for theGentiles, to whom the kingdomof God is given.. . And thatwork is "to finish the transgres-sion. and to make an end of sins,and to make reconciliation foriniquity. and to bring in everlast-ing righteousness, and to seal upthe vision and prophecy, and toanoint the most Holy." This canbe done alone in the finishing ofthe mystery of God in the cleans-ing of the true Christian sanc-tuary. And this is done in thecleansing of the true sanctuary,only in the finishing of trans-

gression and making an end ofsins in the perjecting of thebelievers in Jesus, on the onehand; and on the other hand inthe finishing of transgression andmaking an end of sins in thedestruction 01 the wicked and thecleansing of the universe from alltaint of sin that has ever beenupon it.The rinishing of the mystery

of God is the ending of the workof the gospel. And the ending ofthe work of the gospel is, first.the lakillg away of all vestige ofsin and the bringing in of ever-lasting righteousness-Christ fullyformed-within each believer,God alone manifest in the neshof each believer in Jesus; and,secondly, on the other hand, thework of the gospel being finishedmeans only the destruction of allwho then shall not have receivedthe gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10): for it is not the way of theLord to continue men in lirewhen the only possible use theywill make of life is to heap upmore misery for themselves_Again. in the service of the

earthly sanctuary, we have seenthat when the work of the gospelin the annual course was finishedin behalf of those who had takenpart in it, then all those who hadtaken no part in it were cut off."Which was a figure for the timethen present," and which plainlyteaches that in the service or thetrue sanctuary when the work ofthe gospel shall have been fin-ished for all those who have apart in it, then all those who donot ha vc a part in it will be cutofr. Thus, in both respects, thefinishing of the mystery of Godis the final ending of sin.The service in the earthly

sanctuary shows also that in or-der for the sanctuary to b'ecleansed and the course of thegospel service there to be fin-ished, it must first be finished illthe people who have a part in theservice. That is to say: In thl:sanctuary itself, transgressioncould not be finished, an end ofsins and reconciliation for iniq-uity could not be made. and cvcr-13sting righteousness could not be

COlltinued on 31

Octobcr. 1986 OUI" Fu-m FIIl/lld(/II/J/1

the BooksWereOpened

When

Dave Fiedler

C LEAR SKIES greeted themthat morning as they awoke

to watch the last dawn of earthlyhistory. Quiet calm mingled withjubilant expectation as the sunrose first over morning mists,then high overhead, and at lastslid serenely down to the westernhorizon. Darkness fell, but nottheir hopes. Faith that could en-dure the test of taunting cx-friends was not to be turnedaside easily.Emotions straining within,

they listened at last to the long,slow, melancholy tolling of themidnight chimes. And then theyknew. The day was past. And Hehad not come.The story of October 22, 1844,

is familiar to many of ourreaders. And well it should be.Together with the MilleriteMovement. it forms the ground-work upon which the Lord sawfit to erect His church of the endtime. More than that, it wasclearly portrayed over 17 cen-turies in advance by the ApostleJohn when he penned what weknow today as the tenth chapterof Revelation.There is a danger, though, that

we will overlook the significanceof the events that followed. Wedo ourselves a disservice when weimagine that such a crushing

H 0/11' FII'm FfJllIIJflflfl1l October. 1986

blow of confusion and humilia-tion could be easily resolved. Itwas no small matter to find thereasons for their disappointment,to comprehend the new truthsbrought to light, and to discoverhow this broader understandingof the plan of salvation meshedwith already recognized truth.Such accomplishments carry

high price tags, not in dollars,but in time, effort, pain, confu-sion, and-yes-even humiliation.These are the price of advance,

The people neededsimple answers to

basic questions

the currency of growth. As thedays of God's shaking and siftingbcar down hardcr and closcrupon His end-time people, itwould be well for us to learnfrom the past, to gain proficiencyin the purchasc of truth. Let usconsidcr our history.

Soon aftcr the disappointmentthe Lord began to break throughthe gloom that had settled uponHis people. Within hours of thatdismal midnight, Hiram Edsonwas to have his mind opened to aclearer understanding of Daniel8:14. In his words, he then real-izcd that 41instead of our HighPriest coming out of the MostHoly of the heavenly sanctuaryto come to this earth on the tenthday of the seventh month, at theend of the 2300 days, that He forthe first time entered on thatday, the second apartment of thatsanctuary; and that He had awork to perform in the Most Holybefore coming to this earth.,,1This seed thought, small as a

grain of mustard, was destined togrow to dimensions unimaginedby Hiram Edson that fall morn-ing. In fact, though the revelationwas right on time for the Adventgroup at Port Gibson, New York,it was much too large a jump formost of the dishearteneders to make at that time. Fullplanations would have to wuit.The people needed simpleanswers to basic Questions on thevalidity of the Millerite Move-ment as a whole, and the seventhmonth movement with its October22 culmination in particular. Whohad led them so far from the

respected mainstream of society-God? or was it the devil? Theyhad to know.And so, while the Port Gibson

group busied themselves withseveral months of diligent Biblestudy on the sanctuary service, aloving heavenly Father againtook the initiative to comfort Hisconfused children. In Decemberof 1844, a 17-year-old girl had asimple vision of the Adventistpeople fOllowing-not Satan-butChrist as He led them higher andfarther from the "wicked worldbelow." And all the while theirpath was lighted by the "Mid-night Cry" of two months before.It was not a lcarned exposition ofScripture, only a message of com-fort and assurance. Understand-ing would come soon enough. Fornow, faith and trust in a Father's'care were enough.So the believers hung on to

their hopes, but it wasn't easy. Wewould do well to ponder for amoment what our reaction mightbe should we find ourselves in asimilar situation. Do we lovetruth enough to pursue it despitesuch obstacles? Do we love ourbrethren enough to listen to-andperhaps even learn from-theirunderstandings of Scripture?

The whole plan ofsalvation came intosharper focus thanever before

Providentially, the small groupat Port Gibson (Hiram Edson, Dr.F.B. Hahn, and Owen R.L.Crosier) had time to study in therelative peace of their secludedlocality. By April of 1845 theywere prepared to present areasonably well developed line ofbiblical evidence indicating thatthe "sanctuary" to be cleansed atthe end of the 2300 days must ofnecessity be the great original inheaven. Further, the instructions

for the cleansing of the typicalsanctuary indicated a two-stageprocess in doing away with sin.Throughout the course of theyear the sins of the people weretransferred by the blood ofsacrifices into the sanctuary.Only at the end of the sacredyear, on the tenth day of theseventh civil month-the day ofatonement-were the sins finallyblotted ou t.Such was the cleansing of the

earthly tabernacle. That a similarprocess should occur in the heav-enly original seemed obvious.The publication of Crosier's

article in the Day-Dawn thatspring of 1845 resulted in an en-larged presentation through thepages of the Day-Star, a muchmore widely circulated journal,in February of 1846.It was this article which even-

tually received divine endorse-ment through Ellen White (sec in-troductory comments to The Fig-ures oj tlte True). But the workwas not over yet. God had notgiven all His truth to the. triofrom New York, nor had Hemiraculously preserved themfrom all error. Though these ded-iea ted studen ts of the Word hadbeen blessed with a profoundrevelation of truth, they andothers had yet an experience togain. God was guiding. His peoplecould do no better than to followon as He lcd, resisting the temp-tation to run ahead on their own.It was this vcry problem, in

fact, which proved the greatestsnare to those who had once re-joiced in the expectation of theirLord's imminent return. Many ofthose who had been strong to leadout in the aggressive evangelismof the Millerite Movement failedthe test of waiting in quietness ofsoul for the Lord to make plainthe next step of the journey. Try-ing to regain momentum after the1844 disappointment, they foundthemselves departing further andfurther from Miller's originalteachings on prophetic interpre-tation. Unable to provide a work-able alternative to October 22,1844, as the termination of the2300 days, they eventually deniedthe very core of Adventism-theconnection of the seventy-week

and 2300-day prophetic periods.In what amounted to a last-

ditch effort to restore some formof harmony, unity, and ortho-doxy to the shattered movement,they held a conference for all"Second Advent lecturers andbrethren who still adhere to theoriginal Advent faith." What theythen considered to be theUoriginal" is not clear. This"Albany Conference," held inApril of 1845 (the same month inwhich the Da.v-Dawn was topresent the findings of HiramEdson's study group) specificallydenied the prophetic significanceof October 22.2With what were probably the

best of intentions, these dear menwho had led God's people so furin the track of truth, had failedto wait for His leading. At thevery time that the explanation oftheir disappointment was beingpresented in an organized man-ner, they chose to close the doorwhich their Father was openingbefore them.But not all. The Hlittle flock,"

the Uscattered remnant," couldnot, would not, abandon God-given truth. And what a store oftruth they found! For when the"temple of God was opened inheavcn,,3 not only the sanctuary,but also the Sabbath, the state ofthe dead, end-time events, thejudgment-in short, the wholeplan of salvation-came intosharper focus than ever before.

We should know, for we arcthe hei rs of th is theological goldmine. But do we appreciate whatthey did for us? Not in the senseof venerating the fathers of thechurch. The early Seventh-dayAdventist pioneers would haveprecious little joy in garnishedtombs. They would value farmore the sense of appreciationwhich would lead us to do in ourday as they did in theirs.To love truth, and to love

one's brethren. Will the twainmeet in our lives today as theydid in theirs so long ago? Will weallow God to teach us how to ad-vance in even lines? Never abackwards step, but always a careand an effort to see that all moveforward together.The memories, and the ad-

OClober. 1986 0111" F,mr FOlllld(l//1111 25

monitions, of Ellen White deserveour careful thought:"Those who sincerely desire

truth will not be reluctant to layopen their positions for investiga-tion and criticism, and will notbe annoyed if their opinions andideas arc crossed. This was thespirit cherished among us fortyyears ago."We would come together bur-

dened in soul, praying that wemight be one in faith anddoctrine; for we knew that Christis not divided. One point at atime was made the subject of in-vestigation. Solemnity character-ized these councils of investiga-tion. The Scriptures were openedwith a sense of awe. Often wefasted, that we might be betterfitted to understand the truth."After earnest prayer, if any

point was not understood, it wasdiscussed, and each one expressedhis opinion freely; then we wouldagain bow in prayer, and earnestsupplications went up to heaventhat God would help us to sec eyeto eye, that we might be one, asChrist and the Father arc one.Many tears were shed. If onebrother rebuked another for hisdullness of comprehension in notunderstanding a passage as heunderslOod it, the one rebukedwould afterward take his brotherby the hand, and say, 'Let us notgrieve the Holy Spirit of God.Jesus is with us; let us keep ahumble and te3chable spirit'; andthe brother addressed would soy,'Forgive me, brother, I have doneyou an injustice.' Then we wouldbow down in another season ofpra yer."We spent many hours in this

way. We did not generally studytogether more than four hours ata time, yet sometimes the entirenight was spent in solemn inves-tigation of the Scriptures, that wemight understand the truth forour time. On some occasions IheSpirit of God would come uponme, and difficult portions weremode clear through God's ap-pointed way, and then there W3Sperfect harmony. We were all ofone mind and one Spirit."We sought most earnestly that

the Scriptures should not bewrested to suit any man's opin-

Our r/lll{ FII/I/l'/lllIolI O..:wbtr. 1986

ions. We tried to make our dif-ferences as slight as possible bynot dwelling on points that wereof minor importance, upon whichthere were varying opinions. Butthe burden of every soul was tobring about a condition amongthe brethren which would answerthe prayer of Christ that His dis-ciples might be onc as He and theFather are one."Sometimes one or two of the

brethren would stubbornly setthemselves against the view pre-sented, and would act out thenatural feelings of the heart; butwhen this disposition appeared,we suspended our investigationsand adjourned our meeting, thateach might have an opportunityto go to God in prayer, and with-out conversation with others,study the point of difference,asking light from heaven, Withexpressions of friendliness weparted, to meet again as soon aspossible for further investigation."At times the power of God

came upon us in a marked man-ner, and when clear lightreve::ded the points of truth, wewould weep and rejoice together,We loved Jesus; we loved oneanother."In those days God wrought

for us, and the truth was preciousto Our souls. It is necessary tod3Ythat Our unity be of a characterthat will bear the test of trial. Wearc in lhe school of the Masterhere, th3t we may be trained forthe school above. We must learnto bear disappointment in aChrist-like manner, and the les-son taught by this will be ofgreat importance to US.',4It was hard work for the pio-

neers. Progress sometimes cameonly slowty. One lingering grayarea was the direct import of theantitypieal day of atonement. In1851 James White would write,"There is no intimation of aspace of time between the end ofthe [2300] days and the cteansingof the sanctuary. Whatever it m3Ybe, the work of cleansing it im-mediately follows the end of theda YS.',5Not until 1855 did the missing

piece of the puzzle-the fully de-veloped concept of a pre-adventjudgment-come to print. More

than a year would pass before thecoining of the now-familiar term"investigative judgment.',6Some have endeavored to sec

in this a flaw, a weakness. Inreality, the time and effortrequired to arrive at truth is noargument against it, but rather aneloquent testimony of thetienee and perseverance given of

We loved Jesus;we loved one another

God to those whose love for Himwould admit no obstacle. Such anexperience is of 3S great valuenow as in bygone days. And justas possible for those who chooseto po. y the price,Not only in our relationship

with God and our understandingof truth may we look for His spe-cial working. His will ror us in-cludes as well th3t we may beball nd by the cords of love, trust,3nd unity to our fellow chris-tians. Compromise? Never! Butunion in truth? Of course. Thisis, after all, the great antilypicalday of ot-one-ment. I!ii

1. Hiram Edson. MS "Life andExperience." Quoted in Emmet K.V:lndc Verc, Willdow\. Sl'l"cl('d Reod-ill!: \ 11/ SVI'('IIIIz·d{J\· ChurchJ!i\/o/"}" :6

" See P. Gc:r;lrd D:llllSlcegl. F()/lII-dal/oJls of III(' Si'l'l'/1/h-da\' Ad\'('l/list,\h'.\.\fl1:(' (llId .\I;\.\J()II. Eerdm:J.ns. 1977.I I J, I:: I,3. Revelation 11:194. Re\'{('w ami H('rnld, July 26.18925. LImes White. "Our Present Posi-

tion," Reril'\\1 Iwd H('fnld. Llnuary.1851. 27

6. Uriah Smith. "The Cleansing 01"the Sanelu:lrY." Rel'i('lI' fllld H('r(lld.October :. 1855. 5::. 53: J::mcs While."The Judgment," Rni('l>,1 (Illd H('l'ald,

:9,1857, 100. 101

The "Laodiceall Message" hasbeen wilh liS as a people for 130years. III what may hmre appearedLO mallY within the church as a lime0/ prosperity. Elder James Whitetook the lead ill poimillg ow thetrlle slate of spiriwal pOI'erty. Writ-il/g ill Ihe Review and Herald. vf'·Pi/lh-day. Oelobel' 9. 1856." hefirst posed a series 0/ poinledquestiolls. Were his questiolls toopoillted? No more so than hisLord's words which inspired them.

The inquiry is beginning tocome up arresh, "'Watchman,what or the night?" At presentthere is space ror only a fewquestions, asked to call attentionto the subject to which they re-late. A full answer, we trust, willsoon bc given.

I. Do the seven churches.(Revelation 2:11) represent sevcnconditions of the true church, inseven periods or time?

2. Ir so, then is the viewroneous that the Philadelphia andthe Lnodieean states both exist atthe S:;lIlle time?

3. Does "the church in Sardis"represent the nominal churches towhom the Advent message wasfirst given?

4. And does Hthe church inPhiladelphia" represent thechurch Or God in her state oreonseera t ion a od "brotherlylove," looking for the coming ofJesus in 1844?

5. If so, is not the present timethe period ror the Laodicean con-dition or the church?

6. Docs not the sta te of theLaodiceans (lukewarm, neithercold nor hot) fitly illustrate thecondition of the body of thosewho profess the Third Angel'sMessage?

7. Are not the nominnlchurches, and the nominal Ad-ventists, (as bodics,) to all intentsand pu rposes. "cold"?

8. Then where is the "'uke-warm" church, unless it be thosewho proress the Third Message?

9. And is nOt this our rcalcondition as people?10. Does not the prophecy an-

swer perfectly to the racts?II. If {his be our condition as a

people, have we any real groundsto hope for the fa vor of God un-less we heed the "counsel" of theTrue Witness?

Tire neXl week's Review con-Wined Elder White's elaboration ofIhe slIbject Hilder the title "TheSere" Churches." Here he set forthIris reasons lor believing that lhechurches of Rerelatio" represellled"sevell conditions 0/ the ChriSlianchurch. in sel'en periods of lime.cOI'eril1g the grOlllld of the eJllireChristian age." NOl content lVitlrtlreory alone. Elder White preseJlledall impassioned plea that his breth-ren might see and avert the dallgerbefore them.

Laodieea signifies "the judg-ing of the people," or, accordingto Cruden, "3 just pcople," andfitly represents the present stateof the church, in the great day ofatonement, or judgment or the"house of God" while the justand holy law of God is taken as arule of life.It has been supposed that the

Philadelphia church reached tothe end. This we must regard as amistake, as the seven churches inAsia represent scven distinctperiods of the trlle chl/rch, andthe Philadelphian is the sixth,and not the last state. The truechurch cannot be in two condi-tions at the same time; henee weare shut up to the faith that theLaodicean church represents thechurch of God at the presenttime.The conditional promises to

the Philadelphia church arc yet

to be fulfilled to that portion ofthat church who comply with theconditions, pass down throughthe Laodicean state and over-come.

But dear brethren, how hum-bling to us as a people is the saddescription or this church. And isnot this dreadful description nmost perfcct picturc of ourpresent condition? It is; nnd itwill be of no usc to try to evadethe rorce of this searching tes-timony to the Laodicean church.The Lord help us to receive ir,and to profit by it. ..."Behold I stand at the door

and knock; if any man hear myvoice, and open the door. I willcome in to him, and will sup withhim, and he with me!' How care-less ma n y or you ha ve been ofthe rcproofs and warning whichthe dear Saviour has givcn foryour benefit. He has bcenslighted and shut out by you tillHis locks arc wet with the dew ofnight. Oh, open your he:lrts toHim. Let your hard hcarts brc;:Jkbefore Him. Oh, let Him in. Adeep work of consccrating your-selves and all you have to Him,will be necessary to prepare theway for Him to come in and supwith you and you with Him. Wedwell with pleasure upon this ar-rectionatc, this touching rigure.What an illustration or com-munion with Christ! Who wouldnot joyfully spread the table. andopen the door for the dearSaviour to partake with them ofthe last mcal of the day, were Henow a pilgrim on earth as at thefirst advent? This we cannot do;but we can do those thingsrequired or us, and prepare theway of the Lord in our ownhearts. Oh, ye Lnodiceans, ourmouth is open unto you. De notdeceived as to your real condi-tion.

O":loocr. 1986 01/, 1-'111/1 F"1II1,11/11111/

OurSin-Pardoning

Saviour

Ellen G. White

N OTHING ELSE in thisworld is so dear to God as

His church. Nothing else iswatched over by Him with suchjealous care. Nothing else sogrieves His heart of love as theinjuries inrlictcd in His churchby those who arc opposed to Hisgovernmen t.Human might and human wis M

dam did not establish the churchof God, and neither can theydestroy it. The members of thechurch will have to meet theseducing arts of the enemy. Theywil1 be assailed by the repre-sentatives of Satan. Let them notget into controversy with thosewho arc adepts at warfare of thiskind. If they will answer their as-sailants in the words of the Scrip-ture, Satan's arguments willprove to be nothingness. TheWord of God in the hearts of Hispeople is a power unto life andsalvation. Fighting under the di-vine Commander, they will ob-tain the victory. The Life-giverwill strengthen them to overcome.There is comfort a nd encour-

agement for us in the seencscribed in the third chapter ofZechariah. Wc read: "And heshowed me Joshua the high prieststanding before the angel of theLord, and Satan standing at hisright hnnd to resist him. And theLord said unto Satan, The Lordrebuke thee, 0 Satan; even theLord that hath chosen Jerusalemrebuke thee; is not this a brandplucked out of the fire?

0,,, Film FOlllld(l//(/1/ OClober. 1986

"Now Joshua was clothed withfilthy garments, and stood beforethe angel. And he answered andspake unto those that stood be-fore him, saying, Take away thefilthy garments from him. Andunto him he said, Behold, l havecaused thine iniquity to passfrom thee, and 1 will clothe theewith change of raiment. And Isaid, Let them set a fair mitreupon his head. So they set a fairmitre upon his head and clothedhim with garments. And the angelof the Lord stood by.

Joshua representsthose whose

religious lifehas been faulty

"And the angel of the Lordprotested unto Joshua, saying,Thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Ifthou wilt walk in my ways, andif thou wilt keep my charge, thenthou shalt also judge my house,and shalt also keep my courts,and 1 will give thee places towalk among these that stand by."[Zechariah 3:1-7JJoshua, standing before the

angel of the Lord with defiledgarments, represents those whose

religious life has been faulty,who have been overcome by Sa-tan's temptatio"ns, and are unwor-lhy of God's favor. Today humanbeings stand before God withdefiled garments. All their righ-teousness is "as filthy rags."Satan uses against them his mas-terly accusing power, pointing totheir imperfections as evidenceof their weakness. He pointsscornfully at thc mistakes ofthose who claim to be doingGod's service. They havc becnceived by him, and he asksmission lo destroy them.But they trust in Christ and

He will not forsake them. Hecame to this world to take awaytheir sins, and to impute to themHis righteousness. He declaresthat through faith in His namethey may receive forgiveness andmay perfect Christian characters.They have confessed their sins,and Ilave asked for pardon, aridthe Saviour declares that becausethey trust in Him, He will givethem power to become the sons ofGod.Their are defective,

but because (hey have not trustedin thcir own merits or excusedthcir sins, because they havehumbled themselves andfessed their sins, seeking forgive-ness, the Lord receives them, andrebukes Satan. He refuses toten to the enemy's accusations.He has abundantly pardoned thepenitent ones, nnd will carryward in them His work of re-

deeming love if they will con-tinue to believe in Him and totrust Him. He will perfect theirredemption defeating the enemy,and glorifying His name in thcirsalvation.And let not those who have

been forgiven forget that theyh3ve a part to act. Thosc who bydivinc grace have gained themastery over their faults, arc tohelp others to overcome, pointingthem to the Source of strength.To every converted soul is giventhe privilege of helping thosearound him who do not rejoice in

the light in which he is standing.They also may know the joy thathas come to him. They may takctheir place in the world as God'sI ight-bea rers.How helpful we may be to onc

another by receiving from Christthe divine blessing, and thensharing it with those in need. Thetrue Christian will leave nothingundone that he can do to raise tonewness of life those who aredead in trespasses and sins. Hewill work as Christ worked.Especially arc those whom

God has sci over His church to

wateh for souls as they that mustgive an account. They m:lY ac-complish great good if they willwalk humbly with God, hidingself in Christ. Those who have aliving connection with Christ be-come partakers of the divine no.·ture. Those who give to others thelight they have received arc rep·resentatives of the heavenlyWorker. Ii!

Pacific Union Recorder, December8, 1904

RCl'elation Rumblings: The under-lying concept whieh forms thefoundation of the far-riehtfundamentalists' thrust intoAmerican politics is "America istoo free." And a small, well-organized minority, eager andsinccre in its beliefs, is trying todo something about it-in thename of religion, in the name ofsalvation, in the name of savingour individual and collectivesouls. We are presently witnessingtheir eharge against the tradi-tional American conccpt of de-mocracy, and what is most perni-cious about this attack is that itis under the banner of God. Whenthey spe3k of making America aChristi:lI1 nation, they draw theirdefinition of Christianity so nar-rowly that it excludes manymainstre3m Christian churches.SOIl/hern Baptist COllventionTODAY. May, 1986

SDAs Included: The Vatican ex-horted Roman Catholic priestsworldwide to work against theproliferation of religious sects.The document said sects withChristian roots "could be thosegroups which, apart from theBible, have other 'revealed' booksor 'prophetic messages: " SaltLake Deserel News, May 3. 1986

New RCl'isionists: [n recent yearsanother revisionist project hasgotten underway. Advanccd bysome fundamentalists and evan-gelicals, they contend that theshapers of the American Revolu-tion and Constitution were infact born again Bible-believingChristians who were motivatedby the high aspiration to estab-lish biblic31 righteousness in a"Christian America." The moti-vations are understandable, butthe project itself is grievouslyflawed. It is divisive and unper-suasive. Most important, it isflawed because it is not true. TheReligion & Society Report, May,1986 (Protestant)

World GOl'Ul1ment: The AmericanCatholic bishops, in The Challengeof Peace, recommended disarma-ment and world government asthe long-term moral solution tothe nuclear threat. To establish asovercign state system with cen-tral authority, virtually all stateswould have to agree, sinwltalle-ollsly, to concede control of theirforces to the central authority_Only three preconditions couldlead to the new order: (I) interna-tional trust and cooperation, (2) acentral authority willing and ableto enforce compliance with inter-

national agreements. and (3) 3common external threat to sur-vival that would compel commonaction. Catholicism i'l Crisis,April, 1986

The Great Divide: Scalia is ex-pected to agree with Rehnquist'sview that there is no "wall" be-tween church and state. Thechoices made by Reagan will beimmensely important to the coun-try. The Rehnquist court appearspoised at the sort of historicdjvide that occurs only onceevery few decades. Time, June 3,1986

Road to Union: In 1988, all.bishops of the Anglican com-munion will gather in London forthe Lambeth Conference, whichmeets every 10 years. Althoughthe Anglican Roman Catholic In-ternational Commission is con-fined to Catholics and Anglieans,the World Council of Churches'Faith and Order Commission'sLima agreement-Baptism, Eucha-rist and Ministry (BEM)-repre-sents an even more remarkableconvergence because it includesnearly all Christian churches. Na-tional Catholic Reporter, March 28,1986 (Roman Catholic)

OClObcr. 1986 O/lr Firm FO/il/dll/lfI1I 29

Almost, cant. from I Jclear demonstration of the powerof the cross. If, through faith inJesus, His people can comethrough this, then Calvary ismore than a convenient mecha-nism for dealing with feelings ofguilt. It is powerful enough tokeep God's people faithful, what-ever the challenge. And the uni-verse is secure; sin wilt not ariseagain, and the war is over. For-ever.Such was the challenge of the

old Advent message. Out of thesanctuary had come a new idealfor Christian living, and it wasexpressed in some of the mostpowerful bnguage Ellen Whiteever used.HThose who are living upon

the earth when the intercessionof Christ shalt cease in thesanctuary above are to stand inthe sight of a holy God without amediator. Their robes must bespotless, their characters must bepurified from sin by the blood ofsprinkling. Through the grace ofGod and their own diligent effortthey must be conquerors in thebattle with evi!. While the inves-tigative judgment is going for-ward in heaven, while the sins ofpenitent believers are being re-moved from the sanctuary, thereis to be a special work of purifi-cation, of putting away of sin,a mong God's people on earth ....'"'When this work shall have

been accomplished, the followersof Christ will be ready for Hisappearing."l0So that was it. In 1857 God's

people had simply not finishedthe work of prepa ra tion neces-sary to meet Him. They had hadrevival o.nd reformation. Therehad been public confession andrepentance. But they had not al-lowed God to finish the worknecessary to prepare them for thecoming of Jesus. Ellen Whitespoke sadly of II pr ide,fashions, .. empty conversation,

selfishness," Something marcwas needed. They were to perse-vere in a "special work," a "put_ting away of sin." They were tobe '''conquerors in the battle withevil.',l1 They had simply given uptoo soon!"Nearly all believed that this

message would end in the loud

30 Dllr rlflll Fn/liidallllil October. 1986

cry of the third angel," EllenWhite wrote in 1859. "But as theyfailed to see the powerful workaccomplished in a short time,many lost the effect of the mes-sage. I saw that this messagewould not accomplish its work ina few short months." Indeed oat.It was a program that wouldtro.nsform their whole lives, fit-ting them for "the loud ery ofthe third ange!." That would takea little time, more than a "'fewshort months.,,12

But it could have happenedmuch faster than most of themdreamed. In 1857, as church mem-bers began to grow weary of re-vival, they were-ironically-atleast a third of the way into aprocess that could have leddirectly to the coming of Jesus.In fact, everything necessary toprepare them for that event couldha ve been done if they had per-severed a bou t two more yea rs.

It was a programthat would transformtheir whole lives

On July 15, 1859, only thirty-four months after James Whitefirst published the Laodieeaochallenge, Mrs. White wrote that"'God has given the message timeto do its work.,,13 It could nothave been completed in a fewshort months, but within threeyears it had had "time to do itswork." Time to awaken theehureh with a call for reforma-tion. Time for confession of sinand unity among the believers.Time to get ready for the "loudcry of the third angel." Thewhole process could have beencompleted in a total of less thanthree years.Which brings us to the present.

If the lessons of history arc cor-rect, everything necessary toprepare Adventism for the com-

ing of Jesus can be accomplishedin only three years. That meansthat heaven is available. It is notsome far-off dream, receding be-fore us like a mirage. It is real.We could have it. The final prep-aration of God's people could becompleted in the lifetime of vir-tually everyone reading thisazine.Three years. Three more win-

ters. Three marc summers. Andwe could be ready for somethingeven mightier than Pentecost-thegospel flooding the world, finalevents forming rapidlyus, history racing towards itsconclusion. HIt is impossible togive uny idea of the experienceof the people of God who will bealive upon the carth when pastwoes and celesti31 glory will beblended." Ellen White once said."They will walk in the light pro-ceeding from the throne of God.By me3ns of the angels there willbe constant communication be-tween heaven and earth.',14All that could be ours-all

that, and hcaven, too. tM

The above article has been ex-cerpted from pages 49-66 of thebook Advent. by Lewis IValtoll. Wehighly recommend lhis book, andwOl/ld encourage all to reae! andpray over its timelJl message. Seepage for dewils.-EDITons

1. W:uren A. C:'Indler, Greartlmerietllt Rel'h'ols III/d Ihe GrelllRepublic, 189, 190, quoted in Felix A.Lorenz. The Ollfy l'lop(! (Nashville:Southern Publishing Associ:uion.1976). 53

2. Tesrimonies, vol. I. 128.1. RcriclV (llId Herald. November

13. 18564. Ibid.5. Ibid.6. Ibid .. October 16, 18567. Te.HinuJIlies, vol. I, 1868. The rolJowing analogy was

proposed in my book Deci.\iol/ tll IheJordon (W:J.shington, D.C: Review :J.ndHerald Publishing Association. 1982).65. 66

9. R£'l'icw {Il1d Herald, Janu:J.ry 29.185710. Thl! Gre(/{ COllrI"Ol·"I"I.I'. 4251 I. vol I. 189; The CI'('{I(

CUllfI'Ol'L'I'.\.l·, 42512, vol I. 18613. Ibid.14. The Falllt I LII'(' 8\·. 340

Cleansing, cant. from 23brought in, until all this had beenaccomplished in each person whohad a part in the service of thesanctuary. The sanctuary itselfcould not be cleansed until eachof the worshipers had beencleansed. The sanctuary itscIrcould not be cleansed so long as,by the confessions of the peopleGild the intercessions of the priests,there was pouring into the sanc-tuary a stream of iniquities,transgressions, nnd sins. Thecleansing of the sanctuary, as tothe sanctuary ilsel/. \Vas thetaking out of and away from thesaDc1u:lry all the transgressionsof the people which had beentaken into the sanctuary duringthe service of the year. And thisstream must be stopped at itsfountain in the hearts and livesof the worshipers, before thesanctuary itself could possibly becleansed.Therefore the very first work

in the cleansing of the sanctuarywas the cleansing of the people.That which was preliminary and

MelangeSubject: The Great Nebula

In the March 29, 1986, issue ofScience News, on page 207, it wasreported that a very swirtly vary-ing nebula has appeared in M42,the Great Nebula in Orion. Thisnew object, known as Object 50,was definitely not there asrecently as 1955, and was firstnoticed in 1979 by the Copen-hagen University Observatory.Another picture of the object wastaken three years later revealingthat it had changed substantially.During an observation in ]985 acompletely new phenomenon wasnoticed, a shaft of infrared light.By September this jetlikc burst oflight had disappeared.

essential to the cleansing of thesanctuary itself, to the finishingof transgression and bringing ineverlasting righteousness, there,was the finishing of transgres-sion, and the making an end ofsins, and making reconciliationfor iniquity, and bringing ineverlasting righteousness in theheart alld life of each olle of thepeople themselves. When thestream that flowed into the sanc-tuary was thus stopped at itssource, then, and then a lone,could the sanctuary itself becleansed from the sins and trans-gressions which, from the people.by the illtercession of the priests.had flowed into the sanctuary.And all that "was a figure for

the time then present"-a "figureof the true." Therefore by thiswe are plainly taught that theservice of our great High Priestin the cleansing of the true sanc-tuary must be preceded by thecleansing of each one of thebelievers, the cleansing of eachone who has a part in that service

Bob Vun Kannon

Such activities are not entirelyunknown, and scientists believethat the object may be emittingperiodic bursts of light.What intrigues me about this

activity is that Ellen Whiteforesaw the holy city of the NewJerusalem descending from anopen space in Orion. Early Writ-ings, 41

Subject: Nuclear Power

The· original estimate for theconstruction cost of the PaloVerde nuclear reactor was lessthan $1 billion.The final cost of construction

of the Palo Verde nuclear reactorwas about $3.8 billion.

of the true High Priest in thetrue sanctuary. It is plain thattransgression must be finished,an end of sins and reconciliationfor all iniquity must be made,and everlasting righteousnessmust be brought in, in the heart'sexperience of every believer inJesus, before the cleansing of thetrue sanctuary can be accom-plished.

And this is the very object ofthe true priesthood in the truesanctuary. The sacrifices, thepriesthood. and the ministry inthe sanctuary which was but afigure for the time then present,could not really take away sin,could not make the comers there-unto perfect. Whereas the sac-rifice, the priesthood, and theministry of Christ in the truesanctuary does take away sinsforever, docs make the comersthereunto per fecI. does perfect"fore,ter them that are sanct-ified." iii

The COllsecrated IVa)', 113-1 19

All nuclear reactors producehighly toxic, long-lived wastematerials for which there is nosatisfactory storage solution. (It ishighly unsa tisfactory to storedangerous material in any formof container which is guaranteedto break down in far less timethan the waste material will taketo decay.)Nuclear power docs now and

has always cost morc per kilowatthour than energy from conven-tional fuels, such as coal.The cost of shutting down a

nuclear facility is estimated to beabout 40 per cent of the originalconstruction cost (Science News,April 12, 1986, page 230). Thiswould be about $1.3 billion justto get rid of Palo Verde.Nuclear reactors arc not fool-

proof (Union of Soviet SocialistRepublics, Chernobyl, April1986).Draw your own conclusions.

OClober. 1986 0/11 f"iI'm FIIUlldrll/Ol/ 31

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