The Sanctuary Study Pt 11
We're going to continue our Sanctuary Study, but first I want to make something clear, I'm not a Seventh-Day Adventist.
Yes, I believe in the Seventh-Day Sabbath, and various other things they believe but I am not one, but that won't keep me from being able to discern the truth they might have from the falsehoods with the Holy Spirit's guidance.
I'm also not saying that all Seventh-Day Adventists are bad, individually only the Lord knows the heart.
With all that in mind let's continue with the Thought Papers of William Grotheer to guide us, but once again, believe nothing but your Bible! Check everything!
1989 Special 2 -- Light From the Throne -- Part 2 --
This first quarter of 1989, the Sabbath School lessons for the Adult Division center on the book of Leviticus. Written by two conservative Seventh-day Adventist scholars, there was cause for hope that some of the previously questionable conclusions regarding the sanctuary service might be corrected. However, this is not the case.
In Lesson 4, January 28, near the close of Section I, subtitled - "Sins of Ignorance" - the traditional explanation is found as to what was transferred to the sanctuary. The first sentence of the note reads - "Priest transfers sin to the sanctuary:" This error should be transparent.
It was blood only that the priest took into the sanctuary for sin and fingerprinted on the Altar of Incense, and sprinkled before the veil.
Now the blood is the life. It is the blood that maketh atonement. (Lev. 17:11)
If, therefore, it is sin, then sin makes the atonement.
No, a thousand times no!
The blood is the record that the penalty has been paid, and the sinner forgiven.
Further thought reveals why sin is not transferred to the sanctuary.
It is already recorded at the moment of transgression. The whole ceremony of Leviticus 4 has to do with sins of ignorance, not on God's part, but on the sinner's part. When the sinner was convicted, a prescribed ritual was performed.
Why then double record sin? This is not what the sinner needs. He needs the assurance of forgiveness and that the penalty for his sin as recorded has been paid.
We nullify a key lesson of Leviticus 4, when we assume that it is teaching the transfer of sin to the sanctuary. There was a transfer of sin, but it was the transfer to the sacrifice.
It was the recognition that a sin had been committed; the transfer of that guilt through the substitute required; and the assurance of forgiveness which is taught in the law of the sin offering.
I repeat, while the animal became sin through transfer and was destroyed when the blood was taken within the sanctuary, it was the blood, the life, indicating that the penalty for sin had been paid that was recorded.
The other method to get sin into the sanctuary as noted by the authors of the Sabbath School lessons was, that the priest who ate of the victim in the case of a ruler or common person's sin, ministered in the daily services offering incense, thereby "symbolically transferred" the sin "to the sanctuary."
(Teacher's Quarterly, p. 54)
Transfer is accomplished in the type by the symbolic laying on of the hand.
Where is such a record in the type for the transfer of sin to the sanctuary when the priest ate of the sacrifice?
In fact, even in the services on the Day of Atonement, the bullock which was offered as a sin offering for Aaron and his house, never had a hand laid upon its head. (Lev. 16:6)
There is further evidence from the Day of Atonement ritual that sin was not transferred to the sanctuary, but had been previously recorded. During the year, no blood was ever taken into the Most Holy Place.
The closest the blood, denoting that the penalty had been paid, ever came to the Most Holy Place, was that blood which was sprinkled before the veil separating the two apartments.
On the Day of Atonement, when the cleansing ritual did bring blood into the Most Holy Place, it was stated that it was being done "because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins." (Lev. 16:16)
If for sake of argument, we should grant that the record of blood was a record of sin, and not a record of the penalty paid for sin, then how did the transgressions and sins get into the Most Holy Place when no such blood over which confessions were made ever entered there?
What we have failed to realize is that the sanctuary services in type are an adjunct to the Reality of the Heavenly Sanctuary explaining how an individual in covenant relationship with God can escape the finality of the judgment.
We refuse to face up to the meaning of Jesus' promise in John 5:24. This verse does not destroy the sanctuary doctrine as some have sought to do with it; but rather it does focus on an area of teaching which needs to be corrected and brought into line with the true revelation of the sanctuary model. This issue of the Commentary will seek to do just that, as well as the issue to follow.
Some have cited Jeremiah (17:1) as proof that sin was transferred to the sanctuary. I, too, have so used this text in times past. Sensing that such a use of this text violates the meaning of the ritual of the sin offering in Leviticus, I checked the context in which Jeremiah was writing. The verse in Jeremiah reads:
"The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of the heart, and upon the horns of your altars."
The next verse introduces "the Asherim" (KJV - "groves") which were worshiped by the green trees on the high hills. The connection between the idolatrous worship or the "hills" and the blood placed on the horns of the altars of the temple must be related to the prophecy of the verses that follow. God would give these "high places for sin" to the spoiler (ver. 3), and Judah herself would serve their enemies in a strange land because what they did provoked the anger of the Lord (ver. 4).
The sin that came upon the altars was a sin so engraved upon their hearts that it could not be erased. Keil and Delitzsch comment as follows:
"It was because the altars and the images of the false gods had entwined themselves as closely about their hearts as their children, so that they brought the sin of their idolatry along with their sacrifices to the altars of Jahveh. The offerings which they bring, in this state of mind, to the Lord are defiled by idolatry and carry their sins to the altar, so that, in the blood which is sprinkled on its horns, the sins of the offerers are poured out on the altar. Hence it appears unmistakably that ver. 1 does not deal with the consciousness of sin as not yet cancelled or forgiven, but with the sin of idolatry, which, ineradically implanted in the hearts of the people and indelibly recorded before God on the horns of the altar, calls down God's wrath in punishment as announced in vers. 3 and 4." (Vol. 8, p. 278)
To cherish the sin for which we ask forgiveness and for which we present the Substitute is duplicity and makes of "the blood of the covenant ... an unholy thing."
The sin of the heart is retained while outwardly confessing its surrender.
This is hypocrisy which God hates.
In the typical service, this stage acting brought sin upon the altars of the sanctuary which God did not intend should be done.
A second error occurs in this same section of the Quarterly.
It states - "In the case of the sin offering for a fellow priest, or for the whole congregation" the blood was taken into the first apartment of the sanctuary. The authors failed to see, and the editors did not catch, that the offering for the priest wherein the blood was taken into the sanctuary, only pertained to the High Priest when he in his official capacity had sinned causing the whole congregation to transgress.
The text reads - "If the anointed priest shall sin so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin ... a young bullock." (Lev. 4:3 ARV)
As an individual sinner, the priest was included in the category of a ruler. See Numbers 3:32, where the same Hebrew word translated "ruler" in Levitucus 4 is there translated, "chief."
We suggest a careful study of all the material which is presented in this Commentary comparing Scripture with Scripture.
**
If you've read this far and feel a little overwhelmed, don't worry it's normal. We really do need to study. Study and understand, not just read and forget, not just read and let it go as something we don't need to really know.
It might not be easy, it might not be *exciting*, but it is important.
Some might counter that it's just semantics and who cares who believes what, but God does care.
Remember a counterfiet is no good if it doesn't mimic almost perfectly the real thing. Being deceived by something that is almost the real thing will leave you saying.. Lord, Lord didn't I do this and that in your name... and the Lord is going to say get away from Him, He never knew you.
Matthew {7:21} Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will
of my Father which is in heaven. {7:22} Many will say to
me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy
name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works? {7:23} And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity.
People are going to fully and truly believe they are doing God's work, but they won't be and the deception seeps in when we turn our backs on the truth, on learning, on delving deeply and wresting scripture against scripture to gain understanding. If you want a flippant, feel good, all play no work walk with God you can have one, I don't want that. I want to understand all I can understand.
It's important to know that details can matter. The tiniest detail can reveal a counterfiet.
No sin enters the Sanctuary.
The blood that enters is the sacrifice made for the sinner.
God cannot abide sin. Sin separates from God the two can never be joined. God forgives sin through the sacrifice of His Son, He doesn't condone it.
May we all seek a much closer walk with Christ, a better understanding so that Christ will know us through and through.
In our Savior's all merciful name, by His grace...
Amen.
12/24/09
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
When we think of pleasure we don't automatically think of strife, do we? We think the opposite, we think of good things. What sort of things bring you pleasure? Most people do not answer with things that are harmful to themselves or others.
Pleasure -
The state or feeling of being pleased or gratified.
A source of enjoyment or delight.
God created us for His pleasure. Some might automatically start up with how sadistic God must be if that's the case but they don't realize that God never intended for us to sin. Just as we as parents never intend our children to grow up to be criminals, or failures in any way. God didn't intend for us to live with pain, sadness, and all that sin has marred His creation with. We were created for His pleasure. It's clear throughout the Bible that God doesn't find pleasure in sin at all.
1Ch 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness.
Psa 5:4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
Eze 18:23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
For God's pleasure we were created and the alternative was not to have been created at all. God is merciful, loving, He is all that is good. And yes, he hates sin and one day sin will be no more. Life will be as it should be, we will be as He created us to be happy in Him, love abounding always.
It's all but impossible for us to imagine such a thing because so much of our lives are wrapped up in sin and getting pleasure from sin. It will be a reality some day and the joy will be unimaginable. Giving up the short lived pleasures we have here and now, for joy everlasting in Jesus, joy not marred by sin at all. It's a dream, it's a happily ever after that will be realized. It's not a fairy tale at all, there is a happy ending.
May God fill our hearts with His love, may we be His now and forever! By the grace and mercy of Christ may we find joy in Him now and forever.
Amen.
12/24/10
We are dependent
upon God, and if we forget that we are lost. Without God we have no hope. The
miracle of our Savior- is that hope is given back to us. ONLY by the grace of
God do we have hope. Nothing we did brought that hope, nothing we can do will
manufacture hope. We are given that hope by grace, unwarranted, undeserved.
Have you ever
been given something you didn't deserve and you KNEW you didn't deserve it for
whatever reason? How did it make you feel? Wasn't there a touch of dismay brought
on by the fact you knew the gift was completely underserved, in fact if anything
the opposite would be much more appropriate- you should be punished. Yet there
it is, an undeserved gift and offered to you.
The most precious
gift in life is the forgiveness we can find through our Savior.
His
righteousness, not ours, not ever ours.
Psa 143:1 A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O
LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy
righteousness.
Psa 143:2 And enter not into judgment with thy
servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
To be judged we
will forever be found wanting, in the sight of God we CANNOT be justified on our
own- it's IMPOSSIBLE.
Psa 143:3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul;
he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in
darkness, as those that have been long dead.
Those long dead
dwell in darkness, the darkness of death's sleep and Satan would have us enter
into a living death, a living darkness- completely void of the light of
salvation.
Psa 143:4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed
within me; my heart within me is desolate.
The feelings of
despair are NOT special to us, every human being has this propensity to feel
the overwhelming heaviness in spirit, our heart desolate. There is no magic key
to keep away these feelings, and so many people turn to pills and alcohol and
other things to push away the darkness in their lives, not realizing it is when
we feel the desolation, when we feel the overwhelming of our spirit it is that
which draws us towards Christ- towards the realization He has to be our all in
all and we will not find peace in this world outside of Him.
Psa 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate
on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
Psa 143:6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my
soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Everyone has seen
how water quickly disappears in the parched earth, yes? You've seen very dry
dirt, cracked and crumbling and poured water upon it, yes? Thirsty land eagerly
absorbs the water poured upon it without hesitation. A soul thirsty for Christ
is eager and ready to absorb all that Christ has to offer.
Psa 143:7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit
faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into
the pit.
Psa 143:8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in
the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should
walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Cause us to know
the way we should walk as we lift up our lives to You God.
Psa 143:9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies:
I flee unto thee to hide me.
Deliver us from
all our enemies and the spiritual evil that attacks us is truly from our
greatest enemy, help us as we flee to you, seeking to hide in You.
Psa 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art
my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Teach us because
Lord we don't automatically know, we aren't inclined in the natural man to do
Your will, TEACH us Lord, please, TEACH us to know and to DO THY WILL.
Psa 143:11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's
sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
Psa 143:12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies,
and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
We would be YOURS
Lord! We would be Yours, under Your protection! We are Your servants Lord, Your
servants. So much in life would
have us turn our backs on You and Your will and follow paths that are far from
being the paths You would have us take. Enemies surround us and so often we
cannot even see them, the most evil of enemies fighting the spiritual warfare
against us while we simply go about our daily lives as if we are not in a war at
all. How easy is it to lose a
battle you don't even realize you are fighting? Seriously? Sneak attacks at the
very beginnings of wars have the distinct advantage of destroying a multitude of
lives simply because they weren't expected. Hundreds, thousands dead simply
because they didn't even realize they needed to be prepared to fight- that an
enemy was right there on their doorstep. Dead before they even understand what's
going on. Satan works this way too. Satan loves to have people spend their
entire lives oblivious to His existence in their lives in a very, very real way.
So many people rush through life and ignore the fact they are in a war, a
spiritual war and we need our Savior to destroy those who afflict our souls, we
need God to cut off our enemies. We need God to have mercy upon us, wonderful,
wonderful mercy.
Please Lord bless
us.
Thank you for
Your amazing love, for Your mercy, for Your grace!
In You
Always!
Amen.