The Serious Implications of the
Antitypical
Day of Atonement—Part
1
Psa 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary:
who is so great a God as our God?
Psa 77:14 Thou art the God that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy
strength among the people.
Psa 77:15 Thou hast with thine arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob
and Joseph. Selah.
“As a people, we should be earnest students of prophecy; we should not rest until we become intelligent in regard to the
subject of the sanctuary, which is brought out in the visions of Daniel and John.”—Evangelism, pp. 222, 223.
What
you are about to discover are the most serious realizations associated with
true Christianity. God’s ways are indeed found in the Sanctuary Service which
was to be a lesson book for the redemption of His people. The lesson book has
been denigrated to the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans, only believe and rely on grace
and faith. It is safe to rely on grace and faith if the two P’s of grace are
appropriated in the life of the believer. The following grave implications are
involved. This document is but an overview of the following topics which I will
develop in-depth in a following series.
·
The Sanctuary Service
·
Implications of the Antitypical Day of Atonement since 1844,
versus the Feast Day Celebrations.
·
How sins have gone in beforehand to Judgment prior to 1844. 1Ti 5:24 Some
men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they
follow after.
·
The fact of the God act of regeneration of the bride and all men
of all ages.
·
The Midnight Cry of 1844 to all ten virgins, Matthew 25, for
they all slumbered and slept.
·
The Investigative Judgment as taught by the Sanctuary Service in
Scripture.
·
The marriage of Christ to His bride, His church, in the heavenly
Sanctuary, before He comes.
·
The shut-door implications of Revelation 3.
·
The two P’s of grace.
·
The Three Persons of the Godhead and the Atonement.
The following is a
copy of the book by Ellen G. White, which was put online by Vance Ferrell. I
add some notations that I identify as notes by me. rwb
CHRIST in His
SANCTUARY
A
Compilation from the Writings of Ellen G. White
“The
subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly
understood by the
people of God.”-The Great Controversy, page 488.
“I
know that the sanctuary question stands in righteousness and truth, just as we
have held it for so many years. It is the enemy that leads minds off on
sidetracks. He is pleased when those who know the truth become engrossed in
collecting scriptures to pile around erroneous theories, which have no
foundation in truth. The scriptures thus used are misapplied; they were not given
to substantiate error, but to strengthen truth.”-Gospel Workers, page 303.
PACIFIC
PRESS PUBLISHING ASSOCIATION
Mountain
View, California
Oshawa,
Ontario
Contents
1.
The Sanctuary Truth-An Introduction
2.
Christ in the Sacrificial System
3.
The Heavenly Sanctuary in Miniature
4.
The Gospel in Type and Antitype
5.
The judgment Message Stirs America
6.
Daniel 8. 14 and Steps in God's Mysterious Leadings
7.
The End of the 2300 Days
8.
The Glorious Temple in Heaven
9.
Our High Priest in the Holy of Holies
10.
Christ's Closing ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary
Copyright
@ 1969, by Pacific Press publishing Association
Litho in United
States of America. All Rights Reserved
Library
of Congress Catalog Card No. 70-94869
Six
printings, 75,000
ISBN
0-8163-0128-X
(Page 3)
The Sanctuary Truth -
An introduction*
Writing of what must be accomplished by
the emerging Seventh-day Adventist Church before the Lord shall come, Ellen G.
White in 1883 said:
“The minds of believers were to be directed
to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ had entered to make atonement for His
people.”—Selected Messages, Ilk. 1, p. 67.
In a crisis in 1906, in which certain of
the basic teachings of Seventh-day Adventists were threatened, she wrote:
“The
correct understanding of the ministration in the heavenly sanctuary is the
foundation of our faith.”—Evangelism, page
221.
THE
END OF THE 2300 DAYS
Among the prophecies forming the foundation
of the advent awakening of the 1830's and the early 1840's was the prophecy of
Daniel 8:14. “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the
sanctuary be cleansed.” Ellen White, who passed
through the experience, explains concerning the application of this
prophecy.
“In common with the rest of the Christian
World, Adventists then held that the earth, or some portion of it, was the
sanctuary. They understood that the cleansing of the sanctuary was the
____________
*An introductory
chapter prepared in the office of the Ellen G. White Estate, providing the
historical setting for the E. G. White chapters and other of her materials
selected for the study of the sanctuary truth as understood and taught by
Seventh-day Adventists.
Page
4
purification of the earth by the fires of the last great day,
and that this would take place at the second advent. Hence the conclusion that
Christ would return to the earth in 1.844.”—The Great Controversy, page 409.
This prophetic period came to its close on
October 22, 1844. The disappointment to those who expected to meet their Lord
on that day was great. Hiram Edson, a careful Bible student in mid-New York
State, describes what took place among the company of believers of which he was
a part:
“Our expectations were raised high, and
thus we looked for our coming Lord until the clock tolled twelve at midnight.
The day had then passed, and our disappointment had become a certainty. Our
fondest hopes and expectations were blasted, and such a spirit of weeping came
over us as I never experienced before. It seemed that the loss of all earthly
friends could have been no comparison. We wept and wept, till the day dawn....
“I mused in my heart, saying: 'My advent
experience has been the brightest of all my Christian experience. . . . Has the
Bible proved a failure? Is there no God, no heaven, no golden city, no
Paradise? Is all this but a cunningly devised fable? Is there no reality to our
fondest hopes and expectations?' . . .
“I began to feel there might be light and
help for us in our distress. I said to some of the brethren: 'Let us go to the
barn.' We entered the granary, shut the doors about us, and bowed before the
Lord. We prayed earnestly, for we felt our necessity. We continued in earnest
prayer until the witness of the Spirit was given that our prayers were
accepted, and that light should be given-our disappointment explained, made
clear and satisfactory.
“After breakfast I said to one of my
brethren, 'Let us go and see and encourage some of our brethren.' We started,
and while passing through a large field, I was stopped about midway of the
field. Heaven seemed open to my view, and I saw distinctly and clearly that
instead of our High Priest coming out of the most holy place of the heavenly
sanctuary to this earth on the tenth day of the seventh month, at the end of
the 2300 days, He, for
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the
first time, entered on that day into the second apartment of that sanctuary, and that He had
a work to perform in the most holy place before coming to the earth; that He
came to the marriage, or in other words, to the Ancient of Days, to receive a
kingdom, dominion, and glory; and that
we must wait for His return from the wedding. And my mind was
directed to where I could see the
vision had spoken and did not lie.”-Unpublished, manuscript published in part
in the Review and Herald, June 23, 1921.
There followed a careful investigation of
the scriptures that touched on this subject-particularly those in Hebrews by
Hiram Edson and two close associates, Dr. F. B. Hahn, a physician, and 0. R. L.
Crosier, a teacher. The result of this joint study was written up by Crosier
and was published, first in The Day Dawn, a paper of limited circulation, and
then in rewritten and enlarged form in a special issue of the Day-Star, on February
7, 1846. This was a more widely read Adventist journal, published at
Cincinnati, Ohio. Through this medium it reached a number of the disappointed
Advent believers. The rather lengthy presentation, well supported by Scripture,
brought hope and courage to their hearts as it clearly showed that the
sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 days is in heaven, and not on
earth, as they had believed earlier.
Ellen G. White, in a statement written on
April 21, 1847, declared in endorsement of the Crosier article on the sanctuary
question:
“The Lord showed me in vision, more than one
year ago, that Brother Crosier had the true light, on the cleansing of the
sanctuary, etc.; and that it was His will, that Brother Crosier should write
out the view which he gave us in the Day-Star Extra, February 7, 1846. I feel
fully authorized by the Lord, to recommend that Extra, to every saint.”-A Word
to the Little Flock, page 12.
At a later time she wrote of the rapid
development of doctrinal understanding which followed the disappointment:
“The passing of the time in 1844 was a
period of great events,
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6
opening to our astonished eyes the cleansing of the sanctuary
transpiring in heaven, and having decided relation to God's people upon the
earth.” Manuscript 13, 1889, published in Counsels to Writers and Editors, page
30.
A
TRUTH ESTABLISHED BY THE WITNESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The
visions given to Ellen White, while not running ahead of Bible study, confirmed
the soundness of the position that an important phase of Christ's ministry in
the heavenly sanctuary was entered upon on October 22, 1844. Gradually the
breadth and depth of the subject opened before the Advent believers. Looking
back on the experience in later years, she recalled their study and the
manifest evidences of God's guiding hand:
“Many
of our people do not realize how firmly the foundation of our faith has been
laid. My husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Father Pierce,* Elder [Hiram] Edson, and others
who were keen, noble, and true, were among those who, after the passing of the
time in 1844, searched for the truth as for hidden treasure. I met with them,
and we studied and prayed earnestly. Often we remained together until late at
night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for light and studying
the Word. Again and again these brethren came together to study the Bible, in
order that they might know its meaning, and be prepared to teach it with power.
When they came to the point in their study where they said, 'We can do nothing
more,” the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me, I would be taken off in
vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been studying would be
given me, with instruction as to how we were to labor and teach effectively.
Thus light was given that helped us to understand the scriptures in regard to
Christ, His mission, and His priesthood. A line of truth extending from that
time to the time when we shall
____________
* Older brethren
among the pioneers are here thus reminiscently referred to. 'Father
Pierce" was Stephen Pierce, who served in ministerial and administrative
work in the early days.
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7
enter the City of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others the
instruction that the Lord had given me.
“During
this whole time I could not understand the reasoning of the brethren. My mind
was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend the meaning of the
scriptures we were studying. This was one of the greatest sorrows of my life. I
was in this condition of mind until all the principal points of our faith were
made clear to our minds, in harmony with the
Word of God. The brethren knew that when not in vision, I
could not understand these matters, and they accepted as light direct from
heaven the revelations given.”–Selected Messages, bk. 1, pp. 206, 207.
The
realization that Christ had entered the most holy place in the heavenly
sanctuary to begin His closing ministry in our behalf, typified in the
sanctuary service observed by Israel of old, solemnized the hearts of our pioneer
Adventists.
The
truths were so clear, so grand, so vital, that it was
difficult to sense that upon them rested the responsibility of imparting this
light to others. Ellen White wrote of the certainty of their position:
'We
are to be established in the faith, in the light of the truth given us in our
early experience. At that time one error after another pressed in upon us;
ministers and doctors brought in new doctrines. We would search the Scriptures
with much prayer, and the Holy Spirit would bring the truth to our minds.
Sometimes whole nights would be devoted to searching the Scriptures, and
earnestly asking God for guidance. Companies of devoted men and women assembled
for this purpose. The power of God would come upon me, and I was enabled
clearly to define what is truth and what is error.
“As
the points of our faith were thus established, our feet were placed upon a
solid foundation. We accepted the truth point by point, under the demonstration
of the Holy Spirit. I would be taken off in vision, and explanations would be
given me. I was given illustrations of heavenly things, and of the sanctuary,
so that we were placed where light was shining on us in clear, distinct rays. I
know that the sanctuary question stands in righteousness and truth, just as we
have held it for so many years.”-Gospel Workers, pages 302, 303.
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8
“I
know that the sanctuary question stands
in righteousness and truth, just as we have held it for so many years.”—Gospel
Workers, pages 302, 303.
The
pioneers of the movement saw the sanctuary truth as basic to the whole
structure of Seventh-day Adventist doctrine. James White, in 1850, republished
the essential portions of the first presentation of the subject by 0. R. L.
Crosier, and commented:
“The
subject of the sanctuary should be carefully examined, as it lies at the
foundation of our faith and hope.”-The Advent Review (special combined number).
THE SANCTUARY
AND THE SABBATH
It was
in the setting of a view of the heavenly sanctuary that the Sabbath truth was
confirmed in the vision given to Ellen White on April 3, 1847, at the Howland
home in Topsham, Maine. Of this she writes:
'We
felt an unusual spirit of prayer. And as we prayed the Holy Ghost fell upon us.
We were very happy. Soon I was lost to earthly things and was wrapped in a
vision of God's glory. I saw an angel flying swiftly to me. He quickly carried
me from the earth to the Holy City. In the city I saw a temple, which I
entered. I passed through a door before I came to the first veil.
This
veil was raised, and I passed into the holy place. Here I saw the altar of
incense, the candlestick with seven lamps, and the table on which was the show
bread. After viewing the glory of the holy, Jesus raised the second veil and I
passed into the holy of holies.
In
the holiest I saw an ark; on the top and sides of it was purest gold. On each
end of the ark was a lovely cherub, with its wings spread out over it. Their
faces were turned toward each other, and they looked downward. Between the
angels was a golden censer. Above the ark, where the angels stood, was an
exceeding bright glory, that appeared like a throne where God
dwelt. Jesus stood by the ark, and as the saints' prayers came up
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to Him, the incense in the censer would smoke, and He would offer
up their prayers with the smoke of the incense to His Father. In the ark was the golden pot of manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and
the tables of stone which folded together like a book. Jesus opened them, and I
saw the Ten Commandments written on them with the finger of God. On one table
were four, and on the other six. The four on the first table shone brighter
than the other six. But the fourth, the Sabbath commandment, shone above them
all; for the Sabbath was set apart to be kept in honor of God's holy name. The holy
Sabbath looked glorious -a halo of glory was all around it. I saw that the
Sabbath commandment was not nailed to the cross. If it was, the other nine
commandments were; and we are at liberty to break them all, as well as to break
the fourth. I saw that God had not changed the Sabbath, for He never
changes.”—Early Writings, pages 32, 33.
THE
SANCTUARY TRUTH UNDER FIRE
While
there were those who saw clearly the binding claims of God's law and began to
observe the Seventh-day Sabbath as set forth in the law of God, they
encountered strong opposition. Of this and the reasons for it, Ellen White
explains:
“Many
and earnest were the efforts made to overthrow their faith. None could fail to
see that if the earthly sanctuary was a figure or pattern of the
heavenly, the law deposited in the ark on earth was an exact transcript of the
law in the ark in heaven; and that an acceptance of the truth concerning the
heavenly sanctuary involved an acknowledgment of the claims of God's law, and
the obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. Here was the secret of
the bitter and determined opposition to the harmonious exposition of the
Scriptures that revealed the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary.”—The Great
Controversy, page 435.
It
is little wonder that those in subsequent years defecting from the Seventh-day
Adventist Church should make the sanctuary
truth a point of opposition. It was so with Elders Snook
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10
and
Brinkerhof, conference officers in Iowa, who withdrew
in the middle 1860's, and with D. M. Canright, an
influential minister, who left the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1887 to
become a bitter enemy and critic. Nor is it strange that the pantheistic views
at the turn of the century, espoused and advocated by both medical and
ministerial workers, should strike directly at this fundamental doctrine. It was in this
setting that Ellen White in warning words wrote on November 20, 1905:
Note
by Ron: The way in which the pantheistic views of Kellogg and cronies struck
against the Sanctuary truth, is this: If God’s presence was already in all men
as a result of pantheism, there was no need of any work in the heavenly
Sanctuary to cleanse sin from man by the power of the Holy Ghost. There was no
need of any antitypical Day of Atonement on which we are to overcome all known
sin because men were already made holy by faith alone—the Doctrine of the
Nicolaitans. Thus they could “only believe” and all would be well regardless of
their indulgence in sin. This type of religion serves the cause of Satan, in
making man believe they don’t need any additional aid of the Holy Spirit for
overcoming sin and/or there is no need for Christ pleading His blood in the
Most Holy Place for their sin. End note.
“To
those medical missionaries and ministers who have been drinking in the
scientific sophistries and bewitching fables against which you have been
warned, I would say, Your souls are in peril. The world must know where you are
standing and where Seventh-day Adventists are standing. God calls for all who
have accepted these soul-destroying
delusions no longer to halt between two opinions. If
the Lord be God, follow Him.
“Satan,
with all his host is on the battlefield. Christ's
soldiers are now to rally round the bloodstained banner of Emmanuel. In the
name of the Lord, leave the black banner of the prince of darkness, and take
your position with the Prince of heaven.
He
that hath ears to hear, let him hear.' Read your
Bibles. From higher ground, under the instruction given me of God, I present
these things before you. The time is near when the deceptive powers of satanic
agencies will be fully developed. On one side is Christ, who has been given all
power in heaven and earth. On the other side is Satan, continually
exercising his power to allure, to deceive with strong,
spiritualistic sophistries, to remove God out of the place that He should
occupy in the minds of men.
“Satan
is striving continually to bring in fanciful suppositions in regard to the
sanctuary, degrading the wonderful representations of God and the ministry
of Christ for our salvation into something that suits the carnal mind. He
removes its presiding power from the hearts of believers, and supplies its
place with fantastic theories invented to make void the truths
of the atonement, and destroy
our confidence in the doctrines which we have
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held sacred since the third angel's message was first given. Thus he
would rob us of our faith in the very message that has made us a separate
people, and has given character and power to our work.”—Special Testimonies,
Series B, No. 7, pp. 16, 17.
It
was in the setting of this pantheistic crisis that Ellen White, attending the
General Conference session of 1905, declared in words significant to us today:
In
the future, deception of every kind is to arise, and we want solid ground for
our feet. We want solid pillars for the building. Not one pin is to be removed
from that which the Lord has established. The
enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no
sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from
the faith.
Where
shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the
Lord has been giving for the last fifty years?”—Counsels to Writers and
Editors, page 53.
The
pantheistic views, so earnestly advocated by some, Ellen White declared, would
“do away with God” (Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, p. 16) and invalidate
the sanctuary truth.
At
about the same time one of our ministers, whom we will identify as “Elder Q”
espoused the view that when Christ went back to heaven after his ministry on
earth, He went into the presence of God, and that where God is, must be the
most holy place, therefore on October 22, 1844, there was no entering into the
most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary as
we believed and taught. These two concepts, both of which struck
at the doctrine of the sanctuary as we held it, led Ellen White several times
to refer to the soundness and integrity of this point of faith. In 1904 she
wrote:
“They
(the children of God) will not, by their words and acts, lead anyone to doubt in regard to the distinct personality of God,
or in regard to the sanctuary and its ministry.
'We all need to keep the subject of the
sanctuary in mind. God forbid that the clatter of words coming from human lips
should lessen the belief of our people in the truth that there is a sanc-
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tuary in heaven, and
that a pattern of this sanctuary was once built on this earth. God desires His people to become familiar with
this pattern, keeping ever before their minds the heavenly sanctuary, where God
is all and in all. We must keep our minds braced by prayer and a study of God's
Word, that we may grasp these truths.”-E. G. White Letter 233, 1904.
POINTS
SUSTAINED ONLY BY MISUSED SCRIPTURES
Writing
particularly of “Elder G's” work in undermining confidence in the sanctuary
truth in 1905, Ellen White pointed out the unsoundness of his use of Scripture
evidence and the dependability of our understanding of the sanctuary truth.
This is what she said:
I
have been pleading with the Lord for strength and wisdom to reproduce the
writings of the witnesses who were confirmed in the faith and in the early
history of the message. After the passing of the time in 1844 they received the
light and walked in the light, and when the men claiming to have new light
would come in with their wonderful messages regarding various points of Scripture,
we had, through the moving of the Holy Spirit, testimonies right to the point,
which cut off the influence of such messages as Elder G has been devoting his
time to presenting. This poor man has been working decidedly against the truth
that the Holy Spirit has confirmed.
“When
the power of God testifies as to what is truth, that
truth is to stand forever as the truth. No after suppositions contrary to the
light God has given are to be entertained. Men will arise with interpretations
of Scripture which are to them truth, but which are not truth. The truth for
this time God has given us as a foundation for our faith. He Himself has taught
us what is truth. One will arise, and still another,
with new light, which contradicts the light that God has given under the
demonstration of His Holy Spirit. A few are still alive who passed through the
experience gained in the establishment of this truth. God has graciously spared
their lives to repeat, and repeat till the close
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of their lives, the experience through which they passed even as
did John the apostle till the very close of his life. And the standard-bearers
who have fallen in death are to speak through the reprinting of their writings.
I am instructed that thus their voices are to be heard. They are to bear their
testimony as to what constitutes the truth for this time.
'We
are not to receive the words of those who come with a message that contradicts
the special points of our faith. They gather together a mass of Scripture, and
pile it as proof around their asserted theories. This has been done over and
over again during the past fifty years. And while the Scriptures are God's
Word, and are to be respected, the application of them, if such application
moves one pillar from the foundation that God has sustained these fifty years,
is a great mistake.
He
who makes such an application knows not the wonderful demonstration of the Holy
Spirit that gave power and force to the past messages that have come to the
people of God.
“Elder
G's proofs are not reliable. If received, they would destroy the faith of God's
people in the truth that has made us what we are.
“We
must be decided on this subject; for the points that he is trying to prove by
Scripture, are not sound. They do not prove that the past experience of God's
people was a. fallacy. We had the truth; we were directed by the angels of God.
It
was under the guidance of the Holy Spirit that the presentation of the
sanctuary question was given. It is eloquence for everyone to keep silent in regard to the
features of our faith in which they acted no part. God never contradicts
Himself.
Scripture
proofs are misapplied if forced to testify to that which is not true. Another
and still another will arise and bring in supposedly great light, and make their
assertions. But we stand by the old landmarks.” Selected
Messages, Bk. 1, pp. 160-162.
THE
REALITY OF THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY AFFIRMED
Repeatedly
we find in the Ellen G. White writings statements
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on the reality of the heavenly sanctuary, its furnishings, and its
ministry. One such was penned in the 1880's as she described the experience of
the Advent believers following the disappointment:
In
their investigation they learned, that the earthly sanctuary, built by Moses at
the command of God, according to the pattern shown him in the mount, was 'a
figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and
sacrifices;' that its two holy places were 'patterns of things in the
heavens;' that Christ, our great High Priest, is 'a minister of the
sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord
pitched, and not man.' . . .
“The
sanctuary in heaven, in which Jesus ministers in our behalf, is the great
original, of which the sanctuary built by Moses was a copy. .
“The
matchless splendor of the earthly tabernacle reflected to human vision the
glories of that heavenly temple where Christ our forerunner ministers for us
before the throne of God.
“As the sanctuary on earth had two apartments, the holy and the
most holy, so there are two holy places in the sanctuary in heaven. And the ark
containing the law of God, the altar of incense, and other instruments of
service found in the sanctuary below, have also their counterpart in the
sanctuary above. In holy vision the apostle John was permitted to
enter heaven, and he there beheld the candlestick and the altar of
incense, and as 'the temple of God was opened,' he beheld also 'the ark of His testament.'
[Rev. 4:5; 8:3; 11:19.1].
“Those
who were seeking for the truth found indisputable proof of the existence of a
sanctuary in heaven. Moses made the earthly sanctuary after a pattern which was
shown him. Paul declares that that pattern was the true sanctuary
which is in heaven. John testifies that he saw it in heaven.”—Spirit of
Prophecy, Vol. IV, pp. 260, 261.
Earlier
she had written with emphasis on the furniture:
I
was also shown a sanctuary upon the earth containing two apartments. It
resembled the one
in heaven, and I was told that it was a figure of the heavenly.
The furniture of the first apart-
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ment of the earthly
sanctuary was like that in the first apartment of the heavenly. The veil was
lifted, and I looked into the holy of holies, and saw that the furniture was
the same
as in the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary.”—Early
Writings, pages 252, 253.
THE
ARK AND THE LAW IN THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY
On
different occasions she spoke and wrote of the ark in the most holy place in the
heavenly sanctuary. One such statement was made in a sermon preached in Orebro,
Sweden, in 1886.
I
warn you, Do not place your influence against God's
commandments. That law is just as Jehovah wrote it in the temple of heaven. Man
may trample upon its copy here below, but the original is kept in the ark of God in
heaven; and on the cover of this ark, right above that law, is the mercy seat.
Jesus stands right there before that ark to mediate for man.”—Ellen G. White
Comments, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, p. 1109.
And
in 1903 she again wrote of the reality of the heavenly sanctuary:
“I
could say much regarding the sanctuary; the ark containing the law of God; the
cover of the ark, which is the mercy seat; the angels at either end of the ark;
and other things connected with the heavenly sanctuary and with the great day of atonement. I could say much regarding the mysteries
of heaven; but my lips are closed. I have no inclination to try to describe
them.”—Ellen G. White Letter 253, 1903.
LAST-DAY
DELUSIONS WILL INVOLVE VITAL TRUTH
It
is clear that our adversary, Satan, will try to unsettle the faith of God's
people in the doctrine of the sanctuary in these 1atter days.” Ellen White
wrote:
“The
Savior foretold that in the latter days false prophets would appear, and draw
away disciples after them; and also that those who in this time of peril should
stand faithful to the truth that is specified in the book of Revelation, would
have to meet
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doctrinal errors so specious that, if it were possible,
the very elect would be deceived.
“God
would have every true sentiment prevail. Satan can skillfully play the game of
life with many souls, and he acts in a most underhanded, deceptive manner to
spoil the faith of the people of God and to discourage them.... He works today
as he worked in heaven-to divide the people of God in the very last stage of
this earth's history. He seeks to create dissension, and to arouse contention
and discussion, and to remove if possible the old landmarks of truth committed
to God's people. He tries to make it appear as if the Lord contradicts Himself.
1t
is when Satan appears as an angel of light, that he takes souls in his snare,
deceiving them. Men who pretend to have been taught of God, will adopt
fallacious theories, and in their teaching will so adorn these fallacies as to
bring in Satanic delusions. Thus Satan will be
introduced as an angel of light, and will have opportunity to present his
pleasing fables.
“These
false prophets will have to be met. They will make an effort to deceive many,
by leading them to accept false theories. Many scriptures will be misapplied in
such a way that deceptive theories will apparently be based upon the words that
God has spoken. Precious truth will be appropriated to substantiate and establish
error. These false prophets, who
claim to be taught of God, will take beautiful scriptures that have
been given to adorn the truth, and will use them as a robe of righteousness to
cover false and dangerous theories. And even some of those who in times past
the Lord has honored, will depart so far from the truth as to advocate
misleading theories regarding many phases of truth, including the
sanctuary
question.”—Manuscript 11, 1906. (Emphasis supplied.)
A
few weeks later she added these words on the importance of a correct
understanding of this truth:
I
know that the sanctuary question stands in righteousness and truth, just as we
have held it for so many years. It is the enemy that leads minds off on
sidetracks. He is pleased when
Page
17
those who know the truth become engrossed in collecting scriptures to
pile around erroneous theories, which have no foundation in truth. The
scriptures thus used are misapplied; they were not given to substantiate error,
but to strengthen truth.”-Gospel Workers, page 303.
WITH
EYES FIXED ON THE SANCTUARY
At
no time are we to lose sight of the important work being done in our behalf in
the sanctuary in heaven. We are admonished:
“As
a people, we should be earnest students of prophecy; we should not rest until we
become intelligent in regard to the subject of the sanctuary, which is brought
out in the visions of Daniel and John. This subject sheds great light on our
present position and work, and gives us unmistakable proof that God has led us
in our past experience. It explains our disappointment in 1844, showing us that the
sanctuary to be cleansed was not the earth, as we had supposed, but that Christ
then entered into the most holy apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and is
there performing the closing work of His priestly office, in fulfillment of the
words of the angel to the prophet Daniel, 'Unto two thousand and three hundred
days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.'
Note
by Ron: The three angels’ messages are cleansing messages. They instruct us to
worship God and come out of Babylon. We are judged according to our obedience
to those messages. Our obedience cleanses our own body temple, and Jesus is
thus able to finally cleanse the Sanctuary in heaven of sin. End note.
“Our
faith in reference to the messages of the first, second, and third angels was
correct. The great way marks we have passed are
immovable. Although the hosts of hell may try to tear them from their
foundation, and triumph in the thought that they have succeeded, yet they do
not succeed. These pillars of truth stand firm as the eternal hills, unmoved by
all the efforts of men combined with those of Satan and his host. We can learn
much, and should be constantly searching the Scriptures to see if these things
are so. God's people are now to have their eyes fixed on the heavenly
sanctuary, where the final ministration of our great High Priest in the
work of the judgment is going forward,-where He is interceding for His
people.”-Evangelism, pages 222, 223.
Page
18
THIS
LITTLE BOOK
Except
for a few footnotes and the study questions which follow each chapter, the
materials which follow are exclusively from the pen of Ellen G. White and
consist primarily of chapters from Patriarchs
and Prophets and The Great
Controversy, with some bridging materials drawn together
from various E. G. White published writings. In each case the source is given. As most readers will have at hand the E. G.
White books, it has seemed unnecessary here, where brevity is desirable, to
include portions of chapters not immediately relevant to the subject-Christ in
His sanctuary-The White Trustees.
Page
19
Christ in the
Sacrificial System*
The
sin of our first parents brought guilt and sorrow upon the world, and had it not
been for the goodness and mercy of God, would have plunged the race into
hopeless despair.[1]
The
fall of man filled all heaven with sorrow. The world that God had made was
blighted with the curse of sin and inhabited by beings doomed to misery and death.
There appeared no escape for those who had transgressed the law....
But
divine love had conceived a plan whereby man might be redeemed. The broken law
of God demanded the life of the sinner. In
all the universe there was but one who could, in
behalf of man, satisfy its claims. Since
the divine law is as sacred as God Himself, only one equal with God could make
atonement for its transgression.[2]
To
man the first intimation of redemption was communicated in the sentence
pronounced upon Satan in the garden.
The
Lord declared, I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy
seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
Genesis 3:15. This sentence, uttered in the hearing of our first parents, was
to them a promise. While it foretold war between man and Satan, it declared that
the power of the great adversary would finally be broken.... Though they must
suffer from the power of their mighty foe, they could look forward to final
victory.[3]
____________
*The
statements comprising this chapter are drawn from Patriarchs and Prophets and other E. G. White published materials.
Page
20
Heavenly
angels more fully opened to our first parents the plan that had been devised
for their salvation. Adam and his companion were assured that notwithstanding
their great sin, they were not to be abandoned to the control of Satan. The Son of God
had offered to atone, with His own life, for their transgression. A period of
probation would be granted them, and through repentance, and faith in Christ, they might
again become the children of God.
THE
SACRED CHARACTER OF GOD'S LAW
The
sacrifice demanded by their transgression, revealed to Adam and Eve the sacred
character of the law of God; and they saw, as they had never seen before, the
guilt of sin, and its dire results.[4]
The law of God existed before man was created. The angels
were governed by it. Satan fell because he transgressed the principles of God's
government. After Adam and Eve were created, God made known to them His
law. It was not then written, but was rehearsed to them by Jehovah....
After
Adam's sin and fall, nothing was taken from the law of God. The principles of
the Ten Commandments existed before the fall, and were of a character suited to
the condition of a holy order of beings.[5]
The
principles were more explicitly stated to man after the fall, and worded to
meet the case of fallen intelligences. This was necessary in consequence of the
minds of men being blinded by transgression.[6]
A system
was then established requiring the sacrificing of beasts, to keep before fallen
man that which the serpent made Eve disbelieve, that the penalty of
disobedience is death. The transgression of God's law made it necessary for
Christ to die a sacrifice, and thus make a way possible for man to escape the
penalty, and yet the honor of God's law be preserved.
The system of sacrifices was to teach man
humility, in view of his fallen condition, and lead him to repentance, and to
trust in God alone,
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21
through the promised Redeemer, for pardon for past transgression of His
law.[7]
Note by Ron: The above statement is proof that
repentance and trust in God is still a condition of salvation. Sin still
crucifies Christ afresh! That fact should humble us and help cause us to repent
of sin, which is a turning from sin. End note.
The
very system of sacrifices was devised by Christ, and given to Adam as typifying
a Savior to come.”[8]
MAN
OFFERS HIS FIRST SACRIFICE
To
Adam, the offering of the first sacrifice was a most painful ceremony. His hand
must be raised to take life, which only God could give. It was the first time
he had ever witnessed death, and he knew that had he been obedient to
God,
there would have been no death of man or beast. As he slew the innocent victim he trembled at
the thought that his sin must shed the blood of the spotless Lamb of God. This
scene gave him a deeper and more vivid sense of the greatness of his
transgression, which nothing but the death of God's dear Son could expiate. And he marveled
at the infinite goodness that would give such a ransom to save the guilty. A
star of hope illumined the dark and terrible future and relieved it of its
utter desolation.[9]
Adam
was commanded to teach his descendants the fear of the Lord, and, by his
example and humble obedience, teach them to highly regard the offerings which
typified a Savior to come. Adam. carefully treasured
what God had revealed to him, and handed it down by word of mouth to his
children and children's children.[10]
At
the cherubim-guarded gate of Paradise the glory of God was revealed, and hither
came the first worshipers. Here their altars were reared, and their offerings
presented.[11]
In
the sacrificial offering on every altar was seen a Redeemer. With the cloud of
incense arose from every contrite heart the prayer that God would accept their
offerings as showing faith in the coming Savior.[12]
The
sacrificial system, committed to Adam, was ... perverted by his descendants.
Superstition, idolatry, cruelty, and
licentiousness corrupted the simple and significant service
that God had appointed. Through long intercourse with idolaters, the
Page
22
people of Israel had mingled many heathen customs with their worship; therefore
the Lord gave them at Sinai definite instruction concerning the sacrificial
service.[13]
____________
1. Patriarchs
and Prophets, page 61.
2.
Ibid.
p. 63.
3.
Ibid.,
pp. 65, 66.
4.
Ibid.,
p. 66.
5.
Spirit
of Prophecy, Vol. I, p. 261.
6.
Signs
of the Times, April 15, 1875.
7.
Spirit
of Prophecy, Vol. I, pp. 261, 262.
8.
Signs
of the Times, July 15, 1880.
9.
Patriarchs
and Prophets, page 68.
10.
Spirit
of Prophecy, Vol. I, page 59.
11.
Patriarchs
and Prophets, pages 83, 84.
12.
Review
and Herald, March 2, 1886.
13.
Patriarchs
and Prophets, page 364.
STUDY
QUESTIONS
1.
Why could only one equal with God make atonement for transgression of divine
law?
2.
What meaning did the declaration of Genesis 3:15 have for Satan? For Adam and Eve?
3.
Why was a period of probation granted?
4.
What were the purposes of the system of sacrifices?
5.
For what reasons was the first sacrifice by Adam a “painful ceremony”?
6.
Where did Adam and Eve set up their first altars? Is this significant?
Page 23
The Heavenly Sanctuary in Miniature
The
command was communicated to Moses while in the mount with God, “Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them;” and full
directions were given for the construction of the tabernacle. By their
apostasy the Israelites forfeited the blessing of the divine Presence, and for
the time rendered impossible the erection of a sanctuary for God among them. But after they
were again taken into favor with Heaven, the great leader proceeded to execute
the divine command.
Chosen
men were especially endowed by God with skill and wisdom for the construction
of the sacred building. God Himself gave to Moses the plan of that structure,
with particular directions as to its size and form, the materials to be
employed, and every article of furniture which it was to contain. The holy places
made with hands were to be figures of the true,” “patterns of things in the
heavens” (Hebrews 9:24, 23)—a miniature representation of the heavenly temple
where Christ, our great High Priest, after offering His life as a sacrifice,
was to minister in the sinner's behalf. God presented before Moses in the mount
a view of the heavenly sanctuary, and commanded him to make all things
according to the pattern shown him. All these directions were carefully
recorded by Moses, who communicated them to the leaders of the people.
For
the building of the sanctuary great and expensive preparations were necessary;
a large amount of the most precious and costly material was required; yet the
Lord accepted only freewill
Page
24
offerings. “Of every man that gives it willingly with
his heart ye shall take My offering” was the divine
command repeated by Moses to the congregation. Devotion to God and a spirit of
sacrifice were the first requisites in preparing a dwelling place for the Most
High.
All
the people responded with one accord. “They came, every one whose heart stirred
him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's
offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all His
service, and for the holy garments. And they came, both men and women, as many
as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and
tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered, offered an offering of
gold unto the Lord.”
Note
by Ron: The jewelry was given to the Israelites by the Egyptians when they left
Egypt. End note.
“And
every man with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen,
and goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and sealskins, brought them.
Everyone that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the Lord's
offering: and every man, with whom was found acacia
wood for any work of the service, brought it.
“And
all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought
that which they had spun, the blue, and the purple, the scarlet, and the fine
linen. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun the goats'
hair.
“And
the rulers brought the onyx stones, and the stones to be set, for the ephod,
and for the breastplate; and the spice, and the oil; for the light, and for the
anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.” Exodus 35:23-28, R.V.
While
the building of the sanctuary was in progress the people, old and young-men,
women, and children-continued to bring their offerings, until those in charge
of the work found that they had enough, and even more than could be used. And
Moses caused to be proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let neither man nor woman
make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were
restrained from bringing.”
The
murmurings of the Israelites and the visitations of God's
Page
25
judgments because of their sins are recorded as a
warning to after generations. And their devotion, their zeal and liberality, are an example
worthy of imitation. All who love the worship of God and prize the blessing of
His sacred presence will manifest the same spirit of sacrifice in preparing a
house where He may meet with them. They will desire to bring to the Lord an
offering of the very best that they possess. A house built for God should not
be left in debt, for He is thereby dishonored. An amount sufficient to
accomplish the work should be freely given, that the workmen may be able to say, . . . bring no more offerings.”
Note
by Ron: When Israel’s leaders and people committed unpardonable sin apostasy,
the faithful met in home churches:
Scripture on
Home Churches
Act 16:32 And they spake
unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
Act 16:34 And when he had
brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing
in God with all his house.
Act 16:40 And they went
out of the prison, and entered into [the house of] Lydia: and when they had
seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.
Act 18:7 And he departed
thence, and entered into a certain [man's] house, named Justus, [one] that
worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
Rom 16:5 Likewise [greet] the church that is in
their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia
unto Christ.
1Cr 1:11 For it hath been
declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them [which are of the house] of
Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1Cr 16:15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the
house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and [that] they have
addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
1Cr 16:19 The churches of
Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the
church that is in their house.
End note.
THE
TABERNACLE AND ITS CONSTRUCTION
The
tabernacle was so constructed that it could be taken apart and borne with the
Israelites in all their journeyings. It was therefore
small, being not more than fifty-five feet in length, and eighteen in breadth
and height. Yet it was a magnificent structure. The wood employed for the
building and its furniture was that of the acacia tree, which
was less subject to decay than any other to be obtained at Sinai. The
walls consisted of upright boards, set in silver sockets, and held firm by
pillars and connecting bars; and all were overlaid with gold, giving to the
building the appearance of solid gold. The roof was formed of four sets of
curtains, the innermost of “fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and
scarlet: with cherubim of cunning work;” the other three respectively were of
goats' hair, rams' skins dyed red, and sealskins, so arranged as to afford
complete protection.
The
building was divided into two apartments by a rich and beautiful curtain, or
veil, suspended from gold-plated pillars; and a similar veil closed the
entrance of the first apartment. These, like the inner covering, which formed
the ceiling, were of the most gorgeous colors, blue, purple, and scarlet,
beautifully arranged, while inwrought with threads of gold and silver were
cherubim to represent the angelic host who are connected with the work of the
heavenly sanctuary and who are ministering spirits to the people of God on
earth.
Page
26
The
sacred tent was enclosed in an open space called the court, which was
surrounded by hangings, or screens, of fine linen, suspended from pillars of
brass. The entrance to this enclosure was at the eastern end. It was closed by
curtains of costly material and beautiful workmanship, though inferior to those
of the sanctuary. The hangings of the court being only about half as high as
the walls of the tabernacle, the building could be plainly seen by the people
without. In the court, and nearest the entrance, stood the brazen altar of
burnt offering. Upon this altar were consumed all the sacrifices made by fire
unto the Lord, and its horns were sprinkled with the atoning blood. Between the
altar and the door of the tabernacle was the
laver, which was also of brass, made from the mirrors that had been
the freewill offering of the women of Israel. At the laver the priests were to
wash their hands and their feet whenever they went into the sacred apartments,
or approached the altar to offer a burnt offering unto the Lord.
In
the first apartment, or holy place, were the table of show bread, the
candlestick, or lamp stand, and the altar of incense. The table of show bread
stood on the north. With its ornamental crown, it was overlaid with pure gold.
On this table the priests were each Sabbath to place twelve cakes, arranged in
two piles, and sprinkled with frankincense. The loaves that were removed, being
accounted holy, were to be eaten by the priests. On the south was the seven-branched
candlestick, with its seven lamps. Its branches were ornamented with
exquisitely wrought flowers, resembling lilies, and the whole was made from one
solid piece of gold. There being no windows in the tabernacle, the lamps were never
all extinguished at one time, but shed their light by day and by night. just before the veil separating the holy place from the most
holy and the immediate presence of God, stood the golden altar of incense. Upon this altar
the priest was to burn incense every morning and evening; its horns were
touched with the blood of the sin offering, and it was sprinkled with blood
upon the great Day of Atonement. The fire upon this altar was
Page
27
kindled by God Himself and was sacredly cherished. Day and night
the holy incense diffused its fragrance throughout the sacred apartments, and
without, far around the tabernacle.
Beyond
the inner veil was the holy of holies, where centered the symbolic service of
atonement and intercession, and which formed the connecting link between heaven and earth. In this
apartment was the ark, a chest of acacia wood, overlaid within and without with
gold, and having a crown of gold about the top. It was made as a depository for
the tables of stone, upon which God Himself had inscribed the Ten Commandments.
Hence it was called the ark of God's testament, or the ark of
the covenant, since the Ten Commandments were the basis of the covenant
made between God and Israel.
The
cover of the sacred chest was called the mercy seat. This was wrought of one
solid piece of gold, and was surmounted by golden cherubim, one standing on
each end. One wing of each angel was stretched forth on high, while the other
was folded over the body (see Ezekiel 1:11) in token of reverence and humility.
The position of the cherubim, with their faces turned toward each other, and
looking reverently downward toward the ark, represented the reverence with
which the heavenly host regard the law of God and
their interest in the plan of redemption.
Above
the mercy seat was the Shekinah, the manifestation of the divine Presence; and
from between the cherubim, God made known His will. Divine messages were sometimes communicated
to the high priest by a voice from the cloud. Sometimes a light fell upon the
angel at the right, to signify approval or acceptance, or a shadow or cloud
rested upon the one at the left to reveal disapproval or rejection.
The
law of God, enshrined within the ark, was the great rule of righteousness and
judgment. That law pronounced death upon the transgressor; but above the law
was the mercy seat, upon which the presence of God was revealed, and from
which, by virtue of the atonement, pardon was granted to the repentant sinner.
Thus in the work of Christ for our redemption, symbol-
Page
28
ized by the
sanctuary service, “mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace
have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10.
No
language can describe the glory of the scene presented within the sanctuary—the
gold-plated walls reflecting the light from the golden candlestick, the
brilliant hues of the richly embroidered curtains with their shining angels,
the table, and the altar of incense, glittering with gold; beyond the second
veil the sacred ark, with its mystic cherubim, and above it the holy Shekinah,
the visible manifestation of Jehovah's presence; all but a dim reflection of
the glories of the temple of God in heaven, the great center of the work for
man's redemption.
A
period of about half a year was occupied in the building of the tabernacle.
When it was completed, Moses examined all the work of the builders, comparing
it with the pattern shown him in the mount and the directions he had received
from God. “As the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses
blessed them.” With eager interest the multitudes of
Israel crowded around to look upon the sacred structure. While they were
contemplating the scene with reverent satisfaction, the pillar of cloud floated
over the sanctuary and, descending, enveloped it. “And the glory of the Lord
filled the tabernacle.” There was a revealing of the divine majesty, and for a
time even Moses could not enter. With deep emotion the people beheld the token
that the work of their hands was accepted. There were no loud demonstrations of
rejoicing. A solemn awe rested upon all. But the gladness of their hearts
welled up in tears of joy, and they murmured low, earnest words of gratitude
that God had condescended to abide with them.
THE
PRIESTS AND THEIR ATTIRE
By
divine direction the tribe of Levi was set apart for the service of the
sanctuary. In the earliest times every man was the priest of his own
household. In the days of Abraham the priesthood was regarded as the
birthright of the eldest son. Now, instead of the first-born of all Israel, the
Lord accepted the tribe
Page
29
of Levi for the work of the sanctuary. By this signal
honor He manifested His approval of their fidelity, both in adhering to His
service and in executing His judgments when Israel apostatized in the worship
of the golden calf. The priesthood, however, was restricted to the family of Aaron.
Aaron and his sons alone were permitted to minister before the Lord; the rest
of the tribe were entrusted with the charge of the tabernacle and its
furniture, and they were to attend upon the priests in their ministration, but
they were not to sacrifice, to burn incense, or to see the holy things till
they were covered.
In
accordance with their office, a special dress was appointed for the priests.
“Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, for glory and for
beauty,” was the divine direction to Moses. The robe of the common priest was
of white linen, and woven in one piece. It extended nearly to the feet and was
confined about the waist by a white linen girdle embroidered in blue, purple,
and red. A linen turban, or miter, completed his outer costume. Moses at the
burning bush was directed to put off his sandals, for the ground whereon he
stood was holy. So the priests were not to enter the sanctuary with shoes upon
their feet. Particles of dust cleaving to them would desecrate the holy place.
They were to leave their shoes in the court before entering the sanctuary, and
also to wash both their hands and their feet before ministering in the
tabernacle or at the altar of burnt offering. Thus was constantly taught the
lesson that all defilement must be put away from those who would approach into
the presence of God.
The
garments of the high priest were of costly material and beautiful workmanship,
befitting his exalted station. In addition to the linen of the common priest,
he wore a robe of blue, also woven in one piece. Around the skirt it was
ornamented with golden bells, and pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet.
Outside of this was the ephod, a shorter garment of gold, blue, purple,
scarlet, and white. It was confined by a girdle of the same colors, beautifully
wrought. The ephod was sleeveless, and on its
Page
30
gold-embroidered shoulder pieces were set two onyx stones,
bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
Over
the ephod was the breastplate, the most sacred of the priestly vestments. This
was of the same material as the ephod. It was in the form of a square,
measuring a span, and was suspended from the shoulders by a cord of blue from
golden rings. The border was formed of a variety of precious stones, the same
that form the twelve foundations of the City of God. Within the border were
twelve stones set in gold, arranged in rows of four, and, like those in the
shoulder pieces, engraved with the names of the tribes. The Lord's direction
was, “Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate
of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a
memorial before the Lord continually.” Exodus 8:29. So Christ, the great High
Priest, pleading His blood before the Father in the sinner's behalf, bears upon
His heart the name of every repentant, believing soul. Says the psalmist, I am
poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me.” Psalm
40:17.
THE
URIM AND THUMMIM
At
the right and left of the breastplate were two large stones of great
brilliancy. These were known as the Urim and Thummim. By them the will of God was made known through the
high priest. When questions were brought for decision before the Lord, a halo
of light encircling the precious stone at the right was a token of the divine
consent or approval, while a cloud shadowing the stone at the left was an
evidence of denial or disapprobation.
The
miter of the high priest consisted of the white linen turban, having attached
to it by a lace of blue, a gold plate bearing the inscription, “Holiness of
Jehovah.” Everything connected with the apparel and deportment of the priests
was to be such as to impress the beholder with a sense of the holiness of God,
the sacredness of His worship, and the purity required of those who came into
His presence.
Continued
in Part 2