Bible Study Guides - In the Heavenly Sanctuary

June 9, 2013 – June 15, 2013

Key Text

“I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” Isaiah 43:25.

Study Help: The Great Controversy, 479–491; Testimonies, vol. 4, 384–387.

Introduction

“The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel the sin; it would stand on record in the sanctuary until the final atonement.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 357.

1 CHRIST’S HEAVENLY MINISTRY

Of what was the earthly sanctuary a type or pattern? Hebrews 8:5. Why are God’s people to look no longer to that earthly sanctuary? Hebrews 9:24; 8:1, 2.

Note: “When Jesus at His ascension entered by His own blood into the heavenly sanctuary to shed upon His disciples the blessings of His mediation, the Jews were left in total darkness to continue their useless sacrifices and offerings. The ministration of types and shadows had ceased.” The Great Controversy, 430.

As the earthly sanctuary was cleansed and the sins were removed, what must also be done in the heavenly sanctuary, and when? Daniel 8:14; Hebrews 9:23.

Note: “As the typical cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of the sins by which it had been polluted, so the actual cleansing of the heavenly is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins which are there recorded. But before this can be accomplished, there must be an examination of the books of record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His atonement. The cleansing of the sanctuary therefore involves a work of investigation—a work of judgment. This work must be performed prior to the coming of Christ to redeem His people; for when He comes, His reward is with Him to give to every man according to his works (Revelation 22:12).” The Great Controversy, 421, 422.

2 OBTAINING FINAL FORGIVENESS

Even after we have been forgiven and accepted by God, why must we continue to be watchful? Ezekiel 33:13; John 8:11, last part.

Note: “Those who profess to believe the third angel’s message often wound the cause of God by lightness, joking, and trifling. I was shown that this evil was all through our ranks. There should be a humbling before the Lord; the Israel of God should rend the heart, and not the garment. Childlike simplicity is rarely seen; the approbation of man is more thought of than the displeasure of God. Said the angel: ‘Set your heart in order, lest He visit you in judgment, and the brittle thread of life be cut, and ye lie down in the grave unsheltered, unprepared for the judgment. Or if ye do make your bed in the grave, unless ye soon make your peace with God, and tear yourselves from the world, your hearts will grow harder, and ye will lean upon a false prop, a supposed preparation, and find out your mistake too late to secure a well-grounded hope.’ ” Testimonies, vol. 1, 133, 134.

How can we as repentant sinners remain forgiven to the very end? Matthew 24:13; Revelation 3:5.

Note: “We need light from Heaven every hour, that we may distinguish between the sacred and the common, the eternal and the temporal. If left to ourselves, we shall blunder at every step; we shall incline to the world, we shall shun self-denial, and see no necessity for constant watchfulness and prayer, and we shall be taken captive by Satan at his will. …

“All whose names shall at last be found written in the Lamb’s book of life will fight manfully the battles of the Lord. They will labor most earnestly to discern and put away temptations and every evil thing. They will feel that the eye of God is upon them and that the strictest fidelity is required. As faithful sentinels they will keep the passage barred, that Satan may not pass them disguised as an angel of light to work his work of death in their midst. …

“The white-robed ones who surround the throne of God are not composed of that company who were lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, and who choose to drift with the current rather than to breast the waves of opposition. All who remain pure and uncorrupted from the spirit and influence prevailing at this time will have stern conflicts. They will come through great tribulation; they will wash their robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb.” My Life Today, 321.

3 THE FIRST AND SECOND APARTMENTS

To which apartment of the sanctuary did Christ ascend? Compare Hebrews 9:1, 2; Revelation 4:5; 8:3, 4.

Note: “[Revelation 4:5; 8:3 quoted.] Here the prophet was permitted to behold the first apartment of the sanctuary in heaven; and he saw there the ‘seven lamps of fire’ and ‘the golden altar,’ represented by the golden candlestick and the altar of incense in the sanctuary on earth.” The Great Controversy, 414, 415.

“For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary. The blood of Christ, pleaded in behalf of penitent believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins still remained upon the books of record.” Ibid., 421.

Which apartment was opened in 1844 for the closing work of the atonement? Revelation 11:19 (compare Hebrews 9:3, 4). How is this work related to the judgment?

Note: “ ‘The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament’ (Revelation 11:19). The ark of God’s testament is in the holy of holies, the second apartment of the sanctuary. In the ministration of the earthly tabernacle, which served ‘unto the example and shadow of heavenly things’ (Hebrews 8:5), this apartment was opened only upon the great Day of Atonement for the cleansing of the sanctuary. Therefore the announcement that the temple of God was opened in heaven and the ark of His testament was seen points to the opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844 as Christ entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement.” The Great Controversy, 433.

“The announcement, ‘The hour of His judgment is come’ (Revelation 14:7), points to the closing work of Christ’s ministration for the salvation of men. It heralds a truth which must be proclaimed until the Saviour’s intercession shall cease and He shall return to the earth to take His people to Himself. The work of judgment which began in 1844 must continue until the cases of all are decided, both of the living and the dead; hence it will extend to the close of human probation.” Ibid., 435, 436.

4 THE BLOTTING OUT OF SINS

What assurance is given those who are faithful till the end of Christ’s intercession? Isaiah 43:25.

Note: “In the great day of final award, the dead are to be ‘judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works’ (Revelation 20:12). Then by virtue of the atoning blood of Christ, the sins of all the truly penitent will be blotted from the books of heaven. Thus the sanctuary will be freed, or cleansed, from the record of sin.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 357, 358.

“All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life. The Lord declares, by the prophet Isaiah: ‘I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins’ (Isaiah 43:25).” The Great Controversy, 483.

What must we do before our sins can be blotted out? What will follow the blotting out of sins? Acts 3:19–21.

Note: “Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth.” The Great Controversy, 425.

“Our Advocate is standing before the Father, pleading as our intercessor. In place of wrapping about us the garments of self-righteousness, we should be found daily humbling ourselves before God, confessing our own individual sins, seeking the pardon of our transgressions, and cooperating with Christ in the work of preparing our souls to reflect the divine image. Unless we enter the sanctuary above, and unite with Christ in working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, we shall be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and shall be pronounced wanting.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 933, 934.

5 WHILE THE DOOR IS OPEN

In what sense are we who profess the present truth—and identify ourselves with the work of Revelation 14—now being measured? Revelation 11:1.

Note: “The time has come when everything is to be shaken that can be shaken, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Every case is coming in review before God; He is measuring the temple and the worshipers therein.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 219.

“The grand judgment is taking place, and has been going on for some time. Now the Lord says, Measure the temple and the worshipers thereof. Remember when you are walking the streets about your business, God is measuring you; when you are attending your household duties, when you engage in conversation, God is measuring you. Remember that your words and actions are being daguerreotyped [photographed] in the books of heaven, as the face is reproduced by the artist on the polished plate.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 972.

What is our great privilege today, while the door of probation remains open? Hebrews 10:19–23; 4:16.

Note: “The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us. It tells of the power of prayer—how the human voice may reach the ear of God, and our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1079.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 What is meant by the “cleansing of the sanctuary”?

2 How does this work of cleansing involve every one of us?

3 When did the investigative judgment begin, and how long will it last?

4 Describe the solemnity of the judgment hour.

5 What should be foremost in our mind at this time?