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HopeLives365

Mark Finley

Sabbath School 2nd Quarter 2024: The Great Controversy

01 The War Behind All Wars

02 The Central Issue: Love or Selfishness?

04 Standing for the Truth

05 Faith Against All Odds

06 The Two Witnesses

07 Motivated by Hope

08 Light from the Sanctuary

09 The Foundation of God’s Government

10 Spiritualism Exposed

11 The Impending Conflict

12 Earth’s Closing Events

13 The Triumph of God’s Love


Welcome back. We're proceeding through our Great Controversy series in our Sabbath school lessons quite rapidly. You know it's amazing how when you're really enjoying a quarter's lessons and you're delving into it that that quarter speeds by so quickly. Lesson number 8, light from the sanctuary. You know, shortly after the disappointment of 1844 on October 22nd, that the Millerites finally settled on for the date of the return of Christ, Shortly after that, of course, they were deeply disappointed.

And they began to restudy the prophecies. And as they restudied them, they came to the conclusion that the sanctuary to be cleansed was not the earth, but rather that the Bible taught 2 sanctuaries, 1 on earth, the other in heaven. And they paralleled Daniel 7 and Daniel 8 to show that the cleansing of the sanctuary related to the judgment in heaven. We've placed a chart in lesson 8 that I think is very helpful if you look at it on Sabbath afternoon's lesson. It takes Daniel 7 and Daniel 8 and compares them.

In Daniel 7, you have Babylon, then Medo-Persia, then Greece, then Rome, and then the judgment in heaven. You remember in Daniel 7 that the nation of Babylon is pictured as the lion with the eagle's wings, Medo-Persia with the bear that raises itself up on 1 side with 3 ribs in its mouth, Greece with the leopard like beast with the 4 heads and the wings indicating rapid conquest. And then this beast that is fierce, ferocious, some say dragon like beast. It's a beast that we don't have, of course, in any of our in history, the natural world. So you have Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome.

Then the Bible takes your attention away from Earth and focuses on heaven and you see a judgment scene. When Daniel ate, you don't have any mention of Babylon because it is going to soon pass away and it's irrelevant. Then you have the ram and the he goat, which represent Medo-Persia and Greece. Then you have Rome. But right after Rome, You have Daniel 8, 14 in the cleansing of the sanctuary.

So when you compare these 2 chapters, you can compare Medo-Persia with Medo-Persia, Greece with Greece, Rome with Rome, then the judgment in heaven with the cleansing of the sanctuary. So the question you have to ask is which sanctuary? Well, if these 2300 prophetic days are actually 2300 years, it must not be the sanctuary on earth. Sunday's lesson, the Bible mentions 2 sanctuaries. Let's go to Exodus 25, Exodus 25, verse 8 and verse 9.

You see the first sanctuary. And here the Lord commands Moses to build a sanctuary. Exodus 25, verse 8, verse 9, and let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show you, after the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall you make it." So here he says, let them make me a sanctuary. So the sanctuary on earth was a miniature of the plan of salvation.

In the sanctuary on earth, they had 3 parts, the court, the holy place and the most holy place. In the court, sacrifices were offered. Once they were offered, either the blood of that sacrifice or sometimes the sacrifice was eaten, the sin was transferred from the sinner who confessed his sin over or over the head of the animal that was slain. And then that animal's blood was, or sometimes it was eaten, it was brought into the sanctuary. And on once a year, the high priest performed the cleansing of the sanctuary on the Day of Atonement.

So we find this pattern. So there's an earthly sanctuary. What about a heavenly sanctuary? Hebrews chapter 8 verses 1 to 6. Everything that happened in the earthly sanctuary was a shadow of what would happen in the heavenly sanctuary.

We're looking at Hebrews chapter 8, verse 1. Now of the things which we've spoken, this is the sum. We have such a high priest who sat on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens, a minister of the sanctuary. Now, where is Jesus? He's at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in heavens.

What is he? He's a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man. You see the word true before tabernacle there. It's an interesting word. It's a aletheos in the Greek language.

It means true, authentic, genuine, real. So there is a real tabernacle up in heaven, A real sanctuary. Now we should never think that its dimensions are the same as the earthly sanctuary's dimensions. No, the earthly sanctuary was just a shadow of what was to come. And it says, which the Lord pitched and not man.

So you have 2 sanctuaries. The 1 that built by Moses that was a pattern of what was to take place on the mount The 1 the true heavenly sanctuary that is the real sanctuary in heaven in the earthly sanctuary every Lamb that was offered every animal sacrifice pointed forward to Jesus Christ who would be sacrificed for us. Jesus is the lamb that died for us and Jesus is the priest that lives for us. In the Old Testament sanctuary, you needed a sacrifice and the application of that sacrifice through the priest. So Jesus' death on the cross is atonement for our sins, full and complete.

Nothing can ever be added to the cross in Christ's death. But that death and the merits of that death, the benefits of that death, must be applied. If Jesus just died and was not resurrected and did not send to heaven as our high priest. He might be a martyr dying for good cause, but if that were the case, he could never be our savior. So Jesus is not only the dying lamb, he's the living priest.

He ascended to heaven to apply the benefits of salvation for us. But just as what happened on earth was a pattern of things to come, just as the lamb was slain in the court representing Christ's death on the cross, just as the priest, the high priest went into the holy place, the first apartment of the sanctuary, as an example of Christ ascending to heaven to its first apartment before the entire universe plead his blood for our sins and show that justice was satisfied on the cross, just as that happened. So likewise in the earthly sanctuary, once a year in the day of atonement, that was at 1 meant, atonement means at 1 meant, that all of Israel gathered around and they gathered around the sanctuary, they prayed, they sought God so their hearts would be at 1 with him. They confessed their sin. So the high priest then performed the work of the cleansing of the sanctuary.

And at the end of that day, the sanctuary was clean. The sins were placed upon Satan, whose responsibility that they are. Now look, that parallel we find in the New Testament sanctuary. Jesus is the lamb that died. Jesus is the priest that lived.

Jesus is the high priest that enters the most holy place of heaven's sanctuary. And we gather around confessing our sin. We gather around seeking God. And since 1844, this now is the day of atonement. This now is the day of atonement.

This now is the day of judgment. This now is the day when God is going to restore all truth to mankind. This is the day where our hearts are to be right with God. Where is Jesus now? He is in the Holy of Holies, just like the earthly priest was.

Let's look at Leviticus chapter 16, verse 29 to 34. Leviticus 16, verse 29 to 34. Where is Jesus now? Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus. What does the ministry of the high priest tell us about the ministry of Christ?

We find that in our lesson. You're on Monday's lesson in the Holy of Holies, Leviticus 16, 29 to 34. And follow as I read, this shall be a statue forever unto you that in the seventh month of the 10th day of the month, you'll afflict your souls. That's the day of atonement, the day of judgment. What is this afflicting souls?

It's a time of repentance and confession and seeking God. And do not work at all. What does it mean you're not going to work? That means that everything unnecessary is put aside for that day. Verse 30, for on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you.

I thought atonement was made at the cross. It was, but unless what Christ did on the cross is applied to our individual lives, it doesn't help us at all. So the sacrifice of the lamb in the court was complete. You couldn't add anything to it. The sacrifice of Christ on the cross is complete, but the work in my life is not finished until I accept what Christ has done on the cross.

So atonement is made for me when I accept what Jesus has done, to cleanse you that you may be cleaned from all your sins before the Lord. So here, the great emphasis is on the fact that during this time called the cleansing of the sanctuary, During this time of judgment that the priest experienced, was experiencing in behalf of the people, during this period of time, God's people were to sense, according to verse 30, that it was the time for us to be cleansed of sin, a time for us to allow Jesus Christ to come into our hearts through his Holy Spirit, a time when the righteousness of Christ was to surround us, the grace of Christ was to transform us, and the power of Christ was to make us new. Now, you can compare that passage with Hebrews 9, verses 23 to 28. Well, was there anything in heaven that needed to be cleansed? Hebrews 9, verse 23 to 28.

So what was it in heaven that needed to be cleansed? Was there anything at all up there? Hebrews 9, 23. We start. It was, We'll go back to verse 22.

In almost all things are by law purged with blood. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission. It was therefore necessary, I'm reading Hebrews 9.23, that the patterns of things in the heaven should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. So just like the earthly sanctuary was purified, so the heavenly must be purified through a final work of Christ just before he comes. For Christ isn't entered into holy places made with hands, which are figures of the true, but into heaven itself now to appear in the presence of God for us.

Nor yet that he should offer himself often as the high priest enters into the holy place every year with the blood of others, for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world. But now once in the end of the world has he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it's appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. And unto them that look for him, shall he appear the second time without sin to salvation.

Now this is a powerful passage. Christ has entered into the most holy place of heaven's sanctuary. And there, He is completing the final atonement. What is that all about? The universe will be cleansed from sin forever.

Every human being will make their final choice for or against Christ. God will raise up a divine movement of destiny at end time to proclaim his truth at the ends of the earth, to lead people to repentance and confession, to lead them to be charmed by Christ's love, redeemed by Christ's grace, transformed by Christ's power. This will be a unique movement in the history of Christianity to restore the truth's long-lost sight of and to prepare the world for the coming of Jesus Christ. We leap right now into Tuesday's lesson. Daniel chapter 7 verse 9 and 10 talks about the judgment, the judgment that takes place in heaven.

Revelation 14 verse 6 and 7, John says, I saw another angel fly in the middle of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth, to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, fear God, give glory to him, for the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him that made heaven, earth, the sea, and the fountains of water. So I'm interested in this expression, the hour of God's judgment has come. If you look at Matthew chapter 12, verse 31 and 32, Jesus says that every idle word that men shall speak, they'll give account of in the day of judgment. The judgment was future. If you look at Paul's writings, the judgment is future.

But here, the hour of God's judgment has come. The clock struck the hour. It's time for the day of atonement. It's time that hearts are made 1 with Christ. It's time that we're united fully, completely with Christ.

It's time that we let go of anything that will separate us from Christ. It is the time of the judgment before the coming of Jesus Christ. And so, I write under Tuesday's lesson in the note I write the judgment is a prominent theme throughout the Bible. I quote Ecclesiastes 1214 for God shall bring every work into judgment including every secret thing whether it's good or evil Jesus pointed is here as to a future time when every idle word that men speak, they'll give account of in the day of judgment. That's Matthew 12, 36, not 12, 32.

The apostle Paul adds that God will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, will make manifest the counsels of the heart. The angelic messenger said to John, the hour of his judgment has come." So judgment is a prominent theme throughout the Bible. But in Bible times, it was future. But when you come to John's day, he said, it has come. In other words, what is he talking about?

The clock has struck the hour, and it's time for judgment to be sure our hearts are right with God. In the middle of the page on Tuesday's lesson, we write this paragraph after we quote Revelation 22, 10, and 12, where it says, he that is righteous, let him be righteous still. Jesus says, behold, I'm coming quickly, my reward is with me. Here's the paragraph. Since Christ comes to give out his rewards, there must be a judgment before that time to show who will receive what reward when he comes.

When Christ returns, there is no second chance. Every human being has had sufficient information to make their final irrevocable decision for or against Christ. When these early Adventists, the Millerites, began to understand this larger concept of the heavenly sanctuary. They understood the concept of the great controversy more fully. That in the universe, there's a controversy between good and evil, between Christ and Satan.

And the essential aspect in this great controversy is worship. Who has our allegiance? Who has our worship? Are God's people totally fully committed to Christ? And they discovered that the cleansing of the sanctuary was the cleansing of the earth by fire.

And as the result of that, they recognize the need to have their hearts cleansed and for God to make them 1 with him. We go to Wednesday's lesson, but here's the good news. Jesus is our advocate. In the time that this judgment is taking place, we're not left alone. In the time this judgment is taking place Christ gives us this invitation Hebrews chapter 4 verses 14 to 16 Hebrews 4 verse 14 to 16 Seeing then what seeing looking considering?

Seeing then that we have a great high priest that's passed into the heavens, Jesus, the son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not such a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. In other words, Jesus experiences every single emotion that you experience, every single challenge you've ever faced, he faced, every single trial, every single difficulty. He was with all points tempted like we are yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly, another word for boldly is confidently, into the throne of grace that we may find, obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

So Jesus says, come. Come with all your burdens, come with all your difficulties, come with all your trials, but come. Let us come confidently. And how do we come? How do we come confidently?

So the judgment need not frighten us. The judgment need not scare us. Why not? Hebrews chapter 7, verse 25, is 1 of the great reasons why we need not be intimidated, frightened by the judgment. Wherefore he's able to save to the uttermost those that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

We have a wonderful high priest. We can come to him. He's making intercession for us. He is there before the throne of God, saying, this man is 1 of mine. This woman is 1 of mine.

You and I can have absolute confidence that he indeed is our savior. In Thursday's lesson, we raised the question, Jesus, our advocate in the judgment. What difference does this passage make and reveal between the priest ministry in the early sanctuary and Jesus ministry in the heavenly? It's a key question and there's a deep spiritual truth so we better look at it. Hebrews 10 verse 9 to 14.

Hebrews 10, 9 to 14. And let's look at this passage, phrase by phrase. Hebrews 10, verse 9. "'Then said he, lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He may takeeth away the first that he may establish the second." Jesus' great goal, Jesus' great goal was to do the will of God.

When the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we long to do God's will. When we live in the light of the atonement, the day of atonement, the cleansing of the sanctuary, the judgment, we long to do God's will. Verse 10, by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all. The high priest had to repeat the process again and again, but Jesus gave his life once for all. Verse 11, and every priest standeth daily ministering and offerings offer times the same sacrifices which can never take away sin.

But this man, after he had offered 1 sacrifice for the sins of forever, sat down on the right hand of God." What did the earthly priests do? They had to offer the same sacrifice again and again and again. But Jesus offers 1 sacrifice and that's the sacrifice of his life. Verse 14, for by 1 offering, he's perfected forever them that are sanctified. What a passage, what encouraging.

When we think of the judgment by 1 offering, Christ is perfected forever those that are sanctified. We come to Jesus not in our righteousness, but in his. We come to Jesus not in our filthy rags, but in the robe of his righteousness. We come not with our defilement, but with his pure, undefiled nature. We come not with a spotted nature of sin, but we come to Jesus with the spotless nature of Christ, the spotless nature that he has bestowed upon us.

So when we appear before the judgment, the Father looks not at how bad we are, but how good Christ was. Have you discovered this Jesus? This Jesus that can take away every sin. This Jesus that'll forgive every wrongdoing. This Jesus that not only forgives us, but changes us.

The Christ of the heavenly sanctuary, the Christ that is approachable, the Christ that we can come to, the Christ that says, let us come confidently to the throne of grace that we can find what? Help. And what else? Mercy in time of need. Do you need mercy?

God's grace because of failures. Do you need God's help? Here is the key in this lesson. Living in the judgment hour, Jesus comes to give us mercy and he comes to provide a strength and help for life's journey. Let's pray.

Father in heaven, how we thank you for the wonderful grace of Christ. We thank you for the mercy of Christ. We thank you that we can live day by day in Jesus, for Jesus, and because of Jesus. And so Lord, bless us today, strengthen us today, draw us close to you today, and help us always live in your grace, in Christ's name, amen. This media was brought to you by AudioVerse, a website dedicated to spreading God's Word through free sermon audio and much more.

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Series

Sabbath School 2nd Quarter 2024: The Great Controversy

08 Light from the Sanctuary

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

Other Teachings in Series

01 The War Behind All Wars

27m

02 The Central Issue: Love or Selfishness?

33m

04 Standing for the Truth

27m

05 Faith Against All Odds

28m

06 The Two Witnesses

26m

07 Motivated by Hope

29m

08 Light from the Sanctuary

22m

09 The Foundation of God’s Government

24m

10 Spiritualism Exposed

26m

11 The Impending Conflict

27m

12 Earth’s Closing Events

29m

13 The Triumph of God’s Love

31m

Sound Doctrine