Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 65

It had to do with the sins of the people; not that the blood of the sacrifices offered there could in itself take away their sins, for it is expressly said that it could not. Heb. 10:4. It could, however, show their _faith_ in the efficacy of _Christ's blood_ yet to be spilled, and to which the sanctuary work was intended constantly to direct their minds. The work there was a type, or shadow, of Christ's atoning work, and, as such, carries with it a significance that cannot be overestimated. Upon a correct understanding of the type depends a correct understanding of the ant.i.type. The entire sanctuary service was an object-lesson of most important and vital gospel truth,-that of man's salvation and the atonement of sin.

23. What relation does the earthly sanctuary sustain to the heavenly?

"Who serve unto the _example_ and _shadow_ of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of G.o.d when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the _pattern_ showed to thee in the mount." Heb. 8:5.

24. By what comparison is it shown that the heavenly sanctuary will be cleansed?

"It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; _but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these_." Heb. 9:23.

25. When Christ has finished His priestly mediatorial work in the heavenly sanctuary, what decree will go forth?

"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." Rev. 22:11.

26. What event is directly connected with the blotting out of sin and the final refres.h.i.+ng from G.o.d's presence?

"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refres.h.i.+ng shall come from the presence of the Lord; and _He shall send Jesus Christ_, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of rest.i.tution of all things, which G.o.d hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." Acts 3:19-21.

27. According to the view of the judgment presented to Daniel, what is to be given to Christ while still before the Father?

"I saw ... and, behold, one like the Son of man came ... to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him _dominion_, and _glory_, and _a kingdom_, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him." Dan. 7:13, 14.

28. What will occur when the Lord descends from heaven?

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of G.o.d: and _the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air_: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

29. What statement immediately following the announcement mentioned in Rev. 22:11, indicates that a judgment work had been in progress before Christ comes?

"And, behold, I come quickly; and _My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be_." Rev. 22:12.

NOTE.-The typical sanctuary service is fully met in the work of Christ. As the atonement day of the former dispensation was really a day of judgment, so the atonement work of Christ will include the investigation of the cases of His people prior to His coming the second time to receive them unto Himself.

30. Is there a specified time for the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary?

"And he said unto me, _Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed_." Dan. 8:14.

31. How may one know that this does not refer to the earthly sanctuary?

"He said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for _at the time of the end shall be the vision_." Verse 17.

NOTE.-The prophetic period of 2300 days (years) extends to 1844 A.D., while the divinely appointed services of the earthly sanctuary ceased at the cross (Dan. 9:27; Matt. 27:50, 51), and the sanctuary itself was destroyed in 70 A.D., when t.i.tus captured Jerusalem. For explanation of the period here mentioned, see the preceding reading.

The Judgment

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

The Investigative Judgment. "The books were opened: ... and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books." Rev. 20:12.

1. What a.s.surance have we that there will be a judgment?

"G.o.d ... hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world." Acts 17:30, 31.

2. Was the judgment still future in Paul's day?

"As he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and _judgment to come_, Felix trembled." Acts 24:25.

3. How many must meet the test of the judgment?

"I said in mine heart, G.o.d shall judge _the righteous and the wicked_."

Eccl. 3:17 "_For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ_; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Cor. 5:10.

4. What reason did Solomon give for urging all to fear G.o.d and keep His commandments?

"_For G.o.d shall bring every work into judgment_, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Eccl. 12:14.

5. What view of the judgment scene was given Daniel?

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down [placed, R. V.], and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." Dan. 7:9, 10.

6. Out of what will all be judged?

"And _the books were opened_: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and _the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books_, according to their works." Rev. 20:12.

7. For whom has a book of remembrance been written?

"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord harkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him _for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name_." Mal.

3:16. See Rev. 20:12.

8. Who opens the judgment and presides over it?

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down [placed], and _the Ancient of days did sit_." Dan. 7:9.

9. Who minister to G.o.d, and a.s.sist in the judgment?

"Thousand thousands [of angels] ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him." Verse 10. See Rev. 5:11.

10. Who is brought before the Father at this time?

"I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, _one like the Son of man_ came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him." Dan. 7:13.

11. What does Christ as the advocate of His people confess before the Father and His angels?