Sunday
December 4
1. THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY MUST ALSO BE PURIFIED
a. Why did the high priest enter the most holy place once a year? Hebrews 9:7, 23; Leviticus 16:16. What was the name of that day?
“In the typical system, which was a shadow of the sacrifice and priesthood of Christ, the cleansing of the sanctuary was the last service performed by the high priest in the yearly round of ministration. It was the closing work of the atonement—a removal or putting away of sin from Israel.”—The Great Controversy, p. 352.
b. When were the people considered “clean from all [their] sins before the Lord”—when they were “forgiven” in the daily service (Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31, 35), or only after their sins had been removed on the day of atonement? Leviticus 16:29, 30.
c. What is continually contaminating the heavenly sanctuary? 1 Timothy 5:24. “The heavenly things,” i.e., the heavenly sanctuary, must therefore be purified “with better sacrifices” (Hebrews 9:23, last part) on the antitypical day of atonement. What is meant by the “better sacrifices” required for the cleansing of the sanctuary in heaven? Hebrews 9:12, 26.
Monday
December 5
2. THE APPOINTED TIME
a. In the plan of God, what time was appointed for the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary? Daniel 8:14. According to the Bible method of measuring prophetic days (Ezekiel 4:6), what period of time is represented by the 2300 days? How did the Advent pioneers understand this prophecy?
“The 2300 days had been found to begin when the commandment of Artaxerxes for the restoration and building of Jerusalem went into effect, in the autumn of 457 B.C. Taking this as the starting point, there was perfect harmony in the application of all the events foretold in the explanation of that period in Daniel 9:25–27. Sixty-nine weeks, the first 483 of the 2300 years, were to reach to the Messiah, the Anointed One; and Christ’s baptism and anointing by the Holy Spirit, A.D. 27, exactly fulfilled the specification. In the midst of the seventieth week, Messiah was to be cut off. Three and a half years after His baptism, Christ was crucified, in the spring of A.D. 31. The seventy weeks, or 490 years, were to pertain especially to the Jews. At the expiration of this period the nation sealed its rejection of Christ by the persecution of His disciples, and the apostles turned to the Gentiles, A.D. 34. The first 490 years of the 2300 having then ended, 1810 years would remain. From A.D. 34, 1810 years extend to 1844. ‘Then,’ said the angel, ‘shall the sanctuary be cleansed’ (Daniel 8:14).”—The Great Controversy, p. 410.
b. Why is it that the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 (2300 prophetic days or 2300 literal years)—the first part of which was explained by the angel Gabriel in Daniel 9:24–27—can only refer to the heavenly sanctuary?
“At the death of Christ the typical service ended. The ‘true tabernacle’ in heaven is the sanctuary of the new covenant. And as the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 is fulfilled in this dispensation, the sanctuary to which it refers must be the sanctuary of the new covenant. At the termination of the 2300 days, in 1844, there had been no sanctuary on earth for many centuries. Thus the prophecy, ‘Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed,’ unquestionably points to the sanctuary in heaven.”—Ibid., p. 417. See p. 77.
Tuesday
December 6
3. THE MOST HOLY PLACE OPENED
a. What did John see when the first apartment of the sanctuary was opened in the year A.D. 31? Revelation 4:1, 2, 5. And what did he see when the second apartment was opened in 1844? Revelation 11:19.
“As in vision the apostle John was granted a view of the temple of God in heaven, he beheld there ‘seven lamps of fire burning before the throne’ (Revelation 4:5). He saw an angel ‘having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne’ (Revelation 8:3). 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. Again, ‘the temple of God was opened’ (Revelation 11:19), and he looked within the inner veil, upon the holy of holies. Here he beheld ‘the ark of His testament,’ represented by the sacred chest constructed by Moses to contain the law of God.” —The Great Controversy, pp. 414, 415.
b. What change took place in the ministry of Christ in 1844? Revelation 3:7, 8. Where were the thrones set up for the work of judgment? Daniel 7:9, 10.
“The door was opened in the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary, where the ark is, in which are contained the ten commandments. This door was not opened until the mediation of Jesus was finished in the holy place of the sanctuary in 1844. Then Jesus rose up and shut the door of the holy place, and opened the door into the most holy, and passed within the second veil, where He now stands by the ark, and where the faith of Israel now reaches.”—Early Writings, p. 42.
c. How did God, through the prophet Isaiah, predict this great day which began in 1844? Isaiah 22:20–22. While the atonement is going on, God is calling us to afflict our souls. But, instead of turning to the Lord with repentant hearts, what are many people doing? Isaiah 22:12–14; Revelation 3:14–17.
d. What opportunity, still open before us, will not last much longer? Revelation 3:18–20; 2 Peter 3:9, 14.
Wednesday
December 7
4. SINS REMOVED FROM THE RECORD
a. What is Christ our High Priest to “blot out,” or “put away,” or remove from our hearts and from the records in the sanctuary? Isaiah 43:25.
“[The cleansing of the earthly sanctuary] prefigured the closing work in the ministration of our High Priest in heaven, in the removal or blotting out of the sins of His people, which are registered in the heavenly records. This service involves a work of investigation, a work of judgment; and it immediately precedes the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; for when He comes, every case has been decided.”—The Great Controversy, p. 352.
b. Why should the “blotting out” of our sins bring us hope and courage? Isaiah 44:22, 23.
“God does not deal with us as finite men deal with one another. His thoughts are thoughts of mercy, love, and tenderest compassion. ‘He will abundantly pardon.’ He says, ‘I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins’ (Isaiah 44:22). Let us trust in the word of the Lord, and by our cheerful obedience testify our gratitude for His pardoning love.
“Brethren and sisters, look up; you who are tried, tempted, and discouraged, look up. Let no weary, halting, sin-oppressed soul become faint-hearted. The promises of God that come down along the lines to our times assure you that heaven can be reached if you will continue to climb.”—The Review and Herald, February 17, 1885.
c. What declaration will be made by Christ at the end of the investigative judgment when He ceases His ministry as our High Priest? Revelation 22:11, 12.
“When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven.”—The Great Controversy, p. 490.
Thursday
December 8
5. AN IRREVOCABLE SENTENCE
a. When Christ’s mediation is done, what will the Angel do with the censer? Revelation 8:4, 5. What is the meaning of this symbolic act? Will there still be another chance to repent?
“I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven. An angel with a writer’s inkhorn by his side returned from the earth and reported to Jesus that his work was done, and the saints were numbered and sealed. Then I saw Jesus, who had been ministering before the ark containing the ten commandments, throw down the censer. He raised His hands, and with a loud voice said, ‘It is done.’ And all the angelic host laid off their crowns as Jesus made the solemn declaration, ‘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’ (Revelation 22:11).
“Every case had been decided for life or death. While Jesus had been ministering in the sanctuary, the judgment had been going on for the righteous dead, and then for the righteous living. Christ had received His kingdom, having made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins.”—Early Writings, pp. 279, 280.
b. What sentence should arouse our attention while probation is still open? Why? Daniel 5:27. What warning should we consider? Mark 13:35–37.
Friday
December 9
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Under the old covenant, when were the people declared “clean from all [their] sins before the Lord”—at the end of the daily service or at the yearly service?
2. From what must the heavenly sanctuary be purified?
3. The Advent pioneers realize that the investigative judgment is the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary—the blotting out of the record of sins. When did this work begin?
4. What declaration will be made in heaven once our sins are removed (blotted out) from the records? What occurs next? When Christ comes, can the merits of His blood still wash away sins? Read Hebrews 9:28.
5. What warning of Jesus has a special application in these last days?