Monthly Archives: October 2014

Prophecies for Our Time

Prophecies for Our Time-The Revealing

Leave a comment

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.  Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation 1: 1-3 NKJV

The very first words of John tells us many useful things to keep in mind when studying Revelation:

1.) It is a revelation of Jesus Christ (Verse 1)

It is a book with Jesus at its center and it reveals to us Jesus in all His glory and how He appears  throughout its pages and therefore throughout the history of the church.  It is interesting to note that the translators of the King James Version of the Bible have given this book the title, “The Revelation of St. John the Divine.” This is a contradiction of the very first words of the book, which declare it to be “The Revelation of Jesus Christ.”

2.) The message of the book came from God himself through an angel to John and John witnesses to both the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Verse 1  & 2)

John witnesses or tells us what he saw in both the word of God and particularly the words of Jesus that he personally heard as one of his disciples.  He walked and talked with Jesus while upon this earth and knew him in a close spiritual way.  As a called disciple, he was able to touch and feel the warmth of the human form of Jesus.

John’s resume is very impressive.  He was so close to Jesus that he is often described as the beloved disciple. John was an evangelist and a gospel writer as well as an inspired letter writer. This is demonstrated in the epistles of 1, 2,  and 3 John.

But now, we can add prophet to his record of experience.

______________________________________

Because of John’s intimate knowledge of Jesus and the word of God, he draws upon this understanding of both in his writing.   But, let us not forget the inspiration from the Holy Spirit and the visions given him.  This is the supernatural aspect of this book.

Revelation is practically impossible to understand without a knowledge of Jesus and familiarity with the other books of the Bible, particularly the book of Daniel.  Many of what John describes are in the book of Daniel and many other passages of scripture.

3.) The objective of the book is to show or reveal “the things which must shortly take place.” (Verse 3)

Our God wants us to know the truth.  The world is full of lies, but there is truth available to all. He reveals his secrets to His prophets who in turn reveals them to us through what they saw.  He will not do anything unless He discloses it ahead of time..

Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

Amos 3:7

4.) There is a blessing for reading and keeping the words of Revelation because it talks of the nearness of the time when Jesus will return (Verse 7). But it is of little value to us personally if we do not “read and understand.” (verse 3)

I have often been told that Revelation is a closed book.  That no one can understand it, but the first few verses demonstrate the opposite.  It is a prophecy, just like Daniel and others, that can be understood when comparing  John’s words with other inspired writers he alludes to when he states he “bore witness to the word of God.”  The word of God is the word contained in the Old Testament and those words written by his fellow disciples in the New Testament.  It is here where we find the keys that unlock the symbolism and timelines of Revelation

_______________________________________________

 To support the premise, let’s compare the book of Daniel with Revelation.  See the chart below:

ChartsGraphs-5088-Little-Horn-and-Sea-Beast

We will study this comparison in the coming lessons.  This charts is provided here simply to show the reader an example of the connection between the visions of Daniel with the visions of John.

This is important because there is much confusion today about the beast of Revelation 13 and the mark of the Beast. But, we will see that there is no need for any confusion.  Once you see clearly from God’s word the identity of the beast, you are more likely able to see what the mark is or is not.

Last week, I heard a radio talk-show pundit saying that he believed the “mark of the beast” was the “Rainbow Coalition.”  We have also heard that the bar code pricing system is the mark of the beast.  But it is only in the Word of God where we can we find the correct interpretation.  The prophecies are not dependent of  the ideas of a talk-show pundit, regardless of how intelligent they may think they are.

knowing this first: that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.  For the prophecy came not in olden times by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:20 – 21

________________________________________________________

John begins to describe::

His audience:

“seven churches in Asia” Verse 4

The origin of the message:

“From the seven spirits which are before His throne;

 and from Jesus Christ” (Verse 4 and 5)

The core message:

“Behold, He cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him, and they also who pierced Him; and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so. Amen.” (Verse 7)

This is an important statement about the manner in which Jesus comes.  When he left the earth and ascended to heaven, he left with clouds and returns with clouds. Clouds appear at many places when talking about the return of Jesus and of God.

And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

Acts 1:9

“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.”

Daniel 7:13

We can cross reference this scene found in Revelation regarding the throne of God.

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living beings and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,

Revelation 5:5

These clouds are, perhaps the throng of angels that are so vast in number that they appear as clouds

2nd coming 2 2 coming

But the point is this “Every eye will see Him.”

This includes the saved and the lost, but with two different responses:

The saved:

“Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

Isaiah 25:9

The Lost:

and they said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb!

Revelation 6:16

There is no room for the theory of a secret rapture in the book of Revelation and other books of the Bible for that matter, where people see driverless cars, empty churches and wonder why everyone disappeared.  This is the work of Hollywood and makes for good entertainment, but it is not truth.

When Jesus returns heaven is emptied to come to our little planet that has been the stage for the great controversy between Christ and Satan.  Christ comes as the victor.

For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He shall reward every man according to his works.

Revelation 16:27

Is there anyone alive that cannot see this sight?

_____________________________________________________________

John mentions that he was in the Spirit on a particular day:

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet,

Revelation 1:10

This appears to be a casual reference to which day John was “in the Spirit.”  Many have tried to make this to be Sunday although there is no reference or context to make it so.

The context of this chapter would seem to indicate this as the “Day of the Lord” when Jesus returns, but even that statement is somewhat of an assumption. There is only one particular day of the week that God claims as his own.  It appears in scripture and in connection with creation:

“the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.”

Exodus 20:11

In the heart of the 10 commandments is the day that the Lord claims as his own because he is Creator.

 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Exodus 20:11

Want a new testament version of this?

Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath.”

Mark 2:28

If Jesus claims to be Lord of the Sabbath.  Which day is the Lord’s day?

_________________________________________________________________

On the Lord’s day, John hears a voice like a trumpet sound.  It is the voice of Jesus, for He says,

“I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last,”

Verse 11

Jesus is the beginning and the end.  He has always been and will always be.  He was with God the Father in the beginning.  Jesus is God and He is our Creator:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.In Him was life, and that life was the Light of men.

John 1: 1-4

The instructions of Jesus to John is to write a book to the seven churches:

What thou seest, write in a book and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”

Verse 11

These are seven literal churches who will get a first look at John’s new book.  The book will give them encouragement and direction, just as it will do for us.

As we will see, the book of Revelation is not just for these seven churches, but also for us.  Perhaps we will see ourselves in the characteristics of a particular church.

As we move through Revelation, let us always remember that is a revealing of Jesus.  The more we know about Him, the more security we can have in our own salvation because to know Him is to have eternal life:

And this is life eternal: that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.

John 17:3

Herein is our comfort that Jesus rose again:

 I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and of death.

Verse 18

Our hope depends on this fact that Jesus rose a victor over death….that He is alive today and always….that he has power over death.  If we want to get out of the locked room called death, Jesus has the keys and will let us out on that great Day of the Lord.  Paul knew the importance of this when he said,

 and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.But now Christ is risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of those who slept.

1 Corinthians 15: 17-20

______________________________________________

Revelation 1 ends with Jesus repeating to John the instructions to write about things that John had seen (past) are now (John’s time), and the things in the future (from John’s time to ours)

 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.

Verse 19

In Verse 20 we are reminded of how the symbols represent something:

The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Verse 20

We can be assured that the candlesticks seen in the vision represent the seven churches.  Those churches are at different points in their experience just as we are.

We will find encouragement and a revealing of Jesus as we study this great book that promises us blessings if we read and understand.  By God’s grace and mercy may we do so.

Until next time, be blessed—Eddie

Prophecies for Our Time

Prophecies for Our Time-The Judgment

Leave a comment

“I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;
A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated,
And the books were opened.

I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.

Daniel 7: 9 – 11

_______________________________________________________________________

Over the last few weeks, we have been studying the prophecies of Daniel 2, 7, 8, &9.  Daniel watched in his visions  a period spanning long periods of time.  We saw a 70-year period that was “cut off” or  a given to Israel to come to place in their experience, where they became the light to the world and welcomed in their Messiah.  But Israel rejected their Messiah, The Just One who was foretold in the scripture.

___________________________________________________

In 34 AD Stephen  gave a powerful sermon found In Acts 7.  This is an important date, for it ended the period of 490 years (70 weeks) for the nation of Israel as a whole. (Please see previous posts that brings us up to this point.)

Stephen  described the history of God’s people (the Israelites)  who constantly rejected God, His law, and His prophets who were sent to encourage them to turn from their evil ways. Now they were continuing that tradition by rejecting the truth from Stephen.

He spoke of their father Abraham and Moses and described how they rejected the prophets. He then begin to talk about Jesus.  He quoted from Deuteronomy:

The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.

Deuteronomy 18:15

As Stephen began to describe the temple, the tone of his sermon changes abruptly and he quickly proclaimed,

 You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?

Acts 7:51, 52

Their problem is clearly identified here.  They resisted the work of the Holy Spirit just like their ancestors.  The prophets whom God had sent were rejected and persecuted.  They ignored the law given to them and now they had gone so far as to encourage the killing of the son of God of the Just One who was foretold in scripture:

And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.

Acts 7: 52, 53

Here their fate was sealed.  The 70-week prophecy or 490 years came to an end.  This was 34 AD.  490 years after the commandment went forth to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem.”  Just as Daniel was shown in vision hundreds of years earlier.

A few years later, Paul and Barnabas would allude to this prophecy when they said,

Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to  the  Gentiles.

Acts 13: 46

Because of the truth, Stephen was stoned; sealing the rejection of Jesus whom Stephen saw standing at the right hand of God.

This 490 period given to the Jews in a special way was part of the of the 2,300 years that stretched to 1844, when the sanctuary was to be cleansed.

From 34 AD until now, there is not longer Greek or Jew, Male or Female. In fact, if we are in Jesus, we have become the new Israel and heirs of the promises given to Abraham:

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:29

________________________________________________

But, Daniel saw even further as described in today’s opening verses.  Daniel saw until the 4th beast with the little horn was destroyed in the flames, when the earth is destroyed when Jesus returns.

“I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.”

Daniel 7: 11

As we will see in the coming weeks, this little horn power is also the Anti-Christ (The one who stands in the place of Christ). As mentioned, this beast is destroyed when Jesus returns:

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2 Thessalonians 2: 8, 9

_______________________________________________________________

So in summary, Daniel watched and saw:

1.) Kingdoms rise and fall (Babylon, Medio-Persian, Greece, Rome)

2.) The rise of a cruel and deceptive power we now know to be the Roman Catholic church and their system of Popes (Fathers) and priests that stand in the place of Christ

3.) The judgement scene (1844)

4.) The return of Christ

5.) The end of the little horn power at the return of Christ

6.) Judgment given to the Saints

_______________________________________________________________________

We have not talked about the judgement scene much.  As described at the start of this study and repeated here.  Daniel sees the “Ancient of Days” take His seat as thousands minister to him and the books are opened.

“I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;…The court was seated, And the books were opened.

Daniel 7: 9, 10

John describes the same scene in Revelation 20

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; 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.

Revelation 20: 12

Let’s notice something here.  Everyone who has ever lived and died stand before God and are judged out of the Book of Life.  Let’s also notice that this is taking place where God’s throne is located, the heavenly sanctuary.  There is an investigation and decisions are being made based on what is being described in the books.

There is more than one book.  The scripture describes at least two other books that are used in the judgement. Besides the Book of Life, there is the Book of Remembrance.

Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

Malachi 3:16

______________________________________________________

There is much confusion and error about judgement.  The typical view of judgement by many is that it occurs when you die and it is a passage of moving either to heaven or to hell.  Once judged, you either pass through the pearly gates or are assigned a spot in hell.  Of course, there is confusion about hell.  For more information, see the post entitled

 Of course, there is  also confusion about hell.  For more information, see the post entitled Did Jesus talk more about Hell than Heaven?.  Also, see the post that follow it.

But, judgement is not that way at all.  For next few moments, let’s explore some important verses and concepts about judgement.

1.) The final message of judgement to mankind is found in Revelation:

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Revelation 14: 6-7

This angel’s message (1 of 3 messages) is the everlasting gospel or the good news about Jesus.  The angel (or messenger) gives a message that judgment is come.  The judgement has started and worship of the Creator is contrasted with a world that does not believe in creation nor a Creator.  Does that sound familiar to you?  Yes, we live in that world where evolution is considered the source of life and order.

Yes, we live in that world where evolution is considered the source of life and order.  The judgement has started and worship of the Creator is contrasted with a world that does not believe in creation nor a Creator.

There is a commandment that points to the great Creator.  It is the 4th Commandment:

 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Revelation 20: 11

Regarding the Sabbath, one author has said,

“Had the Sabbath been universally kept, man’s thoughts and affections would have been led to the Creator as the object of reverence and worship, and there would never have been an idolater, an atheist, or an infidel.”

Great Controversy, Page 438

So in the last day, the angel is urging the people of the earth to return to honoring the Lord of the Sabbath and the Great Creator-Jesus.  Along with this encouragement comes the proclamation that judgment has come or it has started.

2.) The standard of judgment is the 10 commandments:

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,”also said,“Do not murder.”Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.  So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

James 2: 10 – 12

3.)  Our name can be blotted out of the book of life if we fail to be overcomers, but if we are converted our sins will be blotted out instead:

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

Revelation 3:5

Please keep in mind, that overcoming sins in our lives is the work of God in our life by faith.  We can never be victorious without faith in the one who also redeems us!  If we yield to the conviction and power of God, he will make us overcomers.  Do not make the mistake that you have to focus on being good.  Focus on Jesus only. In the end our sins will be blotted out and not our name.

Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

Acts 3:19

4.) We are not condemned if we are “in Jesus” and our lifestyle is to follow the urging of the Spirit.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:1

5.) Since Jesus is our mediator, He can save us completely.  This means not only salvation from eternal death, but salvation from the power of sins in our lives now.

But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:24 – 25

If you have sin that pulls you down, have you turned to your high priest in heaven and asked for intercession?  If not, maybe you are trying to overcome on your own carnal strength.  This is an impossibility, for Jesus said,

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

John 15:5 

Just like a branch gets its nourishment from the tree, we can our strength to overcome through the main tree-Jesus. How?  By trusting in Him and remaining or abiding in Him!  Abiding does not mean a casual once a week experience, but an ongoing one.  The branch doesn’t detach itself and then reattach every weekend.  It remains in Christ throughout the week!

6.)  The work of Judgment by the Ancient of Days is complete before Jesus returns, because when He comes, He brings His reward with Him.

And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.

Revelation 22:12

____________________________________________________________________

The judgment scene is  described both in Daniel 7 and Revelation 20.  It is a period just before Jesus returns.  The Ancient of Days sits and thousands of angels attend Him.  The books are open, not for God’s sake, but for the sake of those in attendance. These records are to demonstrate that God is just.

Again, here is the companion verse to Daniel as found in Revelation:

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books

Revelation 20: 12

Notice the dead are judged.  Your spirit or body does not stand in front of the judge as the picture in this post suggests.  It is those who are dead now.

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but afterthis

Hebrews 9:12

_____________________________________________________________________

There is also a period where we will be provided opportunity to see that God was just.  The scripture tells us this about judgment:

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

1 Corinthians 6:2

It is during the 1,000 years after Jesus returns that the saints (us) will be able to understand fully that our God is just and fair. For more information on the Thousand Years, click see the post called Part 4-Second Coming-1,000 Years

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.

Revelation 20:4

This is not a decision about who gets to have eternal life or not because the Ancient of Days or God has already made those decisions before Jesus returns.  It is a determination about the mercy and grace of God.  It will demonstrate that those who are lost were given every opportunity to repent and turn to God.

Our God is a just and fair God.  His judgments are right and true. May you be blessed as you consider the things of God’s word.

Next time, we will begin to study another form of judgment.  It is a judgment upon the wicked and evil of the earth.  We will see that Revelation is only understood in the light of Daniel’s visions.  We will discover more about the beast and his image.

Until then, may the Lord bless you and your family. – Eddie

Prophecies for Our Time

Prophecies for Our Time – 2,300 days

1 Comment

Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

And he said unto me, “Unto Two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”

Daniel 8: 13 – 14

______________________________________________________________

A Quick Review:

To properly understand Daniel 9, the question in Daniel 8: 13 and the response in verse 14 must be kept in mind.  Because all of the prophecy in Daniel 8 is explained except for verse 14.

 The metals and the beasts previously described represented countries and powers that would arise and fall.  History has proven these visions (almost 500 years before the birth of Christ) to be true.

But there was a beast “different from the rest.”  It continued to fight against God in direct and cruel ways.  It also used more subtle and deceptive methods.  Daniel demonstrated much interest in this Little Horn power and its power.  Even one of the angels wanted to know more about how long it would be against God’s people to “trod(den) them under foot.” This means to persecute them.; to lower their message.

This beast would also take away “the daily sacrifice.”  As we will see, it is not just the temple sacrifice, but the unblocked direct availability of the Lord without the need for an earthly mediator.  The desolations (no one present) are created by taking away that access or the sanctuary (both the earthly and the heavenly.)

This beast was different because it was against God and His followers, where the other powers were mostly secular and their wars were about land and power.

 And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of the sanctuary was cast down. the place of the sanctuary was cast down.

And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered

Daniel 8: 9 -12

It practiced and prospered because of its opposition to the truth of God as found in His word and the work of the Holy Spirit.

It is because of work of this little horn that an attending angel asked another angel about the length of time the little horn would have power to:

1.  be great to the host of heaven

2.  cast down some of the host and stars to the ground and stomp on them

3.  magnify himself (attempt to make himself more important than God)

4.  take away the daily sacrifice

5.  cast down the place of the sanctuary

6.  cast down the truth to the ground

7.  practice and prosper

The answer from the angel came:

“Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.“

________________________________________________________________

We  saw in the last study, the 70 weeks of Bible prophecy was “cut-off” for the nation of Israel.  We clearly saw that the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem went forth in 457 BC. From that point until the time of Jesus was 69 weeks or 483 years.  This brought us to the fall of 27 AD when Jesus was baptized.  Then he began a ministry to the nation of Israel for 3 1/2 years. He confirmed the covenant with the nation of Israel for 1 week or 7 years.  During half of that time (3 1/2 years), the appeal went almost exclusively to the “house of Israel.”

“But he answered and said, I (Jesus) am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Matthew 15:24

To his disciples Jesus said,

“Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Matthew 10: 5:6

The disciples obeyed  until the covenant was fulfilled 3 1/2 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. The one week (7 years) was complete through Jesus himself and the appeal of the disciples.

In the  midst of the week (3 1/2 years after Jesus began his ministry) the sacrifices and oblations ceased.  It was at this time that the vail or curtain between the holy place was torn in two signifying that not only was the system of sacrifices and earthly priests were finished, but also that we now had direct access to the Father through Jesus himself.

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.  Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom

Matthew 27: 50 – 51

For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Ephesians 2:18

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession…. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4: 14, 16

in 34 AD.  Paul confirmed the covenant had ended with the house of Israel and the way was open to the entire world and the gentiles to be partakers of the covenant.

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:46

And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 3:29

______________________________________________________________

So, 70 weeks (490 years) of the 2,300 days (2,300 years) was used up or “cut off” from the long timeline of 2,300 years. That left 1810 years.  Moving forward  1810 from 34 AD brings us to 1844.  (See chart below:

2300 days

What was to happen at that time?  The attending angel clearly states that the sanctuary would be “cleansed.”

We can not assume what this means, we must let the Bible tells us what the cleansing of the sanctuary meant.  In 1844, there was no earthly sanctuary, but there was (and has been) a sanctuary in heaven. In fact, the  pattern for the earthly sanctuary God instructed Moses came from that place in heaven.

And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.

Exodus 26:30

Santuary interiorjpg

For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things,the copy and shadow of the heavenly things,

Hebrews 8:4

“We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.”

Hebrews 9:1

But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.

Hebrews 9:11

HEVSANCT

Notice that the heavenly sanctuary has a high priest called Christ and it was not made with hands.  God created it himself.

This begs the questions:

“Why do we need a high priest in heaven? “ “What can the pattern of priestly services teach us about the lives and events of 21st century Christians?”  “What is going on in this heavenly sanctuary now?” “What happen in 1844 regarding the cleansing of this heavenly sanctuary?

_____________________________________________________________

To properly understand the book of Hebrews, the student of the Bible must understand the sanctuary services instituted by the Lord and explained to Moses.  At the highest level, I think all would agree that this system given to those before the cross became a “school master” to teach the God’s people of promise the seriousness of sin (death of an innocent animal) and the solution for the sin: the perfect life and sacrifice of Christ.

When Jesus died on the cross, type met anti-type and the schoolmaster of the sacrifices ceased.  Its job of teaching of the coming of Christ through actual practice was over.  We no longer need to practice it, but we can learn much about the plan of salvation through it.

We now understand the seriousness and solution to sin looking back at the cross.  We also learn about the great love and active work of our great God to reach out and save people from the death penalty of sin through the cross.  The follower of Jesus no longer needs the slaying of lambs and the priestly services of an earthly mediator.  We find it all in Jesus.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 3: 24:25

However, just because we are not under the schoolmaster of those earthly sanctuary services, it does not mean that there is not an end-time implication in some of its services.

This we find in the annual Day of Atonement when the sanctuary was cleansed.  If we can understand what happened on that day, we can understand what it means to our 2,300-day prophecy.  Don’t you agree?

________________________________________________________________________

The sanctuary services (both earthly and heavenly) were established to deal with the sin problem (not just the sin, but the sinner as well).  The sacrifices of the old testament did not provide the sin solution, but rather taught the sinner the cost of sin. and provided a way for forgiveness, not through the animal, but in the faith of the coming Messiah (Jesus).

They received forgiveness the same we do.  They looked forward in faith to the cross (payment for sin) and we look back to the cross in faith.  All, both old and new testament sinners are saved by grace through faith.

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Hebrews 10:4

 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all

Hebrews 10:10

So when a sinner brought an offering to the sanctuary, a priest mediated the process.  The sin moved from the sinner to the spotless sacrifice.  The sacrifice died in the place of the sinner, but the blood of animals could not takeaway the sins.  Only Jesus could do this.

The priest took the  blood into the 1st compartment of the sanctuary and sprinkled it before the curtain to the Most Holy place.  The sin (in type) remained in the sanctuary until the annual day of atonement

And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the Lord.

And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock’s blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:

 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the Lord, before the vail of the sanctuary.

Leviticus 4:4-6

_____________________________________________________________________

What can we learn about the Day of Atonement from the Old Testament that is applicable to Christians today?

The day of atonement was very somber.  The people were to stop their work and put all their attention on the services for that day.

“In the typical day of atonement, every man was required to afflict his soul before God. He was not to afflict the souls of others, but the work was between God and his own soul.” Signs of the Times,  The Christian’s Hope 1884

Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 

And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God.

For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.

Leviticus 23:27 – 29

The  high priest  alone was to prepare himself to enter the Most Holy place where the shekinah glory of God dwelt ; to complete the work of moving the sin out of the sanctuary to a scapegoat.  In type, the penalty for sin was moved from the sinner to the sanctuary and then to the scapegoat.  Thereby, the sanctuary was cleansed, signifying the end of sin.

And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.

And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat:

And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

Leviticus 16: 19 – 22

and thou shalt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atonement for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.

Exodus 29:36

Keep in mind, all of this was meant to demonstrate the final end of sin and what is taking place in heaven now.  The writer of Hebrews could see this clearly and makes the connection between the services before the cross and those after the cross.  Both have sanctuaries, high priests, and a work for the sinner.  But it is Christ that works for us now, not an earthly priest.

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

Hebrews 8: 1 -2 

So what is Jesus doing for us now?  He is mediating for us.

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Hebrews 8:6

Many Christians do not feel a need of a mediator in heaven.  But, if that were the case, why would Jesus identify himself as a mediator?

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1 Timothy 2:5

This mediation, as with the first, deals with the seriousness of sin.  Just because we have received Christ does not mean we do not sin.  When we do sin, we have an advocate that mediates for us in heavenly places:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

1 John 2:1

It is God’s desire that we do not sin, but we know that we often do.  Jesus provides us a way to deal with the sin in our live AFTER we have received Him.  Many think that once they have gone down front and are baptized that there is nothing more. But Jesus  save us not only from the penalty of sin (i.e., eternal death), but the power of sin in our lives.  We don’t have to be slaves to sin and bad habits!  This is good news!.  Jesus can save us completely! He does this through his work as a high priest in interceding for us.

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25

I once gave a Bible study on the 4 P’s of salvation to demonstrate how Jeus saves us to the “uttermost.”  He saves us from the:

Penalty of sin (When we receive Him, repent, and turn from our life of sin.)

Power of sin (This is the mediation he does for us in the heavenly sanctuary.  Once we have been reborn, the liar stops the practice of lying, the adulterer becomes faithful to their spouse.  In other words the born-again heart has a different view of sin….This is all the work of Jesus working in us.)

Presence of Sin (Often God will take us away from the temptations of sin, but one day when He comes, He will take us to the place where He is now (heaven).  This place has not sin.  We will no longer have it nearby to tempt us.)

Propensity of Sin (When Jesus wipes away all sin and we live in new glorified bodies, the propensity to sin will not be present.  Although we will continue to have free will, we will not desire rebellion and sin because we have seen what it can do and we are constrained by the love God demonstrated.  BTW, the Lord can do that even now!)

________________________________________________________________

As we will see next time, the cleansing of the sanctuary has to do with the final actions to rid the earth of sin.   It has to do with judgement and sealing his servants.  Because when He comes, Jesus brings His reward with Him.

Blessings until next time.