New Light On The Sanctuary-4

February 17  New Light On The Sanctuary-4

 

he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Heb. 7:25, ESV.

Crosier had begun to write about the heavenly sanctuary as early as March 1845. But it was on February 7, 1846, that he presented his fullest understanding of the topic in an article entitled "The Law of Moses."

We can summarize the most important conclusions of 'The Law of Moses" as follows:1. A literal sanctuary exists in heaven. 2. The Hebrew sanctuary was a complete visual representation of the plan of salvation patterned after the heavenly sanctuary. 3. Just as the earthly priests had a two-phase ministry in the wilderness sanctuary, so Christ has a two-phase ministry in the heavenly. The first phase began in the holy place at His ascension, the second on October 22, 1844, when Christ moved from the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary to the second. Thus the antitypical or heavenly day of atonement started on that date. 4. The first phase of Christ's ministry dealt with forgiveness, while the second involves the blorting out of sins and the cleansing of both the sanctuary and individual believers. 5. The cleansing of Daniel 8:14 was a purification from sin and was therefore accomplished by blood rather than fire. 6. A period of time would take place between the beginning of Christ's second apartment ministry and the Second Advent.

The results of Crosier's Bible study had answered the questions on the identity of the sanctuary and the nature of the cleansing. In addition, they indicated what had occurred at the conclusion of the 2300 day prophecy of Daniel 8:14.

Crosier's artical did not go unnoticed by those who would become the leaders of the Sabbatarian Adventists. As early as May 1846 Joseph Bates recommended Crosier's treatment of the sanctuary as being "superior to any thing of this kind extent."

The next year Ellen White penned that "the Lord shew me in vision, more than one year ago, that Brother Crosier had the true light, onthe cleansing of the Sanctuary, etc; and that it was his will that Brother C. should write out the view which he gave us in the Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846"(WLF 12).

We can be thankful that God not only has a plan for saving His people from their sins, but that it is moving toward its completion as Christ ministers on our behalf in heaven.

Christ, the divine Life, dwell in you and through you reveal the heaven-born love that will inspire hope in the hopeless and bring heaven's peace to the sin-stricken heart. As we come to God, this is the condition which meets us at the threshold, that, receiving mercy from Him, we yield ourselves to reveal His grace to others(TFMB 115).