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Day of Atonement the high priest； having taken an offering from the
congregation； went into the most holy place with the blood of this offering；
and sprinkled it upon the mercy seat； directly over the law； to make
satisfaction for its claims。 Then； in his character of mediator； he took the
sins upon himself and bore them from the sanctuary。 Placing his hands upon
the head of the scapegoat； he confessed over him all these sins； thus in
figure transferring them from himself to the goat。 The goat then bore them
away； and they were regarded as forever separated from the people。
Such was the service performed 〃unto the example and shadow of heavenly
things。〃 And what was done in type in the ministration of the earthly
sanctuary is done in reality in the ministration of the heavenly sanctuary。
After His ascension our Saviour began His work as our high priest。 Says
Paul： 〃Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands； which are
the figures of the true； but into heaven itself； now to appear in the
presence of God for us。〃 Hebrews 9：24。
The ministration of the priest throughout the year in the first apartment of
the sanctuary； 〃within the veil〃 which formed the door and separated the
holy place from the outer court； represents the work of ministration upon
which Christ entered at His ascension。 It was the work of the priest in the
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daily ministration to present before God the blood of the sin offering； also
the incense which ascended with the prayers of Israel。 So did Christ plead
His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners； and present before Him
also； with the precious fragrance of His own righteousness； the prayers of
penitent believers。 Such was the work of ministration in the first apartment
of the sanctuary in heaven。
Thither the faith of Christ's disciples followed Him as He ascended from
their sight。 Here their hopes centered； 〃which hope we have；〃 said Paul； 〃as
an anchor of the soul； both sure and steadfast； and which entereth into that
within the veil； whither the forerunner is for us entered； even Jesus； made
an high priest forever。〃 〃Neither by the blood of goats and calves； but by
His own blood He entered in once into the holy place； having obtained
eternal redemption for us。〃 Hebrews 6：19； 20； 9：12。
For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first
apartment of the sanctuary。 The blood of Christ； pleaded in behalf of
penitent believers； secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father； yet
their sins still remained upon the books of record。 As in the typical
service there was a work of atonement at the close of the year； so before
Christ's work for the redemption of men is completed there is a work of
atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary。 This is the service
which began when the 2300 days ended。 At that time； as foretold by Daniel
the prophet； our High Priest entered the most holy； to perform the last
division of His solemn workto cleanse the sanctuary。
As anciently the sins of the people were by faith placed upon the sin
offering and through its blood transferred； in figure； to the earthly
sanctuary； so in the new covenant the sins of the repentant are by faith
placed upon Christ and transferred； in fact； to the heavenly sanctuary。 And
as the typical cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of
the sins by which it had been polluted； so the actual cleansing of the
heavenly is to be accomplished by
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the removal； or blotting out； of the sins which are there recorded。 But
before this can be accomplished； there must be an examination of the books
of record to determine who； through repentance of sin and faith in Christ；
are entitled to the benefits of His atonement。 The cleansing of the
sanctuary therefore involves a work of investigationa work of judgment。
This work must be performed prior to the coming of Christ to redeem His
people； for when He comes； His reward is with Him to give to every man
according to his works。 Revelation 22：12。
Thus those who followed in the light of the prophetic word saw that； instead
of coming to the earth at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844； Christ
then entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the
closing work of atonement preparatory to His coming。
It was seen； also； that while the sin offering pointed to Christ as a
sacrifice； and the high priest represented Christ as a mediator； the
scapegoat typified Satan； the author of sin； upon whom the sins of the truly
penitent will finally be placed。 When the high priest； by virtue of the
blood of the sin offering； removed the sins from the sanctuary； he placed
them upon the scapegoat。 When Christ； by virtue of His own blood； removes
the sins of His people from the heavenly sanctuary at the close of His
ministration； He will place them upon Satan； who； in the execution of the
judgment； must bear the final penalty。 The scapegoat was sent away into a
land not inhabited； never to come again into the congregation of Israel。 So
will Satan be forever banished from the presence of God and His people； and
he will be blotted from existence in the final destruction of sin and
sinners。
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Chapter 24
In the Holy of Holies
The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the
disappointment of 1844。 It opened to view a complete system of truth；
connected and harmonious； showing that God's hand had directed the great
advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light the
position and work of His people。 As the disciples of Jesus after the
terrible night of their anguish and disappointment were 〃glad when they saw
the Lord；〃 so did those now rejoice who had looked in faith for His second
coming。 They had expected Him to appear in glory to give reward to His
servants。 As their hopes were disappointed； they had lost sight of Jesus；
and with Mary at the sepulcher they cried： 〃They have taken away my Lord；
and I know not where they have laid Him。〃 Now in the holy of holies they
again beheld Him； their compassionate High Priest； soon to appear as their
king and deliverer。 Light from the sanctuary illumined the past； the
present； and the future。 They knew that God had led them by His unerring
providence。 Though； like the first disciples； they themselves had failed to
understand the message which they bore； yet it had been in every respect
correct。 In proclaiming it they had fulfilled the purpose of God； and their
labor had not been in vain in the Lord。 Begotten 〃again unto a lively hope；〃
they rejoiced 〃with joy unspeakable and full of glory。〃
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Both the prophecy of Daniel 8：14； 〃Unto two thousand and three hundred days；
then shall the sanctuary be cleansed；〃 and the first angel's message； 〃Fear
God； and give glory to Him； for the hour of His judgment is come；〃 pointed
to Christ's ministration in the most holy place； to the investigative
judgment； and not to the coming of Christ for the redemption of His people
and the destruction of the wicked。 The mistake had not been in the reckoning
of the prophetic periods； but in the event to take place at the end of the
2300 days。 Through this error the believers had suffered disappointment； yet
all that was foretold by the prophecy； and all that they had any Scripture
warrant to expect； had been accomplished。 At the very time when they were
lamenting the failure of their hopes； the event had taken place which was
foretold by the message； and which must be fulfilled before the Lord could
appear to give reward to His servants。
Christ had come； not to the earth； as they expected； but； as foreshadowed in
the type； to the most holy place of the temple of God in heaven。 He is
represented by the prophet Daniel as coming at this time to the Ancient of
Days： 〃I saw in the night visions； and； behold； one like the Son of man came
with the clouds of heaven； and came〃not to the earth； but〃to the Ancient
of Days； and they brought Him near before