LAST THINGS

Lesson 12 forDecember 22, 2012

A SANCTUARY IN HEAVEN“Now this is the main point of the

things we are saying: 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 8:1-2)

“For Christ has not entered

the holy places made with

hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven

itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us”

(Hebrews 9:24)

The tabernacle Moses built at the desert was a symbol of the heavenly Sanctuary–a reality. The Leviticus priesthood was a symbol of Christ’s priesthood. They ministered in the earthly sanctuary but Christ ministers in the heavenly sanctuary.

We can understand the work Jesus is doing in the heavenly sanctuary by studying the services the priests carried out in the earthly sanctuary.

SALVATION AND THE SANCTUARY: SHADOWS AND

REALITIES

JudgmentOn the Day of Atonement, the sanctuary was cleansed of blood and the sins were

definitely forgiven (Leviticus 16)

According to Daniel 8:14, the cleansing of the heavenly Sanctuary began in 1844.

Priestly mediation

The priest had to bring the blood of the animal to the Holy Place.

Jesus entered the heavenly Sanctuary and He intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25)

Substitutionary sacrifice

An animal had to die in the sinner’s place to atone his/her sin.

Jesus died in our place at the cross to forgive our sins.

The services the priests carried out in the earthly sanctuary revealed three steps of salvation by using symbols.

THE PURIF ICATION OF THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY“And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.””(Daniel 8:14)

The decreeThe martyrdom

of StephenThe sanctuary is

cleansed

457 BC 34 AD 1844 AD

“Seventy weeks are determined [from the 2,300 days] for your people and for your holy city”

(Daniel 9:24)

THE PURIFICATION OF THE HEAVENLY

SANCTUARY

THE EARTHLY DAY OF ATONEMENT THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT

The High Priest entered the Most Holy Place, bringing all the sins of the people before the ark.

Jesus came before the Father’s throne to begin the judgment work before countless witnesses (Dn. 7:9-13)

He sprinkled the blood on the Mercy Seat that covered God’s Holy Law.

Jesus is the propitiation for those who believe in Him (1Jn. 2:2). But those who are not faithful to the end are condemned according to the Law (Rv. 20:12)

He left the Tabernacle and went to the courtyard.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12)

“For on that day the priest

shall make atonement for you, to

cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the

Lord” (Leviticus 16:30)

T H E S E C O N D C O M I N GEvery event in Heaven has repercussions on earth.

The investigative judgment is about to end:The Holy Spirit will be poured down on the believers like in Pentecost.That latter rain will make the Gospel to be preached all over the world.That will determine the beginning of the End Time signs.

The judgment ends:Grace will stop: “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still” (Revelation 22:11)The last plagues will be poured down on Earth.

Jesus leaves the heavenly Sanctuary:

He will come back to Earth with His angels to carry us with Him.

WAITING FOR HIS COMING“Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6)

As we wait for the Second Coming, Paul invites us to do two complementary things:

1. To watch. Not to spiritually sleep but to be in daily communion with our Savior. Being aware of the End Time signs.

2. To be sober. Being moderate. We must not have the “End Time signs fever” nor be indolent by being impassive to the End Time signs.

As we await the Second Advent, we need to keep our eyes open, and we need to know what the Word of God teaches about lastday events.

“The coming of Christ is nearer than when we first believed. The great controversy is nearing its end. The judgments of God are in the land. They speak in solemn warning, saying: “Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44)...

We are living in the closing scenes of this earth’s history. Prophecy is fast fulfilling. The hours of probation are fast passing. We have no time—not a moment—to lose. Let us not be found sleeping on guard. Let no one say in his heart or by his works: “My Lord delayeth his coming” (Matthew 24:48). Let the message of Christ’s soon return sound forth in earnest words of warning...

The Lord is soon to come, and we must be prepared to meet Him in peace. Let us be determined to do all in our power to impart light to those around us. We are not to be sad, but cheerful, and we are to keep the lord Jesus ever before us. He is soon coming, and we must be ready and waiting for His appearing”

E.G.W. (God’s Amazing Grace, December 12)

THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEADThe dead will resurrect, the believers will be transformed and we all will ascend to meet Jesus when His Second Coming. Then… immortality.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first”

(1 Thessalonians 4:16)

“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord”(1 Thessalonians 4:17)

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed”

(1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”” (1 Corinthians 15:54)

“The victory of the sleeping saints will be glorious on the morning of the resurrection.... The Life-giver will crown with immortality all who come forth from the grave.

There stands the risen host. The last thought was of death and its pangs. The last thoughts they had were of the grave and the tomb, but now they proclaim, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” ... Here they stand and the finishing touch of immortality is put upon them and they go up to meet their Lord in the air.... There are the columns of angels on either side; ... then the angelic choir strike the note of victory and the angels in the two columns take up the song and the redeemed host join as though they had been singing the song on the earth, and they have been. Oh, what music! There is not an inharmonious note. Every voice proclaims, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” He sees the travail of His soul, and is satisfied”

E.G.W. (Sons and Daughters of God, December 18)