Sabbath, March 10, 2007

THE FIRST STUDY OF THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE

1. Who were the pioneers in the study of the sanctuary doctrine? Hebrews 9:1-3, 24. (Refer to Lesson 8, question 5.)
Hebrews 9:1-3, 24 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; … For 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.

“Careful Bible study by Hiram Edson; F. B. Hahn, a physician; and O. R .L. Crozier, a schoolteacher, soon revealed that the sanctuary to be cleansed at the end of the 2300 years was not the earth but the tabernacle in heaven, with Christ ministering in our behalf in the most holy place. This mediatorial work of Christ answered to the ‘hour of God’s judgment’ call sounded in the message of the first angel (Revelation 14:6, 7).” –Early Writings, pp. xviii,

2. How and when was the first publication about this doctrine issued?
Isaiah 52:5-7 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

“Early in the year 1845, Edson, Hahn, and Crosier had carried their studies to a point where the subject of the sanctuary and its cleansing stood forth clearly. They considered how to diffuse this knowledge abroad. Said Edson to Hahn, ‘Let us get out another number of The Day Dawn, and publish this truth.’ They decided to do this, and they did, Edson and Hahn sharing the expense between them. They sent it to the addresses of as many Adventists as they knew or heard of.” –Arthur Whitefield Spalding, Origin and History of

3. What was the response to this publication?
Micah 4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
Zechariah 8:21-23 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

“The paper reached, among others, Joseph Bates and James White. They had been moving toward the same light, but here was a clear road; they hailed it gladly. Another receptive soul, for the time being, was Enoch Jacobs, editor of an Advent paper in Cincinnati

[Ohio], The Day-Star. His favorable response opened the columns of that paper to the new light. Edson and Hahn encouraged Crosier to write a fuller exposition of the sanctuary truth for The Day-Star, which he did, under the unrevealing title of ‘The Law of Moses,’ and it was published in an Extra of the date of February 7, 1846. Thus it appears that the exposition of the cleansing of the sanctuary as it had been revealed to Edson was published in The Day Dawn about five months after this experience in the cornfield, and that in The Day-Star about fifteen and a half months after.” –Arthur Whitefield Spalding, Origin and History of Seventh-day Adventists, vol. 1, p. 112.

CONFIRMATION OF THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE

4. How was this new understanding of the sanctuary confirmed by God?
Hosea 12:13 And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.

“While this study was in progress, and before their work was made known, far to the east in the State of Maine, a vision was given to Ellen Harmon in which she was shown the transfer of the ministry of Christ from the holy place to the most holy place at the end of the 2300 days. The record of this vision is found in Early Writings, pages 54-56.” –Early Writings, p. xix.

5. What did another vision of Ellen Harmon testify?
Job 33:14-17 For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.

“Of another vision shortly after this, as referred to by Mrs. White in a statement written in April, 1847, she records [in a letter to Eli Curtis] that ‘the Lord showed me in vision, more than one year ago, that Brother Crozier had the true light on the cleansing of the sanctuary, etc.; and that it was His will that Brother Crozier should write out the view which he gave us in the Day-Star Extra, February 7, 1846. I feel fully authorized by the Lord to recommend that Extra to every saint.’ A Word to the Little Flock, p. 12. Thus the finding of Bible scholars was confirmed by the visions of God’s messenger.” –Early Writings, p. xix.

6. What is the testimony of the Scriptures concerning this subject?
Daniel 7:9, 10 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Malachi 3:1-3 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Hebrews 9:23-28 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For 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: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
1 John 3:1, 2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE

7. What is another important part of the sanctuary doctrine?
Daniel 7:9, 10 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
1 Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

“At the time appointed for the judgment–the close of the 2300 days, in 1844–began the work of investigation and blotting out of sins. All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass its searching scrutiny. Both the living and the dead are to be judged ‘out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.’” –The Great Controversy, p. 486.

FOR ADDITIONAL STUDY

Early Writings, pp. 250-253.

The Great Controversy, pp. 409-422.