按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the pattern shown him in the mount。 It was 〃a figure for the time then
present； in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices；〃 its two holy
places were 〃patterns of things in the heavens；〃 Christ； our great High
Priest； is 〃a minister of the sanctuary； and of the true tabernacle； which
the Lord pitched； and not man。〃 Hebrews 9：9； 23； 8：2。 As in vision the
apostle John was granted a view of the temple of God in heaven； he beheld
there 〃seven lamps of fire burning before the throne。〃 He saw an angel
〃having a golden censer； and there was given unto him much incense； that he
should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which
was before the throne。〃 Revelation 4：5； 8：3。 Here the prophet was permitted
to behold the first apartment of the sanctuary in heaven； and he saw there
the 〃seven lamps of fire〃 and the 〃golden altar〃 represented by the golden
candlestick and the altar of incense in the sanctuary on earth。 Again； 〃the
temple of God was opened〃 （Revelation 11：19）； and he looked within the inner
veil； upon the holy of holies。 Here he beheld 〃the ark of His testament〃
（Revelation 11：19）； represented by the sacred chest constructed by Moses to
contain the law of God。
357
Moses made the earthly sanctuary； 〃according to the fashion that he had
seen。〃 Paul declares that 〃the tabernacle； and all the vessels of the
ministry；〃 when completed； were 〃the patterns of things in the heavens。〃
Acts 7：44； Hebrews 9：21； 23。 And John says that he saw the sanctuary in
heaven。 That sanctuary； in which Jesus ministers in our behalf； is the great
original； of which the sanctuary built by Moses was a copy。
The heavenly temple； the abiding place of the King of kings； where 〃thousand
thousands ministered unto Him； and ten thousand times ten thousand stood
before Him〃 （Daniel 7：10）； that temple filled with the glory of the eternal
throne； where seraphim； its shining guardians； veil their faces in
adorationno earthly structure could represent its vastness and its glory。
Yet important truths concerning the heavenly sanctuary and the great work
there carried forward for man's redemption were to be taught by the earthly
sanctuary and its services。
After His ascension； our Saviour was to begin 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。 As Christ's ministration was to
consist of two great divisions； each occupying a period of time and having a
distinctive place in the heavenly sanctuary； so the typical ministration
consisted of two divisions； the daily and the yearly service； and to each a
department of the tabernacle was devoted。
As Christ at His ascension appeared in the presence of God to plead His
blood in behalf of penitent believers； so the priest in the daily
ministration sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice in the holy place in the
sinner's behalf。
The blood of Christ； while it was to release the repentant sinner from the
condemnation of the law； was not to cancel the sin； it would stand on record
in the sanctuary until the final atonement； so in the type the blood of the
sin offering removed the sin from the penitent； but it rested in the
sanctuary until the Day of Atonement。
In the great day of final award； the dead are to be 〃judged out of those
things which were written in the books； according to their works。〃
Revelation 20：12。 Then by virtue of the atoning blood of Christ； the sins of
all the truly penitent will be blotted from the books of heaven。 Thus the
sanctuary will be freed； or
358
cleansed； from the record of sin。 In the type； this great work of atonement；
or blotting out of sins； was represented by the services of the Day of
Atonementthe cleansing of the earthly sanctuary； which was accomplished by
the removal； by virtue of the blood of the sin offering； of the sins by
which it had been polluted。
As in the final atonement the sins of the truly penitent are to be blotted
from the records of heaven； no more to be remembered or come into mind； so
in the type they were borne away into the wilderness； forever separated from
the congregation。
Since Satan is the originator of sin； the direct instigator of all the sins
that caused the death of the Son of God； justice demands that Satan shall
suffer the final punishment。 Christ's work for the redemption of men and the
purification of the universe from sin will be closed by the removal of sin
from the heavenly sanctuary and the placing of these sins upon Satan； who
will bear the final penalty。 So in the typical service； the yearly round of
ministration closed with the purification of the sanctuary； and the
confessing of the sins on the head of the scapegoat。
Thus in the ministration of the tabernacle； and of the temple that afterward
took its place； the people were taught each day the great truths relative to
Christ's death and ministration； and once each year their minds were carried
forward to the closing events of the great controversy between Christ and
Satan； the final purification of the universe from sin and sinners。
（359）
Chapter 31
The Sin of Nadab and Abihu
After the dedication of the tabernacle； the priests were consecrated to
their sacred office。 These services occupied seven days； each marked by
special ceremonies。 On the eight day they entered upon their ministration。
Assisted by his sons； Aaron offered the sacrifices that God required； and he
lifted up his hands and blessed the people。 All had been done as God
commanded； and He accepted the sacrifice； and revealed His glory in a
remarkable manner； fire came from the Lord and consumed the offering upon
the altar。 The people looked upon this wonderful manifestation of divine
power with awe and intense interest。 They saw in it a token of God's glory
and favor； and they raised a universal shout of praise and adoration and
fell on their faces as if in the immediate presence of Jehovah。
But soon afterward a sudden and terrible calamity fell upon the family of
the high priest。 At the hour of worship； as the prayers and praise of the
people were ascending to God； two of the sons of Aaron took each his censer
and burned fragrant incense thereon； to rise as a sweet odor before the
Lord。 But they transgressed His command by the use of 〃strange fire。〃 For
burning the incense they took common instead of the sacred fire which God
Himself had kindled； and which He had commanded to be used for this purpose。
For this sin a fire went out from the Lord and devoured them in the sight of
the people。
Next to Moses and Aaron； Nadab and Abihu had stood highest in Israel。 They
had been especially honored by the Lord； having been permitted with the
seventy elders to behold His glory in the mount。 But their transgression was
not therefore to be excused or lightly regarded。 All this rendered their sin
more grievous。 Beca