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before God； hence they could not receive the benefits of His mediation。
The condition of the unbelieving Jews illustrates the condition of the
careless and unbelieving among professed Christians； who are willingly
ignorant of the work of our merciful High Priest。 In the typical service；
when the high priest
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entered the most holy place； all Israel were required to gather about the
sanctuary and in the most solemn manner humble their souls before God； that
they might receive the pardon of their sins and not be cut off from the
congregation。 How much more essential in this antitypical Day of Atonement
that we understand the work of our High Priest and know what duties are
required of us。
Men cannot with impunity reject the warning which God in mercy sends them。 A
message was sent from heaven to the world in Noah's day； and their salvation
depended upon the manner in which they treated that message。 Because they
rejected the warning； the Spirit of God was withdrawn from the sinful race；
and they perished in the waters of the Flood。 In the time of Abraham； mercy
ceased to plead with the guilty inhabitants of Sodom； and all but Lot with
his wife and two daughters were consumed by the fire sent down from heaven。
So in the days of Christ。 The Son of God declared to the unbelieving Jews of
that generation： 〃Your house is left unto you desolate。〃 Matthew 23：38。
Looking down to the last days； the same Infinite Power declares； concerning
those who 〃received not the love of the truth； that they might be saved〃：
〃For this cause God shall send them strong delusion； that they should
believe a lie： that they all might be damned who believed not the truth； but
had pleasure in unrighteousness。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：10…12。 As they reject
the teachings of His word； God withdraws His Spirit and leaves them to the
deceptions which they love。
But Christ still intercedes in man's behalf； and light will be given to
those who seek it。 Though this was not at first understood by Adventists； it
was afterward made plain as the Scriptures which define their true position
began to open before them。
The passing of the time in 1844 was followed by a period of great trial to
those who still held the advent faith。 Their only relief； so far as
ascertaining their true position was
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concerned； was the light which directed their minds to the sanctuary above。
Some renounced their faith in their former reckoning of the prophetic
periods and ascribed to human or satanic agencies the powerful influence of
the Holy Spirit which had attended the advent movement。 Another class firmly
held that the Lord had led them in their past experience； and as they waited
and watched and prayed to know the will of God they saw that their great
High Priest had entered upon another work of ministration； and； following
Him by faith； they were led to see also the closing work of the church。 They
had a clearer understanding of the first and second angels' messages； and
were prepared to receive and give to the world the solemn warning of the
third angel of Revelation 14。
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Chapter 25
God's Law Immutable
The temple of God was opened in heaven； and there was seen in His temple the
ark of His testament。〃 Revelation 11：19。 The ark of God's testament is in
the holy of holies； the second apartment of the sanctuary。 In the
ministration of the earthly tabernacle； which served 〃unto the example and
shadow of heavenly things；〃 this apartment was opened only upon the great
Day of Atonement for the cleansing of the sanctuary。 Therefore the
announcement that the temple of God was opened in heaven and the ark of His
testament was seen points to the opening of the most holy place of the
heavenly sanctuary in 1844 as Christ entered there to perform the closing
work of the atonement。 Those who by faith followed their great High Priest
as He entered upon His ministry in the most holy place； beheld the ark of
His testament。 As they had studied the subject of the sanctuary they had
come to understand the Saviour's change of ministration； and they saw that
He was now officiating before the ark of God； pleading His blood in behalf
of sinners。
The ark in the tabernacle on earth contained the two tables of stone； upon
which were inscribed the precepts of the law of God。 The ark was merely a
receptacle for the tables of the law； and the presence of these divine
precepts gave to it its value and sacredness。 When the temple of God was
opened in heaven； the ark of His testament was seen。
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Within the holy of holies； in the sanctuary in heaven； the divine law is
sacredly enshrinedthe law that was spoken by God Himself amid the thunders
of Sinai and written with His own finger on the tables of stone。
The law of God in the sanctuary in heaven is the great original； of which
the precepts inscribed upon the tables of stone and recorded by Moses in the
Pentateuch were an unerring transcript。 Those who arrived at an
understanding of this important point were thus led to see the sacred；
unchanging character of the divine law。 They saw； as never before； the force
of the Saviour's words： 〃Till heaven and earth pass； one jot or one tittle
shall in no wise pass from the law。〃 Matthew 5：18。 The law of God； being a
revelation of His will； a transcript of His character； must forever endure；
〃as a faithful witness in heaven。〃 Not one command has been annulled； not a
jot or tittle has been changed。 Says the psalmist： 〃Forever； O Lord； Thy
word is settled in heaven。〃 〃All His commandments are sure。 They stand fast
for ever and ever。〃 Psalms 119：89； 111：7； 8。
In the very bosom of the Decalogue is the fourth commandment； as it was
first proclaimed： 〃Remember the Sabbath day； to keep it holy。 Six days shalt
thou labor； and do all thy work： but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the
Lord thy God： in it thou shalt not do any work； thou； nor thy son； nor thy
daughter； thy manservant； nor thy maidservant； nor thy cattle； nor thy
stranger that is within thy gates： for in six days the Lord made heaven and
earth； the sea； and all that in them is； and rested the seventh day：
wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day； and hallowed it。〃 Exodus
20：8…11。
The Spirit of God impressed the hearts of those students of His word。 The
conviction was urged upon them that they had ignorantly transgressed this
precept by disregarding the Creator's rest day。 They began to examine the
reasons for observing the first day of the week instead of the day which God
had sanctified。 They could find no evidence in the
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Scriptures that the fourth commandment had been abolished； or that the
Sabbath had been changed； the blessing which first hallowed the seventh day
had never been removed。 They had been honestly seeking to know and to do
God's will； now； as they saw themselves transgressors of His law； sorrow
filled their hearts； and they manifested th