Commentary on "The Message of the Prophets"

MARTIN CAREY

 

Day 3: Monday, March 2, 2009

Today’s lesson asks what we can learn about the plan of salvation from Moses, and about the ongoing work of salvation. It cites Hebrews 9:1-8, and answers that the sanctuary provided a graphic illustration for sinners of the “plan of salvation.” Several texts are used (Heb. 8:1,2; and Heb. 9:23) to show that Christ ministers in the heavenly sanctuary, and that the heavenly sanctuary needed cleansing. On the Day of Atonement, a day of judgment, the earthly tabernacle was cleansed. Likewise at the last judgment before Christ comes, the heavenly sanctuary must be cleansed. Because our final Day of Atonement features the blood of Christ to atone for us, we can be encouraged in facing this judgment.

The purpose of this pre-Advent judgment is to reveal “to the universe those who have professed Christ and are really His followers.” The records of heaven will become available for all the inhabited worlds to see that in every decision God was just and fair. This will vindicate his justice in saving his followers. God’s reputation is at stake in the cosmic controversy between Christ and Satan, and we can join God’s ranks to defeat the enemy of life.

 

Problems

Instead of making a comparison of two days of judgment, Hebrews 9 draws a stark contrast between the Old and New Covenants. In the old tabernacle, the priests had to offer sacrifices continually, over and over, without ever giving the worshipper a perfect conscience. “But when Christ appeared…He entered the holy places once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Once for all and perfectly adequate is the unique sacrifice of Christ. The point of Hebrews 9 is not to draw a fine illustration of salvation from the old sanctuary. Rather, its services are weak and inadequate to cleanse the conscience and do away with sin. This is the grand theme of Hebrews, to draw such contrasts between the infinitely superior Christ and the weak, temporary Law of Moses. (Hebrews 8:13)

What is Jesus’ ministry in heaven? First, here is Ellen White’s description:

“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.” (GC88, 421)

Then according to Hebrews 8, 9, and 10: “We have such a high priest” who sits at God’s right hand. “Such,” is quite the loaded word! He is not standing, but is sitting as God’s equal, and because his work is finished. He can take us into God’s presence and anchor us there forever. There is no veil, we have total access (John saw no veil in Revelation). He has perfected us forever. His promises are better than those of Moses and the Law. His glory fills the universe, while the Old Covenant is growing old and becoming obsolete, and ready to vanish away.” (Heb. 8:13)

Hebrews 9:23 is a key proof text for the investigative judgment, for it seems to imply that there is defilement in heaven that needs cleansing. The verse makes sense when we look at the rest of the chapter. Verses 19-22 show that when the Mosaic Covenant was inaugurated, nearly everything was sprinkled with blood of the covenant. This included the tent, the vessels, even the scroll of the law. The scroll was not defiled with sin, yet it was sprinkled with blood.

When God made his covenant with Abraham, it was inaugurated with blood to show that its violation must be paid with bloodshed. When Jesus took the cup, he said, “This cup…is the new covenant in my blood.” So the heavenly things, the whole cosmos, are also brought under the New Covenant with blood, for Christ reconciled “to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Col. 1:20) There is nothing in Hebrews about our sins remaining on the “books of record,” as this would contradict the glorious message of Hebrews 10; “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified…I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Heb. 10:14, 17. Our sins do not remain on any books of record, nor do they defile heaven. They are no more.

The Study Guide states that the purpose of the “pre-Advent judgment” is to reveal God’s justice to a watching universe, showing that his judgments are fair (The modern version departs from Ellen White, who stated that our characters must be perfect or we would fail the test). The first assumption here is that God is on trial in a great controversy between Christ and Satan. This doctrine elevates Satan to divine status, that he can oppose God’s purposes and force God to defend himself in a pitched battle of near equals. God finally wins, by a whisker. In the Bible, Satan is unable to thwart God’s purposes and words: “…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose.” (Isa. 55:11)

The second assumption is that there are countless myriads of alien, unfallen beings who are uncertain about God’s justice and require a demonstration of his character. Where is the evidence for these beings in scripture? There is no such evidence anywhere (you can read my discussion on this in Proclamation! Jan/Feb 2007). Without these beings existing, the audience for God’s “trial” is much smaller, Satan’s importance is reduced, and the great controversy no longer appears so great.

 

Summary

• Hebrews 9 draws a sharp contrast between the Mosaic and New covenants, showing Christ’s total superiority in obtaining for us an eternal redemption by his single sacrifice, while the Old Covenant is weak and ready to disappear.
• Jesus’ ministry in the sanctuary is to sit at God’s right hand as our substitute, hold us next to God’s presence, and keep his promises to never let us go. He has put away our sins forever so that he has no memory of them.
• There is no “great controversy” and there is no biblical evidence for space aliens who need a character demonstration from God. There is only Christ, who’s word will not return to him empty, and that is a promise.

 

 

Copyright 2009 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised March 2, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

The Sabbath School Bible Study Guide and the corresponding E.G. White Notes are published by Pacific Press Publishing Association, which is owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. The current quarter's editions are pictured above.

 

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