第 93 节
作者:闪啊闪      更新:2021-02-21 14:06      字数:9320
  faces in adoration; could find; in the most magnificent structure ever
  reared by human hands; but a faint reflection of its vastness and glory。 Yet
  important truths concerning the heavenly sanctuary and the great work there
  carried forward for man's redemption were taught by the earthly sanctuary
  and its services。
  The holy places of the sanctuary in heaven are represented by the two
  apartments in the sanctuary on earth。 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。〃 Revelation 4:5。 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 8:3。 Here the prophet was permitted to behold
  the first apartment
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  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;〃 represented by the sacred
  chest constructed by Moses to contain the law of God。
  Thus those who were studying the subject found indisputable proof of the
  existence of a sanctuary in heaven。 Moses made the earthly sanctuary after a
  pattern which was shown him。 Paul teaches that that pattern was the true
  sanctuary which is in heaven。 And John testifies that he saw it in heaven。
  In the temple in heaven; the dwelling place of God; His throne is
  established in righteousness and judgment。 In the most holy place is His
  law; the great rule of right by which all mankind are tested。 The ark that
  enshrines the tables of the law is covered with the mercy seat; before which
  Christ pleads His blood in the sinner's behalf。 Thus is represented the
  union of justice and mercy in the plan of human redemption。 This union
  infinite wisdom alone could devise and infinite power accomplish; it is a
  union that fills all heaven with wonder and adoration。 The cherubim of the
  earthly sanctuary; looking reverently down upon the mercy seat; represent
  the interest with which the heavenly host contemplate the work of
  redemption。 This is the mystery of mercy into which angels desire to
  lookthat God can be just while He justifies the repenting sinner and
  renews His intercourse with the fallen race; that Christ could stoop to
  raise unnumbered multitudes from the abyss of ruin and clothe them with the
  spotless garments of His own righteousness to unite with angels who have
  never fallen and to dwell forever in the presence of God。
  The work of Christ as man's intercessor is presented in that beautiful
  prophecy of Zechariah concerning Him 〃whose name is the Branch。〃 Says the
  prophet: 〃He shall
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  build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory; and shall sit and
  rule upon His 'the Father's' throne; and He shall be a priest upon His
  throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between Them both。〃 Zechariah
  6:12; 13。
  〃He shall build the temple of the Lord。〃 By His sacrifice and mediation
  Christ is both the foundation and the builder of the church of God。 The
  apostle Paul points to Him as 〃the chief Cornerstone; in whom all the
  building fitly framed together groweth into an holy temple in the Lord: in
  whom ye also;〃 he says; 〃are builded together for an habitation of God
  through the Spirit。〃 Ephesians 2:20…22。
  〃He shall bear the glory。〃 To Christ belongs the glory of redemption for the
  fallen race。 Through the eternal ages; the song of the ransomed ones will
  be: 〃Unto Him that loved us; and washed us from our sins in His own blood; 。
  。 。 to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever。〃 Revelation 1:5; 6。
  He 〃shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His
  throne。〃 Not now 〃upon the throne of His glory;〃 the kingdom of glory has
  not yet been ushered in。 Not until His work as a mediator shall be ended
  will God 〃give unto Him the throne of His father David;〃 a kingdom of which
  〃there shall be no end。〃 Luke 1:32; 33。 As a priest; Christ is now set down
  with the Father in His throne。 Revelation 3:21。 Upon the throne with the
  eternal; self…existent One is He who 〃hath borne our griefs; and carried our
  sorrows;〃 who 〃was in all points tempted like as we are; yet without sin;〃
  that He might be 〃able to succor them that are tempted。〃 〃If any man sin; we
  have an advocate with the Father。〃 Isaiah 53:4; Hebrews 4:15; 2:18; 1 John
  2:1。 His intercession is that of a pierced and broken body; of a spotless
  life。 The wounded hands; the pierced side; the marred feet; plead for fallen
  man; whose redemption was purchased at such infinite cost。
  〃And the counsel of peace shall be between Them both。〃 The love of the
  Father; no less than of the Son; is the fountain of salvation for the lost
  race。 Said Jesus to His disciples before
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  He went away: 〃I say not unto you; that I will pray the Father for you: for
  the Father Himself loveth you。〃 John 16:26; 27。 God was 〃in Christ;
  reconciling the world unto Himself。〃 2 Corinthians 5:19。 And in the
  ministration in the sanctuary above; 〃the counsel of peace shall be between
  Them both。〃 〃God so loved the world; that He gave His only…begotten Son;
  that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish; but have everlasting
  life。〃 John 3:16。
  The question; What is the sanctuary? is clearly answered in the Scriptures。
  The term 〃sanctuary;〃 as used in the Bible; refers; first; to the tabernacle
  built by Moses; as a pattern of heavenly things; and; secondly; to the 〃true
  tabernacle〃 in heaven; to which the earthly sanctuary pointed。 At the death
  of Christ the typical service ended。 The 〃true tabernacle〃 in heaven is the
  sanctuary of the new covenant。 And as the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 is
  fulfilled in this dispensation; the sanctuary to which it refers must be the
  sanctuary of the new covenant。 At the termination of the 2300 days; in 1844;
  there had been no sanctuary on earth for many centuries。 Thus the prophecy;
  〃Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be
  cleansed;〃 unquestionably points to the sanctuary in heaven。
  But the most important question remains to be answered: What is the
  cleansing of the sanctuary? That there was such a service in connection with
  the earthly sanctuary is stated in the Old Testament Scriptures。 But can
  there be anything in heaven to be cleansed? In Hebrews 9 the cleansing of
  both the earthly and the heavenly sanctuary is plainly taught。 〃Almost all
  things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no
  remission。 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the
  heavens should be purified with these 'the blood of animals'; but the
  heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these〃 (Hebrews 9:22;
  23); even the precious blood of Christ。
  The cleansing; both in the typical and in the real service; must be
  accomplished with blood: in the former; with the
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  blood of animals; in the latter; with the blood of Christ。 Paul states; as
  the reason why this cleansing must be performed with blood; that without
  shedding of blood is no remission。 Remission; or putting away of sin; is the
  work to be accomplished。 But how could there be sin connected with the
  sanctuary; either in heaven or upon the earth? This may be learned by
  reference to the symbolic service; for the priests who officiated on earth;
  served 〃unto the example and shadow of heavenly things。〃 Hebrews 8:5。
  The ministration of the earthly sanctuary consisted of two divisions; the
  priests ministered daily in the holy place; while once a year the high
  priest performed a special work of atonement in the most holy; for the
  cleansing of the sanctuary。 Day by day the repentant sinner brought his
  offering to the door of the tabernacle and; placing his hand upon the
  victim's head; confessed his sins; thus in figure transferring them from
  himself to the innocent sacrifice。 The animal was then slain。 〃Without
  shedding of blood;〃 says the apostle; there is no remission of sin。 〃The
  life of the flesh is in the blood。〃 Leviticus 17:11。 The broken law of God
  demanded the life of the transgressor。 The blood; representing the forfeited
  life of the sinner; whose guilt the victim bore; was carried by the priest
  into the holy place and sprinkled before the veil; behind which was the ark
  containing the law that the sinner had transgressed。 By this ceremony the
  sin was; through the blood; transferred in figure to the sanctuary。 In some
  cases the blood was not taken into the holy place; but the flesh was then to
  be eaten by the priest; as Moses directed the sons of Aaron; saying: 〃God
  hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation。〃 Leviticus
  10:17。 Both ceremonies alike symbolized the transfer of the sin from the
  penitent to the sanctuary。
  Such was the work that went on; day by day; throughout the year。 The sins of