By John Thiel, mp3

As we approach the closing activity of the sanctuary message that has been proclaimed since 1844 so many years since the judgement hour has commenced, the students of God’s word under this message has received a full scope of Gods way with sin and sinners. During the Day of Atonement the cleansing of the sanctuary takes place.

This is a time when God is measuring His people, measuring by His standard. Once the word has been completed of measuring the people, those remaining true to Christ’s words that all things in the Law of Moses concerning Christ might be fulfilled, they have one more item to consider as we come to the very work of redemption in the sanctuary. God’s people must know it in clarity. When the priest finished cleaning the sanctuary, what happened next?

Leviticus 16:20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy [place], and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send [him] away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: 22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.

What is the meaning of this transaction? The scapegoat. Not the goat that was slain to cleanse the sanctuary, but the scapegoat. Let us reflect a bit further.

Leviticus 16:7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him [for] a sin offering. 10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, [and] to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.

We have already established that the sin offering was always Jesus Christ. That goat was slain for a sin offering. The priest took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar of incense to clean symbolically that had been there all the year and then took it to the mercy seat. It is already established that is the blood of Jesus Christ. What is the scapegoat that did not die that was sent into the wilderness? What was that? Was it Jesus? The majority of Christian churches believe that was Jesus because it says an atonement was to be made for him, a scapegoat. The goat that remains alive to go into the wilderness to a place not inhabited. There is nothing in the Bible that can identify that with Jesus. You can search it through.

As Jesus moved out of the most holy place, I heard the tinkling of the bells upon His garment; and as He left, a cloud of darkness covered the inhabitants of the earth. There was then no mediator between guilty man and an offended God. While Jesus had been standing between God and guilty man, a restraint was upon the people; but when He stepped out from between man and the Father, the restraint was removed and Satan had entire control of the finally impenitent. It was impossible for the plagues to be poured out while Jesus officiated in the sanctuary; but as His work there is finished, and His intercession closes, there is nothing to stay the wrath of God, and it breaks with fury upon the shelterless head of the guilty sinner, who has slighted salvation and hated reproof. In that fearful time, after the close of Jesus’ mediation, the saints were living in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. Every case was decided, every jewel numbered. Jesus tarried a moment in the outer apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and the sins which had been confessed while He was in the most holy place were placed upon Satan, the originator of sin, who must suffer their punishment. {EW 280.2}

Jesus the high priest does one final action. He transfers the sins of all the people of God who He has cleansed and purified. He takes all the sins which have been cleansed from the sanctuary and places them upon Satan. That is what the high priest did in the Hebrew sanctuary. The scapegoat was placed in a place not inhabited. A fit man the Bible says, places him outside.

Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

An angel took hold of the devil, Satan and placed him into the bottomless pit. This word bottomless pit comes from the Greek word abyss which means void and empty and place not inhabited.

Jeremiah 4:23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, [it was] without form, and void; and the heavens, and they [had] no light. 24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. 25 I beheld, and, lo, [there was] no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. 26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place [was] a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, [and] by his fierce anger.

Are we gaining the picture? Lucifer, Satan, is the scapegoat that was released and driven out by a strong man into the wilderness. Satan by the angel was taken and placed into the bottomless pit without form and void. That was this planet as described in Jeremiah 4. That is where Satan is going to be in the wilderness.

Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, [and] considered thee, [saying, Is] this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17 [That] made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; [that] opened not the house of his prisoners? 18 All the kings of the nations, [even] all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. 19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, [and as] the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. 20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, [and] slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.

The earth is a wilderness. Who was responsible for it? Lucifer. God’s wrath has brought Lucifers own actions upon him and the earth is all a terrible wilderness with not a human being upon it and void and misshapen. It’s out of kilter. Lucifer is left to dwell there. He is the only one alive with his angels. There he is the scapegoat in the wilderness.

…when the work of atonement in the heavenly sanctuary has been completed, then in the presence of God and heavenly angels and the hosts of the redeemed the sins of God’s people will be placed upon Satan; he will be declared guilty of all the evil which he has caused them to commit. And as the scapegoat was sent away into a land not inhabited, so Satan will be banished to the desolate earth, an uninhabited and dreary wilderness. {GC 658.1}

There is a great comfort that the very sins that Satan has caused you and me to commit, he will have to wear. Do you wonder why he doesn’t want any of us to be saved but all of us lost? So he doesn’t have to bear our sins. He will suffer the consequences of the sins that he has caused us to commit. Jesus suffered our sins and transferred our sins to the sanctuary and from there to the scapegoat. This is Gods way of dealing with sin. You can see a mastermind of correctly dealing with every aspect of sin. God is absolutely perfect in His ways. God’s way with sinners is finally completed.

Psalms 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; [then] understood I their end.

Gazing into the Sanctuary we have a complete and entire system of truth right to the end of Gods system of dealing with sin and man. We can see how Jesus is reflected in it all. With the Psalmist we behold the beginning to the end. The Sanctuary is a panoramic view. We are privileged to be part of the I AM. The more you gaze into it, the more you see a panoramic view gazing into the sanctuary. We are gazing into a system of truth right to the end.

Daniel 8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. 15 And it came to pass, when I, [even] I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man’s voice between [the banks of] Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this [man] to understand the vision. 17 So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end [shall be] the vision. 18 Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright. 19 And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end [shall be].

Hebrews 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, [that] from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolator.

Here is a brief of exactly the story of the entire sanctuary. After Jesus died on the cross He rose again and there will be a final consummation. Very concise wording that can be understood when you understand the sanctuary. Some people read the texts and ask what does it mean? The Sanctuary tells you. Let us now focus on the complete system of truth that is applicable to those living since 1844 of the truth and the duties that devolve upon the people of God.

The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God’s hand had directed the great advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light the position and work of His people. As the disciples of Jesus after the terrible night of their anguish and disappointment were “glad when they saw the Lord,” so did those now rejoice who had looked in faith for His second coming. They had expected Him to appear in glory to give reward to His servants. As their hopes were disappointed, they had lost sight of Jesus, and with Mary at the sepulchre they cried: “They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him.” Now in the holy of holies they again beheld Him, their compassionate High Priest, soon to appear as their king and deliverer. Light from the sanctuary illumined the past, the present, and the future. “{GC 423.1}

The people who came to this period of time, understood a complete system of truth as they understood it revealing to them present duty. People from 1844 onwards had present duty laid out before them. The key that unlocked their darkness was the sanctuary.

But the people were not yet ready to meet their Lord. There was still a work of preparation to be accomplished for them. Light was to be given, directing their minds to the temple of God in heaven; and as they should by faith follow their High Priest in His ministration there, new duties would be revealed. Another message of warning and instruction was to be given to the church. {GC 424.4}

This is the reason why the churches who lose sight don’t follow the duties given to them in consequence in the study o f the Sanctuary. That’s why Gods people since 1844 are going to be different to all other people before 1844. As they studied, they saw the Ark of the Covenant. What did they see in the Ark of the Covenant?

Hebrews 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

What did they learn from these contents of the ark?

1. They saw the Ten Commandments in the ark. As they looked at the commandments, those who were Sunday keepers saw a halo around the fourth commandment. They learnt they had to be Sabbath keepers. That was one of the doctrines illuminated to them.
   
2. They saw the pot of manna. What did the children Israel crave for? What was God taking them out of Egypt for? If they had been true, they would have learnt health reform. That was illuminated to those who studied the sanctuary.
   
3. The pot of manna was identifying the health reform.
   
4. Aaron’s rod that budded. That was the time when Korah, Dathan and Abiram felt Gods organisation was not so good and could be improved. They raised a rebellion. They felt Aaron’s and Moses potions needed to be improved upon. They were thrown into a pit. There Aaron’s rod budded. God’s form of organisation was conveyed to the church. They studied much into Aaron’s robes and the dress of the priests. There they saw Gods way of dress.
   

New duties were revealed to them. During the time of judgement, the church and the individuals were illuminated through the Sanctuary.

The books of heaven record the sins that would have been committed had there been opportunity. God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing. By His law He measures the character of every man. As the artist transfers to the canvas the features of the face, so the features of each individual character are transferred to the books of heaven. God has a perfect photograph of every man’s character, and this photograph He compares with His law. He reveals to man the defects that mar his life, and calls upon him to repent and turn from sin (ST July 31, 1901). {5BC 1085.4}

As the people studied the Sanctuary, it is opened up before them a complete system of truth. They were Sunday keepers and needed to keep the Sabbath. They needed to organise. All the instruction of Gods proper organisation was given to them. They needed to stop eating meat. They needed to take correct hold of the dress. The revelation of the system of truth of the Sanctuary was unlocked before them. In Gods own way His people are brought point by point to correct ways that God wanted them to live by. What was His glory? It was His character, His dress and His government. He covers himself with light as garment. The people of God were brought point by point.

After the great disappointment there were few who set themselves to seek the Word with all their heart. But some souls would not settle down in discouragement and deny that the Lord had led them. To these the truth was opened point by point, and entwined with their most hallowed recollections and sympathies. The searchers after truth felt that the identification of Christ with their nature and interest was complete. Truth was made to shine forth, beautiful in its simplicity, dignified with a power and invested with an assurance unknown before the disappointment. We could then proclaim the message in unity. {2SM 109.4}

If you want unity in the church we must go to what God has revealed in the Sanctuary. Unity is not just a woozy feeling of being together. That is what we have been experiencing just like they experienced back there. People who lose sight of what has caused our duties to be practised, begin to fall off in the practise. Our practise is our identity with Jesus in the Sanctuary.

Messages of every order and kind have been urged upon Seventh-day Adventists, to take the place of the truth which, point by point, has been sought out by prayerful study, and testified to by the miracle-working power of the Lord. But the way marks, which have made us what we are, are to be preserved, and they will be preserved, as God has signified through His word and the testimony of His Spirit. He calls upon us to hold firmly, with the grip of faith, to the fundamental principles that are based upon unquestionable authority.–Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 2, p. 59. (1904.) {CW 52.1}

Why do people argue within the ranks of Adventism when there is the authority and when Gods complete system of truth is laid out so vividly? As you look at this point by point discovery which was revealed to the people in this time, it took fifty years to establish this dimension. If you want to stand together with the people of God, you must study the same subjects. Then you will be one in Gods church.

In the future, deception of every kind is to arise, and we want solid ground for our feet. We want solid pillars for the building. Not one pin is to be removed from that which the Lord has established. The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the faith. Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years? — Review and Herald, May 25, 1905. {CW 53.2}

Our only safety is what has been developed from 1905 back fifty years.

As a people we are to stand firm on the platform of eternal truth that has withstood test and trial. We are to hold to the sure pillars of our faith. The principles of truth that God has revealed to us are our only true foundation. They have made us what we are. The lapse of time had not lessened their value.– Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 2, p. 51. (1904.) {CW 52.2}

No line of truth that has made the Seventh-day Adventist people what they are, is to be weakened. We have the old landmarks of truth, experience, and duty, and we are to stand firmly in defence of our principles, in full view of the world.–Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 17. {CW 52.3}

How can you weaken something? Is it when you begin to question the source material where it came from? The Sanctuary message as the underpinning of all those truths was to preside.

Satan is striving continually to bring in fanciful suppositions in regard to the sanctuary, degrading the wonderful representations of God and the ministry of Christ for our salvation into something that suits the carnal mind. He removes its presiding power from the hearts of believers, and supplies its place with fantastic theories invented to make void the truths of the atonement, and destroy our confidence in the doctrines which we have held sacred since the third angel’s message was first given. Thus he would rob us of our faith in the very message that has made us a separate people, and has given character and power to our work.–Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, p. 17. (1905.) {CW 53.3}

I know that the sanctuary question stands in righteousness and truth, just as we have held it for so many years. It is the enemy that leads minds off on sidetracks. He is pleased when those who know the truth become engrossed in collecting Scriptures to pile around erroneous theories, which have no foundation in truth. The Scriptures thus used are misapplied; they were not given to substantiate error, but to strengthen truth.–Gospel Workers, p. 303. (1915.) {CW 54.1}

A little undermining and all of a sudden we don’t agree with the pioneers anymore. Don’t let Satan side track you. When I read these statements my soul trembles as I’ve seen it happen. Those beautiful Bible texts that bind powerful truths are suddenly used in some dangling way to some other application. It sounds so good. When you get the truth in its connective tissue and you find beautiful Bible texts, it thrills you. Satan is trying to weaken our minds in these last moments of earth’s history to go on side issues that are not part of this entire beautiful picture that people get proud about that they have found some new thing.

My and your safety is to hold on to those truths established over the last fifty years to 1905. We will be found in the entirety of the Sanctuary picture. Satan is very close to being bound and he wants to take us with him. The plagues of God’s wrath are already very heavy about us. The way of that which has happened in the past, Seventh Day Adventists minds are now confused with. We have something to hold onto that is not recognised in the majority around us. Let us hold onto this entire truth that has been presented.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud [one] sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.

God grant us to be among this people. That is the challenge. God grant us that under this beautiful complete system of truth as revealed in the sanctuary, we will be among that people are declared here is the patience of the saints.

Amen.