LESSONS FOR BIBLE CLASSES.
By G. H. Bell
LESSON XXIV.—THE CLEANSING OF THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY.
1. To what must the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary correspond? 2. What were the two leading acts in the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary? 3. In what must the cleansing of the heavenly consist? 4. How are the sins of penitent believers transferred to the heavenly sanctuary? 5. In what way do the sins of all men find a place in the sanctuary above? Rev. 20:12. 6. What do we learn from Rev. 20:12 in regard to the number of the books of record kept in Heaven? 7. What book is named in that verse? 10. What is recorded in the book of remembrance? 11. What must the other book, or books, contain? 12. What use is to be made of these records? Rev. 20:12. 16. Are all these things recorded in the books? 17. How may we know that all these things find a place in the record? Rev. 20:12. 18. What are we making, day by day, and moment by moment? 19. Who is noting every particular in our history? 20. Where will we have to meet this record? Since the priests of the worldly sanctuary served unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary must correspond to the cleansing of the earthly. The cleansing of the earthly sanctuary consisted in presenting the blood of the sin-offering as an atonement, and in the removal of the sins that had been transferred to the sanctuary during the year. So the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary must consist in presenting the blood of Christ, and in the removal of sins. We see, then, that the blood of Christ is offered in the second apartment, as well as in the first. It has already been noticed that Christ takes upon himself the sins of penitent believers, and thus their sins have been transferred to the heavenly sanctuary. There is also a record kept of the sins of all men; for we read, in Rev. 20:12 that the dead are to be judged out of those things that are written in the books, according to their works. From the same verse we learn that there must be at least three books, and that one of them is the book of life. In Mal. 3:16 we learn that a book of remembrance is written for them that fear the Lord. The book of life contains the names of those who have entered the service of Christ. The book of remembrance contains a record of their good deeds,—their acts of repentance, confession, obedience, and sacrifice. We conclude, then, that the other book, or books, mentioned in Rev. 20:12 must contain a record of the deeds of the wicked. As we have already noticed, men are to be judged by the record found in the books. This record is very clear: “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.” Every idle word, as well as every secret purpose or motive, will be carefully entered in the books kept in the sanctuary above. Day by day, and moment by moment, we are making our history; while the recording angel, with unfailing accuracy, is noting every particular. This record we will have to meet in the judgment, where with all the countless millions of earth, we shall be judged out of the things written in the books, according to our works.