THE CLEANSING OF THE SANCTUARY.
By Elder M. H. Brown
ONCE a year, on the great day of atonement, the priest entered the most holy place for the cleansing of the sanctuary. The work there performed completed the yearly round of ministration. “On the day of atonement two kids of the goats were brought to the door of the tabernacle, and lots were cast upon them, ‘one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat.’ The goat upon which the first lot fell was to be slain as a sin offering for the people. And the priest was to bring his blood within the veil and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat. ‘And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins; and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.’ Lev. 16:16. “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; and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited.” Not until the goat had been thus sent away did the people regard themselves as freed from the burden of their sins. Every man was to afflict his soul while the4work of atonement was going forward. All business was laid aside, and the whole congregation of Israel spent the day in solemn humiliation before God, with prayer, fasting, and deep searching of heart. “Important truths concerning the atonement were taught the people by this yearly service. In the sin offerings presented during the year, a substitute had been accepted in the sinner’s stead; but the blood of the victim had not made full atonement for the sin. It had only provided a means by which the sin was transferred to the sanctuary. By the offering of blood the sinner acknowledged the authority of the law, confessed the guilt of his transgression, and expressed his faith in Him who was to take away the sin of the world; but he was not entirely released from the condemnation of the law. On the day of atonement the high priest, having taken an offering for the congregation, went into the most holy place with the blood, and sprinkled it upon the mercy seat, above the tables of the law. Thus the claims of the law which demanded the life of the sinner were satisfied. Then, in the character of mediator, the priest took the sins upon himself, and, leaving the sanctuary, he bore with him the burden of Israel’s guilt. At the door of the tabernacle he laid his hands upon the head of the scapegoat, and confessed 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.’ Lev. 16:21. And as the goat bearing these sins was sent away, they were with him regarded as forever separated from the people.”—Patriarchs and Prophets. This work of cleansing the sanctuary on the day of atonement,—the tenth day of the seventh month,—was the conclusion of the yearly round of service. It was the special service which completed the work of the year. Thus a remembrance of sins was made every year (Heb. 10:1-4), and each year’s service was complete in itself, closing with the day of atonement, which always came on the tenth day of the seventh month, the seventh month corresponding nearly with October of our year. We are not to understand that the sanctuary service in the type was effectual in itself in removing sin and saving the sinner, “for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Heb. 10:1-4; 9:9, 10. The repentant sinner was saved then, as now, by faith in Christ, “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. His sacrifice on Calvary and his priestly service in the sanctuary and true tabernacle are all sufficient to cleanse from sin and secure eternal redemption for those who believe in him. Heb. 9:11-14; 10:5-14. The sinner who saw by faith the Lamb of God represented by the sacrifices and offerings which were brought to the sanctuary, was blessed of God and saved from sin. This result came because of faith in Christ and his work, and not because of any merit or saving power in the typical service of the earthly sanctuary. The type was designed to lead the mind and direct the faith to Christ and his work as the Saviour of sinners, to him who died for our sins, and is now our Advocate in the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands. Heb. 9:11, 12. By means of the tabernacle and its service in the former dispensation the people of God were taught concerning Christ and his work; and as the “things which were written aforetime were written for our learning,” the Lord would have us learn from them in regard to the tabernacle in heaven and the service of our High Priest.