BIBLE STUDIES

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 26, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 33.

Our Great High Priest

1. Of what was the ancient sanctuary, with its holy places and priests (described last week), a type? “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a Minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Heb. 8: 1, 2.

2. After what was the earthly sanctuary made? “See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.” Heb. 8: 5; Ex. 25: 40.

3. What was this pattern which was showed to Moses in the mount? “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Heb. 9: 24.

NOTE.—There were two holy places in the earthly sanctuary. These are expressly declared to be the “patterns of things in the heavens,” the “holy places” of the earth, “the figures [plural] of the true.” Heb. 9: 24. The same thought is expressed in the original of verses 8 and 12, and of 10: 19, where they should read “holy places.” The holy places of the earthly sanctuary are typical of the holy places of the heavenly sanctuary.

4. What furniture was found in the earthly sanctuary? The candlestick, the table of showbread, the altar of incense; and in the most holy place, the ark of the covenant, testament, or testimony.

NOTE.—See last week’s Bible study and the scriptures referred to, also Heb. 9: 1-5.

5. Which of these did John see in heaven? “A door was opened in heaven; . . . and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.” Rev. 4: 1-5. “And another angel came and stood at the altar, 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.” Rev. 8: 3.

6. At a later time in earth’s history, after the opening of a door in the heavenly temple, what did John see? “And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament.” Rev. 11: 19.

7. To what, then, did the earthly priests serve in the earthly sanctuary? “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things.” Heb. 8: 5.

8. Why were there many priests? “They were not suffered to continue by reason of death.” Heb. 7: 23.

9. How does Christ’s priesthood differ? “But this Man, because He continued ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.” Verse 24.

10. How often did the priests officiate in the first apartment? “The priests went always [daily] into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.” Heb. 9: 6.

NOTE.—“The priests went always [continually, daily] into the first tabernacle,” or holy place (Heb. 9: 6), relates to their regular, daily service, of one lamb in the morning and one in the evening, with such other offerings as individuals and special times might call for. The regular daily offerings and Sabbath offerings are described in Num. 28: 3-10. There were offered daily throughout the year in the holy place.

11. How often did the priest minister in the most holy place? “Into the second [apartment, the most holy] went the high priest alone once every year.” Heb. 9: 7.

12. What was the character of this yearly service? To cleanse the sanctuary “because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins.” Lev. 16: 16.

13. Why was this necessary? and how was it carried out? See following note.

NOTE.—The individual offerings (described in the first several chapters of Leviticus) offered in faith by the sinner, together with the daily offering, transferred in figure through the blood of the sacrifice or the person of the priest the sins of the penitent to the sanctuary. When the priest sprinkled the blood upon the altar before the ark, he there left, so to speak, in figure, the forgiven sins of the people of God. This work went on for the year. On the last day of that year, the tenth day of the seventh month, the high priest, after offering for himself, took two goats, over which he cast lots, one for Jehovah, one for the scapegoat, or better, the proper Hebrew noun Azazel, “the strong one who revolted,” or Satan. See Lev. 16: 8, margin. The Lord’s goat was slain, its blood taken into the most holy place and sprinkled upon the mercy-seat, all the sins of Israel were confessed, taken by the priest, brought out, and laid upon the head of the goat “for Azazel,” confessing “over him ALL THE INIQUITIES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, and all their transgressions in all their sins.” Then this scapegoat was sent away by a fit man into the wilderness, and tradition tells us was there destroyed with all the sins. Israel then stood free from sin. Every soul who in faith availed himself of these provisions of the Lord for putting away of sin stood free before God; but every person who did not afflict his soul was “cut off from among his people.” Lev. 23: 29. That day, therefore, the tenth day of the seventh month, be-