A Judgment Work by G. B. Thompson

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 23, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 46.

A Judgment Work

By G. B. Thompson

HOW SOLEMN to the hosts of Israel encamped around the sanctuary must have been the typical Day of Atonement! It was a time in which a man was to afflict his soul, not in doing penance, but in contrition of heart for sin, that he might not be cut off.

The sanctuary was the dwelling-place of Jehovah. Here the Shekinah of His glory was seen. Daily throughout the entire year the sinner brought his offering to the door of the sanctuary, and, having confessed over the victim his sin, it was slain with his own hand, and the blood was carried by the high priest into the first apartment of the tabernacle. Thus, in type, the sins of Israel were transferred from the sinner to the sanctuary.

But once in the end of the year—the tenth day of the seventh month—a marked change took place in the service. "But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people." Heb. 9:7. The "patterns of things in the heavens" must needs be cleansed, not from physical, but moral, uncleanness. The sins which, in figure, had been carried into the sanctuary must in some way be removed.

A full description of the work upon the Day of Atonement is given in Leviticus 16. Turn and read carefully the account of this soul-inspiring service. The Bible contains nothing more interesting or important. Two goats were taken—one for the Lord, the other for the scapegoat. The Lord's goat having been determined by lot, it was slain. Then the high priest, clad in his robes of spotless purity, having first made an offering for himself, took this blood, and went into the most holy place, into the immediate presence of God, and over the mercy-seat on the ark containing the ten-commandment law which the sinner had transgressed, he sprinkled the blood, and made an atonement for sin. This done, he came out to the door of the sanctuary laden with the sins of those who, by confession, had transferred their sins into the sanctuary, and placed, by confession, these sins upon the scapegoat. This goat was then sent by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness to perish. The round of service was then complete, and the sanctuary was cleansed from sin.

Putting Away Sin.

Note carefully that this work consisted in putting away sin. It was a decisive work. Some were cut off. "For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people." Lev. 23:29. A work which removes sin, and determines who are numbered among the Israel of God is a judgment work. Here a line was drawn between those who served God and those who served Him not.

This was the judgment in type, the "example and shadow of heavenly things." Heb. 8:5. It was the eternal judgment of the great day, portrayed in figure. There is in heaven the true tabernacle. Heb. 8:1, 2. This, too, must be cleansed, not with the blood of animals, but with the precious blood of Christ. "It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these." Heb. 9:23.

When Christ ascended He entered within the veil, into the first apartment, the holy place (Heb. 6:19, 20). He is the victim; He is also the high priest. Through His merits the sins of all those who have confessed their transgressions are carried into the heavenly sanctuary. By confession we send our sins "before unto judgment." 1 Tim. 5:24. The sins of all the true Israel of God are thus transferred unto the sanctuary.

The heavenly sanctuary, like the type, must be cleansed, not from material impurity, but from sin. Just as the high priest, once in the end of the year, went into the most holy place, so Christ, "once in the end of the world" (Heb. 9:26), at the close of His ministry for sin in the heavenly sanctuary, must enter the most holy place, and make an atonement for sin. And just as surely as the typical service foreshadowed a work of judgment, just so surely will the terrible judgment of the great God then begin. The lives of men will be compared with the law of God—a copy of which was in the earthly sanctuary—and all who have not forsaken evil will be cut off.

The seer in Babylon in holy vision beheld the opening of this terrible tribunal. "I beheld till the thrones were placed, and One that was ancient of days did sit; His raiment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool; His throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him; thousands of thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him; the judgment was set, and the books were opened." Dan. 7:9, 10. What a sublime description of the opening of the heavenly tribunal—the Supreme Court of the universe. Its decrees know no change. Those pronounced holy will remain holy still, and those pronounced filthy will be filthy forever. Rev. 22:11. As Paul directed the mind of Felix to this time, the governor shook with fear. Well may those without God tremble. But in Christ we are safe.

Reader, pause in the mad rush for the baubles of earth, and listen: Elsewhere in this paper it is shown from prophecy, whose accuracy and truthfulness none can question, that the heavenly Court—the cleansing of the true sanctuary—commenced A.D. 1844. Oct. 22, 1904, marked the sixtieth anniversary of the beginning of this solemn work. How far have its investigations proceeded? How much longer will it sit ere the eternal Judge shall arise from His burning throne, and proclaim the mystery of God finished? When will the cases of the living pass in review? The exact time is beyond the ken of mortals, but it must be soon. The type calls for a work comparatively short. Are you ready for the record of your life to be placed beneath the scrutiny of the Ancient of days? Have you made Christ your friend? Is the blood of the Lamb upon the lintels of your soul, that, when the avenging angel shall pass over, he will "see the blood"? If not, delay no longer. Flee from the place where you are. Confess and forsake your iniquity, ere the door of the ark of mercy shall be shut forever, and you be "cut off," and numbered among the transgressors.