The Great Controversy Between Good and Evil
SUGGESTIVE PROPOSITIONS ON THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST.
The Great Controversy between Good and Evil.
WHEN Christ ascended up on high after His crucifixion and resurrection, He entered upon His Melchizedek priesthood for this world, appointed by the oath of God. "Having been made perfect," "having obtained eternal redemption," "He became unto all them that obey Him the Author of eternal salvation." Heb. 5:9; 9:12. Then began His ministry, as in the type, in the sanctuary above, the first act of which was the anointing of the entire sanctuary, the holy and most holy places, with all the furniture and utensils thereof. Lev. 8:10, 11. The ministration of Christ in the holy place was indicative of His service and work rather than of some exact position or location. There He appears in the presence of God for us, ministering by virtue of His own life, transferring confessed sins from the sinner to the sanctuary on high. Heb. 9:24; Rev. 5:6, compare with 4:5, 6; 8:8. The candlestick and the altar were in the holy place of the earthly sanctuary. Here Christ, our Melchizedek Priest, ministers His life for His children, as father of the race of men, but ever looking forward to the ultimate, the final sin-cleansing. Heb. 6:19; 9:27, 28.5 16. While ministering His life, He is seated in authority at the right hand of the Father, on His Father's throne, that the promise of the Father may be fulfilled—to subdue the foes of Christ under Him. Heb. 8:1, 2; Rev. 3:21; Ps. 110:1; 1 Cor. 15:24-28. 17. When the end of Christ's ministration draws nigh, He is, before all the angelic host, brought in before the Father to receive the kingdom He has won. Dan. 7:13, 14. 18. The closing work of His ministration is referred to in the Scriptures as the cleansing of the sanctuary, the finishing of the mystery of God, the viewing of the guests in the marriage feast, the antitypical day of atonement, literally a judgment work. Dan. 8:14; Rev. 10:7; Matt. 22:11, 12; Dan. 7:9, 10. While still the merciful and faithful High Priest of all that come to Him, He is also taking part in that work of final separation of the evil from the good, pleading His blood for the perfect-hearted erring ones who have died in His service, and whose names come before the High Court for examination, as recorded in the Book of Life; and, too, sending forth His light and truth for the perfecting of those living on the earth, that they may be without spot or blemish, when His work of mediation for sin ceases. As judgment is passed upon each case according to the record, either the soul's record of sin is blotted out forever, as it must be out of his heart (Acts 3:19), or his name is forever blotted out of the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5). 19. The finishing of "the mystery," the Gospel, of God is the last act of the great drama. In the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary two goats were taken, upon which lots were cast, one goat for Jehovah, one for Azazel, the Revolted One. These goats typify the two great contrary characters, between which the great controversy has waged, and in each of which has been promised freedom and future life; and these now come before Jehovah for final and universal choice. One, in whom centers the whole of holy character, who took upon Himself the sins of the world voluntarily, who chose death that others might have life, is chosen of Jehovah. As the substitute of man, He bore, He suffered, man's sin. Jehovah hath made to meet, to light, on Him the iniquity of us all. All were focused on Him. But in His character He demonstrated His power over man's deadly foe, and rose triumphant over sin and death. As man's substitute, as the sin-offering, He died. As the sinless, suffering, righteous One He lives eternally, made a priest of an endless life. 20. Lucifer in the beginning took all the sin of the world, of the universe, upon himself, when he coveted and attempted to obtain by the "right" of might and craft the throne of the universe. In his sinning and seduction of others to evil Lucifer made himself responsible for all the consequences which might follow. 21. The Son of God bore the sin of the world as tho there had been no adversary in the universe; but He demonstrated that sin does not belong to Him, as will all who are righteous in Him demonstrate that sin does not belong to them. Yet for all the centuries the charge has been laid against God that He was unjust in placing upon the innocent the guilt of the wicked. And were this guilt thus eternally placed, the charge would be true. But the power and mercy and love of God have demonstrated that not to the righteous, tried Innocent belong the guilt, the sins; but to the instigator and choosers of sin, to the Wicked One and his branches. Anciently it was said to God by the father of the faithful: "That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from Thee. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" The question is answered when God's plan of salvation is worked out, when God has demonstrated that He is just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." Divine eternal love and mercy in the heart of God's dear Son led Him to give Himself, led His Father to give His Son, for a race of rebels, to take upon Himself their penalty, and so achieve the salvation of all who desired to overcome sin. And Divine, eternal justice and love demands that the sin of the righteous, the innocent, shall be placed back upon the instigator who took them all upon himself when he sinned. Then shall the redeemed ones sing in the light of fact as they have trusted by faith: "Great and marvelous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of Ages."