Questions Answered by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 19, 1879

Questions Answered.

By Editor

"IN synopsis of Lesson 24, The Cleansing of the Sanctuary, I read: 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 the removal of the sins that had been transferred to the sanctuary during the year.

"Was there any sin transferred to the sanctuary on the day of atonement? or, in other words, did the high priest officiate in both the holy places at the same time?

"In last month’s lessons it was taught that Christ entered upon the ministration in the most holy place in 1844. If so, did not his ministration close in the first apartment? and if so, did not probation cease? If not, please explain how the two correspond? E. A."

This subject has been a trouble to many persons, but why, is not clear to us. The difficulty lies entirely in a supposition for which we see no warrant. Thus, if probation did not cease in 1844, we are asked to explain how the two correspond. That is to take for granted that it did cease according to the work of the earthly, of which there is not a particle of proof.

The high priest did officiate in both places on the day of atonement. See Lev. 16. Kitto says that the regulations set down in Lev. 16 were in addition to the duties which belonged to that day in common with other days. Smith’s Bible Dictionary also says:—"On the day of atonement, the high priest performed the ordinary duties of the daily service." It was not a cessation of priestly service, but the culmination of it.

How anybody ever imbibed the idea that the record of Lev. 16 indicated a close of probation we cannot imagine. On that day the priests cleansed them from sin, and they were required in an especial manner to "afflict their souls." Lev. 16:31. "For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people." Lev. 23:30. All this sufficiently indicates both a probationary condition and work on that day.

Now we have a question to ask. Will some of our correspondents please give us a reason for supposing that there was no probation on the day of atonement?

To N. F. H.—We know of no reason why we may not suppose that the phrase, "sons of God," in Job 1:6, is used in the same sense as in John 1:12, and 1 John 3:2. And if so, it took place on earth. Dr. Clarke thinks they were the angels, and says the expositions, or rather conjectures, are numerous. We do not discover any importance in it.