The Sanctuary and the Judgment - Pr Geoff Youlden - GTAN2527

Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, Go therefore and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Welcome to Go Teach all nations, bringing you Christ's teachings through Australian and international speakers. And here is today's presenter, Pastor Geoff Youlden. SPEAKER 2 I want to read a verse now to start our service this morning that if I was to tell you this and it wasn't in the Bible, you wouldn't believe me because it is so different to what we would imagine. that as I said, if it wasn't in the Bible, you wouldn't accept it. Even if I told you, you wouldn't accept it. But it is in the Bible, and I want you to open your Bibles to Revelation chapter 12 and verse 7. Revelation chapter 12, Revelation is easy to find, Revelation the 12th chapter and verse 7. And this is the verse that says something shocking. is the only way to describe it. Revelation 12 verse 7 says, and war broke out in Europe. Now, if that's what the text said, you wouldn't be surprised, would you? But where does it say war broke out? In heaven. Now, you would never imagine that because we don't associate war in heaven in the same sentence. But the first war in the universe didn't begin on this earth, it began in heaven. And so the point that we are going to make first of all this morning is that sin is not an earthly problem only. Sin did not originate on this earth. sin originated in heaven. And once again, that's a shocking truth, but it's true. And so the point that is very important for us to understand is that the problem of sin is not our problem only. It's a problem that involves the angels, it involves the Godhead, It involves unfallen worlds and it involves us. It's a big, big issue in the universe, the biggest thing there is in the universe. In fact, if we read verse 8, it says, or we'll finish reading verse 7, perhaps, War broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon. and the dragon and his angels fought. This is a description of the battle that started in heaven between Christ and Satan. And then it says about Satan, they did not prevail. That is, the angels that followed the devil, one third we're told, did not prevail. They weren't successful, nor was a place found in them in heaven any longer. so the great dragon was cast out that serpent of old called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world. He was cast to the earth and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ have come for the accuser of our brethren. who accused them before our God day and night has been cast down. And then it says in verse 12, Therefore rejoice, O what? Heavens, notice it's plural. So are there more people in the universe than us and the angels and the godhead? are there? Yes. This verse says, Rejoice ye heavens and you who dwell in them for now the devil has been cast down onto this earth. Now one of the things we need to understand about this is that God didn't say, well, there you are, the earth, you have the problem. They were cast to the earth because this earth is the only world that allowed Satan to have a foothold. All the other worlds rejected him. That's why he was cast out to this earth. We must never get the idea that God couldn't deal with it. So he said, well, go down to the earth. No, the Earth chose through Adam and Eve to invite him to come in. And so the Bible uses the expression he was cast down to the earth. So there are more than earthlings in the universe. That is very clear from the Bible because the rest of the universe was to rejoice because now the devil and his angels are confined to this earth. Now when we go over to the book of Job, we find that the story of the problems in the universe are outlaid and very clearly put forward. So come back to the book of Job. By the way, Job, for those of us who are new with the Bible, Job is in the middle of the Bible, a little bit back after Psalms. If you come to Psalms, then the book of Job is the book before it. And we want to go to Job chapter one. The most wonderful book is the book of Job, probably the oldest book in the Bible too, by the way, that was written by Moses. Job chapter 1 and we'll pick up verse 6. Job chapter 1 verse 6, it says, Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. Here are all the other Adams, the sons of God, all the other Adams from all the other worlds in the universe. came to have a big general conference in heaven. And who do you think showed up from this earth? Well it says, the devil did. And so the Lord said to Satan, verse 7, from where do you come? So Satan answered the Lord and said, from going to and fro on the earth and from walking back and forth on it. In other words, I control the earth. It's my dominion. So I'm here representing the earth. Then the Lord said to Satan, have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil. In other words, God is pointing out to Satan, they haven't all given over to you. What about Job? He's a man that's very faithful to me. Verse 9, so Satan answered the Lord and said, Does Job fear God for nothing? In other words, now the Satan is accusing God, he's saying, listen, Job doesn't serve you for nothing. It's because you pay him. You have blessed him. That's why he serves you. In other words, give a man enough money and of course he'll serve you. And that was the accusation that Satan leveled at the Lord. And verse 10 says, have you not made a hedge around him, around his household and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands and his possessions have increased in the land. So Satan we find, The first discussion between Satan and God, here we find that Satan is making certain accusations against God. And all the unfallen worlds are witnesses to that discussion that's going on between Christ and Satan. and this is simply how the sin problem began in the first place. Then the story swiftly changes to Earth. And we find that the conflict that began in heaven now is transferred to this Earth. And Job is there as the representative of human beings. living on the earth. Job does not understand what's going on behind the scenes. He, as we read in this first two chapters, he really is an innocent bystander. He doesn't understand that he's in the midst of a conflict between God and Satan. And they're looking at Job, he doesn't understand this at this particular stage. Now, if you come over to 1 Corinthians, at the back of the Bible, 1 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 9, 1 Corinthians, there are two books of Corinthians, we want the first one, chapter 4 and verse 9, Paul here gives us an insight into what is happening on this earth. 1 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 9, for I think that God has displayed us the apostles last as men condemned to death. For we have been made a spectacle to what? The world both to angels and to men. So Paul is pointing out that this earth is a lesson book. The whole universe is interested in what is going on on this earth. We're a spectacle, a theater stage as it were, and all the universe is watching what is happening on this earth. In fact, let me read you a statement from patriarchs and prophets. Listen to this. The plan of redemption had yet a broader and deeper purpose than the salvation of man. It was not for this alone that Christ came to this earth. Now, this is a very, very important Truth, present truth. Jesus didn't come to this earth only to save us. There was a more, even a more important point than that. Let's read on. It was not merely that the inhabitants of this little world might regard the law of God as it should be regarded, but it was to what? vindicate the character of God before the universe. Now, why is the universe interested in us? Why is the attention that we read back in the book of Job and now Paul is saying that we are made a spectacle? Why? Because you and I can play a part in helping to vindicate the character of God. What does the word vindicate mean? Justify. Good, yes. Prove. Exonerate. All good words. We must understand particularly those of English is not our number one language vindicate it means to prove, to show to demonstrate. Yes, that's a good word too. Demonstrate. You understand now what vindicate means to demonstrate to the whole universe God's character. Now this is a very, very important part of present truth. This you will find that most Christians do not understand the breadth of the reason Jesus came to this earth. As I said, it wasn't only to save us. Thank God he did come to save us. But that's not the only thing that Jesus came to this earth. He came to demonstrate the character of God. And as I said, that's a very, very important part because questions were placed in the angels' minds and in the unfallen beings' minds about the character of God. Satan had accused God of being unjust. He had accused God of being unfair. He had accused God of making a law that was impossible to keep. And when you throw mud as Satan did at God, what generally happens when you throw mud? Some of it sticks. And so there was a question in the minds of the angels, in fact, so much so that one third of the angels went over to the side of the devil. That's how telling these arguments that Satan was bringing up against God were. and in the rest of the universe there were still questions. Maybe God isn't what he claims to be. Maybe God isn't just a God of love at all. Maybe God is unfair. And these were the questions. Now, the question I want to answer now is, Were all these questions answered when Jesus died on the cross? Let me read you some statements from the Spirit of Prophecy, because we want to make sure that not only what the Bible says, but also what Spirit of Prophecy says. She says, Yet there stood men formed in the image of God, joining to crush out the life of His only begotten Son. What a sight for the heavenly universe. Now can you just imagine that you're a being on some other world, you're the angels and you have worshipped Jesus as the Creator and suddenly down on this earth they are treating Him the way they did. It was just an astonishment to the universe. All right, let's have a look at the next statement. Satan saw that his disguise was torn away. His administration was laid open before the unfallen angels and before the heavenly universe. That's after he killed Christ. He had revealed himself as a murderer. By shedding the blood of the Son of God, he had uprooted himself from the sympathies of the heavenly beings. The last link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world was broken. So Satan committed the unpardonable sin when he had Jesus crucified. And the universe stood aghast at what they did to Jesus. their creator whom they had worshipped for eons of years. And that's when Satan was cast out of heaven. From this time onwards Satan never had any more access back into heaven to represent the earth like he did in the book of Job. That finished at the cross. That's why Jesus said, I saw Satan as lightning fall from heaven. One more statement. She says, Yet Satan was not yet then destroyed. The angels did not even then understand all that was involved in the great controversy. All right? This is after Jesus' death on the cross. According to the statement, did the angels and the unfallen worlds really understand all that was involved? in the great story between Christ and Satan, what we call the great controversy. Did they understand it yet? Did they? No. They understood some, but they didn't understand at all. The principles at stake were to be more fully revealed. And for the sake of man, Satan's existence must be continued. Man as well as angels must see the contrast between the Prince of Light and the Prince of Darkness. So what she's saying here is that there needed to be more time, there were more things in the great controversy that yet had to be revealed, even after Jesus' death. So all the questions in the great controversy were not answered when Jesus died on the cross. Many, many were, but not all. Let me read that to you from the Bible. Come over to Ephesians, the third chapter, Ephesians chapter 3, so that you see that it's supported by the Bible. This is Ephesians the third chapter and verse 10. To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by Whom? The church to whom? To the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. Who's the principalities and powers in the heavenly places? Who's that? That's the angels. It's the unfallen worlds. Everyone in the universe. principles, principalities and powers. In other words, this verse is saying, let's read it again carefully now because this is very important and you'll see why it's so important in a moment. To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church. Who's the church? When we say the church, who's that? That's us. Yeah, we're the church. God's people, wherever they are around the world, through God's people, to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. In other words, Paul is saying that God is going to reveal more of the manifold wisdom of God through the church to the whole universe. And of course, the Book of Ephesians was written after the cross, wasn't it? So he recognized that not every the cross hadn't shown everything yet. It had shown a tremendous amount. And as I said, they were aghast at what they saw. But it hadn't revealed everything yet. and God was now going to use the church, that's you and me, to be able to complete the manifold wisdom of God. So this text is saying 30 years after the cross, all the wisdom of God had been not made known to the universe. So even after the cross, the universe still needed to learn more about the manifold wisdom of God. And then the second point is this, the wisdom is going to be revealed through the church. Now, that doesn't take anything away. Don't think for a moment that we are trying to suggest to take away anything from the cross. That would just be blasphemous. It's not taking away anything from the cross because the cross is complete. But the cross didn't reveal everything about the story of the great controversy. More yet needed to be revealed. And so all it's saying is that not all the questions were answered. Now, this is where there are many Christians and there are even some Adventists who suddenly get very, very uncomfortable with the idea that the church is going to be used to vindicate God's character. Because these people all think it happened at the cross. But the Bible says it didn't all happen at the cross. Large part of it happened at the cross, but there's more yet to be revealed in which you and I as the church are going to be involved in to reveal the manifold wisdom of God. Because these people emphasise the cross, the cross, the cross. And who's going to take away anything from the cross? None of us would want to do that. But we must understand that there are some other things that have to be revealed. apart from what Jesus did for us on the cross. And I must admit it sounds good for when these people say that. But you see error is not only taught by teaching something that's wrong, error is also taught by people not giving you the whole truth. In other words, they emphasise one side of the picture and neglect the other side. Can you see that that's dangerous? Because then you get a distorted view of something. And so we need to be very careful that we have a complete understanding of the story of salvation. As the Bible says, and Spirit of Prophecy backs it up, there are, there's other aspects to vindicate God's character before the universe that is involved outside what Jesus did for us on the cross. Now, we can never exhaust the love of our Savior. We were talking about that in our Sabbath School lesson this morning. We can never exhaust that. And we can never overemphasize what Jesus did on the cross. Never. but we can exaggerate what was done at the cross. For example, if I was to come and teach you, Once saved, always saved, is that attributing too much to the cross? That is, Once saved, always saved teaches that once you accept Jesus, no matter what you do after that, you'll still have salvation. Do you believe the Bible teaches that? Certainly not. And that would be attributing too much to the cross because Jesus, when He died on the cross, did not die for a person just to live as they want to accept Him and then live as they want to. The Bible never teaches that at all. The second point that I will illustrate it with is universalism. There are people in the world, Christian people in the world, who believe that from Cain down to Adolf Hitler and beyond, everyone is saved. Do you believe that? We believe that when Jesus died on the cross, He made provision for everybody to be saved, is that right? Yes, that is true, but not everybody will be saved because you and I play a part in salvation, and the part that you and I play is that we have to accept it, isn't that right? Yes. And so universalism is attributing too much to the cross. And obviously the battle between Christ and Satan isn't finished yet. It's still going on. Now the sanctuary, whether the one in the wilderness or the one in Jerusalem, was composed of two parts. Now I want you to Please pay attention to this, particularly if you're new to the sanctuary understanding. This is very, very important. When it came to the sanctuary, there are two things you must never, ever forget. They are the most basic points of the sanctuary. There's lots to learn in the sanctuary, but there are two outstanding points that must never be forgotten. The first is the sacrifice of the animals. All right? You know when the lamb died or the goat died or whatever it was, the bull, the sacrifice of the animals, that's the first part. The second part is the ministration of the blood. When the animal died, there was a program that existed and followed that whereby the blood of the animal was applied in the sanctuary. They're the two parts that are the most important part of the whole sanctuary service. And when we have a look at this we'll find that when the animal died at the altar of burnt offering in the courtyard, there you can see it there where the smoke's coming up, that's what's called the altar of burnt offering. that's where every person who had sinned came along and confessed their sin over the head of the animal, and then the animal was killed and the blood was applied in the sanctuary. Now, there are different things that happen depending upon who sinned and what they did. But basically the blood was then applied into the sanctuary. So what are the two important things? The death of the animal and the applying of the blood in the sanctuary. And what does the altar of burnt offering represent? In the Christian era when the animal was killed what does that represent in the Christian era for us? What does that represent? The cross because the animal, the lamb represented Jesus and his death, right? I think that's very basic. I think every Christian would understand that. And that's very, very, very important. But the other aspect of the sanctuary was that the blood had to be administered by the priest into the sanctuary. And these two aspects are absolutely vital. Now, let me read that to you from the Bible. Come over to the book of Hebrews, because the burden of the book of Hebrews is to emphasize this Hebrews. Chapter 7 and verse 25. This verse in the book of Hebrews is the clearest, simplest verse on this very point, on this dual application, that is, Jesus dying for us, but then His blood being applied in the sanctuary. All right, let's have a look. Hebrews 7 verse 25, Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost, them that come unto God through Him. What's that referring to? What aspect of Jesus' life? Therefore He's able to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him. What's that referring to? The cross. Yeah, when Jesus died on the cross. That's the first part, the altar of burnt offering. But then it goes on to say, since he always lives to make intercession for them. So what is necessary as well as his death, what is as necessary? He has to apply his blood in the sanctuary. on your behalf and on mine. In other words, Jesus' death on the cross would avail nothing if the blood is not applied in the sanctuary, because that's representing the fact that He is our intercessor. because this verse is saying since He always lives to make intercession for them. So what is Jesus doing now? He died for us 2000 years ago, but what's He doing now? He's making intercession for us. He's ministering on our behalf. He's applying His blood spilled 2000 years ago on your behalf and on mine as we confess our sins. Let's have a look at Hebrews chapter 8 and verse 1. Now this is the main point of the things we are saying, Paul says. We have such a high priest who is seated at 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 erected and not man. Now listen, If it all finished at the cross, like most Christians believe, and even some Adventists who have copied them believe, what's all this about? What's the book of Hebrews about if Jesus finished it all at the cross? He began the work at the cross. But it needs to continue in the heavenly sanctuary. Can you see the point? Whereby he's interceding on your behalf and on mine, even though he spilled his blood 2,000 years ago. That's been going on for the last 2,000 years. And so I say, if it all finished at the cross, Why the book of Hebrews? Why does Paul emphasize this point over and over again? And that beautiful verse in Hebrews 7:25 where it says he's died saving us to the uttermost them that come unto Christ seeing he ever lives to make intercession for us. In other words, his intercession in the heavenly sanctuary is just as important as his death on the cross. Very, very important that we understand that because so often in sermons we just hear one aspect of the work of Jesus and that is death on the cross. I want to suggest to you we are hearing very little about the work that Jesus is doing in the heavenly sanctuary today because it's been undermined in the last 30 years. because if it all happened at the cross, what's the use of reading the book of Hebrews? What's the use of studying the sanctuary? And yet it's absolutely vital for us to understand it. And the same is true on earth. The priest, when the lamb was slain, he took the blood and took it into the sanctuary. because it represented the sin transferring, the confessions of sin transferring from the individual to the sanctuary. Where, by the way, that was cleansed on Yom Kippur once every year. That's what the cleansing of the sanctuary had to do with. That's another subject we're not going to get into that this morning. But we understand that there are two parts to the sanctuary service. two major parts, the death of the animal and the applying of the blood into the sanctuary. That's the most important aspects of what the sanctuary is all about. Now let's just go back to Ephesians, the third chapter. Let's read this verse again, Ephesians chapter 3 and verse 10 and 11. says, To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. And as we noticed in our Sabbath school lesson this morning, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. So when was this conceived? When Adam and Eve sinned, According to this verse, verse 11, when was it conceived? In eternity. A whole story was laid from the foundation of the world. It's not an afterthought. And it's according to that eternal purpose. So Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Now, What part does the church play in this matter of vindicating the character of God or being a part of vindicating the character of God? What is the part that you and I are to play? Come back to Ephesians 2 and verse 10. Ephesians 2 and verse 10. It says, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for what? Yeah, which God prepared beforehand. Here again, good works were prepared from the foundation of the world as well. You know, just about everything you hear about good works these days is they're bad. Good works are not very popular. But the Bible says that you and I were created in Christ Jesus for good works. That's why you exist. To demonstrate good works, we ought to hear a whole lot more about good works. What good works is wrong when we think that that's going to help us to get salvation. That's wrong. But the Bible says, you and I were created for good works. In fact, if you come back to Isaiah, you'll read the reason why good works are so important. Isaiah 43, toward the middle of the Bible, Isaiah 43 and verse 7. Everyone who is called by my name whom I have created for my what? Glory. In other words, why does God want us to have good works? Why does God want you to be full of good works? And why does he want me to be full of good works? Why? To bring glory to God. That's the purpose. Not to bring glory to ourselves, not at all. But to bring glory to God, because you and I are playing a part before the whole universe. in endeavoring to vindicate the character of God. Remember Jesus said in Matthew chapter 5 and verse 16, Let your light so shine before men that they may see your what? Good works. So Jesus is on this matter of good works. See your good works and what? Glorify your Father. Father which is in heaven. In other words, the purpose of our good works is to bring honour and glory to God. That's the purpose of good works. That's why the devil hates good works. And those who only have part of the gospel will downplay good works. God never downplays them, He up-plays them. Because good works in your life and mine are there to bring honour and glory to our heavenly Father. By the way, that's why God has given us the health message. Because if we're sick, that doesn't bring much glory and honor to God. And God has given us the health message so that we can be healthy, so that we can live a life of good works. When you're feeling sick, you can't do too much. But God wants us to bring honour and glory to Him. And that's why, as I said, our health message is so very, very important. Come over to John chapter 15. We were talking about this the last time three weeks ago, John chapter 15 and verse 8. And this is the story of the vine and the branches, remember? John chapter 15 and verse 8, by this is my Father is glorified, that you bear what? Much fruit. So will you be my disciples. So here it is again, bearing fruit and that is to bring honour and glory to God over and over again. Of course the character of God's people is not the only affecting the honour of God. Listen to the statement from Spirit of Prophecy. The honour of God, the honour of Christ is involved in the perfection of the character of His people. Now, if you want to raise people's blood pressure, there's one word in that sentence that will raise it. What is the word? perfection. But I want you to read it because I didn't write that. And there's plenty of text in the Bible says, be perfect as your father is in heaven is perfect, too. The honor of God, the honor of Christ is involved in the perfection of the character of his people. Now, of course, the character of God's people is not the only thing affecting the honour of God. The cross of Christ is the main thing. That's the foundation. We can never move that. And when the foundation is right, then the structure becomes right. And the salvation of man, of course, is our big concern, but there are bigger issues than your salvation and mine. much, much bigger issues. And those bigger issues are the honour of God. And incredible as it may seem, God is using us. Let me, I've got an illustration here, a diagram on the screen, which will probably help us to keep this in focus. What we're saying is that the centre of the wheel, is the death and the burial and the resurrection of Christ. That is the center. That's the foundation of everything. But no wheel can exist without spokes. Is that right? And one of the spokes in that wheel is the good works that God's people are to display, to bring honour and glory to our Heavenly Father. By the way, Revelation 14 suggests that it says, I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel. So this is talking about the everlasting gospel, which is to be preached to every nation, kindred, tongue and people saying with a loud voice, Fear God and what's the next sentence? Give glory to Him. Here it is again. How are we to, in the three angels message, the first angel's message, it is to bring honour and glory to God. It's part of the everlasting gospel. And remember Jesus said, Without me you can do nothing. Because the last verse in that message, that's three angels messages where it says, Here are those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. Because you and I can never keep God's commandments unless we have the faith of Jesus. Because without Christ we can do nothing. But as Jesus says, With me you can do how much? With me, how much can we do? All things. So the essence of the Christian life is to get with Christ. If I can do nothing myself, but with Christ I can do everything, the essence then is to get with Jesus, isn't that right? Then I can do what He wants me to do. I can't do it in my own strength. We've all failed at that. We all know that that's true. But when we're with Jesus, He gives us power. Galatians 2:20. We spoke of this a couple of weeks ago when we talked last together. Galatians 2:20 says this, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who died and gave himself for me. Let me just go over that text again. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet Paul says, It's not I that lives, but Christ lives in me. Now let me ask you a question. And I'm sure there's going to be some hesitation in answering this question. If Christ is living in my life and is living in your life, the good works that you do, will they be perfect or imperfect? Are you happy with that? Perfect. I believe that's true because the verse is saying it's not I that lives, so the credit doesn't go to me or you, but the Bible is saying that it's Christ that lives in me and He lives out His life through me. Therefore, the fruitage from my life is going to be perfect, not of myself, never ever will that be. But it's Christ living in me. I couldn't imagine if Christ is living in me that He's going to produce imperfection. if the Holy Spirit is in my life, is He going to lead me to be obedient or to be disobedient? The obvious, the answer is obvious. Now when we go back to the sanctuary, just come back to Leviticus chapter 4, if you wouldn't mind, just quickly Leviticus 4. Now I had a pastor speak to me only yesterday, he rang me up and he was saying to me, asking me this question because it had been raised with him by another pastor. Now this is why this is important. Leviticus chapter 4 and verse 34 and 35, it says this, The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour all the remaining blood at the base of the altar. Remember that's the death of the animal representing Jesus' death. He shall remove all its fat as the fat of the lamb is removed from the sacrifice of the peace offering. Then the priest shall burn it on the altar according to the offerings made by fire to the Lord. So the priest shall make atonement for his sin that he has committed, and it shall be forgiven him. Now let me ask you this question. When was atonement made for the individual sin? When the animal died or when the blood was applied? This is very, very important now. When was atonement made when the animal died? Jesus' death on the cross or when the blood was applied and into the sanctuary. When the blood was applied. The Bible never teaches that Jesus' death on the cross gave us atonement. It was his blood being applied that gives us atonement. and that's in the illustration because the earthly sanctuary was an illustration of the heavenly sanctuary and what Jesus is doing in the heavenly sanctuary today. And that's why Hebrews 7:25, He can save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. There is no atonement without the applying of the blood. that's what Hebrews 7:25 is saying. Does that make sense? Listen, that's so important because I can promise you, if you get into discussion with evangelical Christians or with some who have been following the last 30 years, the so-called new gospel, this is the basis of their error. and you've only got to read through the fourth chapter of Leviticus to see how clearly the atonement was made. So seventh-day Adventists believe in a complete atonement. When Jesus died on the cross, nothing ever will need to be added to what Jesus did on the cross. Nothing. It's complete. The penalty for sin has been paid completely. But if we mean by the atonement, if we mean by the atonement that the whole full reconciliation was made and the final resolution of sin was made, did that happen at the cross? The final resolution. Did that happen at the cross? No it didn't. It happened as the blood was applied. So we believe in a complete atonement, Jesus' death on the cross, that is still to be completed. Let me illustrate. Let's say we're building a house. and we lay the foundation of the house and that foundation is complete. Then we build the walls and the walls are complete. Then we put the roof on and the roof is complete. But it is not until all those aspects are complete that the house is completed. Is that true? The house is not completed until it has its roof on and the walls and the foundation. Isn't that right? Even though every aspect of building the house is complete, but that all the aspects have to be complete to be completed. You folk, not English, you understand the tenses here. It's very important you understand this. Completed is different to complete. And Jesus did that. I'll read you one more statement. Listen to this. The intercession of Christ in man's behalf and the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death on the cross. That's what we've been saying. By His death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in heaven. Isn't that beautifully put? Three grades of education. She writes a profound statement in that statement. wonderful. And if we always remember that we will not get led astray by those who want to teach that it all happened at the cross. And therefore obedience is really not necessary. Good works aren't necessary. Doesn't matter if you drink a bit and regard the Sabbath lightly and all of those things. That's the consequence of believing that. and that's why in the popular Christendom today obedience and keeping the commandments is really downplayed because it all happened at the cross. It's all over at the cross. That's all we have to do. But the Bible doesn't teach that. The Bible teaches that Jesus' work of intercession in the heavenly sanctuary is just as important as His death on the cross. Now there's one other aspect I just want to deal with quickly before we finish. Come back to Exodus, the 25th chapter, and you have seen pictures of the angels, the seraphim, the cherubim. Exodus chapter 25 and verse 18. Chapter 25 of Exodus and verses 18 to 20. This is what it says, and you shall make two cherubim of gold, of hammered work, you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at the end and the other cherub at the other end, you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it, of one piece with the mercy seat, and the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another. The faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. Now, I don't know whether we've got a picture of that, have we? No. You can, on the ark of the covenant in which the Ten Commandments and the pot of Aaron's manna, the cherubim were there with their wings touching. and there was another one on the other side. Oh, there it is, yes. So you can see we're talking now about the ark of the covenant in the most holy place. And that's what this verse is talking about. Now, let me read you what that means. The cherubim of the earthly sanctuary looking reverently down upon the mercy seat that represent the interest into which the heavenly hosts contemplate the work of redemption. So what do those cherubim represent? The interest that the heavens, heavenly beings have on the whole plan of salvation. this is the mystery of mercy into which angels desire to look, that God can be just while he justifies. There it is. Is that right? That God can be just while he justifies the repenting sinner and renews his intercourse with the fallen race. So what do they represent the interest that the rest of the universe has in the whole plan of salvation. The universe is interested and they long to study it. And it's very interesting to notice that where God placed these cherubim, He didn't place it at the altar of burnt offering representing the cross, did He? They weren't there. They weren't even in the holy place representing the work of intercession that Jesus is doing on our behalf. they weren't even there. They were in the most holy place representing the judgment, because it is in the judgment where God's character is seen to be just and fair. Because when the books are opened, I want you to notice what the people say, what the angels say. Just come over to Revelation 15. and Revelation chapter 15 makes this statement, look, Revelation 15:1, Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, those who have the victory over the beast and over his image and over his mark, and over the number of his names, standing on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are your works, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the Saints. Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name, for you alone are holy, For all nations shall come and worship before you, for your judgments have been what? Made manifest. Manifest. What does the word manifest mean? What does manifest mean? Revealed. Revealed. Yes, thank you. That's good. Revealed. In other words, God is being praised from the rest of the universe, we're told even the devil himself is going to praise God in the final, because he has no answer to the justice of God, because that's why God has the books. He doesn't need books, does he? Does God need books? Does he have a bad memory sometimes? No, that's preposterous. the only reason that God has books is for you and for me and for angels and for everybody else in the universe that doesn't have omniscience. That is, he doesn't know everything about everything. That's why God has the books so he can open it up. And when Satan accuses God of saving you and saving me, God can say, listen, come over and have a look at this. And he opens the book and there your name is. And there are recorded your sins, but across them is recorded forgiven, forgiven, forgiven, forgiven. And so Satan has no more accusations to make against God's people because one of his names is the accuser of the brethren. That's what he does day and night, the Bible says. And God silences him by showing him the books and that our life is hid with Christ in God. And that's why Satan will not be saved. but by God's grace you and I will be because we have accepted God's grace and forgiveness and the most wonderful truth. This is what is called in the Bible present truth. This is what God has raised up this message to preach. This is why the Adventist message is different to every other church. because I'll guarantee there's hardly a Christian out in the world belonging to all these other churches that has any idea about the great controversy and about what we've been talking about this morning. This is special, special truth. And I tell you, it helps to answer the question, why God has allowed things to go on as long as he has. Because once again, if it all finished at the cross, why didn't God kill the devil right away? and then save us all. No, there was more to be outworked and the universe has to see and that's why the final peon of praise in the book of Revelation, Just and true are your ways, our God of saints. And because your judgments have been manifested. and I trust that God will help us to understand these truths and study them. And I would like to encourage you to get the Great Controversy and read those chapters, what is the Sanctuary? And the chapters that are around that that deal with these issues so that you can understand these great truths for these last days. Let's just bow our heads. Our Father in Heaven, I just want to thank you again for what you did for us 2,000 years ago on the cross. Thank you Lord that you provided for us salvation and by accepting we can experience the joy that we've been singing about. And I pray Lord that you'll help us to understand that not only did you die for us but today you are interceding in the heavenly sanctuary. Please help us to live close to you, help us to abide in you so that we can bring forth fruit, much fruit to your honour and glory. I pray for Jesus sake. Amen. SPEAKER 1 This message was made available by the Stanmore Seventh-day Adventist Church. For more resources like this visit stanmore.sda.church.net. SPEAKER 2 It's been a pleasure bringing you this program here on 3ABN Australia Radio.