There is a sanctuary
in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man. In it
Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits
of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. He was inaugurated
as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at the time
of His ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days,
He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work
of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of
all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the
Day of Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with
the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with
the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The investigative judgment
reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ
and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection.
It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping
the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore,
are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates
the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that
those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion
of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before
the Second Advent. (
Hebrews 8:1-5;
Hebrews 4:14-16;
Hebrews 9:11-28;
Hebrews 10:19-22;
Hebrews 1:3;
Hebrews 2:16, 17;
Daniel 7:9-27;
Daniel 8:13, 14;
Daniel 9:24-27;
Numbers 14:34;
Ezekiel 4:6;
Leviticus 16;
Revelation 14:6, 7;
Revelation 20:12;
Revelation 14:12;
Revelation 22:12.
)