In this booklet, I share timeless lessons from four remarkable creatures—Ants, Coneys (Badgers), Locusts, and Spiders—as mentioned in Proverbs 30:25-2

Sanctuary

The subject of the Sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise, it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time, or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill. . . . The Sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ's work in behalf of men. It concerns every soul living upon the earth. It opens to view the plan of redemption, bringing us down to the very close of time, and revealing the triumphant issue of the contest between righteousness and sin. It is of the utmost importance that all should thoroughly investigate these subjects, and be able to give an answer to everyone that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them" (GC 488, 489).

"The great plan of redemption, as revealed in the closing work for these last days, should receive close examination. The scenes connected with the Sanctuary above should make such an impression upon the minds and hearts of all that they may be able to impress others. All need to become more intelligent in regard to the work of the atonement, which is going on in the Sanctuary above. When this great truth is seen and understood, those who hold it will work in harmony with Christ to prepare a people to stand in the great day of God, and their efforts will be successful" (5T 575).

"The intercession of Christ in man's behalf in the Sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. By His death He began the work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in heaven. We must by faith enter within the veil, `whither the Forerunner is for us entered.' There the light from the cross of Calvary is reflected. There we may gain a clearer insight into the mysteries of redemption" (GC 489).

"The central theme of the Bible, the theme about which every other in the whole book clusters, is the redemption plan, the restoration in the human soul of the image of God. . . . He who grasps this thought has before him an infinite field for study. He has the key that will unlock to him the whole treasure-house of God's word. The science of redemption is the science of all sciences; . . . This is the highest study in which it is possible for men to engage. As no other study can, it will quicken the mind and uplift the soul" (Ed 125, 126).

THE SANCTUARY AND ITS SERVICES

As our attention is called from week to week, in our Sabbath school - lessons, to the subject of the sanctuary, it seem a fitting time to dwell upon this theme, that, while it is thus in our minds, we may get all the help possible from the subject. The special lesson which we should learn will be this:

WHAT GOD DID IN TYPE IN THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY, HE DID IT IN FACT IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST, AND WHAT HE DID IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE TYPE IN THE SANCTUARY, AND HE DID IT TO THE BELIEVERS.

The very first idea suggested in the erection of the sanctuary was that God might have a dwelling-place. "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." Exodus 25; 8. And this dwelling was to be made by the people. That is to say, there is suggested in this very first thought the idea that divinity and humanity meet in the tabernacle... The people were to make the tabernacle; God was to dwell in it. But in Christ, as set forth in 2 Corinthians 5:19, we have the same idea."

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself. 2 Corinthians 5:19'

As God directed the people to build a sanctuary that he might dwell among them, so the word was made flesh and dwell among u, and God provided for himself a dwelling place in humanity. And as he revealed himself to his people in fact in the person of Jesus Christ, the representative of humanity, in order that God in Christ might do then, in the sanctuary, so he revealed himself again to the world, in Jesus Christ. But God was with Christ and in Christ, in order that God with Christ and God in Christ, might be God with us and in us.

Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is; God with us. Mathew1:23. strangers and foreigners, but fellow-

But as Christ is but a manifestation of God to the world, it is the same idea. The central thought of the gospel and of Christian life and experience is, "Christ in you, the hope of glory. And as the earthly temple was the God's dwelling place, and as God was in Christ, and as He is in the believer, wherever He dwells, there is His sanctuary, there is His temple. So, we read in 1 corinthian3; 16:

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1 corinthian3; 16:

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22:

"And 2 Corinthian 6:16: "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them." 2 Corinthian 6:16:

Idolatry includes more than the outward worship of objects of wood or the stone or any other material. For instance, covetousness is idolatry. Now to exhibit in ourselves- the temple of God in which He dwells- those things which includes the essence of idolatry, is just as much an insult to the God of heaven and his dwelling-place as it would have been if the priests of old had brought in to gods sanctuary one of the idols of the hearten and set it beside the ark. It is polluting God's dwelling-place; it is insulting God; it is putting him on a level with the gods of the heathen. But he says he is not such a one. All the gods of the heathen are idols; but the lord made the heavens. So, we read the same thought in Ephesians 2:19-22:

A dwelling place was the first idea of the earthly sanctuary. It suggests the idea of the union of the human and the divine. The people made the sanctuary themselves God dwelt in it. So, Christ in the flesh was God's dwelling-place. for God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself. But God dwelt in Christ, and Christ was manifested in the flesh, in order that God in Christ and with Christ, who was a representative of humanity, might be God in us and with us; and that is the very centre of the whole gospel work.

Further, as to the building of this tabernacle: And thou shall rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was showed thee in the mount." Exodus 26:30.

The earthly tabernacle was built according to the pattern showed in the mount; that is to say, It was to be an exact revelation of what was already in heaven. So, Christ in the flesh was a revelation of what exist before.

In the beginning was the word, and the word was with god and the word was God... the same was in the beginning with god.... And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." John1:1-3, 14.

All things are delivered unto me of my father; and no man knoweth the Son, but the father; neither knoweth any man the father, save the son, and he to whomsoever the son will reveal him."

And Christ was a revelation to the world of what was already in heaven, and the grace that was reveal in our lord Jesus Christ was the grace which was hidden in him before the foundation of the world.

But it was revealed. And the character of Christ was the exact pattern of the character of God, and he was made after the pattern of heavenly things. So, it is with us. When God's work in building this tabernacle upon earth is completed, and that work is fully wrought in complete sanctification, then we shall be exactly according to the pattern that was shown Peter, James and John in the mount.

1 John 3:2

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he-shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And the scripture shows how completely this tabernacle, when completed, will be according to the pattern shown to Peter, James and John in the mount.

Of him it is said, his face did shine as the sun. Now this was the son of man coming in his kingdom. In Mathew 14:43, speaking of the closing work, after the tares are gathered out and cast aside: "then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father." It will be exactly according to the pattern showed IN the mount the disciple is not above his master; but everyone when he is perfected shall be as his master. Luke 6:40, revised version. And the believers are perfected, they will be as the master; that is, they will be according to the pattern showed in the mount.

The glory of the Lord rested upon the earthly tabernacle, and could be seen by the people. Exodus 40: 33-34. And just as the glory of God rested upon the earthly tabernacle and in token of acceptance of the work done, exactly so did the glory of God rested upon Jesus Christ IN the flesh, who was himself a representative of humanity, and in the face of Jesus Christ could the glory be seen.

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' 2corinthians 4; 6.

This glory could be seen by all who believed. Christ walk upon the earth and among man, and many did not see the glory of God, because they did not believe; but everyone who believed was permitted to see in the face of Jesus Christ the glory of God. So, Christ, at the close of his work, in his prayer recorded in;

John 17:22, says; "and the glory which thou gravest me I have given them."

That is, it is the privilege of every believer that the glory of God should rest upon him in token of his acceptance with God, just as the glory of God shone in the face of Jesus Christ, and just as the glory of God rested upon the tabernacle in token of God acceptance of that work. But this thought has more than ordinary meaning to us now,

'Arise, shine forth; for thy light is come; and the glory of the lord is risen upon thee." Isa 60:1-2

That is the message of this time;

For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people, but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

Just as his glory was seen upon the face of Jesus Christ, so now in a special sense it is time that the glory of God should be seen upon his people.

We read in;

Psalms 63:1-2; "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee; my soul thirsteth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.'

That is those who believe see God in the sanctuary." Phillip said unto him, lord, show us the father, and it

sufficeth.

Turn to this same line of thought in the work of Christ. There are many scriptures; we will refer to one only

under each heading.

"And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins. 1 John 3:5.

Notice the force of the statement. He was manifested to take away our sins. He appeared, he came to this world, he was put forth, and he was manifested, to take away our sins. Now the lesson that God would teach his people in the sanctuary was the forgiveness, the taking away, of sin.

So, we read in;

Ephesians 1:7: "in whom (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace."

In Christ there is the forgiveness that was typified in the ministration of the earthly sanctuary. And just as in the sanctuary the idea of atonement IN taught, so it is found in Christ.

"And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Romans 5:11.

What was in type in the sanctuary is in fact in Christ; and by him we do received the atonement, the at-one-ment, which was typified in the ministration of the sanctuary. So, in the cleansing; for what was typified in the cleansing of the sanctuary we receive. "The blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin.' And so, what was taught then in the type in the sanctuary we receive in Jesus Christ, the cleansing power of his blood; and it is by his blood.

God's purpose in doing this in type in the sanctuary, and then in doing it in reality in Jesus Christ was that it might be done in the believer, and that the services typified in the sanctuary might be accomplished in the believer, not by the blood of bulls and of goats, but by the blood of Jesus Christ. Hebrew 9:13-14. What was set forth in type in the sanctuary services is found in fact in Jesus Christ. Those offering could not purge the conscience, yet we are to be purge, cleansed by the blood of Christ, from dead works, to serve the living God.

The foregoing thought merely suggest lines of comparison, to show how that what God did in the type in the earthly sanctuary, he did it in fact in Jesus Christ, in order that what God did in type in the sanctuary may be

done in fact in the believer; and thus, the sanctuary was preaching the gospel, which was the very work of Christ.

So, we read in;

Mark1:14; 'now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came in to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.

God preach the gospel in the sanctuary services; he preached the gospel in sending Jesus Christ here. And Jesus Christ was the gospel; not simply he told the people about the gospel, but he was himself the gospel; for he was himself exactly what he preached to the people, free from sin; and he was the power of God unto salvation himself. And all his life was simply a preaching of the gospel, and presenting in life, in humanity, exactly the lessons were preached to the world again in Jesus Christ. All that is done that the same thing may be done in the believer. For as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not in tables stone, but in flashy tables of the hearth.'2 Corinthian 3;3. That is, just as the gospel which was preached in the sanctuary become personality in Christ Jesus, and was in that way preached again to the world, so this same gospel is to become personality in the believer, and is to be preached to the world by every believer in Jesus Christ. This is preaching gospel indeed.

But notice this: when the directions were given for the building of the sanctuary, the very first thing was to build the ark. In Exodus 25 the instructions begin with the reference to the building of the sanctuary, and the very first thing was the building of the ark; and in verse 16 of this chapter, we read:

Verse 16, and thou shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.

In chapter 31, verse 18, we read what this testimony is: and he gave unto Moses when he had made an end of communing with him upon the mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. Now read further; and thou shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. And thou shalt make a mercy seat-seat of pure gold.... and thou shall put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shall put the testimony that I shall give thee. "Chapter 25 and verse 16, 17, 21.

The ark of God was the very centre of the sanctuary services. In the ark of God was put the law of God, and above it was put the mercy-seat, and that the law of God in the ark was put into the inner apartment.

Now when Christ came to this world, although he came to preach the gospel, and did preached the gospel, we shall find that the law was put into the innermost place.

Psalms 40:7, 8. Then said I, lo, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God, yea thy law is within my heart.

"There are the gospel and the law together as they belong. As the law was made the centre of the sanctuary services, and was put in the sacred chest, and then in the inner apartment, so when Christ came, who, in his life, was a preaching of the gospel which was also preached in the sanctuary services, and the law of God was in the innermost place; and that was the very centre of his work. And that was done in order that the something might be done in the believer, under the new covenant.

For this the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, said the lord;

I will Put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." Hebrew 8:10.

BUT THE ONLY WAY which it was possible that the law or God should be written in our hearts was that it was first put into the heart of humanity in Jesus Christ. And so that makes the law of God the very centre of the sanctuary services, as it was the very central thought in Christ work. He came not to do his own will, but the will of him who sent him; and his law was in the heart. And that was done in humanity, in Jesus Christ, in order that it might be possible that that law might be in the heart of every believer and might be the very centre of his life. It is also true that the sanctuary services and the instruction given concerning the sanctuary services in that time, have a special application to the work of God just at this time. Let us read again:

"Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary, I am the Lord." Leviticus 26:2.

That is, the Sabbath and the sanctuary are closely united; and with the instruction concerning the way that the sanctuary was to be treated was united the instruction with reference to the Sabbath. Keep the one, reverence the other, because they go together, and they both rest upon the same foundation. That is, it was the presence of God in in the sanctuary, that made sanctuary, what it was; it was the presence of God in Christ that made Christ what he was; it is the presence of God in the believer that makes the believer what he is; it is the presence of God in Christ in the Sabbath that makes the Sabbath what it is; and the Sabbath is the sign of the extent to which God dwells in the believer. And so the Sabbath question and the sanctuary question are bound together. Keep my Sabbath and reverence my sanctuary. Now the only thing towards which the sanctuary services pointed, and the lesson which it taught all the time, freedom from sin, forgiveness, cleansing, atonement, separation from sin. When an individual is separated from his sin, then he became like Christ; and Christ was simply the manifestation of the character of God. But the special work that goes forward at this time, and the work which has given rise to this people, is the work set forth particularly in the fourteen chapter the book of revelation, and is familiarly spoken of as the three angel’s message.

But the result of that work, and the work that is to be completed just before Christ comes, - because "I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the son of man;" the very next thing is the coming of Christ, - the work which is aimed at in these three message, is stated in verse 12: "here are the patient of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. " When that is true, then the earthly temple has again been cleansed, and sanctification is complete; then that people are ready for the coming of Christ. But here are they that keep the commandments of God; and God's true Sabbath is the seal and the very keystone of these commandments. Ye shall keep my Sabbaths, and the faith of Jesus: but there is nothing in the sanctuary services unless it be through faith in Jesus, and that for forgiveness, of sin, atonement, reconciliation, and sanctification.

"Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary." Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and d the faith of Jesus. These two text goes together. When the people of that time really carried out that instruction of the scripture,- to keep the Sabbaths and reverence the sanctuary, it could only be through an inward work, wrought in them by the power of God unto sanctification; so now, the people of whom it can really be said, as it be said, as it is God's design that it shall be said, here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus,- that can be done only through an inward work, wrought in the heart by the power of God in Jesus Christ; and that work is really done, sanctification is complete, and the very next is the son of man coming to gather his own. So what was taught then in the instruction concerning the sanctuary, is taught us in the three messages; and the completed result is to be the same in both cases, - atonement, reconciliation, cleansing, readiness for the Lord.

Does it appear to you from these scriptures, that, from this particular phase of this question, we may learn something of God's purpose concerning us, and something of what he designed to teach in the sanctuary/mand shall we say the that the earthly sanctuary, having passed away, is of no special interest or importance to us now, because we have Christ? But notice how God does his work. He first preached Christ in the sanctuary, - a great object lesson. Then he preached Christ in the flesh-a life- presenting before man, under the very circumstances under which they lived, and in the same flesh in which they lived, the very idea preached in the sanctuary services, - freedom from sin and cleansing. Then God preaches to all this same gospel in his word; and he has given to us the record of what he taught them in the sanctuary services, in order that we might better understand and appreciates the life of Christ and the work of Christ, and in order that we might co-operate with God in the development of his plan of salvation just as understandingly, step by step, as the Israelites could co-operate with their high priest in the sanctuary as he conducted his services; because they were to do then different things at different times, for different reason and above all on the day of atonement

Have any of us who come to Christ and accepted him as our sacrifice kept him waiting for us to separate from our body every wrong habit and the appetite? Is he waiting for us to deliver over our appetite for meat, tea, coffee, etc.? If so, why not present our bodies as a living sacrifice wholly acceptable unto him?

Preached In the tabernacle, Sabbath, January, 12 1895

By Professor W.W. Prescott (Battle Creek)