The Cross and Its Shadow


The Cross and its Shadow

by S.N. Haskell
Thy way O God, is in the Sanctuary." Ps. 77:13.

The Cross of Christ

In the cross of Christ I glory, Towering o'er the wrecks of time; All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o'ertake me, Hopes decieve, and fears annoy, Never shall the cross forsake me; Lo! It glows with peace and joy.

When the sun of bliss is beaming Light and love upon my way From the cross the radiance streaming Adds new luster to the day.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, By the cross are sanctified; Peace is there, that knows no measure, Joys that through all time abide.

In the cross of Christ I glory, Towering o'er the wrecks of time; All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime. -John Bowring

Author's Preface

Eternity can never fathom the depth of love revealed in the cross of Calvary. It was there that the infinite love of Christ and the unbounded selfishness of Satan stood face to face. The entire system of Judaism, with its types and symbols, was a shadow of the cross, extending from Calvary back to the gate of Eden, and contained a compacted prophecy of the gospel.

At the present day the person who comes to the study of the New Testament through the interpreting lights of the types and symbols of the Levitical services, finds a depth and richness in the study that are found in no other way. It is impossible to have exalted views of Christ's atoning work if the New Testament is studied without a previous knowledge of the deep, bloodstained foundations in the Old Testament gospels of Moses and the prophets.

"In every sacrifice, Christ's death was shown. In every cloud of incense His righteousness ascended. By every jubilee trumpet His name was sounded. In the awful mystery of the holy of holies His glory dwelt."

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In the light shining from the sanctuary, the books of Moses, with their detail of offerings and sacrifices, their rites and ceremonies, usually considered so meaningless and void of interest, become radiant with consistency and beauty. There is no other subject which so fully unites all parts of the inspired Word into one harmonious whole, as the subject of the sanctuary. Every gospel truth centers in the sanctuary service, and radiates from it like the rays from the sun.

Every type used in the entire sacrificial system was designed by God to bear resemblance to some spiritual truth. The value of these types consisted in the fact that they were chosen by God Himself to shadow forth the different phases of the complete plan of redemption, made possible by the death of Christ. The likeness between type and antitype is never accidental, but is simply a fulfilment of the great plan of God.

In The Cross and Its Shadow, the type and the antitype are placed side by side, with the hope that the reader may thus become better

acquainted with the Saviour. It is not the intention of the author of this work to attack any error that may have been taught in regard to the service of the sanctuary, or to arouse any controversy, but simply to present the truth in its clearness.

The book is the result of many years of prayerful study of the types and symbols of the sanctuary service, and is sent forth with a prayer that the reading of it may arrest the attention of the thoughtless, give the Christian new views of Christ's character, and lead many into the sunlight of God's love.

Introduction

In the government of God, law is the basis upon which everything is made to rest. Law is the foundation of God's throne, the stability of His government and character, and the expression of His love and wisdom. Disobedience of this law caused the fall of Satan and his host. Disobedience to God's commands by Adam and Eve opened the flood gates of woe upon the world, and plunged the whole human family into impenetrable darkness. But divine love had conceived a plan whereby man might be redeemed. This plan was revealed in the promise, "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel."

Since the divine law is as sacred as God Himself, only one equal with God could make atonement for its transgression. Hence, the seed of the woman could refer to none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. In this promise to our first parents a gleam of hope penetrated the gloom that enveloped the minds of the sinful pair, and when a system of sacrifices was made known to them that demanded the life of an innocent victim,

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they could see more clearly the import of the promise,-that it involved the death of God's dear Son to atone for their sin and meet the claims of the broken law. Through this system of sacrifices, the shadow of the Cross reached back to the beginning,

and became a star of hope, illuminating the dark and terrible future, and relieving it of its utter desolation.

It was the reflection from the Cross that reached back to the antediluvian age, and kept alive the hope of the faithful few in those years of weary waiting. It was the faith in the Cross that sustained Noah and his family during that terrible experience when God was punishing the world for its transgression of His holy law. It was a knowledge of the Cross and its significance that caused Abraham to forsake his country, his kindred, and his father's house, and sojourn with his sons in a land of strangers. It is written of him, "He believed in the Lord, and he accounted it to him for righteousness." In prophetic vision, Moses was permitted to see the Cross of Christ, and understand more fully the significance of the brazen serpent he had lifted up in the wilderness for the healing of the people. It was this view that took away the sting of punishment for his own sin, and reconciled him to the decree that, "he must die in the mount, and be gathered to his people."

The simple system of sacrifices instituted by the Lord in the beginning to symbolize, or prefigure, Christ, was almost totally lost sight of during the bondage of the children of Israel in Egypt. Upon their return to Canaan, Moses, by divine direction, gave them a more elaborate system, designated in the Scriptures as the "sanctuary and its services." This earthly sanctuary, with every minutia of its construction, equipment, and service, was to be built and operated in harmony with the pattern of the heavenly shown to him in Mount Sinai. Every form, ceremony, and detail of this service had a significance,

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and was designed to give the worshiper a more complete understanding of the great remedial system.

In the sanctuary, the Cross of Christ is the great center of the whole scheme of human redemption. Around it clusters every truth of the Bible. From it radiates light from the beginning to the end of both dispensations. Nor does it stop here. It penetrates the great beyond, and gives the child of faith a glimpse of the glories of the future eternal state. Yea, more than this, is accomplished by the

Cross. The love of God is manifest to the universe. The prince of this world is cast out. The accusations which Satan has brought against God are refuted, and the reproach which he has cast upon heaven is forever removed. The justice and immutability of God's law are sustained, and angels, as well as men, are drawn to the Redeemer. The Cross of Christ becomes the science and song of the universe.

It can be truthfully said of the author of The Cross and Its Shadow, as it was of one of old, that he is "mighty in the Scriptures." In this book he is giving to the world, in condensed form, the results of the study of years upon this great theme. Through the figures and symbols used in the ministration in the earthly sanctuary, the author has made the closing work of Christ in the heavenly Sanctuary very clear. The similarity and connection between type and antitype have been made so plain that no one can fail to comprehend the great central truths of the plan of salvation as unfolded in the service and ministration of the earthly sanctuary.

In these days of superficial study, and the consequent man-made theory of the plan of salvation, it is refreshing to find a book like The Cross and Its Shadow, which lifts up Jesus, and presents Him to the world as revealed in types, as shadowed in symbols, as prefigured in the revelations of the prophets, as

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unveiled in the lessons given to His disciples, and as manifested in the wonderful miracles wrought for the sons of men.

As the Word is honored by the author, may the Holy Spirit, the great Teacher of righteousness, honor the author by making his book the means of saving many souls in God's eternal kingdom.

G. A. IRWIN,
Loma Linda, California.

Section 1 - The Sanctuary The Heavenly Sanctuary

There is a house in heaven built, The temple of the living God, The tabernacle true, where guilt Is washed away by precious blood.

Long since, our High Priest entered there, Who knows the frailties of our frame, Who loves, to hear his people's prayer, And offer to our God the same.

The daily ministry he bore, Till ended the prophetic days; He opened then the inner door, To justify the sacred place.

Before the ark of ten commands, On which the mercy-seat is placed, Presenting his own blood, he stands, Till Israel's sins are all erased. -R. F. Cottrell.

Chapter 1 - Light in the Darkness

To every voyager on the storm-tossed sea of life, the Lord has given a compass which, if rightly used, will safely guide him into the eternal haven of rest. It was given to our first parents at the gate of Eden, after they had admitted sin into this beautiful earth as well as into their own lives. The compass consists of the following words, which were spoken by the Lord to Satan: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed," 11 In every heart God has planted an enmity to sin, which, if heeded, will lead to righteousness and eternal life. Any man, whatever his station or rank in life, who will absolutely

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follow the divine compass placed in his heart, will accept Christ as his Saviour and be led out into the sunlight of God's love and approval. 22

As the result of our first parents' eating of the forbidden fruit, over all the earth hung the gloom of the divine decree, "In the day that thou eatest thereof dying thou shalt die." 3 3 The marks of death and decay were soon seen in the falling leaves and withered flowers. There was no escaping the decree, "The wages of sin is death." 4 4 But a ray of light pierced the darkness when God spoke the following words to Satan: "It (the seed of the woman) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel." 5 6 These words revealed the fact that for those who would cherish the emnity against sin which God had placed in the heart, there was a way of escape from death. They would live, and Satan would die; but before his death he would bruise the heel of the seed of the woman. This was necessary in order that the death of Satan might be made sure, and that mankind might escape eternal death.

Before man was placed on trial, the love of the Father and the Son for him was so great that Christ pledged His own life as a ransom if man should be overcome by the temptations of Satan. Christ was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." 6 7 This wonderful truth was made known to our first parents in the words spoken by the Lord to Satan, "It (the seed of the woman) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel."

In order that man might realize the enormity of sin, which would take the life of the sinless Son of God, he was required to bring an innocent lamb, confess his sins over its head, then with his own hands take its life, a type of Christ's life. This

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sin-offering was burned, typifying that through the death of Christ all sin would finally be destroyed in the fires of the last day. 78

It was difficult for man, surrounded by the darkness of sin, to comprehend these wonderful heavenly truths. The rays of light which shone from the heavenly sanctuary upon the simple sacrifices, were so obscured by doubt and sin, that God, in His great love and mercy, had an earthly sanctuary built after the divine pattern, and priests were appointed, who "served unto the example and shadow of heavenly things." 8 9 This was done that

man's faith might lay hold of the fact that in heaven there is a sanctuary whose services are for the redemption of mankind.

The prophet Jeremiah grasped this great truth, and exclaimed, "A glorious high from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary." 910 David knew of God's dwelling-place in heaven, and when writing for the generations to come, he said, "He (God) hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth." 1011 The

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faithful ones have always understood that when they sought God with all the heart, "their prayer came up to His holy dwelling-place, even unto heaven." 1112

All the worship in the earthly sanctuary was to teach the truth in regard to the heavenly sanctuary. While the earthly tabernacle was standing, the way into the heavenly tabernacle was not made manifest; 12 13 but when Christ entered heaven to present His own blood in man's behalf, God revealed through His prophets much light in regard to the sanctuary in heaven.

To John, the beloved disciple, were given many views of that glorious temple. He beheld the golden altar, on which, mingled with fragrant incense, the prayers of earthly saints are offered up before God. In vision he saw the candlestick with its seven lamps of fire burning before the throne of God. The veil into the most holy was lifted, and he writes, "The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament." 1314

It is in this "true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man," that Christ pleads His blood before the Father in behalf of sinful men. 14 15 There is the throne of God, surrounded by myriads of the angelic hosts, all waiting to obey His commands; 1516 and from there they are sent to answer the prayers of God's children here on earth. 1617

The heavenly sanctuary is the great power-house of Jehovah, whence all the help necessary to overcome every temptation of Satan is sent to each one who is connected with it by faith.

The heavily laden electric car, with its slender arm reaching up to the wire above, through which it receives strength

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from the power-house miles away, is a fitting illustration of the Christian. As long as the connection is unbroken, through the darkest night, the car runs smoothly up and down hill alike, not only shedding light on the immediate track ahead, but casting its bright rays of light into the darkness far and near. But the instant the connection is broken, how great is the change! The, car remains in darkness, unable to go forward.

So it is that Christ, our great High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, reaches His hand down over the battlements of heaven to clasp the hand of every one who will reach up by faith and take hold of the proffered help. The one whose faith lays hold of that help, can pass securely over the steepest hills of difficulty, his own soul filled with light while diffusing light and blessing to others. As long as he by faith keeps a firm hold of God, he has light and power from the sanctuary above; but if he allows doubt and unbelief to break the connection, he is in darkness, not only unable to go forward himself, but a stumbling-block in the way of others.

The one who allows nothing to break his connection with heaven becomes an earthly dwelling-place for the Most High;

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"for thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit." 1718 He who separates from sin and puts it far from him, becomes a temple of the Holy Ghost. 1819 God loves to dwell in the hearts of His people, 1921 but sin cherished in the heart prevents His Spirit from abiding there. Christ knocks at the door of every heart, inviting all to exchange sin for righteousness, that He may come in and abide with them.

There are three temples brought to view in the Bible,-the heavenly temple, the (dwelling-place of the Most High, where Christ intercedes in our behalf; the temple of the human body, where God's Spirit rules and reigns; and the earthly temple, with its typical services, designed to teach mankind how to receive divine

help from the great storehouse above, so that God can honor them by abiding with them continually.

The earthly sanctuary with its types and symbols is like the powerful lenses of the telescope, which make it possible to view heavenly bodies that otherwise would be invisible. To the eye of the ignorant those wonderful lenses appear like ordinary glass; but the astronomer, who longs to know of the wonders of the heavens, is filled with rapture as he gazes through them.

In like manner the Christian who will study the typical service of

the earthly sanctuary, not as a collection of dry, lifeless relics of

ancient worship, but as a wonderful art gallery, where, by the hand

of a master-artist, the different parts

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of the marvellous plan of redemption are portrayed, will be astonished at the beauty revealed. The figures fairly speak to him, as it were, from the canvas. They tell the beautiful story of the Saviour's love until his very soul is filled with rapture as he gazes upon them. He sees the vivid picture of the priest in snow-white robe leading the red heifer out to the rough uncultivated valley, there to offer it a sacrifice for sin. He sees him sprinkle its blood on the rough stones of the valley, to teach that Christ died for the most worthless, for the veriest outcast. Who can gaze on that picture without having his heart filled with love for such a compassionate Redeemer?

Again he views a picture of the destitute sinner, longing to be

free from sin; and beholding his wealthy brethren pass with their

lambs for sin-offerings, the poor ones with their pigeons and doves,

he sinks back into despondency, for he has no living thing to offer.

Then the light of hope springs into his face as one tells him, "Only

a handful of flour will answer." And as the sinner watches the priest

offer the crushed wheat as an emblem of the blessed body to be

broken for him, and hears him say, "Thy sin is forgiven," his heart

leaps for joy, as did the heart of the poor man by the pool of

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Siloam, who had no one to help him, when the blessed Master told him to take up his bed and walk. 2023

If the one who longs to know more of Christ and His infinite love, will study the types and symbols of the earthly sanctuary, connecting each with its glorious antitype, his soul will be filled with rapture. Like the lenses of the telescope, they reveal wondrous beauties in the character of our blessed Redeemer, beauties that are revealed in no other way.

There is a separate and distinct heavenly lesson taught by each of the different types and symbols of the earthly sanctuary service; and when they are all viewed together, they form a wonderful Mosaic painting of the divine character of Christ as none but a heavenly artist could portray it.

Names Given the Heavenly Sanctuary by Different Bible Writers

"Thy dwelling-place,"

Solomon

2 Chron 6:39

"A palace,"

David

Psalms 48:3

"His holy temple,"

David

Psalms 11:4

"Temple of God,"

John

Revelation 11:19

"Habitation of Thy holiness,"

Isaiah

Isaiah 63:15

"True tabernacle which the Lord pitched,"

Paul

Hebrews 8:2

"My Father's house,"

Jesus

John 14:2

"Place of His habitation,"

David

Psalms 33:14

"His holy habitation,"

Jeremiah

Jeremiah 25:30

"The sanctuary,"

Paul

Hebrews 8:2

"Holiest of all,"

Paul

Hebrews 9:8

Names Given the Earthly Sanctuary

"A worldly sanctuary,"

Heb. 9:1

"The first tabernacle,"

Heb. 9:8

"A figure for the time then present,"

Heb. 9:9

"Patterns of things in the heavens,"

Heb. 9:23

"Not the very image of the things,"

Heb. 10:1

"Holy places made with hands,"

Heb. 9:24

"Figures of the true,"

Heb. 9:24

"The temple,"

1 Cor. 9:13

The Body of the Christian is called the Temple

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. . . He spake of the temple of His body." John 2:19, 21. "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?" 1 Cor. 6:19. "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Cor. 3:17.

Chapter 2 - The Tabernacle

The tabernacle as pitched in the wilderness was a beautiful structure. Around it was a court enclosed with linen curtains, which were suspended by silver hooks from pillars of brass trimmed with silver. Viewed from any side, the tabernacle was beautiful. The north, south, and west sides were formed of upright boards, ten cubits high, covered gold within and without, and kept in position by silver sockets underneath, and by bars overlaid with gold, which passed through golden rings, and extended around the building. 211 The front, or east end, was enclosed by a curtain of "blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer." 22 2 It was hung upon five pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold, and added much to the beauty of the entrance. The rich rainbow tints of the curtain, inwrought with

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cherubim, which formed the door of the building where God promised to dwell, was a beautiful "shadow" of the entrance to the heavenly sanctuary. Here, with a rainbow of glory encircling His throne, the Father sits, while ten thousand times ten thousand angels pass to and fro at His command. 233

The roof, or covering, of the tabernacle consisted of four curtains of cloth and skins. The inside curtain, like that at the entrance of the tabernacle, was of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen, with golden cherubim wrought in it by a cunning

embroiderer.24 4 This formed the ceiling, which was a faint representation of the canopy of glory above the throne of God, with the myriads of angels ready to fulfil His commands. 25 5 Over this was a curtain of goats' hair, above that a covering of rams' skins dyed red, and over all a covering of badgers' skins, all forming a perfect protection from the weather. 26 6 The different colors in the coverings, blending with the golden wall and the gorgeous entrance curtain, or veil, as it was called, combined to make a structure of surpassing glory.

Over the tabernacle rested the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, which guided the Israelites in all their wanderings. 27 7 In the midst of the desert heat there was a cool, refreshing shelter beneath the shade of the cloudy pillar for those who served in the tabernacle or worshiped in its court, while without was the scorching heat of the desert. 288 What a beautiful type of the covering God spreads over His people in the midst of this wicked world, so that it is possible to dwell in the secret place of the Most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty One 299 while in the midst of the turmoil and strife of this wicked world.

At night, when the intense heat abated and darkness covered the desert, then above the holy tabernacle hung the cloud,

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now a great pillar of fire, "in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys."30 10 God's immediate, visible presence lighted up the entire encampment, so that all could walk safely through the darkness. What an expressive type was thus given of the Christian's walk! There may be no visible light, but when the light of God's presence surrounds him, his pathway is light. David knew this when he wrote, "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance." 3111 The weakest trusting child of God can have the blessed privilege of being guided by the light of God's countenance, safe from the pitfalls of Satan, if he will surrender his heart to God.

Within the golden walls of the tabernacle, priests of divine appointment performed a work representing in types and symbols the plan of redemption.

The work of Christ has two distinct phases, one performed in

the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, the other in the

second apartment. He offers salvation free to every one. Many

accept and start out on the Christian pathway. Christ reaches down

His infinite arm to encircle and support every one who calls upon

His name, and no power of earth or Satan

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can force a child of God out of His protecting care. 3212 The only way any can be lost is by letting go their hold upon that infinite hand. Like Peter, if they take their gaze from Christ and fix it upon the sea of life, they sink, unless, like him, they cry out, "Lord, save me," and are rescued by the Saviour. 3313

The work of Christ is illustrated by the parable of the marriage of the king's son. All the guests, both bad and good are gathered at the marriage; but when the king comes in to examine the guests, all are ejected except those who are clothed with the wedding garment of Christ's righteousness. "Many are called, but few are chosen." 3414

There were two apartments in the sanctuary, or tabernacle. In the first apartment a service was performed daily throughout

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the year which typified the work of inviting the guests and gathering them to His marriage. On one day at the end of the year a service was performed in the second apartment which typified the work of choosing out from among the many that have accepted the call, those who are worthy of eternal life, as illustrated in the parable by the king examining the guests.

Type

Antitype

Heb. 8:1-5. The earthly sanctuary was a shadow of the heavenly sanctuary.

Rev. 11:19. There is a temple in heaven.

Heb. 9:1-3. The worldly sanctuary had two apartments.

Heb. 9:24. The heavenly sanctuary also has two apartments.

Chapter 3 - History of the Sanctuary

The history of the typical service, of which the earthly tabernacle was a visible representation, began at the gate of the garden of Eden, where our first parents brought their offerings and presented them before the Lord. Abel showed his faith in the promised Saviour by bringing an animal. He not only presented the shed blood of the sacrifice, but he also presented the fat to the Lord, showing faith in the Saviour and a willingness to put away his sin. 351

Before the people of God went into Egypt, their worship was simple. The patriarchs lived near the Lord, and did not need many forms or ceremonies to teach them the one grand truth that sin could be atoned for only by the death of One who was sinless. They needed only a rough altar and an innocent lamb to connect their faith with the infinite Sin-bearer.

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As the patriarchs journeyed from place to place, they set up their altars and offered their sacrifices, and God drew near to them, often showing His acceptance of their offerings by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifices.

Of all the sacrifices recorded in the book of Genesis, none comes so near the great antitypical offering as the one required of Abraham when God called him to offer his only son. The test of faith was not simply in the fact that Isaac was his only legitimate son, but Abraham understood that through Isaac's posterity the long-promised Messiah was to come; and in offering Isaac, Abraham was cutting off his only hope of salvation, as well as that of the world. But his faith wavered not. He believed that the same God who had performed a miracle in giving him a son, could bring that son from the dead to fulfil the promise that He had made. 362

The Lord chose the exact spot for the offering of Isaac. He said to Abraham, "Get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." 37 3 As Abraham and Isaac went on that memorable journey, they were directed by the Lord to Mount Moriah; and

when they came to the place, Abraham built an altar and bound Isaac upon it, ready to sacrifice him; but the Lord stayed his hand.

The spot where such loyalty to God was shown was ever afterward honored by the Lord. But the devil as well as the Lord watched over this place. He knew it was sacred to Jehovah, because there God had tested the faith of the man He honored by calling him His friend. 384

For more than four hundred years after the children of Israel

entered the promised land, Satan held this place. It was a

stronghold of the enemy in the midst of Israel. But

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it was finally captured by David, who made it the capital of his kingdom; afterward Jerusalem was called the "City of David." 395

The threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite, where the angel of the Lord appeared to David, was on this same spot. The prophet told David to erect an altar on the threshing-floor, and there David made a special consecration to the Lord. A few years later the temple, which was erected without sound of hammer, occupied this same plot of land. 40 6 God had conquered and He designed the place should be hallowed by His presence. But His people were unfaithful, and when the Lord of light came to His own temple, He was despised and crucified, and the holy city and the site of the sacred temple passed into the hands of the Gentiles.

Satan is guarding this spot vigilantly at the present time, intending never again to relinquish his hold upon it. But the time is coming when, in spite of Satan and all his host, the same Saviour who was rejected in His own temple shall place His feet upon the Mount of Olives, 41 7 and the entire site of old Jerusalem will be purified; then the New Jerusalem will come

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down from heaven and rest upon that spot made sacred by the consecration of God's chosen people. God's glorious heavenly temple will be upon Mount Zion [Moriah], nevermore to fall into the hands of the enemy. God says, "I. . . will set My sanctuary in the midst of them forever more."

Having briefly outlined the subject from Eden lost to Eden restored, we will go back to the time Israel came out of Egypt.

Subjected to a life of incessant toil and surrounded by heathen darkness, the children of Israel lost sight of the significance of their simple sacrifices. On account of their servitude, they were deprived of the privileges enjoyed by the ancient patriarchs, of spending much time communing with God, and they drifted very near to Egyptian idolatry. When God brought them out of Egypt, He proclaimed His law from Sinai, and then gave them the same system of worship the patriarchs had followed. But He had to deal with them as with children. Because they could not grasp the truths without the simple illustrations, God gave them the system of worship that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had followed, but in kindergarten form, just as we would use the kindergarten methods to teach children lessons which adults can easily comprehend.

They had drifted so far away that they could not comprehend how God could live with them, being invisible, so God said, "Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." 42 8 The pillar of cloud above the tabernacle and God's visible presence manifested within, helped the Israelites more easily to comprehend the real abiding presence of the Lord with them.

This sanctuary was a shadow, or model, of the heavenly

sanctuary; and the service was so planned by the Lord that all the

work was a type, or representation, of the work the Son of

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God would do on earth and in heaven for the redemption of the lost race. It was the most wonderful object-lesson ever given to mankind.

The sanctuary was completed, while the Israelites were encamped at Sinai, and during their forty years' wanderings in the wilderness they carried it with them. When they reached the promised land, it was set up in Gilgal for a few years, 439 and then removed to Shiloh, 44 10 where it remained for many years. When David was fleeing from Saul, the tabernacle was in Nob, 45 12 for there the priests set the show-bread before the Lord each Sabbath day. It was next set up in the high place at Gibeon. The tabernacle

remained in Gibeon until removed by Solomon to Jerusalem. Josephus tells us that Solomon had "the tabernacle which Moses had pitched, and all the vessels that were for ministration to the sacrifices of God," removed to the temple.

David desired to build a house for the Lord; but on account of

his many wars the Lord directed that his son should build the

house. When Solomon was established on his throne, he erected a

magnificent structure, and dedicated it to the Lord. God showed

His acceptance by His glory filling the temple. Solomon did not

plan the temple himself; God revealed the plan to David, as He

had that of the tabernacle to Moses. David

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was not to see it built, but when he delivered the plan for the building to Solomon, he said, "The Lord made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern." 4613

The history of Solomon's temple is really a history of the religious experience of the children of Israel. When they departed from the Lord, the temple was neglected, and sometimes even suffered violence. It was pillaged by Shishak, king of Egypt. 4714 At the instigation of Jehoiada it was repaired by Jehoash, 48 15 who himself afterward robbed it of its treasures to propitiate the Syrians. 49 16 Ahaz a little later not only spoiled it of its treasures, but

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also defiled its holy precincts. 50 17 Under the reign of the good king Hezekiah the temple was purified and its worship restored; 5118 but even Hezekiah stripped it of its treasures to procure a treaty with the Assyrians. 52 20 Again it was polluted by the idolatrousworshipofManasseh. The"goodkingJosiah,"when but a youth of eighteen repaired and purified the temple, and again restored its Worship. Finally on account of the unfaithfulness of the chosen people of God, the, ho1y temple was burned to the ground, and its treasures carried to Babylon.

It was about nineteen years before the rebuilding of the temple by Zerubbabel was completed and the house dedicated with great

rejoicing.53 23 Herod Spent forty-six years in repairing Zerubbabel's temple, until in the days of Christ it was a magnificent structure. 5424

God's presence abode with His people in the dwelling-places they prepared for Him, from the time the tabernacle was erected in the wilderness, all the way down through the history of their spiritual wanderings until that memorable day when the types celebrated for four thousand years met their Antitype on the cross of Calvary. Then with a great noise the glorious veil of Herod's magnificent building was rent from the top to the bottom, as the Lord departed forever from His temple. 55 25 Previous to this, the services were directed of God; henceforth they were but a hollow mockery, for God had left the sanctuary. 5626 The temple remained standing until 70 A. D., when it was destroyed by the Romans. Today the sacred spot is covered by a Mohammedan mosque.

The Epistle to the Hebrews shows that the leading apostle

clearly taught the antitypical fulfilment of the types and shadows

celebrated for so many years. It should not be forgotten that

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the gift of the Spirit of prophecy and the Sabbath of the Lord were always connected with the sanctuary service. We have no reason to doubt that during the early history of the Christian church, the subject of the sanctuary and the antitypical work of Christ in heaven was clearly understood by the Christians; but when the Bible was taken from them, when the Sabbath of the Lord hidden, and the voice of the Spirit of prophecy was no longer heard directing the church, then they lost sight of the beautiful antitypical work represented by the ancient sanctuary service. But the time arrived for the opening of the great judgment in heaven, when the Father and the Son, with their retinue of holy angels, passed in state into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. No earthly pageant could ever compare with that majestic cortege. God designed that it should be recognized on earth, and He caused a message to be proclaimed to the inhabitants of earth, directing their attention to the movements of the Son of God. This is known as the first angel's message of Rev.14:6,7. A large company

accepted the message and their attention was centered on the Saviour; but they did not understand the antitypical work of

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the sanctuary, and hence they expected the Saviour to come to the earth. Instead of coming to the earth, however, He went into the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, to take up the work of the judgment.

This company, who had been gathered out by the message of the first angel loved their Lord; and in their longing desire to find why He had not come to the earth, they drew so near to Him that He, in answer to their earnest prayers, directed their attention to the heavenly sanctuary. There they saw the ark of God's testament containing His holy law, and they acknowledged its claims upon them, and began to keep holy the Sabbath of the Lord. The sanctuary service, the Sabbath, and the Spirit of prophecy were ever united in olden times; and when light from the antitypical sanctuary service came to the people of God, He gave them the Spirit of prophecy again, to reveal to them the solemn truths in regard to Christ's ministry in heaven, which otherwise they would not have comprehended.

Summary

The Tabernacle
• Built by Moses in the wilderness, Ex. 40:1-38
• Stored in Solomon's temple, 1 Kings 8:4; 1 Chron. 22:19

The Temple
• Built by Solomon, 2 Chron. Chap. 2-5
• Destroyed by the Babylonians, 2 Chron. 36:17-19
• Rebuilt by Zerubbabel, Ezra 6:13-15
• Repaired by Herod, John 2:20
• Forsaken by the Lord, Matt. 23:37,39
• Destroyed by the Romans, Matt. 24:2, fulfilled 70 A.D.

Section 2 - The Furniture of the Sanctuary The Cross and the Crown

No blood, no altar now,
The sacrifice is o'er;
No flame, no smoke, ascends on high; The lamb is slain no more!
But richer blood has flow'd from nobler veins To purge the soul from guilt, and cleanse the reddest stains

We thank Thee for the blood
The blood of Christ, Thy Son;
The blood by which our peace is made, Our victory is won:
Great victory o'er hell, and sin, and woe, That needs no second fight, and leaves no second foe.
-H. Bonar

Chapter 4 - The Ark

The ark was the central figure of the entire sanctuary. The broken law contained in the ark was the only reason for all the sacrificial services, both typical and antitypical. When the Lord gave directions for making the sanctuary, His first instruction was "They shall make an ark of shittim (acacia) wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof." 57 1 It was overlaid within and without with pure gold, with a crown of gold around the top.

The cover of the ark was called the mercy-seat, and was of pure gold. On either end of the mercy-seat were cherubim of beaten gold, with their wings stretched forth covering the ark, and their

faces looking reverently toward the law of God contained therein.

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There is great consolation in the fact that the Lord Himself covered the broken law with a mercy-seat; and then He, the merciful God, took His position upon that seat, so that every sinner who comes confessing his sins, may receive mercy, and pardon. That mercy-seat, with the cloud of glory, the visible representation of God's presence, and its covering cherubim, is a figure, or "shadow," of the throne of the great God, who proclaims His name as "merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth." 582

Within the ark was the Lord's own copy of that holy law given to mankind in the beginning. "Where no law is, there is no transgression." 59 3 "Sin is not imputed when there is no law;" 60 4 therefore the Lord could never have driven our first parents from the garden of Eden 61 6 on account of their sin, if they had been ignorant of His holy law. How God proclaimed His law to our first parents He never revealed in His Holy Book; but when it was necessary again to make His law known to His people, after their long servitude in Egypt, He had the account of that awe-inspiring event recorded, so that the generations to come might know that God came from heaven and spoke the ten commandments with an audible voice in the hearing of all Israel.

After God had declared the ten commandments from the top of Mount Sinai, He wrote them upon two tables of stone, and gave them to Moses, with the instruction, "Thou shalt put them in the ark." 62 7 The ark was placed in the most holy apartment of the sanctuary, where no mortal eye, except that of the high priest, could gaze upon it, and he on only one day in the year, when he went in to sprinkle the blood of the Lord's goat before and upon the mercy-seat to atone for the broken law within the ark.

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"The wages of sin is death," 63 8 and the broken law demands the death of every sinner. In the typical service the blood was sprinkled above the law 64 9 to show faith in the blood of Christ, which would free the righteous from the demands, or curse, of the law. 6510

God communed with His people from the cloud of glory which rested above the mercy-seat, between the cherubim. 66 11 These golden cherubim with outstretched wings were a representation of the covering cherubim that surround the throne of God in heaven. 6712

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There can be no government without law. The very suggestion of a kingdom is always connected with law. There could be no judgment without a law as a standard of judgment. God declares that "as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law." 6813 All God's commandments are righteousness.69 14 The establishment or foundation, of His throne is righteousness and judgment. 7015

"There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone," 7116 is the divine record. The pot of manna was laid up before the Lord, and Aaron's rod that budded was laid up "before the testimony." 7217 Paul enumerating all the contents of the most holy place in the order that he has, leads some to suppose that at some time the pot of manna and Aaron's rod were placed in the ark; but the ark was made for the one purpose of containing God's holy law. 7318

No profane hands were allowed to touch the ark. Uzzah was smitten for reaching forth his hand to steady it when the oxen which were drawing it stumbled; 74 19 and thousands of "the men of Bethshemesh" were smitten for looking into it. 75 20 None but the Levites allowed to carry the sacred chest. 7621

On the occasion of a battle with the Philistines, the wicked sons of Eli, the high priest, carried the ark on to the battle-field, and it was captured by the Philistines; but God impressed their hearts to return it to Israel with a golden trespass-offering. 77 22 When Solomon's temple was built, the ark was placed in the holy of holies, where it remained until taken by the prophet Jeremiah and hid in a cave in the mountains before the Babylonian captivity, lest it should fall into the hands of the Gentiles. 7823

The writer of the Apocrypha states that the ark will again

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be brought forth in the last times. Whether that copy of the law which God gave at Sinai will be brought out again or not, there will be a copy of that same law, traced as with a pen of fire in the heavens, before the wondering gaze of the inhabitants of earth, in connection with the second coming of Christ to the earth. 7924

That holy law is the standard by which all will be judged. That law will condemn the guilty; for "sin is the transgression of the law." 80 25 The same law that condemns the sinner will witness to the righteousness of those who, through faith in Christ, have tried to walk in harmony with its holy precepts, humbly seeking forgiveness for every transgression. 8126

Type

Antitype

Ex. 26:33. The ark was placed in the most holy place.

Rev 11:19. The Ark was seen in the Sanctuary.

Ex. 25:21,22. God's visible presence was manifested above the mercy-seat.

Ex. 34:5-7. The Lord gives His name as Merciful and Gracious and Longsuffering.

Chapter 5 - The Golden Candlestick

The golden candlestick with its seven golden lamps was on the south side of the first apartment of the sanctuary. It was made of gold beaten into shape by the workman's hammer. 821 It took many a hard and skilful blow to form those delicate flowers and bowls; but the candlestick was to be made after the heavenly model to teach heavenly lessons to mankind. 832

John, the beloved disciple, was permitted to look into the first apartment of the sanctuary in heaven, and there he beheld seven golden candlesticks. He also beheld the Saviour in the midst of the glorious candlesticks, of which the earthly one was a shadow.

Christ, in explaining to John the meaning of what he had seen, said, "The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches." 84 3 The number seven in the Bible denotes a complete

number. The candlestick of beaten gold with its seven

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bowls for the lamps was an "example and shadow of heavenly things."85 4 Its seven branches, each holding aloft a lamp, represented the church of God.

The individual that forms a part of the "church of the first- born, which are enrolled in heaven,"86 5 will often feel the workman's hammer; "for we are His (God's) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works." 87 6 Then, "beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you." 88 7 It is only the Master- workman fashioning you to become a part of the great church enrolled in heaven.

The candlestick in the type held seven lamps. The beloved disciple also had a view of the heavenly lamps, of which the earthly ones were models. Before the throne of God in heaven he saw the seven lamps of fire, "which are the seven Spirits of God." 89 8 The church of Christ is the candlestick to hold up the light in the midst of moral darkness. The Saviour says, "Ye are the light of the world." The Spirit of the Lord is said to be the eyes of the Lord which "run to and fro throughout the whole earth, strongly to hold with them whose heart is perfect toward Him." 90 9 Then the brightness of our light depends upon the condition of our heart. The Spirit is searching throughout the earth for those whose hearts are perfect toward God, and it will "strongly hold" with such ones: their light will not burn dim.

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The lamps in the earthly sanctuary were to burn continually. 9110 So the Christian is ever to let the Spirit of God rule in his life, and thus shed its light abroad.

None but the high priest could perform the sacred work of lighting the lamps in the earthly sanctuary; he trimmed and lighted them each morning and evening. 9211 So none but our High Priest, who was "tempted in all points like as we are," 93 12 can give us the help we need. In the morning we need His Spirit to direct us during the day; and at evening we need it to enlighten our minds as we review the work of the day, that we may detect the flaws and dropped threads in the warp of our lives. The trimming and

lighting of the lamps was a beautiful type with a daily lesson for us at the present time. It was a link in that marvelous threefold typical chain of service celebrated each morning and evening, while "the whole multitude of the people were praying without" the sanctuary. 9413 The whole burnt-offering in the court, the incense, and the burning lamps within the sanctuary,-all were a wonderful type which will never lose its beauty.

Whenever an individual will fulfil in his very soul the antitype of the typical "whole" burnt-offering, that is, wholly surrender himself to God, place himself and all he has upon the altar, to be consumed in God's service as He directs, that individual, whether he be rich or poor, learned or ignorant, will be covered with the fragrant incense of Christ's righteousness, and his name will be enrolled with the church of the first-born in heaven; and here in this sin-cursed earth, as he goes to and fro, he will be a part of the great candlestick, and from his life will shine out the bright rays of the Spirit of God.

The question may arise in many hearts, how may I become a light-bearer in the earth? When Zerubbabel was trying under

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very adverse circumstances to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, he came to a time when the difficulties appeared like mountains before him. Then the Lord sent His prophet with a message to help and encourage him. Zechariah was given a view of the golden candlesticks, and was also shown whence the oil came that supplied the lamps. He saw two olive-trees, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on the left side, which through golden pipes kept the lamps supplied with oil, that they might burn brightly. 95 14 The prophet asked the angel the meaning of what he saw. In reply the angel said: "This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Then he gave a message to Zerubbabel to go forward, and said that the mountain of difficulties would become a plain before him, and that as surely as his hands had laid the foundations of the house of the Lord, so surely would he finish it.

Zerubbabel was walking by faith in the words of the prophets who had foretold how and when, Jerusalem would be rebuilt; 96 15 but those prophets were dead, and he now faced difficulties that he might be tempted to think the prophets never expected would arise. Then God sent a living prophet with a message of encouragement, to keep the light burning, and enable Zerubbabel to press forward and complete the work prophesied of by the dead prophets.

We can not comprehend the word of the Lord without the

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Spirit to enlighten our minds. The light shines to the degree in which we take the word and risk our all upon it: and as we come into difficulties in following out the instruction given through the dead prophets, the Lord sends messages of strength and encouragement through the living prophet, to enable us to press forward to victory.

"These are the two sons of oil (light-givers), that stand by the Lord of the whole earth." It is the Spirit of God accompanying the word which has been committed to the people, that will give light. Whatever the prophets of God have revealed to man in the past, is light; and those who have adhered strictly to the testimony of God by His prophets, although it may be hundreds of years after the testimony was given, are spoken of favorably by the living prophet, as Zechariah spoke to Zerubbabel.

Type

Antitype

Ex. 40:24. Golden candlestick in the first apartment of earthly sanctuary.

Rev 1:12. John saw the seven golden candlesticks in heaven.

Ex. 25:37; 40:25. There were seven lamps upon the candlestick.

Rev. 4:2,5. John saw seven lamps of fire before the throne of God in heaven.

Ex. 30:7,8. The high priest trimmed and lighted the lamps in the earthly sanctuary.

Rev. 1:12-18. John saw Christ, our High Priest, in the midst of the candlesticks in heaven.

Lev. 24:2. The lamps were burned continually, always shedding forth light.

John 1:9. The Holy Spirit lightens every soul that comes into the world, whether he accepts or rejects it.

Chapter 6 - The Table of Showbread

The table of showbread was placed on the north side of the first apartment of the sanctuary. The table was two cubits long, a cubit and a half in width, and a cubit and a half in height. It was overlaid with pure gold, and like the altar of incense was ornamented with a crown of gold around the top. 971

On the Sabbath day the Levites made twelve loaves, or cakes, of unleavened bread. 98 2 These cakes were placed on the table hot each Sabbath day, 99 3 arranged in two rows, or piles, six in a row, with pure frankincense on each row. 1004

During the entire week the bread lay on the table. By some

translators it is called "the bread of the presence." At the end of

the week it was removed and eaten by the priests. 1015

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This explains why Ahimelech the priest had no common bread on the Sabbath to give to David, as the priests were accustomed to eat the "hallowed bread" on that day. 102 6 It was not lawful to bake common bread upon the Sabbath; the command is very plain that all bread for Sabbath use in the homes should be baked upon the sixth day. "This is that which the Lord hath said, To-morrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake to-day, and seethe (or boil) that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning." 103 7 But the Lord directed that the Levites should prepare the showbread every Sabbath. 1048

All the service connected with the table of showbread was done upon the Sabbath. The bread was prepared on the Sabbath, and while hot was placed upon the table. The following Sabbath it was removed, and eaten by the priests on that day.

The priests served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things;" therefore there is a heavenly lesson for us in the antitype of the showbread. It was a continual offering, ever before the Lord. It taught that man was wholly dependent upon God for both temporal and spiritual food, and that both alike come to us through the One who "ever liveth to make intercession" for us before the Father. 1059

This, like all other types of the sanctuary service, met its fulfilment in Christ. He is the true bread. He said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh." Then He added, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man...ye have no life in you." 106 10 Even the disciples could not comprehend Christ's words, and they murmured. Jesus read their thoughts, and said unto them, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:

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the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." 10711 His word is the true bread, of which we are to eat.

As the bread in the presence of God was taken out from the sanctuary and eaten, so Jesus said, "The word which ye hear is not Mine, but the Father's which sent Me." 10812 The Bible came direct from God. God gave it to Christ, Christ signified it by His angel unto the prophets, and the prophets gave it to the people. 10913

We often read the Bible as a mere form of godliness, or to get something to give to others; but if we would receive its life-giving power into our own souls, we must have it "hot," warm from heaven.

There, is no more appropriate time to let God speak to our own souls through His word than on the Sabbath day, when we lay aside our worldly cares and business, and take time to study the Holy Word and let it come into our inmost heart until we hear God speak to us, not to another.

The priests were not only to set the hot bread upon the table on the Sabbath day, but later that same bread was to be eaten and become a part of their very being. God designed that His people should each Sabbath day gain a fresh experience in divine things, which would make them better fitted to meet the temptations of the week. The soul that never gains a deeper experience on the Sabbath than on any other day, fails to keep the Sabbath as God

would have him. 11014 We may have

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a few minutes of quiet study of the word on the Sabbath day, when we hear the Lord speaking to us individually; but if the words are not incorporated into our lives, they give us no abiding strength. As the priests ate the bread prepared the Sabbath before, they assimilated it, and thus received strength for daily duties.

Peter evidently understood this truth when he admonished the church to desire the sincere milk of the word that they might grow thereby, and he said if they did this they would be "a holy priesthood." 111 15 Here is the secret of true Christian living. Eternal life does not come to the soul through forms and ceremonies. They are all right in their place; but eternal life results from feeding upon the true bread which comes from the presence of God,-God's Holy Word, the blessed Bible.

Type

Antitype

Ex. 25:30. Showbread always before the Lord.

John 6:48. Christ said, "I am that bread of life."

Lev. 24:5. There were twelve cakes of the showbread, the number of the tribes of Israel.

1 Cor. 10:17. In speaking of the church, Paul says, "We being many are one bread and one body."

Chapter 7 - Altar of Incense and Its Service

The golden altar, or altar of incense, was before the veil in the first apartment of the sanctuary. It was a cubit square and two cubits high, with a horn upon each corner. The altar was made of the shittim, or acacia wood, and all overlaid with pure gold. Around the top was a beautiful crown of gold, and beneath the crown were rings, in which were staves for carrying the altar, all overlaid with pure gold. 1121

Within the crown of gold encircling the top of the altar, holy fire was kept constantly burning, 1132 from which ascended the fragrant smoke of the incense placed upon it every morning and evening. The perfume pervaded the entire sanctuary, and was carried by the breeze far beyond the precincts of the court.

The incense, composed of an equal weight of four fragrant gums and resins, was prepared by divine direction. It was

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very sacred, and the person making any like it, even for a perfume, was to be cut off from among the people. 1143

The high priest alone was to perform the sacred duty of placing incense before the Lord on the golden altar. 1154

The altar and the fragrant incense in the earthly sanctuary were an example of the work our great

High Priest is performing for us. 116 5 Our minds should often dwell upon the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary. 117 6 Moses, when directed to build the sanctuary, was "caused to see" the heavenly model of which he was to make a "shadow." 118 8 John, the beloved disciple, was permitted several times in vision to behold the Saviour officiating in the heavenly sanctuary. He saw a heavenly being standing at the glorious golden altar. He beheld the incense offered upon that holy altar. How it must have thrilled his soul when lie saw that precious incense added to the poor, faltering prayers of the struggling saints here on the earth: He saw those prayers, after the incense was added, ascend up before God, and they were accepted because they were made fragrant with the incense. "Weknownotwhatweshouldprayforasweought;but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be

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uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the Will of God." 119 9 But even the Spirit could not present the prayers of sinful mortals before a pure and holy God without adding the fragrant incense.

When Jesus was preparing His disciples for His separation in person from them, he assured them, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, he will give it you." 12010 The power in a name is the character of the individual that bears the name. The name of the precious Redeemer is honored, and every petition presented in that name is granted in the courts of heaven because Jesus lived a

sinless life. He "knew no sin." The prince of this world had nothing in Jesus, 12111 for He was pure and holy, without one stain of sin. It is Christ's righteousness that makes our prayers accepted before the Father.

John saw the smoke of the incense with the prayers of the saints ascend up before God. Our prayers, made fragrant by the righteousness of Christ our Saviour, are presented by the Holy Spirit before the Father. To John in vision it appeared like a cloud of smoke bearing the prayers and fragrant incense up before the throne of the Infinite One. The weakest saint who knows how to press his petitions to the throne of grace in the name of Jesus, the sinless One, has all the treasures of heaven at his command. Having the richest millionaire of earth sign his checks at earthly banks would in no way compare with the privilege of the Christian.

The name of Jesus is often added to prayers in a meaningless

way. Many prayers are spoken for a mere form of worship, and rise

no higher that the head of the one who offers them; but every

prayer of faith reaches the ear of the God of the universe. David

understood what was typified by the incense,

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and prayed, "Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice." 12212

As there was no other part of the daily ministration that brought the priest so directly into the presence of God as the offering of incense; so there is no part of our religious service that brings us so close to the Master as the pouring out of our souls in earnest prayer. Anciently, as in the antitype, the prayer of faith entered the "holy dwelling-place" of God in heaven. 12313

A lamb was burned upon the brazen altar in the court each morning and evening at the time the incense was renewed upon the altar. 124 14 The golden altar was an "altar of continual intercession," representing the prayers of God's people coming up before Him continually; while the brazen altar was an "altar of continual atonement," representing the putting away and

destruction of sin, the only thing that separates us from God and prevents our prayers from being answered.

The morning and evening lamb was offered as a whole burnt- offering for the entire congregation, showing their desire to put away sin and consecrate themselves to the Lord, so that their prayers could ascend from off the altar with the fragrant incense.

In ancient Israel the people living near the temple gathered at the hour of sacrifice, and often "the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense." 125 15 The habit of morning and evening prayer in the home came from this typical worship. The faithful Israelite who was far from the temple would pray with his face toward the temple where the incense was ascending each morning and evening. Josephus says the incense was offered as the sun was setting in the evening, and in the morning as it was rising.

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The type was beautiful, but the antitype far surpasses the type. In the heavenly sanctuary there is an inexhaustible supply of Christ's righteousness. In the type the incense was always ascending, typifying that at any time, day or night, when a struggling soul cries out for help, or gives thanks and praise for help received, his prayer is heard. In the morning, as the duties of the day seem more than human strength can bear, the burdened soul can remember that in the type a fresh supply of incense was placed on the altar each morning, and from out the antitypical heavenly sanctuary help will come for the day to the one that claims divine help in the name of Jesus. 126 16 In the evening, as we review the work of the day and find it marred by sin, there is blessed comfort, as we kneel confessing our sins, to know that in heaven the fragrant incense of Christ's righteousness will be added to our prayers; as in the type the cloud of incense shielded the priest, 127 17 so Christ's righteousness will cover the mistakes of the day; and the Father, looking upon us, will behold only the spotless robe of Christ's righteousness. If we realized more fully the privilege of prayer, we would often say with the prophet, "I will greatly rejoice in the

Lord,...for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness." 12818

Not all prayers that are accepted before God are answered

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immediately, as it would not always be best for us; but every prayer to which the fragrance of Christ's righteousness has been added, is lodged on heaven's altar, and in God's good time will be answered. John saw those who officiated before the throne of God holding in their hands "vials full of incense," which, he said, were "prayers of saints." 129 19 These prayers had been accepted, for the added incense was so fragrant that John said the vials were full of incense.

In the typical work the one who attempted to use the fragrant

perfume of the incense for his own use was cut off from among the

people of God; there was to be no imitation of the incense. 130 20

No fire was to be used for burning the incense except that taken

from the altar before the Lord. Nadab and Abihu, while under the

influence of strong drink, offered "strange fire" before the Lord,

and were slain. 13121 Their fate is an object-lesson of all who fail to

appreciate the perfect righteousness of Christ, and appear before

the Lord clothed in the "filthy rags" of their own righteousness. 13222

When the plague was smiting the hosts of Israel, Aaron the high priest, put incense on the censer and ran among the people, "and the plague was stayed." 13323 The sacred incense was burned only on the golden altar and in the censers of the priests. The

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other Levites were not allowed to burn it. 134 24 The priests who performed the work which typified Christ's work in a special sense, were the only ones who could burn incense before the Lord.

The horns of the golden altar were often touched with the blood of the sin-offering, thus typifying that it was Christ's death that made it possible for our prayers to be answered and for us to be clothed in His righteousness. As the fragrance of the incense was not confined to the sanctuary, but was carried in the air to the surrounding neighborhood; so in like manner, when one is clothed with Christ's righteousness, an influence will go out from him

which those that come in contact with him will recognize by its fragrance as of heavenly origin.

Type

Antitype

Ex. 30:1-3; 40:26. The golden altar was before the veil.

Rev. 8:3. There is a golden altar in heaven before the throne of God.

Ex. 30:7,8. Incense was burned on the golden altar by the high priest every morning evening.

Rev. 8:3,4. Much incense is added to the prayers of all and saints, and they then ascend before God.

Ex. 30:9; Lev. 10:1-9. The one who should burn incense with strange fire was to be destroyed.

Isa. 64:6. One clothed with his own righteousness will be destroyed.

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My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Ps. 130:6

Section 3 -The Priesthood The Heavenly Priesthood

His earthly work is done,
The Victim's blood is shed,
And Jesus now is gone
His people's cause to plead;
He stands in heaven, their great High Priest, He bears their names upon his breast.

He sprinkles with his blood
The mercy-seat above;
He seals our brotherhood
With his atoning love;
And justice threatens us no more, But mercy yields her boundless store.

No temples made with hands His place of service is;
In heaven itself he stands, A heavenly priesthood his: In him the shadows of the law

Are all fulfilled, and now withdraw.

And though awhile he be
Hid from the eyes of men,
His people look to see
Their great High Priest again;
In brightest glory he will come, And take his waiting people home. -Thomas Kelly.

Chapter 8 - Christ Our High Priest

The Saviour has many titles, for He "hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name" 135 1 than all the angelic host of heaven. Of the many titles bestowed upon Him, there is none more dear to humanity than the "Lamb of God" 136 2 and "High Priest." By virtue of these two offices He lifts poor fallen humanity up where they can share in His glorious kingdom of grace, even while in the midst of this sin-cursed earth.

In the typical service the one who realized he was a sinner must bring a lamb for a sin-offering. The priest could not officiate for him without this offering. 137 3 That entire service was but a great kindergarten lesson, making the way of salvation so simple that none could fail to comprehend it. When we realize that we have sinned, we remember our "Lamb," confess

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our sins, and in His name they are forgiven; then He officiates as High Priest in our behalf before the Father. He pleads the merits of His blood, and covers our life, stained with sin, with the robe of His spotless righteousness, and we stand before the Father "accepted in the Beloved." 138 4 How can we fail to love Him who offered His life for us? Christ could say of His Father, "Therefore doth My Father love me, because I lay down My life." 1395 Even the infinite love of the Father for His Son was increased by that act.

In the type, the blood of the sin-offering was shed in the court, and then the priest entered the sanctuary with the blood to present it before the Lord. 1406 The Saviour gave His life a sacrifice for sin

here upon the earth; and as he entered the heavenly sanctuary as High Priest, He is called the "Forerunner." Under no circumstances, except as He enters "within the veil" of the heavenly sanctuary, is that name applied to the Saviour. 1417

In all monarchical forms of government the forerunner is a familiar character. In gorgeous uniform, with waving plumes, he rides before and announces the approach of the royal carriage. While he is always hailed with joy by the waiting crowds, yet he is not the center of attraction; their eyes do not follow him as he passes on, but are turned down the road whence he came to get the first glimpse of the royal personage of whom he is the forerunner.

Of the many condescensions on the part of our blessed Master,

this is one of the grandest. When He entered heaven a mighty

Conqueror over death and the grave, before the entire heavenly

host and representatives of other worlds, He entered a forerunner

for us. He presented the "wave sheaf," those brought forth from

their graves at the time of His resurrection, as a

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sample of the race He had died to redeem, 142 8 thus directing the attention of that wonderful assemblage down the road whence He came to watch-for royalty?-yes, for royalty made so by His precious blood. 143 9 It is only a company of poor, frail mortals stumbling along and often falling by the way; but when they reach the heavenly gate, they will enter "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." 14410

It meant much for us that Christ entered within the veil as our Forerunner, for all heaven is watching the church of God on earth. When tempted by the enemy to doubt God's love and care, remember that on account of the great sacrifice made, you are so dear to the Father that "he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye." 145 11 Heaven and earth are closely united since Christ entered within the veil as our Forerunner. The attention of every angel in glory is centered upon those striving to follow in Christ's footsteps. 14612 "Are they (the angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" 147 13 Why should we falter by the way, and disappoint the heavenly host

who are watching for us to come over the same road that our Forerunner passed as a mighty Conqueror over death and the grave?

But let us never forget that it is a blood-stained pathway. "Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered,

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He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously." 148 14 We can not follow in His footsteps in our own strength. For that reason "in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus." 14915

In the earthly sanctuary not only the high priest but also common priests officiated, because it was impossible for one man to perform all the work; but it required the work performed by all the priests in the typical services to represent the work of our High Priest. The work of one year was taken as a type of the entire work of our High Priest. During the year "the priests (plural, both high and common) went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God." This continued all the year, except one day; on that day, the service changed and "into the second (apartment) went the high priest alone,...not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people." 150 16 These priests served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things." 15117

When Christ entered heaven, He went as the Antitype of the earthly service God had ordained, and entered upon His work within the first veil of the heavenly sanctuary. When the typical work ordained by God in the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary had fully met its Antitype, He passed through the second 15218 veil into the glorious apartment of the antitypical holy of holies. There He is to perform the marvelous service which will

end in the blotting out and total destruction of the

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sins of the righteous, nevermore to be remembered by the redeemed host nor by God Himself.

When Christ stands upon the sea of glass, and places the glittering crowns upon the heads of the company who have traveled the road made sacred by the foot prints of their Forerunner, albeit with faltering step and through falling tears, and who are clad in robes made white in the blood of the Lamb, He will see of the travail of His soul and be satisfied. 153 19 He will rejoice over them with singing, and all heaven will ring with melody as the angels who have served under their Commander in the work of saving souls, join in singing, 154 20 "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." 15521

Our High Priest

  • •  Heb. 7:25."Is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him."
  • •  Heb. 4:15."Is touched with the feeling of our infirmities." "Was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
  • •  Heb. 2:18."For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted."
  • •  Heb. 2:17."He is a merciful and faithful High Priest."
  • •  Heb. 7:25."He ever liveth to make intercession for us."

Chapter 9 - Office and Work of the High Priest

In early times the patriarchs were priests over their own households, and God's original design was that the eldest son should take his father's place as priest of the family; but the plan of God was often thwarted by the sins of the eldest son. The Lord's words to Cain would indicate that he was debarred of his inherited position on account of sin: "If thou doest well, shalt thou not have the excellency? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door." 1561 Sin prevented Cain from having "the excellency."

On account of sin, Reuben, the first-born of Jacob, lost "the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power," which was his

inherited right. 157 2 When but a youth, Joseph cultivated those traits of character that gave him "the excellency" above his brethren. It is very probable that the coat of many colors given him by his father, 158 3 was interpreted by his brethren as indicating his accession to the priesthood.

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God gave His First-born for the redemption of the world; and for that reason in God's plan the first-born always inherited special privileges. To him came a double portion of his father's estate, 159 4 the priesthood, and, the first-born in the descent from Isaac, the honor of being the progenitor of the Messiah. If the first-born proved unworthy, his inheritance was given to others, as in the case of Reuben, where Judah became the progenitor of Christ, Joseph received the double portion, and Levi received the priesthood. 1605 The first-born was so often unworthy on account of sin that when the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, He said, "I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the first- born . . . of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine." 161 7 It was because the tribe of Levi stood true to God in time of a crisis, that God chose them to serve before Him; and when the service of the sanctuary was established, the priesthood was given to Aaron and his sons, and the remainder of the tribe of Levi were to do the workofthesanctuaryunderthedirectionofthepriests. Aaron was appointed to officiate as high priest and his sons as common priests, the eldest son to take the office of high priest on Aaron's death.

The consecration to the priest's office was a most imposing ceremony. Aaron was clothed in the garments which were made for him under God's direction. Several sacrifices were slain, and the blood of the ram of consecration was touched to the tip of the right ear, the thumb of the right hand, and the great toe of the right foot of both Aaron and his sons, signifying that their ears, hands, and feet were consecrated to the service of God. Unleavened bread, denoting "sincerity and truth," 162 10 and the right shoulder of the sacrifice of consecration, were all put upon Aaron's hands and upon his sons' hands. The priests were

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to typify the One of whom Isaiah said, "The government shall be

upon His shoulder." 163 11 They were to bear the burdens of the

people. The anointing oil and the blood was then sprinkled upon

Aaron and his sons, typifying the blood of Christ and the Holy

Spirit, which alone could fully qualify them to fill the holy office. 16412

The priesthood remained unbroken in Aaron's family until the sins of Eli and his sons made it necessary to change, and for a time Samuel, an Ephrathite, filled the office of leading priest in Israel. 16513 Abiather was thrust out of the office of the priesthood in fulfilment of the prophecy given to Eli. 16614 But Zadok, who filled the office of high priest in the time of David and Solomon, was thought by many to be a grandson of Eli. As the Israelites departed from the Lord, the priesthood be

came corrupt, until in the time of Christ it was bought and sold for money.

God designed that the high priest should more nearly represent Christ than any other priest. The work of every priest

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was a type of Christ's work, but the common priests performed work only in the court and the first apartment of the sanctuary, while the high priest officiated not only in the court and the first apartment, as well as the common priests, but went alone into the holy of holies. 167 15 Aaron at times offered burnt-offerings on the brazen altar in the court. 16816

It was impossible for one man to perform all the work of the sanctuary that typified the work of Christ, and for that reason there was a company of common priests to assist the high priest. It is always a rule that a higher official can fill the offices below him. The high priest offered burnt-offerings in the court and sin- offerings in the first apartment. Paul speaks of the high priest offering the sin-offerings where the blood was taken into the sanctuary.169 17 In the sin-offerings for the priests and the congregation the blood was taken within the sanctuary. 170 18 It seems very fitting that the high priest should offer the sin-offerings

for the common priests and the entire congregation. In most of the sin-offerings the flesh was eaten in the holy place, and the blood was not taken into the sanctuary. 171 20 While the high priest could perform any work in the first apartment that other priests could perform, there was a daily service in the first apartment of the sanctuary that none but the high priest could perform. He alone could burn incense upon the golden altar before the Lord, and trim and light the lamps on the golden candlestick. Each morning and evening, twice every day throughout the entire year, the high priest officiated in the first apartment of the sanctuary.

The crowning service of the whole year was on the tenth day of

the seventh month, when the high priest entered the holy of holies

alone to make atonement for the sins of the people. Upon his

breast in the stones of the breast-plate were inscribed

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the names of the twelve tribes, typifying Christ our High Priest as He thinks upon us individually, and confesses our names as they come up in review before God.

Type

Antitype

Ex. 28:1,2. Called of God.

Heb. 3:1-3. Appointed by God

Ex. 29:29. The priesthood passed from father to son.

Heb. 7:23,24. Lives forever

Lev. 16:1-20. The high priest made the typical atonement in the end of the year's service.

Heb. 9:14,26. Christ atones for sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Chapter 10 - The Priests

There were two orders of the priesthood, the Melchizedek and the Levitical. The Melchizedek order preceded the Levitical order. In Abraham's day the priest Melchizedek was king of Salem as well as priest of the Most High God. 172 1 Although there is not much said in the Bible of the Melchizedek order of the priesthood, it was superior to the Levitical order, for Christ was made a priest after the order of Melchizedek. 1732

The Levitical order extended from the time Israel came out of Egypt until the cross; since that time we have the priesthood of Christ, of which all earthly priests were a type. Christ being a priest after the order of Melchizedek, we are now living under the Melchizedek order of the priesthood. There

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are many particulars given in regard to the Levitical order; and as all the Levitical priests served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things," when we study the Levitical priesthood we are really studying the priestly work of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Levitical priesthood was divided into twenty-four courses. 1743 Each course had its chief or governor of the sanctuary. 175 4 This continued down to the time of Christ. 1766 When the Saviour ascendedtoheaven,Heledamultitudeofcaptives; andwhen John in vision was shown the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, with its seven lamps of fire burning before the throne of God, he saw four and twenty elders seated upon four and twenty seats, and they worshiped the Lamb, saying, "Thou . . . hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kingsandpriests." Inthisweseetheantitypeofthetwenty-four courses of priests. The chiefs, or elders, of each course have seats of honor, and they are kings and priests after the order of Melchizedek. The remainder of the multitude Christ took into heaven are not mentioned, but it is reasonable to suppose that they constitute the courses of which the four and twenty elders are the chiefs.

Only the descendants of Aaron were allowed to serve as priests. 1778 In the type the priest who could not prove his genealogy direct from Aaron, the first high priest, was cast out of the priesthood; 1789 so in the antitype, the Christian who cannot prove his direct connection with Christ, the heavenly High Priest, will never become one of the "royal priesthood." 17910

God has provided for the support of all the different orders of

the priesthood by the same method. "The earth is the Lord's, and

the fulness thereof." 18011 The silver and the gold and the

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cattle upon a thousand hills all belong to Him. 18112 Man is placed as steward over the Lord's heritage, and the Lord claims one tenth of everything on the earth as His portion. "All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord." 18213

Of the tithe the Lord says, "I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation." 18314 The individual who selfishly uses the entire ten portions for himself, not reserving one tenth for the Lord, is guilty of robbing the Lord. "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings." 184 15 Abraham paid a faithful tithe

to Melchizedek; 185 16 and Jacob promised to pay tithe of all, if

he received only food and raiment. 186 17 Those who belong to the

great household of faith and are children of Abraham, will "do the

works of Abraham." 187 18 They will pay a faithful tithe for the

support of those who, like the Levitical priests, give their lives for

the advancement of Christ's kingdom upon the earth. just as the

priest lived "of the things of the temple. . .

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even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." 18819

Type

Antitype

Heb. 8:5. The earthly priests served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things."

Heb. 10:10. "We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

1 Chron. 24:1-19,31. Priests were divided into twenty-four courses, with a chief over each course.

Rev. 4:4,5; 5:8-10. John saw twenty-four elders in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary.

Ezra 2:61,62. There was a record kept of all who had a right to officiate in the priest's office.

Rev. 20:15. None will be saved whose names are not found written in the book of life.

Chapter 11 - The Levites

One entire tribe of Israel was set apart for the service of the sanctuary. As we recall the last words spoken to Levi by his father Jacob as he lay on his death-bed, we might wonder that his descendants were chosen for that sacred work. When Jacob remembered the sins of Levi, he pronounced almost a curse instead of a blessing upon his son, and closed it with these words: "I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." 1891

Wondrous is the love of our God that can change a curse into a blessing. 1902 Only a mighty God can make scarlet sins as white as snow. 1913 The impulsive nature which, under the control of Satan, drives a man to commit desperate crimes, is not removed when he is converted. That same impetuosity, consecrated and under the control of Christ, makes him a valiant warrior for the Lord. Saul, the desperate persecutor, when converted, became Paul, the leading apostle.

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The fearless character which, under the control of Satan, led Levi to murder the Shechemites, when controled by the grace of God, enabled his descendants to take their stand boldly on the Lord's side when the mass of Israel went into idolatry. 192 4 God then turned the curse into a blessing; He said because they had observed His law and kept His covenant, they should "teach Jacob His judgments and Israel His law." 1935

In order that their influence for good might be more widely felt throughout Israel, the Lord, instead of giving them one portion of the land for their inheritance, as He had given the other tribes, appointed as their portion forty-eight cities scattered among all the tribes. 1946 Truly they were divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel, but the curse was turned into a blessing.

Our God is "the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever." 195 7 When He pronounces evil against a nation or an individual because of their wickedness, if they turn from their wrong-doing, God says He "will repent of the evil" He "thought to do unto

them," and as in the case of Levi, a blessing will come instead of the curse. 1968

The term "Levite" was applied to all the priests, but only the descendants of Aaron were to hold the sacred office. The remainder of the tribe were to do the service of the sanctuary under the direction of the priests. They were not allowed to officiate at the altar of burnt-offering, nor to burn incense, nor to do any of the priest's work within the veil. The Levites were to serve, or minister to, the priests; but the priests were to minister for the people before the Lord . 1979

The Levites were consecrated to the work of the sanctuary by the laying on of hands by the whole assembly of Israel, and then Aaron offered them "before the Lord for an offering of the children of Israel." 19810

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The Levites were chosen by the Lord instead of the firstborn of Israel. 199 11 While journeying in the wilderness, they carried all that pertained to the tabernacle; but although they bore the sacred furniture, they were never permitted even to look upon it. 20012

After the temple was built, the Levites were assigned the work of waiting on the priests in the sanctuary service. They prepared the showbread, often led the singing, collected the tithe, and did a large amount of work in connection with the service of the Lord. 20113

In the time of David the Levites began to serve in the sanctuary at the age of twenty-five. At fifty years of age they were to "return from the warfare of the service." 202 14 They were not discharged; they still had an oversight of the work, but were not expected to perform arduous duties.

The work of the Levites was largely confined to the court, and thus typified the work of the gospel ministry of the present

Type

Antitype

Num. 18:1-7. The Levites served under the priests in the court of the sanctuary.

Matt. 28:19, 20. Christ's ministers are to go to all the world-the antitypical court.

2 Chron. 35:3; 30:22. The Levites were teachers in Israel.

Matt. 28: 19. Christ commissioned His disciples to teach all nations.

Chapter 12 - Garments of the Priests

The garments worn by the ordinary priests were of white linen, a fit emblem of the Spotless One of whom their ministry was a type. The outer robe was white, woven in one piece, and extended nearly to the feet. It was confined at the waist with a white linen girdle, embroidered in blue, purple, and scarlet. A white linen miter, or turban, covered the head. These articles, with the linen breeches which were worn by all officiating priests, completed the costume of the common priest. These garments of white linen were made "for glory and for beauty." 2031

Only the family of Aaron could wear the rich garments of the priest; but there are robes of "fine linen, clean and white,"

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in store for every overcomer. 204 2 Even in this life, Christ clothes His faithful ones with "the garments of salvation" and "the robe of righteousness." 2053

The pure white garments were worn by the high priest on ordinary occasions, but when he entered the most holy place to make atonement for the people, he was clad in gorgeous robes, which fitly represented our High Priest as He confesses the names of His people before the judgment-seat of the judge of the whole earth.

The high priest always wore the long white linen robe of the common priest, but over this was a robe of blue woven in one piece, and beautifully ornamented around the skirt with golden bells and pomegranates of blue, purple, and gold. The ephod, a sleeveless garment of white linen, beautifully embroidered in gold, blue, purple, and scarlet, was worn over the blue robe. This was shorter than the other garments, and was confined at the waist by a richly embroidered girdle of the same color.

On the gold embroidered shoulders of the ephod were two onyx stones, on which were engraved the names of the twelve tribes of Israel, six names on each shoulder, thus typifying the Mighty One

who bears the perplexities and burdens of His people upon His shoulders. 2064

While the robe of blue with its golden bells and the handsomely embroidered ephod were beautiful, yet the crowning feature in all the gorgeous dress of the high priest was the breastplate worn over his heart as he officiated in the holy of holies before the Lord. The breastplate was of the same material as the ephod. It was in the form of a square and measured a span. In it were set in gold twelve precious stones, arranged three in a row. On each stone was engraved the name of one of the tribes of Israel. Around these was a border of a variety

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of stones. The stones in the breastplate were the same as those that form the foundation of the New Jerusalem. 207 5 The breastplate hung from the shoulders of the ephod and was fastened at the waist by a blue cord through gold rings.

Set in the breastplate, one on either side, were two brilliant stones, called the Urim and Thummim. By means of these stones the mind of the Lord could be ascertained by the high priest. When questions were asked, if light encircled the precious stone at the right, the answer was in the affirmative; but if a shadow rested on the stone at the left, the answer was negative.

The breastplate being attached to the ephod, David, in calling for the priest to bring the ephod when he was undecided as to what course to pursue, was really asking for the breastplate, by which he might know the mind of the Lord. 2086

There was one other article belonging to the high priest's garments,-the miter, or bonnet. 209 7 A gold plate bearing the inscription, "Holiness to Jehovah," was fastened by a blue lace to the front of the white bonnet, or turban, worn by the priests.

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No priest was allowed to wear the priestly garments except when officiating in the sanctuary or court. 2108

There is a touching significance in the high priest's wearing the names of all Israel on his shoulders and over his heart as he performed the work which typified the judgment, when the case of

every one will come up in review before God. The breastplate was called "the breastplate of judgment." 211 9 Those names engraved on the stones were a type of the names of the overcomers, which Christ will confess before His father and the angels. Stone is an enduring substance, but far more enduring is the book of life, where the names which Christ has confessed, are written to remain forever. 21210

Type

Antitype

Exodus 28:32. Garment all of one piece.

John 19:23. Christ's earthly garment was woven in one piece.

Exodus 28:15-21. The breastplate of judgment contained the names of the twelve tribes, and was worn over the heart of the high priest as he performed the work which typified the work of the judgment.

Revelation 3:5. As each individual name comes up in review before God in the judgment, Christ will "confess" the names of the overcomers, and their names will remain in the book of life.

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Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Ps. 103:1

Section 4 - Springtime Annual Feasts The Paschal Lamb

Paschal Lamb, by God appointed, All our sins on Thee were laid; By Almighty Love anointed. Thou redemption's price hast paid. All thy people are forgiven Through the virtue of thy blood Opened is the gate of heaven, Peace is made 'twixt man and God.

Jesus, hail! enthroned in glory! There forever to abide;
All the heavenly hosts adore thee, Seated at thy Father's side:

There for sinners thou art pleading. There thou dost our place prepare, Ever for us interceding,
Till in glory we appear.

Worship, honor, power, and blessing, Thou art worthy to receive; Loudest praises, without ceasing, Meet it is for us to give;
Help, ye bright angelic spirits, Bring your sweetest, noblest lays; Help to sing our Saviour's merits, Help to chant Immanuel's praise! -John Bakewell.

Chapter 13 - The Passover

The Passover was the opening feast of the yearly round of

religious services. It was both commemorative and typical,

commemorative of the deliverance of the children of Israel from

the bondage of Egypt, and typical of the deliverance from the

thralldom of sin of every individual who claims Christ as his

Passover Lamb, and accepts His blood as a covering for past sins. 2131

The Passover was celebrated in the early springtime, when the opening buds and flowers proclaimed that winter was past. As the time drew near for this feast, every road leading toward Jerusalem was thronged with devout Jews wending their way toward the holy city; for every man of the children of Israel had to appear before the Lord at the time of this feast. 2142 All classes mingled together in these traveling companies, which were constantly increasing as they neared the city. Shepherds, farmers, priests, and Levites, men from all walks in life, joined the throngs which entered Jerusalem from all directions. The homes in the city were thrown open to entertain them, and

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tents were pitched upon the house-tops and in the streets to shelter those attending the feast, and to provide rooms where as families and groups they might gather to eat the Passover.

Prior to the deliverance of the children of Israel from Egypt, the new year began in the autumn; 2153 but when the Lord brought the Israelites out from Egyptian bondage, in the month Abib, or Nisan, He said, "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you." 216 4 The month Abib corresponds with the last of March and the first of April.

On the tenth day of the month Abib, the Passover lamb was selected, and was kept separate from the rest of the flock until the fourteenth day of the month, when it was slain. There was an appointed hour for the slaying of the lamb,-"between the two evenings," 217 5 or about the ninth hour of the day, which in our reckoning of time would be three o'clock in the afternoon.

The lamb was roasted entire, not one bone being broken. If the

family was small, several families could join together in the feast.

Unleavened bread and bitter herbs were eaten with the lamb. The

unleavened bread commemorated the rapid flight from Egypt,

when the children of Israel took their dough before it was

leavened, "their kneading-troughs being bound up in their clothes

upon their shoulders." The unleavened bread also typified the

condition of the one who is covered by the blood of Christ, the

antitypical Lamb. 218 6 To such a one the Lord says, "Let us keep

the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and

wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 2197

Not only was unleavened bread used in the feast, but no leaven was allowed in the homes during the entire week following the day of the Passover.

This is a very beautiful emblem of the Christian, who, while

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claiming to be sheltered by the blood of Christ, should not only keep his mouth from speaking evil, but his heart also should be free from the "leaven of malice and wickedness." The bitter herbs were a reminder of their cruel bondage in Egypt. The lamb was to be

eaten in the night of the fourteenth day of the month. If any of the flesh remained until the morning, it was burned by fire.

When the lamb was slain, a sprig of hyssop was dipped in the

blood, and with it they were to strike the two side posts and the

lintel of the door of the house where the lamb was eaten. This

commemorated that wonderful deliverance of the firstborn of

Israel when all the firstborn of Egypt were slain. The Lord said,

"The blood shall be to you a token upon the houses where ye are:

and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall

not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." 2208

While the event commemorated by the blood on the lintel was wonderful, yet the event typified was far more wonderful. Just as truly as the destroying angel passed through Egypt and laid the icy hand of death upon the brow of every first-born child who was not shielded by the blood, so the second death, from which there will be no resurrection, will fall upon every one who has not been cleansed from sin by the blood of Christ. 2219 There was no respect of persons; all were slain, from the heir to the throne of Egypt to the first-born of the prisoner in the dungeon. Exalted

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station, wealth, or earthly fame will not shield one from the destroying angel of the Lord. One thing alone will shield rich and poor alike, it is the precious blood of Christ. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 22210

Dwelling upon the commemorative side of the Passover feast, strengthens our faith. Remembering how the Lord wrought for His afflicted people, how He heard their cries and worked miracles for their deliverance, brings a blessing to the soul; but there is also salvation for the one who dwells upon the typical part of the Passover feast, and claims the blessings there shadowed forth by type and symbol. Every Passover lamb, from the one slain on the night of the deliverance from Egypt to the time of Christ, was a

type of the Saviour in a special sense. "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." 22311

Just as the Passover lamb had for centuries been taken from the flocks a few days before it was to be slain, and had been kept separate, a lamb marked for death; so a few days before Christ was crucified, the Sanhedrin condemned Him to death. From that day forth, as they looked upon Him, they knew that His death was determined. As the lamb was kept apart, so "Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews." 224 12 This was only a few days before Jesus was seized by the cruel mob and condemned by false witnesses.

On the morning after that awful night of torture and agony, the Saviour was brought to Pilate's judgment hall. All night the Jews had followed Christ while He had been in the presence of their high priest; but now, when He was taken into the Roman hall of justice, the Jews "went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the

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Passover." 225 13 According to their ceremonial laws of defilement, they would not be permitted to eat the Passover if they entered this place. This was the morning of the day the Saviour was crucified. It was the preparation day for the Jewish Passover, the day upon which, "between the two evenings," the lamb was to be slain; or, in other words, it was the fourteenth day of the month Abib, or Nisan, which in the year the Saviour was crucified fell upon Friday, for the day following was the Sabbath day, according to the commandment, the seventh day of the week. 22614

It was not by chance that the Saviour was crucified upon Friday, the sixth day of the week. For centuries God had ordained that the day following the Passover, the fifteenth day of the month Abib, should be kept as a ceremonial sabbath, 227 15 thus typifying the fact that Christ, the real Passover, would be offered the day before the Sabbath. The Passover lamb was slain between the two evenings, or about the ninth hour of the day. The great antitypical Lamb, as He hung between heaven and earth an offering for sinful man, about the ninth hour,

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cried, "It is finished," and yielded up His life an offering for sin. 22816 At this hour the priests were preparing to slay the lamb at the temple, but they were arrested in their work. All nature responded to that cry of agony from the Son of God. The earth reeled to and fro, and unseen hands rent the veil of the temple from the top to the bottom, 229 17 showing by an unmistakable sign that type had met antitype. The shadow had met the substance which cast the shadow. No longer was man to approach God by means of offerings of animals, but he was to come boldly to a throne of grace, 230 18 and present his request in the precious name of "Christ our Passover." The work typified by the Passover extends on down through the ages, and will not have fully met its antitype until the children of God are forever freed from the power of the enemy of all righteousness.

It was at midnight that the destroying angel passed throughout Egypt, and manifested his power in delivering the people of God from bondage; so it will be at midnight that God will manifest His power for the final deliverance of His people. 231 19 The prophet, looking down through the ages, says, "The people

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shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand." 23220

Those partaking of the Passover feast were to leave nothing of it until the morning. The morning was to bring a new experience- freedom from bondage. The soul that accepts Christ as his Passover and partakes of Him by faith, enters upon a new experience- freedom from the condemnation of the old life. When God manifests His power at midnight for the final deliverance of His people, the morning will leave none in bondage. "Prison walls are rent asunder, and God's people who have been held in bondage for their faith are set free," nevermore to feel the oppressive power of the enemy.

The destruction of Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea, and the song of deliverance sung by the Israelites on the other shore, were typical of the final deliverance of God's people from this

earth. 233 21 The righteous will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, but the wicked, like Pharaoh's host, will be left dead upon the earth, neither gathered nor buried. 23422

No stranger could partake of the Passover feast; but there were provisions made in the old Levitical service whereby a stranger, by complying with certain forms and ceremonies, could become an Israelite, and then partake of the Passover.235 23 Sin debars mankind from sharing in the blessings promised the children of God, but there is a remedy for sins: "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." 236 24 "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 23725

The children of Israel were surrounded by heathen nations,

who, when all the men went up to attend the annual feasts, would

seize upon their flocks and land, unless they were especially

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protected by God; for not only at the Passover, but three times in the year all the men of Israel were required to attend the feasts at Jerusalem. They went up trusting the promise, "I will . . . enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the Lord thy God thrice in the year." 23826 We have the same God to-day, and for the man or woman who will seek "first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness," God will "enlarge their borders," and protect their temporal interests. 23927

No longer do God's people gather at Jerusalem to eat the Passover; but faithful followers of the Lord in all nations of the earth partake of the memorial of His broken body and shed blood. To each company the words are spoken:-"As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He Come." 24028

There is a difference between the annual offerings, or feasts, and the ordinary offerings. The sin-offering, trespass-offering, peace- offering, or any of the ordinary offerings could be celebrated at any time in the year, whenever the occasion or needs of the people demanded it; but not so with the annual feasts.

All the annual feasts were prophetic as well as typical. While the Passover lamb, slain each year, was a shadow of "Christ our Passover," who was sacrificed for us, the fact that the lamb could be slain only on the fourteenth day of the month Abib, was a prophecy that the antitypical Passover Lamb would yield up His life for the sins of the world on the fourteenth day of Abib.

One unanswerable argument that Jesus is the Messiah, is that

He died upon the cross the very day, and time of the day, that God

had said the Passover lamb should be slain; and He came forth

from the dead the same day of the month, that the first fruits had

been waved for centuries. God, Himself, definitely

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fixed the date for the celebration of each of the annual offerings. The day of the year when each annual offering was to be celebrated, was a direct prophecy of the time when the type would

meet its antitype.

Type

Antitype

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. 1 Cor 5:7

Ex. 12:3-5. Lamb selected some days before it was slain.

John 11:47-53. Christ condemned to death by, the Sanhedrin some days before the crucifixion.

Ex. 12:6. It was set apart, and kept separate from the flock.

John 11:53,54. "Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews."

Ex. 12:6. The Passover lamb was slain on the fourteenth day of Abib, or Nisan.

John 18:28; 19:14; 19:31; Luke 23:54-56. Jesus was crucified on the day the Jews were preparing to eat the Passover; viz., the fourteenth day of the month Abib, or Nisan.

Ex. 12:6, margin. The lamb was slain between the two evenings.

Mark 15:34-37; John 19:30. Jesus died upon the cross "between the two evenings," or about the ninth hour.

Ex. 12:46. Not a bone of the lamb was broken.

John 19:33-36. Not a bone of the Saviour was broken.

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Ex. 12:7. Blood was placed on the two posts and lintel of the door.

1 John 1:7. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Ex. 12:8. Unleavened bread and bitter herbs were eaten with the lamb.

1 Cor. 5:7,8. Unleavened bread represented freedom from malice and wickedness.

Ex. 12:19. No leaven was allowed in their homes for one week after the Passover feast.

1 Peter 3:10; 1 Thess. 5:23. The Christian is not only to keep his lips from speaking guile; but his whole spirit, soul, and body are to be preserved blameless.

Ex. 12:7,12,29,42. Deliverance came at midnight after the slaying of the first- born of the Egyptians.

Job 34: 20. "It is at midnight that God manifests His power for the deliverance of His people."

Ex. 12:22,23. No shelter from the destroyer except under the blood of the Passover lamb.

Acts 4:12. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Ex. 12:10,46. None of the lamb to be left until morning. The portion not eaten was to be burned.

Mal. 4:1-3; Eze. 28:12-19. When the righteous are delivered, ashes will be the only reminder of sin and sinners.

Ex. 12:43. No stranger could eat of the Passover.

Rev. 21:27. No sinner can share in the reward of the righteous.

Ex. 12:48. There was a provision made by which a stranger could eat of the Passover.

Eph. 2:13; Gal. 3:29. "But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

Chapter 14 - The Feast Of Unleavened Bread

The Feast of Unleavened Bread began with the fifteenth day of

the month Abib, or Nisan, and continued seven days.241 1

Unleavened bread was eaten with the Passover lamb; but the Feast

of Unleavened Bread followed the Passover, although at times the

term "Feast of Unleavened Bread" also included the Passover.

Many offerings were offered upon each one of the seven days, and

among them seven lambs. The first and last days of the feast were

kept as ceremonial Sabbaths, but the first one of these Sabbaths

was reckoned the more important, being spoken of as the Sabbath. 2422

"The whole Jewish economy is a compacted prophecy of the

gospel," and every service commanded by God in the Jewish

economy was either a shadow of the service of our High

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Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, or of the service enjoined upon the earthly congregation for whom he is officiating. Therefore there was a special significance attached to the fact that for centuries the day following the Passover was kept as a Sabbath.

In the previous chapter we have shown that it was not by chance that in the year the Saviour was crucified the Passover came on Friday, the sixth day of the week. Neither was it by, chance that the ceremonial Sabbath, the fifteenth day of Abib, came upon the seventh-day Sabbath of the Lord. It was type meeting antitype. The beloved disciple John, said, "That Sabbath was a high day," 2433 which term was used whenever the ceremonial annual Sabbath came upon the weekly Sabbath of the Lord.

Four thousand years before, on the first sixth day of time, God and Christ finished the work of creation. God pronounced the finished work very good, and "He rested on the seventh day from all his work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made." 244 4 About twenty-five hundred years later, God, amid the awful grandeur of Sinai, commanded His people to "remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy;" 2455 for upon that day-the seventh day-He rested from the work of creation.

It was a mighty work to speak this world into existence, to clothe

it with verdure and beauty, to supply it with animal life, to people it

with human beings made in the image of God; but it is a far

greater work to take the earth marred by sin, its inhabitants sunken

in iniquity, and re-create them, bringing them really to a higher

state of perfection than when they first came from the hand of the

Creator. This is the work undertaken by the Son of God; and when

He cried upon Calvary, "It is,

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finished," He spoke to the Father, announcing the fact that He had complied with the requirements of the law, He had lived a sinless life. Christ, had shed His blood as a ransom for the world, and now the way was opened whereby every son and daughter of Adam could be saved if they would accept the offered pardon.

As the weltering sun was heralding to the world the approach of the holy Sabbath of the Lord, from the cross on Calvary the Son of God proclaimed the work of redemption finished. That work was to affect the entire creation, and although wicked men understood not the meaning of those mystic words, "It is finished," all nature responded, and, as it were, leaped for joy even the solid rocks were rent asunder. God designed that this stupendous event should be recognized by humanity; and as those living and even gazing upon the scene us of its significance, were unconscious sleeping saints were awakened from their graves to proclaim the glad news. 2466

The work of redemption was completed on the sixth day, and as

God rested after the work of creation, so Jesus rested in Joseph's

tomb during the sacred hours of that holy Sabbath. His followers

rested also; for He had ever taught them obedience to His Father's

holy law. He had forbidden any ever to think that even a jot or title

of the law of God could be changed. 2477 For four thousand years

the Sabbath had been observed as a memorial of creation; but

after the Saviour died upon the cross it was doubly blessed, being a

memorial of redemption as well as of creation.

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The Sabbath, like a great bridge, spans all time. The first pier upholding this great institution was placed in Eden, when, according to the account given in Gen. 2:2, 3, God and unfallen man rested through the sacred hours of the Sabbath. The second pier of the bridge was founded amid the thunders of Sinai, when God, in proclaiming the fourth commandment as found in Ex. 20:8-11, gave the fact that He had rested upon the seventh day from the work of creation, as the reason why man should keep it holy. The third pier of the Sabbath bridge was hallowed by the blood of Calvary. While the Son of the mighty God rested in the tomb from the work of redemption, it is recorded in Luke 23:54-56 that Jesus' followers "rested on the Sabbath day according to the commandment." The fourth pier of this wonderful bridge will be laid in the earth made new. In Isa. 63:22,23, we are told that after the last trace of the curse of sin is removed from the earth, all flesh will from Sabbath to Sabbath come to worship before the Lord. As

long as the new heavens and the new earth remain, so long will the redeemed of the Lord love to commemorate the Sabbath as a memorial of the finished work of Christ in the redemption of this fallen world, as well as a memorial of its creation.

The second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread was the offering of first-fruits. This was a very important service, and will be dwelt upon separately from the rest of the feast. During the seven days following the Passover, the people ate unleavened bread. Seven, denoting a complete number, was a fitting type of the life that should be lived by the one who claims Christ as his Passover, and has the blessed assurance that his sins are covered by the blood of the Saviour. Leaven is a type of "malice and wickedness" unleavened bread represents "sincerity and truth." He who's past sins are hidden, 2488

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and who realizes what it is to have the condemnation of his old life lifted from him, enters into a new life, and should not return to his life of sin, but live in all "sincerity and truth." All this was symbolized by the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread, following the Passover.

Type

Antitype

Lev. 23:6,7. The day following the Passover, the fifteenth day of Abib, was a ceremonial sabbath.

Luke 23:54-56; John 19:31. The fifteenth day of Abib, in the year the Saviour was crucified, the Seventh-day Sabbath of the Lord.

Deut. 16:4. "There shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days."

1 Cor. 5:7. "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us."

Deut. 16:3. "Seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread, that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life."

1 Cor. 5:8. "Let us keep the feast, not with o1d leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."

Chapter 15 - The Offering Of The First-Fruits

When the waving fields of golden grain proclaimed that the time of harvest had come, the service of offering the first-fruits before the Lord was performed in the temple.

As the children of Israel journeyed toward Jerusalem to attend the Passover, on every side could be seen fields of yellow barley, the heads heavy with ripened grain bending in the breeze. But not a sickle could be put into the grain, or even kernels gathered to be eaten until the first-fruits had been presented before the Lord.

The offering of first-fruits came on the third day of the Passover

feast. The fourteenth day of the month Abib, or Nisan, the

Passover was eaten, the fifteenth day was the Sabbath, and upon

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the sixteenth day, or as the Bible states it, "On the morrow after the Sabbath," the first-fruits were waved before the Lord. 2491

It was a beautiful service. The priest clad in his sacred robes, with a handful of yellow heads of ripened grain, entered the temple. The glow of burnished gold from walls and furniture blended with the tints of the golden heads of grain. The priest paused in front of the golden altar, and waved the grain before the Lord. Those first heads kept a pledge of the bountiful harvest to be gathered, and the waving indicated thanksgiving and praise to the Lord of the harvest.

The waving of the first-fruits was the principal service of the day, but a lamb was also offered as a burnt-offering. No portion of the first-fruits were ever burned in the fire, for they were a type of resurrected beings clad in immortality, nevermore subject to death or decay.

For centuries God had met with His people in the temple, and accepted their offerings of praise and thanksgiving; but a change came. When Christ died on Calvary and the veil of the temple was rent asunder, the virtue of the temple service came to an end. The Jew's slew their paschal lambs as formerly, but the service was only a mockery; for that year, upon the fourteenth day of the month Abib, Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. The Jews kept the empty form of the Sabbath on the day following the Passover; but it was the rest experienced by Jesus and his followers that was

accepted of God. On the sixteenth day of the month, in the year the Saviour died, the Jews in the temple God had forsaken went through the empty form of offering the heads of grain, while Christ, the antitype, arose from the dead, and became "the first- fruits of them that slept." 2502 Type had met antitype.

Every field of ripened grain gathered into the garner, is

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but a reminder of the great final harvest, when the Lord of the harvest, with His band of angel reapers, will come to gather the spiritual harvest of the world. Just as the first handful of grain was a pledge of the coming harvest, so the resurrection of Christ was a pledge of the resurrection of the righteous; "for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." 2513

The priest did not enter the temple with only one head of grain, he waved a handful before the Lord; neither did Jesus come forth from the grave alone, for "many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection." 252 4 While the Jews were preparing to perform the empty service of the offering of first-fruits in the temple, and the Roman soldiers were telling the people that the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus, these resurrected saints went through the streets of the city, proclaiming that Christ had indeed risen. 2535

It is a sad fact that even the disciples who loved their Lord were so blinded that they could not recognize the fact that

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the time had come for the appearance of the great Antitype of the service they had yearly celebrated all their lives; and even when they listened to the announcement of His resurrection, it seemed to them as an idle tale, and they believed it not. 254 6 But God never lacks for agents. When living human beings are dumb, He awakens sleeping saints to perform his appointed work. In the type the grain was waved in the temple, and to fulfil the antitype Christ must present Himself and the company who had risen with Him before God in the first apartment of the heavenly temple.

In the early morning of the resurrection day, when Jesus appeared to Mary, she fell at His feet to worship Him, but Jesus said to her, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God." 255 7 In these words Jesus notified His followers of the great event to take place in heaven, hoping that on earth there might be an answering chord to the wonderful rejoicing in heaven; but just as they had slept in the garden on the night of Christ's agony, and failed to give Him their sympathy, 2568 so now, blinded by unbelief, they failed to share the joy of the Saviour's great triumph. Later on the same day Jesus appeared to His followers, and allowed them to hold Him by the feet and worship Him, 257 9 showing that in the meantime He had ascended to His Father.

Paul tells us that when Christ ascended up on high, "He led a multitude of captives." 25810 In speaking of them in Rom. 8:29,30, he tells how this company of resurrected saints, who came forth from their graves with Christ, were chosen. They were "predestinated," then called, "and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also

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glorified". This was done that "He might be the first-born among many brethren." This company was composed of individuals chosen from every age, from that of Adam down to the time of Christ. They were no longer subject to death, but ascended with Christ as trophies of His power to awaken all that sleep in their graves. As the handful of grain in the typical service was a pledge of the coming harvest, so these saints were a pledge of the innumerable company that Christ will awaken from the dust of the earth when He comes the second time as King of kings and Lord of lords. 25911

Little did the inhabitants of earth dream of the wonderful antitypical offering of first-fruits that was being celebrated in the heavenly temple at the time the Jews were carrying out the empty forms in the temple on earth.

That was a wonderful congregation in the heavenly courts. All the hosts of heaven and representatives from the unfallen worlds were assembled to greet the mighty Conqueror as He returned from the most terrible war ever waged and the greatest victory ever won. Earthly battles that simply gain dominion over a small portion of the earth for a brief span of years, are as nothing compared with the war that raged between Christ and Satan here upon this earth. Christ returned to heaven bearing the scars of that terrible struggle in the prints of the nails in His hands and feet and the wound in His side. 26012

Words fail to describe the scene as the heavenly host with one accord fall prostrate at His feet in adoration; but He waves them back, He bids them wait. Jesus has entered heaven as "the first- born among many brethren," and He will not receive the worship of the angels until the Father has accepted the first-fruits of the harvest to be gathered from the world He has died to redeem. He pleads before the Father, "I will that they also,

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whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am." He does not plead in vain. The great antitype of the service celebrated for centuries is fully met. The Father accepts the first-fruits as a pledge that all the redeemed host will be received by Him. Then the decree goes forth, "Let all the angels of God worship Him."

We wonder how Christ could ever leave the glories of heaven to return to the earth, where he had met only ignominy and reproach. But marvellous is the power of love! His sorrowing followers on earth were so dear to His heart that the worship of all heaven could not keep Him from them, and He returned to comfort and cheer their hearts.

The first three days of the Passover feast typified wonderful events in the work of our Saviour. The first day typified His broken body and shed blood; and the day before the type met antitype, Christ gathered His disciples together and instituted the touching memorial service of the Lord's supper, to commemorate His death and suffering until He comes a second time. 26113

Every weekly Sabbath of the Lord is a memorial of that Sabbath on which Jesus rested in the tomb, after He had finished His work on earth for the redemption of a lost race.

God has not left His church without a memorial of the great

antitype of the offering of the first-fruits. He has given them

baptism to commemorate this glorious event. As Christ

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was laid in the tomb, so the candidate for baptism is laid in the watery grave. "We are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life," As the first- fruits of the resurrection taken to heaven by Christ were a pledge of the final resurrection, so rising from the watery grave of baptism is a pledge of the resurrection to the faithful child of God; "for if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection." 26214

Type

Antitype

Christ the First-fruits. 1 Corinthians 15:23.

Lev 23:5-11. The first-fruits were offered the third day after the Passover.

1 Cor. 15:20; Luke 23:2l-23. Christ arose on the third day, and became the first-fruits.

Lev. 23:10, margin. The priest waved a handful of grain in the head or an omer of kernels.

Rom. 8:29; Matt.27:52,53. Many saints arose with Christ. He was the first-born among many brethren.

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The Passover

Type

Antitype

14th Day of Nisan

15th Day of Nisan

16th Day of Nisan

14th Day of Nisan

15th Day of Nisan

16th Day of Nisan

Lamb Slain

Passover Eaten. Remain in house until morning

Wave sheaf offered

Last Supper Night of Trial

Christ died

Christ in the Tomb

Christ arose

Wave Sheaf in heaven

Passover

Annual Sabbath First day of unleavened bread

First Fruits waved in the temple

Friday Preparation day

Sabbath

An high day. Annual Sabbath and Weekly Sabbath

Sunday

Antitypical wave sheaf presented.

Note:-Bible students for centuries have been divided into two classes in regard to their opinon of the time that the Lord ate the last supper with His disciples. One class believe Jesus did not fulfil the type in regard to the time, but only as to the event. They claim that the year Christ died, the 14th day of Nisan, or Passover, came on Thursday; that He was crucified on Friday, the annual sabbath, the 15th day of Nisan; and arose from the dead on the 17th day of Nisan. In support of this position, they quote the following texts: Matt. 26:17; Mark 14:1, 12; Lune 22:7.

The other class believe that, when God decreed certain offerings should be offered on a definite day of the month, the type would meet antitype in that specified time. "These types were fulfilled not only as to the event, but as to the time."-Great Controversy, p. 399. In fulfilment of this Christ was crucified on Friday, the 14th day of Nisan, and died on the cross about the ninth hour-"between the two evenings" at the very time the Passover lamb had been slain for centuries. The previous evening He had eaten the last supper with His disciples. The Saviour rested in the tomb on the Sabbath, the 15th day of Nisan, which had been kept as an annual sabbath in type of this event. "Christ was the antitype of the wave-sheaf, and His ressurection took place on the very day when the wave-sheaf was to be presented before the Lord."-Desire of Ages, large edition, p. 785. This was Sunday, the 16th day of Nisan. In support of this posistion the following texts are quoted: John 13:1, 2; 18:28; 13:29; 19:31.

Chapter 16 - Pentecost

PENTECOST, so called because it was held fifty days after the waving of first-fruits, 2631 it was the last of the annual feasts held in the first half of the year. 264 2 This feast was called the Feast of Weeks, on account of seven weeks intervening between it and the Passover feast. 265 4 It was also called the Feast of Harvest, as it came at the close of the harvest. The Feast of Weeks was one of the three principal annual feasts, when all the men of Israel were required to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem.

As the children of Israel journeyed toward Jerusalem to attend this feast, on all sides could be seen the stubble from which had been gathered the ripened grain that lay all ready to be trodden out upon the threshing-floors.

At the time of the Passover feast there was uncertainty in regard

to the coming harvest, as drought or storm might blight it before it

was gathered; but now there was no uncertainty.

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The fruit of the harvest in their possession, to be used for their

pleasure and the advancement of the work of the Lord. And none

were to appear before the Lord empty. They were not simply to

bring a few heads of grain, as in the springtime; but they were to

bring a freewill offering according as the Lord had blessed them. 2665

This feast was sometimes called the Day of the First-fruits 267 6 because the children of Israel were expected to make liberal offerings to the Lord at this time. It was a season of great rejoicing for the entire family, in Israel the Levites and the poor and afflicted were to join.

The services of the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, occupied but one day. Many offerings were presented at the temple, among them two loaves of leavened bread, which were waved before the Lord. The Feast of Weeks was observed as an annual Sabbath, and was a holy convocation. 2687

When Christ ascended from the earth, He bade His disciples teach all nations. They were to carry the gospel to the entire world. The disciples saw only a mere handful of believers as the result of Christ's three years of toil and sacrifice. But when Pentecost had fully come, or in other words, when the seed which the Son of God Himself had sown during those three and a half years of weary toil, had sprung up, then came the harvest. 2698

The disciples were ignorant of the results of the Saviour's life, work, and sacrifice upon the minds of the people. In explaining to them the parable of the tares and the wheat, Christ had said, "He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man," but they comprehended it not. As the Saviour went from city to hamlet, He was constantly sowing the "good seed". The harvest of souls gathered from this seed was to be presented at the antitypical Feast of Harvest. For centuries the children of

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Israel had celebrated this feast, bringing offerings from their harvest of grain. Of each one God had said, At the Feast of Harvest thou shalt present "the first-fruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field." 270 9 The antitype came when the Son of

man presented "the first-fruits" of His labour, which he had sown in the field.

There was a work for the disciples to do in order that they might

be ready for the great antitypical Feast of Harvest. They needed to

study the Scriptures, to put aside every difference, and become of

one accord, that they might receive the outpouring of the Holy

Spirit, which would enable them to know how to care for the great

harvest of three thousand souls that was awaiting them as the result

of the Saviour's ministry. They also needed this special outpouring

of the Spirit to prepare them to carry forward the wonderful work

begun on the day of Pentecost, until

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every creature under heaven should hear the glad news of salvation. 27110

In Palestine there was an early rain and a latter rain, which came in time to ripen the harvest. The prophet John, in speaking of the work of God in the last days, uses the term "former" and "latter rain" to represent the outpouring of God's Spirit. And in the following words he gives the assurance that in the closing work of the gospel in the earth God will again pour out His Spirit: "He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain, . . . and the floors shall be full of wheat." 272 11 This great harvest of souls at the antitypical Feast of Harvest was only a beginning of the greater harvest that will be gathered before the end of the world.

In the type the children of Israel brought liberal offerings to the Lord at the Feast of Harvest. Those who entered into the spirit of the antitypical Feast of Harvest, or Pentecost, "sold their possessions and goods," and gave the proceeds to help in carrying forward the work of the Lord. These offerings enabled the disciples to extend the work rapidly, so that within about thirty-four years they could say that every creature under heaven had heard the gospel. 27312 Those who enter into the spirit of the latter rain will, like the early disciples, lay all upon the altar to be used by the Lord in the great closing work.

As the seed sown by the Son of man during His earthly ministry brought a harvest of souls at Pentecost, or the early rain, so the good seed sown by Christ's ambassadors who faithfully scatter the printed page filled with the gospel message, and by voice and life teach the saving truth, will yield a bountiful harvest in the time of the latter rain, when God's Spirit is poured out upon all flesh. Then will be gathered the fruit of what each one has sown in the field. "He which soweth sparingly

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shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully," 27413 is the divine promise.

Type

Antitype

Lev. 23:16. This feast was held seven weeks, or fifty days, from the offerings of first-fruits.

Acts 2:1. The day of Pentecost had fully come, that is, the full seven weeks had passed.

Deut. 16:16. All the men of the children of Israel were to appear before the Lord at Jerusalem at the time of this feast.

Acts 2:7-11. Men from all parts of the then known world were gathered at Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost

Ex. 23:16. The Feast of Harvest indicated "the first-fruits of thy labors which thou hast sown in the field."

Acts 2:41. The antitype of the first-fruits was three thousand souls, the spiritual harvest gathered as the result of Christ's personal work.

Deut. 16:11,12. Those celebrating this feast in the type were to "rejoice before the Lord" and remember their freedom from Egyptian bondage.

Acts 2:41,46. Those that shared in the antitypical Feast of Harvest made it a time of rejoicing on account of their freedom from the bondage of sin.

Deut. 16:10. The children of Israel were to make liberal offerings at this feast, according as God had blessed them.

Acts 2:44,45. At the antitypical feast "all that believed" sold their possessions and goods and gave them to the Lord's work.

Section 5 - Various Offerings

The Perfect Sacrifice

LORD, we are vile, and full of sin, We're born unholy and unclean; Sprung from the man whose guilty fall

Corrupts his race, and taints us all.

Behold, we fall before thy face. Our only refuge is thy grace:
No outward forms can make us clean; The leprosy lies deep within.

Nor bleeding, bird, nor bleeding beast, Nor hyssop branch, nor earthly priest, Nor running brook, nor flood, nor sea, Can wash the dismal stain away.

Jesus, thy blood, thy blood alone, Hath power sufficient to atone; Thy blood can make us white as snow, No other tide can cleanse us so. -Isaac Watts.

Chapter 17 - The Sin-Offering

In none of the types was the individual worshiper brought into so close touch with the sanctuary service as in the sin-offering. There is no part of religious worship that brings the individual worshiper into such close touch with the Lord as when he kneels at the Saviour's feet, confessing his sins, and knowing the strength of the promise, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." It is then that the repentant sinner touches the hem of the Master's garment, and receives his healing power in the soul.

Sin is the transgression of the law of God. The one who had "done somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord"

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was guilty of sin; and in order to be free from sin, he must bring an offering, that by seeing the innocent victim die for his sins he might more fully comprehend how the innocent Lamb of God could offer his life for the sins of the world. If the sinner was a priest, filling that holy office where the influence of his wrong course would cause others to stumble, then he was to bring a bullock, an

expensive animal, as a sin-offering; but if he was one of the common people, he could bring a kid or a lamb. The value of the animal to be offered was determined by the position held by the transgressor.

The sin offering was brought into the court of the sanctuary, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 275 1 The sinner, with his hands laid upon the head of the lamb, confessed over it all his sins, and then with his own hand he killed it. 276 2 Sometimes the blood was taken into the first apartment of the sanctuary by the officiating priest, who dipped his finger in the blood and sprinkled it before the Lord. The horns of the golden altar, the altar of incense, were also touched with the blood. The priest then came out into the court, and poured all the blood at the base of the altar of burnt-offering. 2774 The bodies of the animals whose blood was taken into the sanctuary, were burned without the camp. "Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate."

The sinner, by confessing his sins over the lamb, in type and shadow transferred them to the lamb. The life of the lamb was then taken instead of the life of the sinner, typifying the death of the Lamb of God, who would offer his life for the sins of the world. The blood of the animal was powerless to remove sin, 278 6 but by shedding its blood the penitent revealed his faith in the divine offering of the Son of God. Every

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sin-offering was to be without blemish, thus typifying the perfect sacrifice of the Saviour. 2797

In some offerings the blood was not taken into the sanctuary, but

in every sin-offering all the blood was, poured out at the base of

the altar of burnt-offering in the court. When the blood was not

taken into the first apartment of the sanctuary, a portion of the

flesh of the sin-offering was eaten by the priest in the holy place. 2808

As the priest assimilated the flesh of the sin offering and it thus became a part of his own body; and as he performed the work of the sanctuary, he strikingly typified how "Christ bore our sins in

His own body on the tree," 281 9 and then entered the heavenly sanctuary with that same body to appear in the presence of God for its.

The priest ate only the flesh of the sin-offering when the blood was not taken within the sanctuary. The command in regard to this was very plain: "No sin-offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile with in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire." 28210 To violate this command would ignore the significance of the type. The priest entering into the sanctuary to present the blood of the sin-offering before the Lord, was a forcible symbol of Christ who, by His own blood, entered into the heavenly sanctuary, "having obtained eternal redemption for us" 28311 By the blood and by the flesh the confessed sins of the sinner were in type transferred to the sanctuary. They were hid from view, for no human eyes, except the eyes of those who officiated as priests, gazed within the sanctuary.

The type was beautiful, but how much more beautiful the antitype! When the sinner lays his sins on Christ, "the Lamb

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of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," those sins are hidden, covered by the blood of Christ. 28412 They are all recorded in the books in heaven; 285 13 but the blood of the Saviour covers them, and if he who sinned is faithful to God, they will never be revealed, but will finally be destroyed in the fires of the last day. The most wonderful part is that God himself says he will cast them behind His back 286 15 and will not remember them. Why need any one carry the burden of sins when we have such a merciful Saviour waiting to receive them?

In every sin-offering two things were essential on the part of the sinner: first, to realize his own sinfulness before God, and to prize pardon sufficiently to make a sacrifice to obtain it; second, to see by faith beyond his offering, the Son of God through whom he is to receive his pardon, "for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." 287 16 The blood of Christ alone can atone for sin.

After the blood was presented before the Lord, there was yet an important work for the sinner to perform. With his own hands he was to remove all the fat from the different organs of the animal offered as a sin-offering, 28817 and give it to the priest, who burned it upon the brazen altar. At first thought this might seem a strange ceremony, but when we remember that the fat represented sin, 28918 we see that it is a fitting ceremony.

It was evidently viewing this service in the sanctuary that saved David from backsliding. He had beheld the prosperity of the wicked, and was envious of them, until his "steps had well nigh slipped;" but when he went into the sanctuary, then he understood the end of the wicked. 290 19 We can imagine him watching the sinner separating the fat and the priest placing it, upon the great altar, and presently nothing remained but ashes. In it he saw ashes only as the final end of all who would not separate from

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sin; 29120 for if the sin was a part of themselves, then when the sin was burned, they wou1d be burned, with it. The only reason God will ever destroy a sinner is because the sinner keeps sin his own character, and will not separate from it.

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This was an impressive type, the priest waiting for the sinner to separate the fat from the offering, ready to take it as soon as it was offered to him. So Christ, our great High Priest, is waiting for each sinner to confess his sins and give them to Him, that He in return can clothe the sinner with his own robe of righteousness; 29221 and consume his sins in the fires of the last day. Paul evidently refers to this part of the sanctuary service in Heb. 4:12.

The burning of the fat was "a sweet saver unto the Lord." 29322 There are few odors more disagreeable than that of burning fat and yet it is sweet to the Lord, for it typified the sin consumed and the sinner saved. God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked; 29423 but he delights in the destruction of sin separated from the sinner. When the redeemed of the Lord from within the shelter of the New Jerusalem behold the fires of the last day consuming all

the sins they have committed, it will be indeed a sweet savour to them. 29524

An individual who was too poor to offer a lamb for a sin-offering could bring two pigeons; and if he was so poor that he did not possess two pigeons, then he could catch two of the wild turtle doves, and offer them for a sin-offering; but if he was too feeble to capture the wild doves, the Lord made provision that he should be allowed to bring a small portion of fine flour, and the priest

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would present the crushed grain as a type of the broken body of the Saviour. Of this one it was said, "His sin shall be forgiven him," just the same as of the one that was able to bring a bullock. The handful of flour burned corresponded to the burning of the fat, in type of the final destruction of sin; and the remainder was eaten by the priest thus typifying Christ's bearing the sins. 29625

In every sin-offering where animals or birds were offered, the blood was all poured out at the base of the altar of burnt-offering in the court of the sanctuary. When we remember how particular the Lord was that everything about the camp should be kept in a sanitary condition, 297 26 we can see at a glance that it must have required much labour to keep the court clean. Therefore the Lord would not have directed that all the blood be poured on the ground at the base of the altar if it had not contained a very, important lesson.

The first sin ever committed in the earth affected the earth as well as the sinner. The Lord said to Adam, "Cursed is the ground for thy sake." 29827 When the first murder was committed, the Lord said to Cain, "Now art thou cursed from the earth." he also said that from that time the earth would not always yield her increase; there would be failure of crops, and barrenness. 29928

The curse of sin rests heavier and heavier upon the earth. 30029 There is only one thing in all the universe of God that can remove this curse. "The land can not be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it." 30130 It must be one of humanity, of the same family that shed the blood. For that reason Christ partook of humanity, became our Elder Brother,

30232 that He might remove the curse of sin from the earth as well as from the sinner. By His death upon Calvary, Christ purchased the earth, thus redeeming it as well as its inhabitants.

Since it is the sins of mankind that defile the earth, in every

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sin-offering, after the offering had been made for the sinner, the remainder of the blood was poured out on the ground at the base of the brazen altar in the court, as a type of the precious blood of Christ, which would remove every taint of sin from this earth, and clothe it in Eden beauty. 30333

Type

Antitype

"Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29.

Lev. 4:3, 23, 28. The animal to be without blemish.

1 Peter 1:19. Christ was "with out blemish and without spot."

Lev. 4: 4, 14. The offering was to be brought before the Lord to the door of the sanctuary.

Heb. 4: 15, 16. "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

Lev. 4:4; Num. 5:7. The sinner laid his hand on the head of the offering, thus acknowledging his sins.

1 John 1:9. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins."

Lev. 4: 29. The sinner slew the sin- offering; he took the life of the lamb with his own hands.

Isa. 53:10. Christ's soul was made an offering for sin. Criminals often lived for days upon the cross; it was the awful burden of the sins of

the world that slew Christ.

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Lev. 4: 5-7, 17, 18. In some offerings the blood was taken into the sanctuary and sprinkled before the Lord

Heb. 9: 12. "By His own blood, He [Christ] entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."

Lev. 10:16-18. When the blood was not taken into the sanctuary, a portion of the flesh was eaten by the priest in the holy place; Thus in type the priest bore " the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord."

1 Peter 2: 24. This was a type of the One "who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."

Lev. 4: 31 ; 7: 30. The sinner with his own hands was to separate all the fat from the sin-offering, the fat typifying sin. Ps. 37:20

Isa. 1 : 16. We are not only to Confess past sins, but we are to examine our own hearts and put
away evil habits. "Cease to do evil."

Lev. 4: 31. The fat is all burned to ashes in the court of the sanctuary.

Mal. 4: 1-3. All sin and sinners will be burned to ashes on the earth.

Lev. 4:7, 18, 25, 30. The blood of every sin-offering was poured oil on the ground at the bottom of the brazen altar in the court.

Eph. 1 : 14. Christ purchased the earth as well as its inhabitants by His death on the cross.

Chapter 18 - The Burnt-Offering

The whole burnt-offering had its origin at the gate of the garden of Eden, 304 1 and extended to the cross; and it will never lose its significance as long as mankind is subject to temptation and sin. The entire sacrifice was laid upon the altar and burned, 305 2 typifying not only a surrender of sin, but a consecration of the entire life to the service of God.

Wherever the people of God sojourned during the patriarchal

age, rude altars of stone were erected, upon which to offer their

whole burnt-offerings. 306 3 After the long period of Egyptian

bondage, Israel was so prone to idolatry that the Lord had the

brazen altar built in the court of the tabernacle, and instead of

burnt offerings being offered by the father of the household, they

were brought to the sanctuary and offered by the priests

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of divine appointment. 307 4 There were special occasions when burnt-offerings were offered in other places than the sanctuary as the sacrifice offered by David on the threshing-floor of Ornan, 3085 and the memorable sacrifice offered by Elijah upon Mount Carmel. 3096

The accounts of the burnt-offerings in the Bible are a history of wonderful victories when individuals drew near to God by putting away their sins and surrendering their lives and all they possessed to the service of the Lord. Abraham's great test of faith was a burnt-offering upon Mount Moriah.310 7 Gideon's wonderful victories dated from the whole burnt-offerings offered before the

Lord when he, by those offerings, showed he surrendered all to the Lord to be consumed on the altar as the Lord directed. 3118

The whole burnt-offering was a type of the full consecration that must come into every life that God can use to His glory. Paul urged the fulfilling of the antitype in the following words: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by, the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." 312 9 The offering of the most costly animal was only an abomination to the Lord unless it was accompanied by the surrender of the heart and life of the one who offered it. 31310

This principle was beautifully, illustrated in the Saviour's passing

by as of little value the large gifts of the rich who offered only for

display, and stating that in the valuation of heaven the two mites

which the poor widow gave with a heart full of love, were of more

value than all the wealth given for vain display. 314 11 The Lord

regards the gifts and offerings made by His people to carry forward

His work on the earth, as "an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice

acceptable, well pleasing to God," and He

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pledges to supply all their needs. 315 12 "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." 31613

The whole burnt-offering was offered as an atonement for sin. 31714 The individual making the offering laid his hands on the head of the animal, confessing his sins; 318 15 and then, if it was from the flock or the herd, with his own hands he took its life. If the burnt-offering was a bird, the priest killed the offering. The blood was sprinkled round about upon the brazen altar, in type of the cleansing blood of Christ, and then the offering was burned upon the altar.

Every morning and evening a lamb was offered at the sanctuary as a whole burnt-offering. 31916 Each Sabbath day four lambs were offered, two in the morning and two in the evening. 320 17 These sacrifices typified a reconsecration of the whole congregation each morning and evening to the service of God.

Since the shadow has met the substance, it would be hollow mockery to offer burnt-offerings morning and evening now; but the type has lost none of its significance, and contains lessons for us; for "to love Him [God] with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." 32118

The heart filled with love to God and our fellow-men is an offering always acceptable to God. In order to keep the heart in this condition, it must be filled with the life-giving Word of God. 32219 The Lord regards a "knowledge of God more than burnt- offerings." 323 20 The individual who will sacrifice selfish interests and pleasures sufficiently to take time morning and evening to study God's word, will experience that love in the heart which always has been and ever will be far more acceptable to God than "whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices."

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Type

Antitype

Lev. 1:9. Sacrifice given to God was accepted as "a sweet savor unto the Lord."

Eph. 5 : 2. Christ has given Himself for us "an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor."

Ex. 29:38-43. God met with His people as they offered their whole burnt- offerings, and they were sanctified by His presence.

Heb. 10:8-10. "We are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Lev. 1:2-9, 13, 17. The entire body was consumed on the altar, "an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord."

Rom. 12:1. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God."

Chapter 19 - The Drink-Offering

The drink-offering was celebrated long before the sanctuary service was instituted at Sinai. After the Lord appeared to Jacob at Bethel and said, "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob [a supplanter], 3241 but Israel [a prince of God]" "shall be thy name,"

3252 Jacob felt so grateful to the Lord that he set up a pillar in the place where He talked with him, and poured out a drink-offering thereon,326 4 showing his willingness to pour out his life, if necessary, for the cause of God. The drink-offering was wine, but was never drunk by either priest or people; it was poured out before the Lord. No doubt wine was chosen for the drink-offering for the same reason that it was used in the celebration of the Lord's supper, as an emblem of the life of Christ, who "poured out His soul unto death," to redeem a lost race.

The drink-offering, like the meat-offering, was offered with

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burnt-offerings, for "an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord." 327 6 When Israel departed from the Lord, the drink- offering was often used in their idolatrous worship. 328 7 Drink- offerings were never poured on the altar of incense, 3298 but always in the court, for they typified things which transpired in the antitypical court-the earth.

The pouring out of the drink-offering was no doubt an emblem

of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. 330 9 Paul used the beautiful

type of pouring the drink-offering upon the burnt-offering, and the

consuming of all upon the altar, as an illustration of his life fully

surrendered to God's service. "Holding forth the word of life;" he

said, "that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in

vain. . . . Yea, and if I be poured forth upon the sacrifice and service of

your faith, I joy; and rejoice with you all." 331 10 When the three

mighty warriors for the love they bore David risked their lives to

bring him a drink from the well of Bethlehem, David considered

the water too sacred to drink, for they had "put their lives in

jeopardy" to obtain it; therefore he "poured it out to the Lord." 33211

The drink-offering was a type of Christ's life poured out for us, and the antitype can be repeated in the life of every one

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who, like Paul, rejoices in being poured forth upon the sacrifice and consumed upon the altar.

The drink-offering is no doubt referred to in Judges 9:13 where wine is said to "cheer God and man." It is not the wine drunk at the table with friends, but wine used at the altar.

The wine of the drink-offering truly gladdened the heart of God and man; for like the water of Bethlehem poured out by David, it represented, when offered in sincerity, the pouring out of the heart or life of the sinner before God.

When Hannah gave Samuel to the sanctuary, she brought a bottle of wine with the animal for a burnt-offering. It was after she had expressed the full surrender of her only son to the Lord by her burnt-offering and the wine of the drink-offering, that she could fill the temple court with her voice of praise and thanksgiving. 33312

Type

Antitype

Gen. 35: 14. The drink-offering was poured out before the Lord.

Isa. 53: 12. Christ "poured out His soul unto death."

Num. 15:10. It was poured over the burnt-offering on the altar, and consumed. The burning was a sweet savor, acceptable to God.

Phil. 2: 16, 17, margin. The one who fully surrenders his life for the Lord's service, pours his life upon the sacrifice of Christ, to be spent for the glory of God, as His life was spent.

Chapter 20 - The Meat-Offering

Daniel prophesied that Christ would "cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease." 334 1 Here reference is made to the two great divisions of offerings: sacrifices with and sacrifices without blood. The meat-offerings belonged to the last class. There was neither flesh nor blood in the meat-offering. The original meaning of the word "meat" as first used in the Bible is "food"; 3352 and in this sense the term is used in connection with this offering. The meat-offering consisted of flour, oil, and frankincense. 3363 In some cases the flour was baked into unleavened cakes, or wafers, before being offered. The bread of the meat-offering was never to be made with leaven.

Every meat-offering was seasoned with salt. This offering was

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spoken of as "a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire." 3374

No leaven or honey was allowed in any of the meat-offerings; for leaven indicated "malice and wickedness," 3385 and honey turns sour and leads to fermentation.

The qualities of salt are directly opposite. Salt removes and prevents corruption; it is also an emblem of friendship. "The salt of the covenant" was never to be omitted from the meat-offering, thus reminding God's people of His protecting care and promise to save, and that only the righteousness of Christ could make the service acceptable to God.

A portion of the meat-offering was burned on the brazen altar, whether it was flour or unleavened cakes; also a portion of the oil, and all the frankincense; 339 6 and the remainder was eaten by the priest in the Court. 340 7 If a priest offered a meat-offering, no portion was eaten, but the entire offering was burned on the brazen altar. 3418 The high priest offered a meat-offering every day.

Wherever flour or cakes were offered in connection with any other offering, it was called a meat-offering. The offering for the sinner too poor to bring even a wild turtle-dove was a meat-offering or trespass-offering. There was no oil or frankincense in this offering. 342 9 In the offering for jealousy, the oil and frankincense were also left out. No frankincense was ever added to the meat- offerings that brought: "iniquity to remembrance." 34310

The meat-offering was a very common offering and was

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united with all burnt-offerings. 344 11 It was offered every morning and evening on the brazen altar, in connection with the morning and evening burnt-offering. 34512

The meat-offering of first-fruits was "green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears." 34613 We quote from Andrew A. Bonar in regard to the significance of the green ears, "A peculiar typical circumstance attends these. These are 'ears of corn,' a figure of Christ; 347 14 and 'ears of the best kind,' for so three Hebrew intimates. They are 'dried by the fire,' to represent Jesus feeling the wrath of His Father, as when He said, 'My strength is

dried up; 348 16 i.e., the whole force of my being is dried up; I am withered like grass.'

"What an affecting picture of the Man of Sorrow! How like the very life! The best ears of the finest corn in the plains of Israel are plucked while yet green; and instead of being left to ripen in the cool breeze, and under a genial sun, are withered up by the scorching fire. It was thus that the only pure humanity that ever walked on the plains of earth was wasted away during three-and- thirty years by the heat of wrath He had never deserved. While obeying night and day, with all His soul and strength, the burning wrath of God was drying up His frame. 'Beaten out of full ears,' represents the bruises and strokes whereby He was prepared for the altar. 'Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered.' 34917 It is after this preparation that He is a perfect meat-offering, fully devoted, body and substance, to the Lord.

"In all this He is 'First -fruits,' intimating that many more shall follow. He the first-fruits, then all that are His in like manner. We must be conformed to Jesus in all things; and here it is taught us that we must be conformed to Him in self-dedication-self- renunciation. We must please the Father; as

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He left us an example, saying, 'I do always those things that please Him,' 35018 even under the blackest sky."

The meat-offering typified the full surrender of all we have, and all we are, to the Lord. This offering was always presented along with some animal sacrifice, thus showing the connection between pardon of sin and consecration to the Lord. It is after an individual's sins are forgiven that he lays all upon the altar to be consumed in God's service.

In the meat-offering, like the sin-offering, provision was made for the poor. The wealthy class baked their meat-offerings in an oven; the individual in moderate circumstances, on the "fire plate"; while the cakes baked by the poor in the "frying pan," were equally acceptable. 35119

Type

Antitype

Lev. 2:1-3. It was "a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire."

Rom. 12:1. "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God."

Lev. 2:9. The meat-offering was "a sweet savor unto the Lord."

Phil. 4:18. When God's people make sacrifices for Him, it is "an odor of a sweet smell.. . . well pleasing to God."

Lev. 2:13. "Every oblation of thy meat- offering shalt thou season with salt; . . . with all thine offerings thou shall offer salt."

Mark 9:50 "Have salt in yourselves." Col. 4: 6. "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt."

Chapter 21 - The Trespass-Offering

THE trespass-offering was a sin-offering, and many Bible students make no distinction between it and the regular sin- offering. In some places the terms "sin-offering" and "trespass offering" seem to be used synonymously, as in Lev. 5:1-13, but in other places they are spoken of as being two separate offerings. 3521

A close study of the passages that speak directly of the trespass- offering, shows that it was offered more especially for sins "in the holy things of the Lord," 353 2 as when a person had trespassed by not following God's instructions in regard to the holy things. He may have withheld his tithe,354 3 eaten the first-fruits,355 5 or sheared the first-born sheep; whatever the trespass, he was to bring a ram for an offering. This offering was disposed of much the same as the ordinary sin-offering, except that the blood was sprinkled "round about upon the altar," instead of touching the horns with the blood as in the sin-offering.

It would seem from this that the trespass-offering did not

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always represent sins as public as the common sin-offering represented, but was often used for sins known only to the individual himself. If the person had taken any of the holy things for his own use, had been dishonest in his dealings with his neighbor, or had appropriated articles that had been lost, etc., he was only to restore the full value, but was to add one fifth to the estimation by the priest. 3568

The restitution was always made to the one wronged. If the individual had dealt dishonestly with the holy things of the Lord, the restitution was made to the priest as the representative of the Lord. If he had wronged his fellow-men and the one wronged died, then the restitution was made to his kinsman, but if there was no kinsman, the restitution was made to the Lord. 3579

There was no virtue in offering the ram for a trespass-offering, unless the restitution was made in full for the wrong done. One special object of the trespass-offering was to atone for dishonest dealings with either God or man, and always required the restitution of the wrong besides the ram for the offering. It taught very clearly that wherein we have dealt falsely with God or man, simply confessing the sin and bringing an offering will not suffice; we must make amends for the wrong.

Zacchaeus understood the law of the trespass-offering, and as soon as he surrendered his life to Christ, he was ready to go even beyond the requirements of the law, and restore "fourfold" to all whom he had wronged. 35810

The trespass-offering was a more complete offering than the ordinary sin-offering; besides atoning for the sin, it also, in figure, covered the result of the sin. The prophet Isaiah used the trespass- offering as a special type of Christ. He was truly the antitypical trespass-offering when He shed His blood, not only to free

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the souls of men from guilt, but to remove forever the last trace of sin from the universe of God.

We quote Isa. 53: 10 from the Jewish translator Leeser, as follows: "The Lord was pleased to crush him through disease: when (now) His soul hath brought the trespass-offering, then shall He see (His) seed, live many days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand."

There are many precious promises to the one who will present his trespass-offerings to the Lord. He who would be victorious in God cannot be content with merely confessing his sin to God; he must make reconciliation and restoration. This is taught in the Saviour's words, "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there

rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." 35911

Type

Antitype

Lev. 5:15, 16. The trespass-offering atoned for the result of the sin as well as for the sin.

Isa. 53:10-12. The death of Christ, the great trespass-offering, not only atones for sin, but destroys all the effect of sin.

Lev. 6:1-7. The sacrifice without the restitution was not accepted

Matt. 5:23-26. Our prayers are of no avail if we cherish evil in our hearts.

Chapter 22 - The Offering of the Red Heifer

The life of every sacrifice, from the first one offered at the gate of Eden down to the cross, was a type of Christ; but the offering of the red heifer is different in many respects from all others. It was an occasional sacrifice, offered when needed, to purify from ceremonial uncleanness those who for any reason had touched the dead. 3601

The heifer was to be red, without one spot, thus in a special manner typifying the blood of Christ. It was to be without blemish, thus representing Him "who knew no sin." 361 2 It was to be one that had never been broken to bear the yoke; it must be a heifer that had always been free, never forced to do anything.

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This was symbolic of the Son of God, who came of His own free will and died for us. Christ was above all law, no yoke was upon Him. 362 3 While enduring the agony of Gethsemane, He could have wiped the bloody sweat from His brow and returned to His rightful place in heaven, and left the world to perish. There was no power, only that of supreme heavenly love, that forced Christ toward the cross of Calvary. 363 4 He came a voluntary offering, from choice. He offered Himself for the sins of the world , and the Father's love for the fallen race was so great that, much as He loved His only Son, He accepted the offered life. Angels are amenable to the law of God, therefore their life could not have atoned for the

transgression of the law. Christ alone was free from the claims of the law, the only one who could redeem the lost race.

The offering of the red heifer was a very imposing ceremony. The heifer was not taken to the temple, like most other offerings, but to a rough valley without the camp, that had never been cultivated or sown. The priest, clothed in the pure white garment of the priesthood, led the heifer, and was accompanied by the elders of the city and the Levites. Cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet were also carried to the place of offering.

When the procession reached the rough valley, they paused, and the elders came forward and killed the heifer. The priest then took the blood, and with his face toward the temple, sprinkled the blood with his finger toward the temple seven times.

If a person had been found dead in the field and it was not known who had taken the life, then the elders of the city next to where the slain man had been found, came forward and washed their hands over the body of the heifer as they offered a prayer to God requesting that the Lord would not lay innocent blood upon them. 3645 After this the heifer's entire body, including the

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blood, was burned. As the flames mounted up, the priest stepped near and cast some of the cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet into the midst of the fire. 3656

The red heifer was offered without the camp, typifying that Christ suffered, not for the Hebrew race alone, but for the whole world. If every offering had been slain within the court of the sanctuary, some might have taught that Christ died only for His own people, the Hebrew race; but the red heifer was offered without the camp, 3667 symbolizing the fact that Christ died for all nations tribes, and people.

The condescension and love of the Lord is wonderful. Lest some poor, forlorn, discouraged soul should think he was not worthy to accept the offered sacrifice, the red heifer was not only taken without the camp, but to a rough valley, so rocky and utterly worthless that it had never even been plowed. No one had ever attempted to cultivate it; and yet here was the place chosen to

sprinkle the blood of that special offering which typified Christ in a particular sense. It typified Him as one who is above law.

It does not matter if Satan has so marred the image of the Creator in man that there can scarcely a trace be seen of anything but the attributes of Satan; yet Christ with His mighty arm can raise such a one up to sit with Him on His throne. The whole life may be wasted and be like the rough valley, of no account; but if such a one will turn his eyes toward the heavenly sanctuary, and plead for mercy by confessing his sins, the precious blood of Christ, of which the blood of the red heifer was a symbol, will be sprinkled over his wasted life, as verily as the blood of the heifer was sprinkled over the rough stones of the valley; and Christ will say to the repentant one as He did to the thief on the cross, who had wasted his life, "Thou shalt be with Me in paradise." 3678

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There are none so sunken in sin or in heathen darkness but that hope and salvation are held out to them through the typical offering of the red heifer. This sacrifice was a shadow of heavenly things. Now type has met antitype. Christ has suffered without the camp for the sins of the whole world. There are none so sunken but that He can lift them up. It may look impossible to man; the customs and habits of the world may condemn a person, and say he is lost; but Christ is above all law. He can all save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. 368 9 The cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet cast into the fire were typical of the purifying of the earth and all vegetation from every trace of sin by the b1ood of Christ. 36910

After the body of the heifer was burned to ashes, a person who was not contaminated by touching the dead, gathered up the ashes and placed them in a clean place, and they were kept to be used for purifying those who touched the dead. 370 11 If a person died in a tent or house, the house and all who touched the dead body were counted unclean until purified. This was to impress the people with the

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terrible nature of sin. 371 12 It taught them that death came as the result of sin, and was a representation of sin. Some of the ashes were placed in pure running water, and a person who was ceremonially clean dipped a bunch of hyssop and cedar in the ashes and water, and sprinkled the tent, the articles within the tent, and the people. This was repeated several times until all were purified. 37213

In like manner, Christ, after He shed His blood for sinful man, entered the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary to present His blood before the Father, to cleanse man from the defilement of sin. 37314

The cedar and hyssop used to sprinkle the purifying water denoted that the person upon whom it fell was cleansed from all earthly moral defilement. The thoroughness of the work was typified by its being repeated several times.

David evidently had this ceremony in mind when he prayed, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." 374 15 Paul's mind was led from type to antitype when he wrote to his Hebrew brethren, "If the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God." 37516

Many people read their Bibles and pass over these beautiful types as ceremonies peculiar to the Jews, and meaning nothing to Christians. They consider the Old Testament of little value. But the Lord through Moses gave that wonderful galaxy of types and symbols contained in the sanctuary service and the Levitical laws; and Moses was so fearful lest the people might think he had given them the service, that over two hundred times we find him

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assuring them that God Himself was the Author of them, by such expressions as "The Lord said," or "The Lord commanded." He desired all to know that God had given that marvelous system of types and shadows, not only throwing light from Eden to the cross,

but revealing to sinful man the work of Christ from the cross to the end of time. These typical ceremonies, like a great reflector, throw light upon the ministry of Christ that cannot be obtained in any other portion of the Scriptures. The Saviour taught that a study of the writings of Moses would strengthen faith in Him. "Had ye believed Moses," He said, "ye would have believed Me: for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?" 37617

Type

Antitype

Num. 19:2. A red heifer without spot.

Heb. 9:13, 14. Christ offered Himself without spot to God.

Num. 19:2. There was to be no blemish in the animal.

John 15:10; 2 Cor. 5:21. Christ
never disobeyed the law of God. He "knew no sin."

Num. 19:2. One that had never borne the yoke, never been forced to do anything.

John 10:15. "As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep."

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Num. 19:3; Deut. 21:4. The red heifer was slain without the camp, in a rough valley, that had never been cultivated.

Heb. 13:12; John 10:16. "Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate."

Num, 19:5, 6. Heifer and cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet, were burned in the fire.

2 Peter 3:7. The earth is "reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."

Num. 19:17-19. Those ceremonially unc1ean were cleansed by being sprinkled with the ashes,

1 Cor. 6:11. "Ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus."

Chapter 23 - The Peace-Offering

The whole world is seeking peace. Nations are fighting for it, and thousands of men are selling their souls to obtain riches in the vain hope that riches will bring them peace and happiness. But

there is no real, abiding peace except that which comes from the great Prince of Peace; and it is never received as the reward of war and blood shed nor the grasping greed of the world. The last legacy the Saviour gave His disciples was a legacy of peace. "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you." 3771

The abiding peace of God in the heart is not obtained in the

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pursuit of worldly fame or riches. The peace-offering in the Levitical service beautifully taught, in type and shadow, how to obtain this coveted treasure.

In many respects the peace-offering was different from all the other offerings. It was the only offering, except the Passover, in which the people could eat of the flesh. Unlike the Passover, it was not confined to only one day of the year, but could be celebrated at any time.

The animals for peace-offerings were chosen from the herd or the flock. They were to be without blemish, for no deformed animal could fitly represent the Prince of Peace. 378 2 The peace offerings were made in token of thanksgiving, to confirm a vow or contract, and as voluntary offerings. 379 3 It was a peace-offering with which Moses confirmed the old covenant with Israel. 3805 In times of special rejoicing, as we read in the Old Testament, the peace-offering was celebrated. When David brought the ark into Jerusalem, he offered peace-offerings and "dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh."

The peace-offering was often associated with the other offerings; and wherever, except in the Passover feast, the people ate of the flesh, it was the peace-offering that was celebrated.

The individual who offered the peace-offering laid his hands on the head of the animal, and then slew it. Afterward he separated all the fat from the different organs of the body, and the priest burned the fat upon the altar of burnt-offering. 3816 Not only was the fat given to the priest, but also the breast, the right shoulder, and the "two cheeks" of every offering.

The separation and burning of the fat typified the only way real

peace can be obtained; viz., by delivering all our sins to the rightful

owner. 3827 The Prince of Peace, the blessed Saviour,

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"gave Himself for our sins." 383 8 He. purchased them that He might destroy sin and give us peace. This was fittingly typified by the priest who served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things," taking the fat from the hands of the one making the peace- offering, and burning it upon the altar. The priest waved the breast and the shoulder before the Lord, then they were eaten by the priest as his portion of the peace-offering.

The disposition of the fat, the breast, and the right shoulder reveal the secret of obtaining peace. The one who obtains peace must separate from sin, and then lean, like the beloved disciple, upon the bosom of the Saviour. When Christ told

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His twelve disciples that one of them would betray Him, they were afraid to ask Him who it was. They hardly knew their true relationship to the Saviour; but John, leaning upon His bosom, could look up into His face and say, "Who is it, Lord?" He felt confident that he would never betray his Lord.

The prophet Isaiah understood the meaning in the presentation of the breast of every peace-offering to the priest, for in writing of the Saviour he says, "He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the Lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom." 3849 The child of God today, who, like John the beloved disciple, leans on the bosom of his Lord, enjoys the real peace of God of which the peace-offering was only a type.

In the antitype of the priest receiving the right shoulder of every peace-offering, there is strength and blessing. We quote from the prophet Isaiah, who loved to write of the Saviour: "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder.. and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end." 38510

Notice, it is the one who realizes that Christ is his personal Saviour, and who lets the government of his affairs rest upon His shoulder, that receives never-ending peace. The reason we so often fail to receive abiding peace when we come to God is because we go no farther than if the individual in the type had given the priest no other portion than the fat. We confess our sins to Christ, and He takes them, but we give our confidence to worldly friends; we do not lean upon the bosom of the Lord, and make Him our confidant in everything, and trust Him to clear the way before us, as the shepherd cares for his lambs. We do not let the government of our affairs rest upon His strong

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and mighty shoulder. We fear to trust Him to manage our temporal affairs for us; and consequently, even after we have confessed our sins and been forgiven, we are soon entangled again with the perplexities and troubles of our every-day duties. Instead of having the peace of which there is no end, we have troubles without end. When we deliver the key, or control, of all our affairs to Christ, we shall find that He will open doors before us which no earthly power can shut, and He will close ways He would not have us travel, and no power of earth can open them to entrap our feet. 38611

After Samuel had anointed Saul to be king over Israel, he brought him to his house, and "said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul," and Samuel bade him eat of it. 387 12 If Saul had comprehended the wonderful lesson typified by this act of Samuel, he would have placed the government of the kingdom upon the shoulder of the great Prince of Peace, and not have made shipwreck of his life work.

There was another feature of the typical peace-offering which everyone should consider who wishes to experience the abiding peace of the antitypical peace-offering. The two cheeks of each

peace-offering were given to the priest. 38813 The great antitypical

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Prince of Peace could say, "I gave . . my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not My face from shame and spitting." 38914 And to the one who would enjoy the peace that the world can neither give nor take away, He says, "I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek turn to him the other also." 390 15 Job, who the Lord said was "a perfect and an upright man," could say, "They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully." 391 16 The child of God is often asked to bear reproach and shame for Christ's sake.

Unleavened cakes anointed with oil were eaten with the peace- offering. The unleavened bread indicated sincerity and truth, 39217 and oil isused as an emblem of the Holy Spirit, which brings peace to the heart. Leavened bread was, also eaten with the peace- offerings of thanksgiving and was a token of joyfulness.

After Abraham had received the promise that Sarah should have

a son, three angels visited the patriarch as "he sat in the tent door

in the heat of the day," no doubt pondering on the promise; and

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in token of thanksgiving he at once prepared a peace-offering for them of unleavened bread and flesh; and they ate of it, and immediately confirmed again to Abraham the promise of a son. 39318 It might have been on account of the perversion of the peace-offering and losing sight of its significance, that the children of Israel formed the habit of continually eating flesh.

There was one rigid restriction in the eating of the peace- offering. The flesh was all to be eaten upon either the first or the second day. The command was very plain: "If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity." 39419

This offering, which could be offered by rich and poor alike at any time of the year and as often as they chose, was a significant type of the resurrection of the Prince of Peace. The Jewish economy of types and shadows is truly a "compacted prophecy of the gospel."

The Passover and waving of first-fruits on the third day taught the resurrection; but the priest alone entered the temple, and waved the handful of grain, in type of the resurrection of Christ; while in the peace-offering every child of God was given opportunity to show his faith in the resurrection of Christ.

If one ate of the flesh upon the third day, it indicated that he counted the Antitype of his peace-offering still dead upon that day. On the other hand, the one who refused to eat the flesh upon the third day, and burned in the fire all that was left, showed his faith in a risen Saviour.

In the warm country of Palestine the body would begin to decay upon the third day. Of Lazarus Martha said, "By this

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time he stinketh: for lie bath been dead four days." 395 20 But the psalmist, in prophesying of the resurrection of Christ, said, "Neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption." 39621 David knew the Saviour would live the third day. Those who lived near the Lord saw the light that was reflected from the typical service.

It was upon this truth in regard to the resurrection of Christ as taught by David and typified in the peace-offering, that Peter based his strongest argument on the day of Pentecost.397 22 Paul evidently referred to the types of the Passover and the peace- offering when he taught that "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." 398 23 The eyes of even the disciples were so blinded by sin and doubt that they could not discern the light that flashed from the sacrificial offerings. Just as the moon reflecting the rays of the sun gives sufficient light to guide one safely through the night, so the light of the great antitypical Lamb of God, reflected from the Levitical laws and sacrificial offerings, was sufficient to lead the people safely unto the kingdom of God.

There are many people to-day who long for peace, and claim to feast upon God and His word day by day, and yet they stumble along in darkness; because, like the one in the type, who ate of the flesh the third day, thus signifying that lie believed the Lord still

dead, they go through life mourning as if the Lord of life and glory were still lying dead in Joseph's tomb instead of being alive in heaven at the right hand of the Father, ready to send light and help to every trusting follower here upon the earth. The message He sends to us from the heavenly sanctuary is, "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore." 39924

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Type

Antitype

Christ is our peace. Eph. 2: 14.

Lev. 3:1. The peace-offering must be without blemish.

1 John 3: 5. No sin in Christ.

Lev. 7:29,30. Fat was separated from the offering. Fat was a type of sin. Ps. 37: 20.

2 Cor. 13:5. "Examine yourselves; . . . prove your own selves."

Lev. 7: 31 The fat was burned.

Matt. 25: 41. Sin and sinners to be burned.

Lev. 7:32,33. The shoulder was the priest's portion.

Isa. 9: 6; Luke 15: 5. The government shall be upon Christ's shoulder.

Lev. 7: 31. "The breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'."

Isa. 40:11. "He shall . . . carry them (the lambs) in His bosom."

Deut. 18: 3. The two cheeks were given to the priest.

Matt. 26: 67; Isa. 50: 6. They spit in the Saviour's face.

Lev.. 7: 15, 16. Flesh could be eaten the first and second days.

1 Cor. 15: 3, 4. Christ lay in the grave the first and second days.

Lev. 7: 17, 18. None of the flesh was to be eaten the third day.

Matt. 28: 6; Luke 24: 21. The third day the angel over the empty tomb said, "He is not
here: for He is risen."

Chapter 24 - The Cleansing of The Leper

Of all the diseases to which mankind is heir, there is none more loathsome than leprosy. The individual lives for years with this dread disease slowly eating away portions of his body until he longs for death as a release.

From earliest times leprosy has been a type of sin; and a very fitting type it is of that loathsome spiritual disease which destroys the soul of the one who violates his conscience again and again

until he has no power to resist, and becomes wholly surrendered to evil.

When Miriam became jealous of her sister-in-law, and she and Aaron murmured against Moses, "the anger of the Lord was kindled against them. . . And, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow." After God had taught the lesson that the sins

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of jealousy, murmuring, and fault-finding are to the spiritual life what leprosy is to the physical being, then, in answer to Moses' prayer, she was healed. 4001

When Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, coveted the treasures of Naaman, and told a falsehood and dissembled to obtain them, the decree came to him from the Lord, "The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee." 4012 It is not strange that, with the record of the experiences of Miriam and Gehazi before them, the Jews should look upon leprosy as a judgment from the Lord.

The leper was not allowed to mingle with the people. There was no exception, from the king on the throne to the lowliest bondservant. The command of the Lord was, "The leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. . . He shall dwell alone; without the camp, shall his habitation be." 4023

As leprosy was a type of the worst sins, the ceremony for the cleansing of the leper embraced more than any other offering. The priest who had examined the leper and pronounced him unclean, was the only one that could pronounce him clean. The priest went outside the camp and examined the leper, and if the leprosy was healed, then the healed man was to bring "two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop," unto the priest. One of the birds was killed in an earthen vessel held over running water; then the living bird, the scarlet, and the cedar were all dipped in the blood. The priest sprinkled the blood seven times

upon the one who was to be cleansed, and pronounced him clean. 4034

Leprosy is a very contageous disease; everything the leper

touches is contaminated. Sin also is a dreadful disease, and the

earth, air, and water are all cursed by the sins of humanity, and

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must be cleansed by the same blood which cleanses man. Therefore, after the leper was pronounced clean, the live bird, its feathers scarlet with the blood, was let loose to fly through the air. The blood was not only sprinkled on the person who had been unclean, but it was thus carried through the air that was laden with germs of disease and sin, 4045 in type of the blood of Christ which will give a new heaven-a new atmosphere-to this sin-cursed earth.

Before man sinned, there was no decaying vegetation; the lovely trees were not destroyed by insect pests, but all was free from the curse. Nothing but the blood of Christ can restore vegetation to its Eden beauty. In type of this regenerating power, a piece of cedar, the giant of the forest, and of hyssop, the small plant "that springeth out of the wall," 405 6 were dipped in the blood. These were chosen to represent the two extremes in vegetation, thus embracing all.

The animal life also is cursed by sin, but through the redeeming power of the blood of Christ the time will come when "the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them." 4067

The scarlet wool dipped in the blood represented the animal kingdom. 4078 The blood of the bird was placed in an earthen dish held over running water. Thus we see that in the cleansing of the leper the blood came in direct contact not only with the leper, but with all else cursed by sin; viz., earth, air, water, vegetation, and the animal kingdom.

These wonderful types were but compacted prophecies of the far more wonderful Antitype. When Christ knelt in agony upon the cold ground of the garden of Gethsemane, the great drops of

blood fell down from His face to the ground. 4089 Four thousand

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years before, when Cain slew his brother, the earth had first felt the touch of human blood, which fell as a withering curse, blighting the fruitfulness of the land. 409 10 Many times since has the bosom of the earth not only been spotted with the blood of man, but rivers of blood have deluged the ground as armed hosts of human beings, led on by Satan, have slaughtered one another. Every drop of this blood has added to the curse. 410 11 But how different the effect of the blood of the blessed Saviour! In it was healing, cleansing power. 41112

The curse of sin rests heavily upon the atmosphere, which is so laden with disease germs that "death is come up into our windows and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets." In the type the blood of the offering dripped from the bird as it flew through the air. From the great antitypical Offering, as He hung on Calvary, the precious, healing blood dripped from His wounded hands and feet through the air, and fell upon the rocks beneath. The types of the old Levitical service were not a meaningless ceremony, but a prophecy of the great Antitype.

From the earliest times, the water has been affected by the curse of sin. 412 13 The bird killed over the running water was a type of the death of Christ, which would remove the curse of sin forever from the waters of the earth. The blood of Christ came in direct contact with water; when the soldier thrust the cruel spear into the side of the Saviour, "forthwith came thereout blood and water;" 41314 not a mixture of blood and water, but blood and water, two copious streams.

"The wonderful symbol of the living bird dipped in the blood of

the slain bird, and then set free to its joyous life, is to us the symbol

of the atonement. There were death and life blended, presenting to

the searcher of truth the hidden treasure, the union of

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the pardoning blood with the resurrection and life of our Redeemer.

The bird was slain over living water; that flowing stream was a symbol of the ever flowing, ever cleansing efficacy of the blood of Christ."

The cross upon which the Saviour hung, and which was stained with His precious blood, was made of the trees of the forest; while a small reed of hyssop supported the sponge that was dipped in vinegar and given Ilim to quench His thirst.

As the Saviour hung upon the cross, He listened for some word or token from humanity that would indicate that His sacrifice was appreciated; but only jeers, taunts, and curses were borne to His ears from the surging mass below. Even one of the thieves by His side joined in the railing; but the other thief reproached him, and turning to Jesus said, "Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom." The reply of Jesus, "Verily I say unto thee today, shalt thou be with me in paradise;" 41415 contained an assurance of pardon. Even while the cleansing blood of Christ was flowing from His veins, the thief rejoiced in its power to cleanse from sin. He who was thought by His enemies to be conquered, died a mighty Conqueror, and the thief experienced the fulfilment of the promise, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." 41516

There was a significance in the color of the wool dipped in the blood of the typical offering. It is almost impossible to remove scarlet stains, but "though your sins be as scarlet," the blood of Christ can make them "white as snow." You may be condemned and counted as an outcast by every one on earth: but if you look to the Saviour and claim His cleansing power, He will wash away your sins, and put joy and rejoicing in your heart.

In the typical service, notwithstanding the fact that when the

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one to be cleansed from leprosy was sprinkled with the blood, he was pronounced clean, yet there was something more for him to do. On the eighth day after he was pronounced clean, he was to appear before the priest with two lambs, a meat-offering, and a log of oil. The priest presented the man to be cleansed at the door of the tabernacle, and waved one of the lambs and the log of oil

before the Lord. He then slew the lamb, and took some of the blood and put it upon "the tip of the right car" of him that was to be cleansed, "and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot," 416 17 thus consecrating his ears to hear only those things that would tend to keep him clean, his hands to the service of God, and his feet to travel only in the way of the Lord's commandments,

Then the priest took the log of oil, and after sprinkling a portion of it before the Lord, he put some of it "upon the tip of the right ear" of him that was to be cleansed, also "upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot," and then anointed his head with the remainder of the oil. 41718

This service was not an empty form, but a type of a blessed antitype, which is fulfilled in every Christian who presents himself

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for service before the Lord, after the Lord forgives his sins and pronounces him clean. Of Mary, Jesus said, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." 41819 The leper cleansed from that loathsome, living death, felt so thankful to God for freedom and cleansing that he consecrated his life to the Lord for service. Not only is the oil, an emblem of the Holy Spirit which prepares the Christian for service, touched to his car, hand, and foot, but it is poured upon his head, thus betokening a full surrender of the entire being to the service of His Master who has redeemed him. The books of heaven record the names of many who have fulfilled this beautiful antitype by surrendering their entire being to the service of their Redeemer.

The Levitical law provided for the cleansing of houses and garments infected with leprosy. If an owner of a house saw any signs of leprosy, he was to report the matter to the priest, who at once proceeded to examine the house. First the house was to be emptied, and if the priest saw "greenish or reddish" streaks upon the walls, the house was to be shut up for seven days. If at the end of that time the walls were still covered with the mold, they were to be scraped and the stones taken out and the house thoroughly

repaired. If the spots appeared again, this proved that the leprosy did not come from any leak or defect in the walls, but that the location was damp and unhealthful, and the house was to be torn down. 41920

If the health laws of the land today were as watchful over the homes of the people as were the old Levitical laws, there would be less of that dread disease, tuberculosis.

The laws in regard to garments infected with leprosy were very

rigid. 42021 If the plague of leprosy was so deep seated that it could

not be removed by washing, then the garment was to be

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burned in the fire. There is a deeply spiritual lesson in this instruction. God has given very definite directions in regard to the dress of His followers. 421 22 He never designed that His people should follow the foolish fashions of the world. 42223 There should be a marked difference between the dress of the Christian and that of the worldling. 423 24 Individuals may argue that they have overcome pride, that when they wear fashionable apparel and dress like the worldling, it does not hurt them, for they have conquered pride. As well might a person who had just recovered from small- pox wear the garments infected by the disease. He reasons that as he has had the disease once and recovered, there is no danger of his taking it a second time, hence there is no danger in the garments; but he sows the germ of the disease wherever he goes. In like manner the Christian who fails to obey the Lord's instruction in regard to dress, misrepresents the Lord, and sows seeds of pride and vanity in the hearts of weaker members. It is better to follow the instruction given in the Levitical service, and even burn garments infected with pride and vanity, than to misrepresent our Lord and Master even in our dress.

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Type

Antitype

"The entire system of Judaism was the gospel veiled."

Lev. 14:6, 7. Blood was sprinkled on the one to be cleansed.

1 Peter 1:2. The sprinkling of the blood of Jesus cleanses from sin.

Lev. 14:6. Cedar, scarlet, and hyssop were dipped in the blood. 1 Kings 4: 33. Cedar and hyssop are extremes in vegetation. Heb. 9: 19.

John 19:29. The hyssop was brought in connection with the Saviour, while the cross was made from the trees of the forest.

Lev. 14:5. The bird was killed and the blood caught in an earthen vessel.

Luke 22:44. Jesus' blood came in contact with the earth.

Lev. 14:6, 7. The bird that had been dipped in the blood was let loose to fly through the air.
Jer. 9: 21. Air is unclean.

Rev. 21:1. There will be a new heaven (atmospheric heaven), as the result of Christ's death. His blood dropped through the air from the cross.

Lev. 14: 14, 17. The tip of the ear was touched with the blood and oil.

Isa. 42: 18-20. God's servants are deaf to things they, should not hear.

Lev. 14:14, 17. The thumb of the right hand was touched with blood and oil.

Ps.119:48. "My hands also will I lift up unto Thy commandments, which I have loved."

Lev. 14:14, 17. The toe of the right foot was touched with the blood.

Gen. 17:1 "I am the Almighty God: walk before Me, and be thou perfect."

Section 6 - Services of the Sanctuary Before the Throne my Saviour Stands

ARISE, my soul, arise,
Shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding Sacrifice
In my behalf appears
Before the throne my Saviour stands; My name is written on His hands.

H ever lives above,
For me to intercede;
His all-redeeming love,
His precious blood, to plead;
His blood was shed for all our race, And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears, Received on Calvary; They pour effectual prayers, They strongly speak for me:

Forgive him O, forgive! they cry, Nor let the contrite sinner die!

The Father hears Him pray, His dear, anointed One;
He cannot turn away
The presence of His Son; His spirit answers to the blood, And tells me I'm a child of God. -Charles Wesley

Chapter 25 - The Court and its Services

The tabernacle was surrounded by a court one hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide. This court was enclosed by curtains of fine twined linen hung from Pillars of brass. The pillars were trimmed with chapiters and fillets of silver, and the curtains were suspended from silver hooks. The court formed an oblong, and was placed with its longest sides toward the north and south and the ends toward the east and west. The door, or entrance, of twenty cubits width, was in the center of the east end of the court. The curtains forming the door of the court were of "blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen wrought with needlework," and were suspended from four pillars of brass, trimmed with silver. 4241

The height of the court was only half that of the tabernacle, so that above the beautiful curtains of the court and the glitter of

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the silver and brass of the many pillars, could be seen the golden walls of the tabernacle, with its gorgeous curtains and coverings. As the one outside the court, in order to behold the glories of the tabernacle, had to look above the court; so the one who by faith beholds the beauties of the heavenly sanctuary, must lift his thoughts above the things of this earth, and center them upon heavenly things.

There were two principal articles of furniture in the court, the laver and the altar of burnt-offering. The altar was overlaid with brass; the laver and all the vessels of the court that were used in the

services connected with the altar, were of brass. The great brazen altar was placed between the sanctuary and the gate, but nearer the gate than the sanctuary. 425 2 No part of the sanctuary or of the court was made according to the plans of men; but every part was fashioned after the divine model. When the Lord had given Moses the directions in regard to making the brazen altar, He added, "As it was showed thee in the mount, so shall they make it." 4263

The altar was a hollow box, five cubits square and three cubits high, made of boards of acacia wood. There was a horn of the same wood on each corner. A network of brass in the center held the fire and gave draft for it, and allowed the ashes to fall beneath. The entire altar with the horns was all overlaid with brass. 427 4 It was "an altar most holy: whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy," was the divine decree. 4285 It was because of this, no doubt, that Adonijah and Joab fled and caught hold of the horns of the altar when they feared death at the hands of Solomon. 4296

All burnt-offerings of the sanctuary were burned upon the brazen altar. The fire was kindled by the Lord Himself, 4307 and

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was kept burning continually. It was never to go out. 4318 The fire which destroys all sin from the earth, like the fire on the brazen a1tar, will come down from God out of heaven, and will not be quenched as long as there is any sin to be consumed. 4329

The entire body of the whole burnt-offering and portions of various offerings were burned upon this brazen altar. It consumed that which typified sin; and as the fires were continually burning, it has been called "the altar of continual atonement." Sin separates man from God, 433 10 and all sin must be put away before the sinner can be at-one-ment with God. Therefore the work done upon this altar was a symbol of the final destruction of sin, which will be necessary before the redeemed can enjoy their eternal inheritance.

Paul referred to this altar as a type of Christ. 43411 All the work connected with the altar of burnt-offering typified the work connected with the destruction of sin, a work which Christ alone

can do. The Father has delivered into the hands of His Son the final destruction of sin and sinners. 43512

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The horns of the brazen altar were often touched with the blood of the different offerings, and the blood of every sin-offering was poured out at the base of this altar.

With only a few exceptions, all the sacrifices were slain in the court, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, as the entrance of the first apartment was often called; for the whole congregation of Israel could assemble in the court and at this door. None but priests could enter within the sacred precincts of the tabernacle itself, for it typified the heavenly sanctuary, where God and Christ abide, surrounded by shining cherubim and seraphim. All the work performed in the court was typical of work done in the earth, while the work performed in the first and second apartments of the sanctuary was typical of work done in heaven.

No sacrifice was ever slain within the sanctuary; but the offerings were slain in the court, and the blood and flesh were carried within the sanctuary by the priest. Christ, the great antitypical Sacrifice, was slain in the antitypical court, this earth, and then entered the antitypical sanctuary in the heavens with His own blood and the same body in which He bore our sins on Calvary. Sins are forgiven, and are blotted out from the books in the heavenly sanctuary; but they are not destroyed there. Just as in the type the fires of the brazen altar in the court consumed that which in type represented sin; so in the antitype, the wicked will be "on the breadth of the earth" when fire comes down from God out of heaven and devours them. 436 13 This earth is the great antitypical court, where all the work typified in the court of the earthly sanctuary will meet its fulfilment.

The constant burning upon the altar of that which typified sin,

caused an accumulation of ashes. The priests in the earthly

sanctuary served "unto the example and shadow of

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heavenly things," 437 14 and even the removal of the ashes was directed of the Lord to be done in a manner to typify a portion of

the final work of Christ. The priest was to be clothed in the pure white linen garments, when he removed the ashes from the altar. The ashes were first taken up by the priest and placed "beside the altar" on the east side. 438 15 When the time came to remove them from beside the altar, the priest laid aside his priestly robes, and "put on other garments;" then he carried the ashes forth without the camp, and poured them out in "a clean place." 43917 Ashes are all that will remain of sin, the devil and sinners after the fires of the 1ast day have finished their work. When the purifying fires of the Lord have removed the last trace of sin, there will appear a new earth, a clean place, without one taint of sin upon it; and as the righteous walk over the face of the clean, pure earth, the ashes of sin and all that clung to sin in this earth will be under their feet. Truly the type will then have met its antitype, and the ashes of all sin will be in "a clean place."

When the priest placed the ashes beside the altar, he was clothed in his priestly robes. The ashes represented the confessed sins of the righteous. When Christ bears the confessed sins of His people, He wears His priestly robes; but the time comes when He will place the sins of the righteous on the head of Satan, lay aside His priestly garments, and come to this earth clad in kingly robes, to gather out of His kingdom all

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things that offend and do iniquity. 440 18 Then all sin and sinners will be burned in the fire. Not in priestly robes will Christ come out into the antitypical court, the earth, to complete the final destruction of sin; but as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Much of the typical service was directed by the Lord in a way, to arouse a spirit of inquiry in the minds of the young, so that they themselves would ask for information. The Passover was planned so that the children would say, "What mean ye by this service?" 44119 The twelve stones were piled up on the banks of Jordan as a "sign" to attract the attention of the children, so that in answer to their question, "What mean ye by, these stones?" they might be taught of the time when God stayed the floods of Jordan before the hosts of Israel. 442 20 If the curiosity of the child is aroused and he

himself makes the inquiry, the lesson is more forcibly impressed upon his mind.

It would seem that for this reason God had the ashes of the sacrifice at first placed on the cast of the altar, where they would be so conspicuous that every child entering the court could not fail to see and ask, "What mean ye by these ashes?" and then he would be taught by the parent the wonderful truth that all sin would be finally burned to ashes in the fires of the last day. 44321

As the children went without the camp with their parents, their attention would be attracted by the unusual sight of ashes being placed in a perfectly clean place; and in reply to their questions the beautiful lesson of the new earth, which will come forth from the fires that destroy the last trace of sin, would be impressed upon their young minds. By the ashes and the blood at the base of the altar in the typical services of the court, the purifying of this earth from sin was kept before the minds of Israel.

While the congregation of Israel could gather in the court,

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the priests alone were to perform the work at the altar. 444 22 The Levites were given charge of the sanctuary, but they could not perform the service of the altar, for that typified work which none but Christ could do. He alone can destroy sin.

The laver was between the brazen altar and the door of the sanctuary. The laver and its base were both of brass. Water was kept in them, for the priests to wash both their hands and their feet before they entered the sanctuary to perform any service. They were also required to wash both hands and feet before they went "near the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord." Death was the penalty for performing service at the altar or within the tabernacle without first washing in the laver. 44523 As the people in the court beheld the priests wash in the water before they performed the work of the holy office, may it not have taught them the truth that Christ gave to Nicodemus, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God"? 44624

Type

Antitype

Ex. 27:9-18. There was a court surrounding the tabernacle, in which the offerings were slain.
Lev. 4:4, 14, 15, 2 4, 2 9.

John 12:31-33. The great anti- typical Offering was slain in the earth.

Lev. 6:10, 11. The ashes from the altar were placed in a clean place.

Mal. 4:1-3. The ashes of the wicked will be left on the clean earth.

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Lev. 6:10. The priest was attired in priestly garments when he placed the ashes by the altar.

Heb. 2:17. Christ is High Priest to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Lev. 6:11 When the priest carried the ashes without the camp unto a clean place, he laid aside his priestly robes, and put on other garments.

Rev. 19:14-16; Isa. 63:1-4. When Christ comes to the earth to destroy sill and sinners, He will have changed His, priestly garments for those of a king.

Chapter 26 - The Work in the First Apartment of the Sanctuary

The work in the first apartment consisted principally of the morning and evening daily services, the individual sin-offerings, and services on feast days and on special occasions. God's visible presence was manifested in the first apartment, or tabernacle of the congregation. There at the first veil, or door, of the tabernacle of the congregation, 447 1 where the people presented their sin- offerings, God met and communed with the children of Israel. Sometimes the cloud of glory, representing the visible presence of the Most Holy, filled the first apartment so that no one was able to enter. 4482

God's presence manifested in the first apartment of the earthly

sanctuary was a shadow of the glorious presence and throne of the

Father in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, where,

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after enduring "the cross, despising the shame," the Saviour sat down "at the right hand of the throne of God." 4493

The service each morning and evening was very important. Within the first apartment the high priest offered incense upon the

golden altar, and trimmed and lighted the lamps. 4504 None but the high priest could perform this sacred work, which typified the adding of the fragrant incense of Christ's righteousness to the prayers of God's people, to render them acceptable before God. 4515 He also trimmed and lighted the lamps that were a shadow of the Holy Spirit emanating from God, which at some time in life shines into the heart of every one, 452 6 inviting him to accept the Lord and His service, and which shines continually in the life of the individual who walks in the light, and is faithful to God.

While the high priest within the sanctuary was performing the daily service morning and evening at the golden altar, the priests

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in the court were burning the whole burnt-offering, the meat- offering, and the drink-offering, upon the brazen altar, and the people were gathered without, praying. 4537

When the children of Israel were carried into captivity, the faithful ones prayed, like Daniel, with their windows open toward Jerusalem. 454 8 They turned toward the temple, where, from the altar of continual intercession, the incense was ascending. This type represented those who may be held captive in cruel bondage by Satan, the prince of this world. It matters not where they may be nor how strong the bands that hold them, if they will resolutely turn their faces from their surroundings toward the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ pleads His blood and presents His righteousness in the sinner's behalf, the prayer of faith will bring peace and joy to the soul, and will break asunder the bands with which Satan has bound them. Christ sets before such an "open door, and no man can shut it." 4559 It makes no difference what the surroundings may be, the soul can be free in God, and no human being, not even the devil, can prevent it. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 45610

Day by day, as sinners presented their sin-offerings at the door of the first apartment, confessing their sins, either by the blood sprinkled before the Lord or a portion of the flesh eaten in the first apartment, the confessed sins were transferred in type to the first apartment of the sanctuary. The priest met the sinner at the first

veil of the sanctuary, and carried within the veil either the blood or the flesh. The sinner could not look within the sanctuary, but by faith he knew that the priest was faithful to present his sin-offering before the Lord, and he left the sanctuary rejoicing in sins forgiven.

In the antitype of that service we confess our sins, and although we can not see the work in the heavenly sanctuary, we

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know that Christ pleads His blood and marred flesh, 457 11 -the prints of the nails,-before the Father in our behalf, and we rejoice in the forgiveness of sins. The sins are covered, hid from view. "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." 458 12 As day-by-day the sins of the people were thus, in figure transferred to the sanctuary, the place became defiled, and must be purified or cleansed. Sins are forgiven and covered when confessed, and will never be uncovered if the one who confesses them remains faithful; but if he forsakes the Lord and turns back into the world, that part of his past life which, while he was faithful, was covered with Christ's righteousness, appears open and uncovered on the books of heaven for he himself has withdrawn from Christ, and must meet the record of his entire life in the judgment.

This is very forcefully taught in the parable of the unmerciful servant, who, after he had been forgiven his entire debt, dealt harshly with his debtors, and the Lord then required him, to pay all that had been once forgiven him. 45913

The time will come when the sins of the righteous will not

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only be forgiven and covered by the blood of Christ, but all trace of them will be forever removed from the books of heaven, and even the Lord will never remember them again. This work was symbolized by the work in the second apartment on the day of atonement.

Type

Antitype

Ex. 29:42, 43. The visible presence of God was manifested in the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary.

Rev. 4:2-5. The seven lamps were seen in heaven before the throne.

Ex. 30:7, 8. The high priest trimmed and lighted the lamps.

Rev. 1:13. Christ was seen among the golden candle-sticks in the heavenly sanctuary.

Ex. 40:24,25. The lamps in the earthly sanctuary were burning before the Lord.

Rev. 4:2,5. The seven lamps of fire were seen burning before the throne of God in heaven.

Heb. 9:6. "The priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God."

Heb. 7:25. Christ ever liveth to make intercession for us.

Lev. 4:7 ; 10: 16- 18. By the blood and the flesh the sins were transferred to the earthly sanctuary.

1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1: 7. By the merits of the sacrifice of the body and blood of Christ, our sins are forgiven.

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Lev, 4:7. The marks of sin touched the horns of the altar.

Jer. 2:22. The actual sin is marked before the Lord in heaven.

Num. 18:7. None but the priests could look within the veil. All that remained of the sin-offering without the veil was burned. All trace of the sin-offering was covered from sight.

Ps. 32:1. When we confess our sins, they are transferred to the heavenly sanctuary and covered, nevermore to appear, if we are faithful.

Chapter 27 - A Wonderful Prophecy

The daily round of service during the year typified the work of confessing sins and leaving them with Christ, our great Sin-bearer, in the heavenly sanctuary. But Christ will not always bear the sins of the world. There will come a time when He will blot out the last trace of sin from the books of heaven. Then the sins of the righteous will be laid upon Satan, the originator of sin, and he, with all sin and sinners, will be consumed in the lake of fire.

God is a God of justice, and before either the sins of the faithful or the names of the unfaithful are blotted from the books of heaven, 460 1 there will be an examination of the records,-an investigative

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judgment. The service in the second apartment of the sanctuary was a type of this work. It was called the day of atonement, or the cleansing of the sanctuary. The record states: "On that day shall

the priest make an atonement for to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord." 4612

When men and angel are placed on probation, a time of judgment was appointed when they would be judged. The resurrection of Christ is a pledge, or assurance, of the judgment. God "hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead." 4623

The day of judgment is a definite time set apart in which to perform a specific work. It is a period of time. "God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose, and for every work." 463 4 God did not leave the world in darkness in regard to the time of the day of judgment, of which the day, of atonement, or the cleansing of the was a type; but through the prophet Daniel He foretold when that event would take place.

In the eighth chapter of the book of Daniel, we read that in the

last days of the Babylonian kingdom, the prophet was given a

prophetic view of the history of the world from that lime until the

end of all earthly, kingdoms. He saw a ram having two horns; and

a rough goat with a notable horn between his eyes, came from the

west and overcame the ram and trampled him under foot. Then

the goat grew very strong; and when he was strong, the great horn

was broken, and in its place came up four notable horns. "Out of

one of them came forth a little horn which waxed exceeding great,

"until" he magnified himself even

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to the Prince of the host;" that is, claimed to be equal to the Prince of the host.

While the prophet was watching this little horn persecuting the people of God on the earth, his attention was arrested by a conversation between two heavenly beings, which he records, as follows: "Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto the Numberer of secrets, or the Wonderful Numberer, which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and

the host to be trodden under foot? And He [the Wonderful Numberer, the Prince of hosts] said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." 4645 Daniel did not understand the vision, and One

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having authority over the heavenly forces commissioned the angel Gabriel to make him understand it. Gabriel then gave the following brief explanation:

"The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia, and the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king [Alexander the Great]."

He then said that the four kingdoms into which Grecia would be divided, represented by the four horns, would not be as strong as Grecia, but that the kingdom represented by the little horn; viz., the Roman kingdom, which grew out of one of the four horns would destroy the people of God, and would even stand up against the Prince of princes Himself when He shou1d come to the earth. This last view was more than Daniel could endure. When he saw that this power would even take the life of the Prince of princes, he fainted; and when Gabriel said, "The vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true," he found it was useless to proceed, as Daniel was not able to comprehend. 4656

Daniel was sick for some days, but soon began to pray for a full explanation of the vision. We have his prayer recorded; it is not long. When he began to pray, God in heaven commissioned Gabriel to go and answer the prophet's prayer, and before he had finished praying the angel touched him. 4667 Heaven and

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earth are brought very near together by the prayer of faith. The one who holds on by simple faith until an answer is sent from heaven, is beloved by the Lord. 4678

Gabriel assured Daniel that he was come to give him "skill and understanding," and told him to "consider the vision." All had been made plain except the question asked the "Wonderful Numberer," and His reply. All heaven is interested in the work of God on the

earth, and it was not idle curiosity but intense interest which prompted the question, "How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?" The word "sacrifice" is given in italics in the authorized version of the Bible, showing that it "was supplied by man's wisdom, and does not belong to the text."

At the time the question was asked, the sanctuary, or temple built by Solomon, lay in ruins, and God's people were in captivity in a foreign land. The vision had revealed to the angels as well as to Daniel that far down in the future a power would arise that would bring a worse persecution upon the people of God than they had ever experienced, which was fulfilled in the twelve hundred sixty years of papal persecution, known in history as the Dark Ages. 4689 This persecution could not affect the heavenly sanctuary, as no earthly power can reach heaven; but it trod underfoot the host who worshiped toward the heavenly sanctuary, and by depriving the people of the word of God, it obscured the correct knowledge in regard to the heavenly sanctuary for a long period of time.

When the Wonderful Numberer answered the question, He directed His words to Daniel instead of to the one who asked the question. None but the Father or the Son could reveal the time appointed for the great court of judgment to convene in the

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heavenly sanctuary. It was Christ then, who numbered the years to intervene before the opening of the great judgment. He is truly called the Numberer of Secrets, or the Wonderful Numberer. 46910

When Daniel was told to consider the vision, no doubt the words addressed directly to him would come into his mind: "Unto two thousand and three hundred days [evening, morning] then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." 470 11 As Daniel's mind reviewed these words, Gabriel began the explanation of the portion of the vision he had been unable to explain during his previous visit.

The prophecy regarding the two thousand three hundred days of Dan. 8: 14 is one of the grandest prophecies in the entire Bible. There are other lines of prophecy that foretell the rise and fall of

nations, but the two thousand three hundred days definitely locates two of the greatest events in the history of all mankind; viz., the time when Christ would come to the earth and offer Himself as a ransom for the lost race; and the opening of the great tribunal in heaven, when the judge of all the earth will decide the eternal destiny of every soul that has ever lived upon the earth.

During Gabriel's first visit to Daniel, he explained the symbols of

the ram, the rough goat, and the four horns, and gave an account

of the work of the little horn; but Daniel fainted before he had

explained the two thousand three hundred days; therefore when he

returns to give the prophet skill and understanding and asks him to

consider the vision, he immediately introduces the subject of time.

His first words are, "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy

people, and upon thy holy city." The word "determined" signifies

cut off from some longer period of time. The only time period

under consideration is the two thousand three hundred days.

Therefore, seventy weeks were to be

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cut off from that period, and allotted to the Jews and their holy city. 47112

A day in prophetic time represents a year of real time. 472 13 Seven years make a week of years. 473 14 Seventy weeks would be 70 x = 490 years. Four hundred and ninety years were determined upon the Jewish people to accomplish six things; viz.,

1. "To finish the transgression," to commit the crowning act of all transgression,-take the life of the sinless Son of God.

2. "To make an end of sin." Christ partook of death, "that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil," and thus forever end all sin. 47415

3. "To make reconciliation for iniquity." Christ "made peace through the blood of His cross," and reconciled "all things unto Himself." 47516

4. "To bring in everlasting righteousness." The death of Christ opened the way by which every son and daughter of Adam could obtain everlasting righteousness if he desired it.

5. "To seal up the vision." Events transpired within

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those four hundred ninety years that sealed, or established, the entire vision of the two thousand three hundred years.

6. "To anoint the most holy." When the time came to begin the service in the earthly sanctuary, the entire sanctuary was anointed; 47617 and when Christ entered the heavenly sanctuary, to perform the work of which the earthly service was a type, the heavenly sanctuary was anointed; before He began His ministry in the first apartment. The heavenly sanctuary is spoken of as most holy to distinguish it from the earthly.

Wonderful changes were wrought in the history of the church during that four hundred ninety years. After the angel had enumerated the events to take place during that period, he told Daniel where to locate it in the history of the world, by announcing the date of the beginning of the period; "Know, therefore, and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem, unto the Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times." 47718

The long period of two thousand three hundred days from which the seventy weeks, or four hundred ninety years, were cut off, began with the going forth of the great threefold commandment 478 19 to restore and build Jerusalem, which went forth 457 B.C. This decree did not go into effect until about the middle of the year, 47920 which would make the exact date for the going forth of the decree 456 1/2 B.C.

Gabriel divides the seventy weeks into three divisions; viz., seven weeks, sixty-two weeks, and one week.480 21 The prophet Nehemiah gives an account of the rebuilding of the walls during troublous times.

The seven weeks and the sixty-two weeks, or sixty-nine weeks in all, were to extend to Messiah the Prince. Sixty-nine weeks

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equals 69 x 7 = 483 years. This taken from 456 1/2 brings us to 26 1/2 A.D. In the spring of A.D. 27, or 26 1/2 A.D., Jesus at His

baptism was anointed with the Holy Ghost, and henceforth was the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed One. 48122

After the seven weeks and the threescore and two weeks passed, Messiah was to "be cut off, but not for Himself." He died to atone for the sins of the world. After stating that the Messiah would be cut off, Gabriel adds, "He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrificeandtheoblationtocease."48223 Christ'sministryafter His baptism continued three and one-half years, or half a prophetic week.

Christ was cut off in the midst of the seventieth week, but the entire seventy weeks had been "determined" upon the Jews. Christ directed His disciples to begin their work at Jerusalem, and it was not until the stoning of Stephen in A.D. 34, or three and one-half years after the crucifixion, that the gospel went to the Gentiles. The covenant was confirmed by the disciples, 483 24 for they confined their labors to the Jews until 34 A.D., the close of the period allotted to that people. 48425

The seventy weeks, or four hundred ninety years, ended in A.D. 34. Four hundred ninety years taken from the entire period of two thousand three hundred years, leaves eighteen hundred ten years of the period remaining in A.D. 34 [2,300-490 = 1810]. This added to A.D. 34 brings us to eighteen hundred and forty-four A.D. [34 +1810 = 1844].

"Unto two thousand and three hundred days [years]; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." 485 26 The earthly sanctuary ceased to exist long before this date; but the time had come for the antitype of the cleansing of the sanctuary, the work performed on the day of atonement in the earthly sanctuary, to begin in the heavenly sanctuary.

34 A. D. 7 wks 49 Yrs

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62 weeks
434 Yrs
1
Ü wk
7 Yrs
1810 YEARS 1844 A. D.

Unto 2300 Days Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Dan. 8:14

In 1844 the great Court from which there is no appeal convened in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary.

This wonderful prophecy of two thousand three hundred years began with the restoration of God's people to their earthly possessions, and the rebuilding of the holy city Jerusalem; but again the Jews proved unfaithful to their trust, and the land of promise with the holy city passed from their control into the hands of the heathen.

The coming of Christ and His death on Calvary, like a great seal, fixes definitely the entire prophecy, and insures the inheritance of the earth to the faithful; and the judgment which opened at the close of that wonderful period of prophetic time will give to the faithful a "court title" to the eternal inheritance and the city of God, the New Jerusalem.

Events definitely lovated by the two thousand three hundred years

  • •  Baptism of Christ. Dan. 9: 25; John 1:41, margin; Luke 3: 21.
  • •  Death of Christ. Dan. 9: 26, 27.
  • •  Anointing the heavenly sanctuary. Dan. 9: 24.
  • •  Gospel going to the Gentiles. Dan. 9: 27; Heb. 2: 3; Acts 8: 4.
  • •  Opening of the investigative judgment. Dan. 8: 14.

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The Sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from brtween his feet until Shiloh come. Gen. 49:10.

Section 7 - The Autumnal Annual Feasts

The Sprinkled Blood

The sprinkled blood is speaking Before the Father's throne, The Spirit's power is seeking To make its virtues known; The sprinkled blood is telling Jehovah's love to man, While heavenly harps are swelling Sweet notes to mercy's plan.

The sprinkled blood is speaking Forgiveness full and free,
Its wondrous power is breaking Each bond of guilt for me; The sprinkled blood's revealing A Father's smiling face, The Saviour's love is scaling Each monument of grace.

The sprinkled blood is pleading Its virtue as my own,
And there my soul is reading Her title to Thy throne.
The sprinkled blood is owning The weak one's feeblest plea; 'Mid sighs and tears, and groaning, It pleads, O Lord, with Thee. -Anon.

Chapter 28 - The Feast of Trumpets

The trumpet was not only used as a musical instrument among the ancient Israelites, but it also filled an important place in their religious and civil ceremonies. It was associated with the entire life of the children of Israel. It was used on their joyful days and on their solemn days; and at the beginning of every month it was

sounded over their burnt-offerings and their peace-offerings. It was to be a reminder to the Israelites of the Lord their God. 4861

In obedience to the command of God, Moses made two silver trumpets to be used in calling their assemblies and in regulating the journeyings of the children of Israel. 487 2 When the priests blew both the trumpets, all the people were to assemble at the

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door of the tabernacle; if one trumpet sounded, only the princes responded. 4883

The call for summoning to the religious assemblies was different from the sound of an alarm, which was blown to gather the army for war. God promised that when they blew the alarm for war, they should "be remembered before the Lord," and should be saved from their enemies. 4894

In the time of Solomon, great skill was shown in the blowing of trumpets, so that the notes from one hundred and twenty trumpets came forth as "one sound." 4905

When God wished to gather the hosts of Israel at the base of Mt. Sinai to listen to the proclamation of His holy law, from the midst of the glory of the Lord that covered the mountain, "the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud" was heard, and the people trembled; and as the "voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder," even Moses, that holy man of God, said, "I exceedingly fear and quake." 4916

God designed that every blast of the trumpet blown by His people, whether for joy or for sorrow, for worship or for war, should be a memorial, or reminder, of the power of God to comfort, sustain, and protect His people; "that they may be to you," He said, "for a memorial before your God: I am the Lord your God." 4927

Every child of God having full faith in the promises, who went forward and blew the trumpets in obedience to God's command, beheld the deliverance of the Lord, whether confronted by obstacles as high as the walls of Jericho, 4938 or by enemies as numerous as the hosts of Midian. 4949

While the sound of the trumpet was often heard by the children

of Israel, yet there was one day in each year especially set aside for

the purpose of blowing the trumpets. Of this day

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the Lord said: "In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you." 49510

Each month of the year ushered in with the sound of the trumpet, 496 11 and eleven sacrifices were offered; but on the first day of the seventh month, in addition to the eleven offerings slain the first of each month, ten other sacrifices were offered. 49712 The day was kept as a ceremonial or annual sabbath, and was one of the seven days of holy convocation connected with the annual feasts. 49813

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This Feast of Trumpets was "a memorial." Some have thought it be a memorial of the creation of the world, as it was celebrated at "the year's end, or revolution of the year," 499 14 and might have been a memorial of the time when "all the sons of God shouted for joy" at the creation of the world. 500 15 Dr. William Smith says: "The Feast of Trumpets . . . came to be regarded as the anniversary of the birthday of the world."

It is quite evident that, like the Passover, the Feast of Trumpets was both commemorative and typical. It came on days before the day of atonement, the type of the great investigative judgment which opened in 1844, at the end of the long, prophetic period of the twenty-three hundred years of Dan. 8:14.

In the type the trumpets were blown throughout Israel, warning all of the near approach of the solemn day of atonement. In the antitype we should expect some world-wide message to be given in trumpet tones, announcing the time near when the great antitypical day of atonement, the investigative judgment would convene in the heavens. 501 16 Beginning with the years 1833-34 and extending down to 1844, such a message was given to the world in trumpet tones, announcing, "The hour of His judgment is come." 50217

William Miller and others, in their study of the declaration in Dam 8: 14, "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed," found that this long prophetic period would end in 1844. They failed to connect this text with the ancient typical sanctuary, but applied the term "sanctuary" to this earth, and taught that in 1844 Christ would come to the earth to cleanse it and judge the people.

William Miller was joined by hundreds of other ministers in

America, who proclaimed his message with great power. Edward

Irving, with many other consecrated men, preached the

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same in England; while Joseph Wolff and others heralded it in Asia and other portions of the world.

During the ten years preceding the tenth day of the seventh month (Jewish time) in 1844, every civilized nation on the earth heard in trumpet tones the announcement of the message of Rev. 14: 6, 7, "The hour of His judgment is come." This message was due at this period of the world's history. Paul in his day preached of a"judgmenttocome,"50318 buttheburdenofthemessagegiven during these years was, "the hour of His judgment is come."

The fact that the men who proclaimed this message misunderstood

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the full import of it, did not prevent their fulfilling the antitype of the ancient type. When the followers of Christ cried before Him, "Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord," 50419 and spread palm branches in the way, believing that Jesus was entering Jerusalem to take the earthly kingdom, they fulfilled the prophecy of Zech. 9: 9. If they had known that in a few days their Lord would hang upon the accursed tree, 50520 they could not have fulfilled the prophecy; for it would have been impossible for them to "rejoice greatly."

In like manner the message due to the world between 1834 and 1844 could never have been given with the power and joyfulness demanded to fulfil the antitype, if those giving it had understood that the Saviour, instead of coming to this earth, was to enter the

most holy apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and begin the work of the investigative judgment.

God hid from their eyes the fact that there were two other messages to be given to the world before the Lord should come to the earth in power and glory; 506 21 that He could not come until they had fulfilled the antitype. Then to comfort them in their disappointment, He allowed them by faith to look within the heavenly sanctuary, 50722 and catch a glimpse of the work of their great High Priest officiating for them.

The prophet Joel evidently connected the closing work of the gospel on earth with the blowing of the trumpets, for he writes as follows:-"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand." 50823

The sound of trumpets was heard many times in the past, from the trumpet of the Lord's host upon Mt. Sinai, when the whole earth shook, 50924 to the blast of the rams' horns before the walls of Jericho.

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The time is coming when the trumpet of the Lord will again be heard by mortals, when its notes will "shake not the earth only, but also heaven." 51025 The clear notes of that trumpet will penetrate the deepest recesses of the earth; and, just as anciently the trumpet summoned all Israel to appear before the Lord, so every child of God sleeping in the earth will answer the trumpet call, and come forth to meet his Lord. In old ocean's caverns the clarion tones will be heard, and the sea, obedient to the call, will give up the dead that are in it. 511 26 The whole earth will resound with the tread of the innumerable company of the redeemed, as the living and the resurrected saints gather to meet their Lord in answer to the summons of the last trumpet call that will be given on this sin cursed earth. 51228 Then all the discordant notes will forever cease, and the redeemed will hear the Saviour say, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

In the ancient typical service, as the people of God met for worship at the beginning of each month and upon the Sabbath, in obedience to the clear notes of the silver trumpets; in like manner we can imagine that when the earth is made new, and "from one new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another" 51329

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the redeemed assemble to worship before the Lord, it will be in response to the notes of the heavenly trumpets, of which those used in the ancient service were a type.

Type

Antitype

Lev. 23:24-27. Trumpets blown, announcing that the day of atonement was drawing near.

Rev. 14:6,7. The first angel's message announced that the real day of atonement, the judgment, was at hand.

Num. 28:11-15. Many sacrifices were made at the Feast of Trumpets.

Heb. 10:32-37. Those who proclaimed the first angel's message sacrificed much; they "took joyfully the spoiling" of their goods.

Num. 10:3-10. The sound of the trumpet assembled Israel to appear before the Lord.

1 Cor. 15:51-53. The trumpet of God will summon the saints to meet the Lord when He appears.

Chapter 29 - The Day of Atonement, or the Work in the Second Apartment

The tenth day of the seventh month was the day of atonement. 5141 It was regarded as more sacred than any other day in the yearly round of service. It was a ceremonial sabbath and a fast day. 5152 The Israelite who did not afflict his soul upon that day was cut off from among the people. 516 3 So sacred is the day regarded, even at the present time, that although the Jews have rejected Christ and few have any regard for the Sabbath, yet when the tenth day of the seventh month comes, no Jew will do any business or work upon that day, however wicked he may be.

There were several sacrifices offered upon the day of atonement.

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Before he entered upon the regular work of the day, the high priest offered a bullock for himself and his house. 5174

The chief service of the day was the offering of the goats. Two goats were brought to the door of the sanctuary, where lots were cast upon them, one for the Lord, the other for the scapegoat, or Azazel. 5185 The high priest killed the Lord's goat, and then, clad in his gorgeous robes, with the breastplate of judgment bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel over his heart, and the sacred onyx stones with the names of the tribes on his shoulders, he passed with the blood of the goat into the most holy place. Just as he entered within the second veil, carrying the golden censer filled with coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and his hand full of incense, he placed the incense upon the coals in the censer, that the cloud of fragrant incense might cover him as he passed in before the visible presence of God, as manifested between the cherubim above the mercy-seat. With his fingers he sprinkled the blood upon the mercy-seat above the broken law of God. Then going out into the first apartment, he touched the horns of the golden altar with the blood. 5196

When he had "made an end of reconciling the holy place, and

the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar," he went out into

the court. In type the high priest now bore in his person all the sins

of the children of Israel which had been confessed and transferred

to the sanctuary. He then laid his hands upon the head of the

scapegoat, and confessed "over him all the iniquities of the children

of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them

upon the head of the goat," and the goat was sent away, "by the

hand of a fit man into the wilderness." The goat bore upon him all

the iniquities unto a land "not inhabited," a "land of separation." 5207

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Going back into the tabernacle of the congregation, the high priest laid aside his gorgeous priestly robes, and put on his other garments; 521 8 then coming again into the court, he cleansed the court from its defilement of sin. The bodies of the animals whose blood had been taken within the sanctuary, were carried out of the

camp and burned. When the sun set on the day of atonement, the sins were all gone into the "land of separation," and nothing but ashes remained as a reminder of them. 5229

Thus was carried on the type of that heavenly work which is to decide the eternal destiny of every soul that has ever lived upon the earth. In type and shadow the confessed sins of Israel had been transferred to the sanctuary during all the year; the cleansing of the sanctuary was the removing of those sins. "It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these [the blood of animals]; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these." 52310

Every sin is marked before the Lord in heaven. 52411 When sins are confessed and forgiven, they are covered.525 12 This was typified by their being transferred to the sanctuary, where no human eyes except those of the priest ever beheld the stains of the blood of the

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sin-offering upon the horns of the golden altar before the veil.
It could not be possible that the books of heaven will always hold the records of sin, or that Christ will always bear the sins of

the world. As the typical work was performed at the close of
the year, so the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary will take place near the end of Christ's priestly work. The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary necessitates an examination of the records- an

investigative judgment.
The earthly sanctuary was cleansed on the tenth day of the

seventh month of each year; the heavenly will be cleansed once for all. This work was begun in 1844 A. D., at the end of the prophetic period of the two thousand three hundred days. 52613 In the typical service the Lord went into the holy of holies on the day of atonement, for He promised that His presence would be there. 52714 The high priest made special preparation for entering upon the service of the day of atonement. 52815

The prophet Daniel was given a view of the antitypical work in the heavenly sanctuary. He describes it thus:

"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." 52916

The Bible was written in an oriental country, and the custom there is to "cast down seats for guests." The Revised Version of the Bible renders it, "I beheld till the thrones were placed." The position of the Father's throne was changed. Daniel beheld the thrones cast down, or placed, their position being changed; then the Ancient of days, the Father, took His seat upon the

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throne. In other words, Daniel beheld the Father's throne changed from the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary to the second. His attention was attracted by the great wheels which looked like burning fire as they moved beneath the glorious throne of the infinite God. 53017 Myriads of the heavenly host were gathered to witness the grand scene. Thousand thousands ministered unto Jehovah as He took His seat upon the throne to judge the world.

No mirror ever portrayed the features of the face as accurately as the books of heaven have portrayed the life record of each individual. All are "judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." 53118

Behold the scene. The Father is seated on the throne of judgment. The angels, who have been "ministering spirits" to those whose cases are to come in review before God, stand ready to obey commands. The books are opened. But there is something lacking yet. Daniel's attention is now attracted to the "clouds of heaven"- myriads of angels-bearing the Saviour in before the Father in triumph. 532 19 Earthly soldiers have often borne in triumph on their shoulders commanders who have led them to grand victories on fields of blood and carnage. Christ, the Archangel, the Commander of the hosts of heaven, has led the angels in many a battle. They fought under Him when the arch-enemy of all

righteousness was cast out of heaven. They beheld their Commander die an ignominious death to redeem the lost race. They have sped quickly at His command to save many a soul from being overcome by Satan. The time has now come when Christ is to receive His kingdom, and claim His subjects; and the angels love to bear their mighty Commander in triumph before the judgment- seat, where, as the books reveal one life record after another, Christ confesses the name of every overcomer

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before the Father and before the innumerable company of angels. 53320

God's throne is a movable structure. As in the type His visible presence was manifested in the outer apartment of the earthly sanctuary, so in heaven the throne of God was in the first apartment when Christ ascended and sat at the right hand of His Father. But Daniel saw not only the Father and Christ change their position, but the position of the thrones also was changed, when the "judgment was set, and the books were opened." Type had met antitype. The High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary entered the most holy place, and as in the type God Promised to meet the high priest in the most holy, so the Father passed into the holy of holies before the High Priest, and was there when the angels bore Christ triumphantly in before Him.

The earthly high priest bore the names of Israel on his person as he entered the most holy place; 534 21 but lest some fainting soul might fear he would be forgotten, our High Priest sends down the words, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." And then as if to make assurance doubly sure, He lifts His hands bearing the print of the cruel nails, and says, " Behold [look], I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands; thy walls are continually before Me." 53522

The earthly high priest presented blood to atone for the sins of the people; our High Priest pleads His own blood. "Father, My blood, My blood, My blood." The earthly high priest carried the censer with the fragrant incense; Christ presents the fragrant

righteousness of His own character, which He imputes to every one

whose sins are all confessed and covered with His blood when their

names come up in review before the great Judge.

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In the earthly sanctuary the high priest paused in the first apartment to touch the horns of the golden altar and cleanse it from all sins that had been transferred to it; 536 23 for while the services of the day of atonement were going forward, if one remembered unconfessed sins, he could still bring his sin-offering and be forgiven. 53724 So while our High Priest officiates before the Father in the investigative judgment, any one who realizes he is a sinner can come confessing his sins and be forgiven through the merits of Christ, the great Sin-bearer.

Our High Priest, when His work is finished in the inner apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, will tarry a moment in the outer apartment, that the sins which have been confessed while He was in the most holy place may be taken, together with the sins of the righteous of all ages, and carried forth without the sanctuary.

While Jesus pleads as our High Priest, there is hope for every repentant sinner; but when He at last comes forth from the sanctuary, mercy's door will be forever closed. There will be no intercessor then. 53825 In the type, when the high priest came out of the sanctuary, he had "made an end of reconciling." When our High Priest comes forth from the sanctuary, He will proclaim, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." 53926 Every

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case is decided for eternity. Probation is forever ended. All who wait until that time, hoping to be saved, will find no one to plead their case before the Father; they will be eternally lost.

In the type, after the high priest had finished the work within the sanctuary on the day of atonement, he came forth bearing the sins of all Israel, and placed them upon the head of the scapegoat. The scapegoat had no part in reconciling the people to God. The work of reconciling was all ended 54027 when the scapegoat was brought

forward to act his part in the service. The only work of the scapegoat is to act as a vehicle to carry the sins of the righteous into the "land of separation."

The term "scapegoat" has become a synonym of an evil one. Azazel, the Hebrew rendering of scapegoat, is a proper name,

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and is understood to represent the devil. When our High Priest has finished His work in the heavenly sanctuary, He will place all the sins of the righteous which He has borne thus far, upon the head of Satan, 541 28 the instigator of sin. Satan will then be left upon the desolate earth, 542 29 a land not inhabited, for one thousand years, at the end of which time he will be burned to ashes in the fires of the last day. 54330

In the type, after the high priest had placed the sins of Israel upon the head of the scapegoat, he left the robes worn while officiating as high priest in the sanctuary, and put on other garments, and began a work in the court. He had the bodies of the animals whose blood had been carried into the sanctuary taken without the camp and burned. At the close of the day, ashes were the only thing to be seen of the sin-offerings.

Our High Priest lays aside His priestly garments, and clad as King of kings He rides forth a mighty Conqueror to "gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire." 54431 Christ comes to set in order the antitypical court-this earth; and when the great antitypical day of atonement ends, nothing will remain that will in any way be a reminder of sin, except the ashes under the feet of the righteous. 54532

The word "atonement" means at-one-ment; and when Christ pronounces the decree which determines the eternal destiny of every soul, He and the subjects of His kingdom are at-one-ment. Sin will never again separate Christ from His people.

But the territory of His kingdom is still cursed by sin, so the at- one-ment of Christ and His kingdom will not be complete in every sense of the term until from the fires of the last day there comes

forth a new earth with every mark of the curse removed. Then not only the subjects of Christ's kingdom, but the entire

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earth, will be at-one-ment with Christ and the Father. 54633 Sin will never again arise to mar the earth; but it will be the home of the redeemed forever.

Type

Antitype

Lev. 16:29,30. On the tenth day of the seventh month the sanctuary was cleansed.

Dan. 8:14. "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."

Lev. 16:15-19. The sanctuary was cleansed, and sins removed by the blood of the Lord's goat, at the end of the year's service.

Acts 3:19, 20. Sins will be blotted from the heavenly records near the end of Christ's work as high priest.

Lev. 16:2. God's presence was in the most holy place on the day of atonement.

Dan. 7:9, 10. The Father enters the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary before the opening of the judgment.

Lev. 16:4-6. The high priest made special preparation to enter the most holy apartment.

Dan. 7:13, 14. Christ is borne into the most holy apartment by the angels of heaven

Ex. 28: 9-21. The high priest bore the names of Israel over his heart and on his shoulders when he entered the most holy place.

Rev. 3:5. Christ knows each name, and confesses the names of the overcomers before the Father and the angels.

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Lev. 16:20. When the high priest came out of the sanctuary, he had "made an end of reconciling."

Rev. 22:11, 12. When Christ comes out from the heavenly sanctuary, He announces the eternal destiny of every soul.

Lev. 16:21. The sins were all laid upon the scapegoat.

Ps. 7:16. Sin will return upon the head of the originator of sin.

Lev. 16:22. The goat shall bear the sins into a land not inhabited, a land of separation

Rev. 20:1-3. Satan will be left on the desolate earth for one thousand years.

Lev. 16:23. The high priest left the robe he wore officiating in the most holy place in the sanctuary, and put on other garments.

Rev. 19:11-16. Christ lays aside His priestly robes, and comes to the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Lev. 16:27. The bodies of the sacrifices were taken without the camp and burned, and nothing but ashes remained as a reminder of sin.

Matt. 13:41-43; Mal. 4: 1-3. Christ will "gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity," and they will be burned in the fires of the last day. Only ashes will remain.

Chapter 30 - Duty of the Congregation on the Day of Atonement

GOD expected His ancient people to serve Him faithfully every day in the year, and He accepted their services; but when the day of atonement came, there were special requirements enjoined upon them during that day, which, if they failed to observe, they were cut off from the people of Israel. God has accepted the service of His people down through the ages; but when the antitypical day of atonement arrived, and the investigative judgment opened in the heavenly sanctuary, God expects the antitypical congregation on earth to fulfil their

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part of the antitype just as faithfully as Christ, our High Priest, fulfills His part in the heavens.

Anciently the congregation was not accepted as a whole; but it was an individual work. 5471 So today each one answers for himself before God. We must not content ourselves by doing just as our fathers did, who passed away before the judgment opened in the courts of heaven. God requires special service of His people now. They are to live while their cases are being decided in heaven, and Satan brings to bear upon the last generation, which are weaker physically than any previous generation, all the wisdom he has gained in a six thousand years' warfare. Those who, in the investigative judgment, are accounted worthy, will live for a time without a Mediator. Their experience will be different from that of any other company that has ever lived upon the earth. There are many reasons why God in His infinite mercy has enjoined special duties upon the last generation, that they might be more strongly fortified against the attacks of the enemy, and not be overthrown by his devices.

In the ancient service, if an individual failed to keep the day of atonement as God directed, his sins were not confessed over the scapegoat by the high priest; but he was cut off from among the people of God. 5482 The individual who, during the antitypical day of atonement, or the investigative judgment, thinks that Christ will plead his case while he himself ignores the work God has enjoined upon the antitypical congregation, will find at last that his name is blotted out from the book of life. We are saved by faith in our High Priest, but faith without works is dead. 5493 If we have a living faith, we shall gladly do as the Lord directs.

Four things were required of each individual member of ancient Israel on the day of atonement- the twenty-four-hour

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period in which the typical work of atonement was performed, and which was "an example and shadow" of the real work.

1. "The day of atonement . . . shall be a holy convocation unto you." 2. "You shall afflict your souls." 3. "Offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord." 4. "Ye shall do no work in that same day." 5504

That day was to be a holy convocation. The people were to assemble for religious worship. Paul speaks thus of individuals who, in the days when the High Priest should soon come forth from the heavenly sanctuary, would forsake the religious assembly: "Having a High Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. . . . Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching." 5515

The one that takes no pleasure in meeting with those of like faith to worship God, has an "evil conscience," and has lost faith in the near coming of our High Priest from the heavenly sanctuary. There is a special blessing in worshiping with others. God promises that where even two or three are gathered in His name, He will meet with them.552 6 This first requirement is a spiritual thermometer by which every Christian can test his spiritual condition. If he absents himself from the worship of God because he takes no pleasure in it, his spirituality is very low.

Each individual was to "afflict" his soul-search his heart, and put away every sin, spend much time in prayer. With this was connected abstinence from food. This was so forcibly impressed upon the minds of ancient Israel that even at the

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present day, the Jews fast upon the tenth day of the seventh month. The individual who realizes that the judgment is going on in the heavenly sanctuary, and that his name will surely be presented before that great tribunal, will search his heart and pray earnestly that God will accept him. We need often to meditate upon the work of our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, lest by having the mind filled with earthly thoughts, we, like the foolish virgins, will find when too late that the bridegroom has come, the door is

shut; that the work is finished, and we have no part in it.
In the typical service the congregation in the court listened for the tinkling of the golden bells on the robes of the high priest, and in that way followed him in his work. Our High Priest has given signs in the heavens, in the earth, and among the nations to mark the progress of His work; and he said that when we see these signs

fulfilled we are to know that He is near, even at the door. 5537
The antitypical day of atonement covers a period of years. In the type there was a fast of twenty-four hours required. During this one day there was to be
complete control of the appetite; and it was

a type of the self-control to be exercised during

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the antitypical period of years. God designs that His people shall be masters of their appetites, and keep under the body. 554 8 Satan would give loose rein to the appetite, and let it control the person.

In spite of the fact that an army, of faithful workers are doing all in their power to withstand the flood of intemperance, Satan is working with such power that drunkenness and crime are increasing in the earth at an alarming rate. Back in 1844, when the investigative judgment opened in heaven, only men and a few women were slaves to tobacco; but now thousands of children are being destroyed by it, and many women are addicted to the filthy

habit. Wineries and breweries are increasing in the land, and intoxicating beverages are served in thousands of homes.

God calls upon His people to be masters of their appetites instead of slaves to it, that they may have clearer minds to comprehend divine truth and follow the work of their High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.

How few are willing to deny themselves the things their appetite craves, even when they know the claims of God! The prophet Isaiah, looking down through the ages, describes the state of things as follows: "In that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: and behold, joy and gladness, slaying oxen , and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine." 555 9 What a vivid picture of the present condition of the world! God calls upon His people to afflict their souls, to control their appetite, to partake of food that will give good blood and a clear mind to discern spiritual truths: but instead of obeying, they engage in "eating flesh and drinking wine." The prophet records the final result of this course: "It was revealed in mine ears by the Lord

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of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die." 55610

The Saviour gave special warning against the evil of giving loose rein to the appetite during the time when the records of human lives are being examined and individuals are being accounted worthy or unworthy of eternal life: "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. . . . Watch ye therefore, and pray that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." 557 11 The warning is against "surfeiting"-overeating, and "drunkenness "-eating injurious food. In other words, the Saviour designs that His people, during the antitypical day of atonement, shall take heed to both the quantity and the quality of their food. One can becloud the mind and ruin the health by overeating of the

best of food. The glutton and the drunkard are classed together: "Be

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not among winebibbers; among riotous caters of flesh; for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty." 55812

Our first parents failed on the test of appetite; 55913 but where they failed, Christ triumphed.560 14 And it is possible for a Christian, with the indwelling Christ in the heart, to be complete master of his appetite,-to abstain from all food that is injurious, however much the natural appetite may crave it, and not to overeat of good food.

As He entered upon His earthly ministry, the Saviour was not only tested upon the point of appetite, but from childhood He was taught to control His desires. In speaking of His childhood, Isaiah says, "Butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good." 561 15 His manner of eating developed in Him spiritual power to discern between good and evil. Many who have gone into drunkards' graves have eaten "butter and honey," but Jesus ate it in a way to develop spiritual strength. He ate it according to the Bible rule. There are three texts which, taken together, contain a rule for eating honey, and the same rule will apply to all food that is good. They read as follows: "My son, eat thouhoney,becauseitisgood."56216 "Hastthoufoundhoney?eatso much as is sufficient for thee." 56318 "It is not good to eat much honey." The one who follows the above instruction, and eats none but good food and only "so much as is sufficient," will enjoy good health and a clear mind. God wishes His people to have good health, with souls free fromcondemnation. Satandelightsinbecloudingthebrainand destroying the health. All who will fulfil the antitype will be masters of their appetites, that they may prepare to meet the Saviour when He comes to the earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.

The third requirement enjoined upon the typical congregation on the day of atonement was to "offer an offering made by

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fire unto the Lord." The offerings made by fire were consumed upon the altar. In the antitype we do not offer burnt-offerings of

bullocks and rams; but God expects us to fulfil the antitype of the offering consumed upon the altar. He desires that the "whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ;" 56420 that the entire life of the Christian be laid upon the altar, ready to be used as the Lord directs. None can do this who do not daily accept Christ as their sin-offering, and know what it is to be "accepted in the Beloved."

The day of atonement was kept as a ceremonial sabbath by the ancient congregation. 565 21 All work was laid aside, and the entire thought was given to seeking God and serving Him. God's work was given the first thought during the entire day. Such was the type; but it does not follow that on the antitypical day of atonement no one should attend to personal business, for God never intended His people to be "slothful in business." 56622 He promises to bless them in temporal things if they fulfil the antitype by looking after His work and service first, and their temporal interests second. 567 23 This was beautifully taught by the Saviour's words: "Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your

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hearts be overcharged with...cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." 56824

Satan is liable to entrap more well-meaning people in this snare than in any other of his many deceptions. He often persuades good people that the daily cares of the household are so important that they have no time to study God's word and pray, until, for lack of spiritual food and communion with God, they become so weak spiritually that they accept the doubts and unbelief the enemy is constantly presenting. When the time comes that they think they do have time to study their Bibles, they find they have lost all relish for God's word.

God is testing the great antitypical congregation. Who will fulfil the antitype, and not forsake the assembly of God's people? Who will keep a clear mind by controlling the appetite, and a pure heart by prayer and deep heart-searching? Who will lay all their interests upon God's altar, to be used for His glory, and never let the "cares of this life" crowd out God's work or a study of His word? Over

such as these our High Priest will say, "He that is righteous, let him be righteous still : and he that is holy, let him be holy Still." 56925

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Type

Antitype

Lev. 23: 27. "It shall be a holy convocation unto you." All were to assemble for worship.

Heb. 10:25. God's people should not forsake assembling together as the end draws near.

Lev. 23:27,29. In the type, all were to afflict the soul, spend the day in "prayer, fasting, . . . and pray and deep searching of heart."

Luke 21: 34-36; Isa. 22:12-14 The admonition is, "Watch, and pray always, and avoid surfeiting and drunkenness."

Lev. 23: 27. "Offer an offering made by fire," an entire consecration.

1 Thess. 5 : 23; Rom. 12: 1. The whole spirit, and soul, and body are to be fully consecrated to God.

Lev. 23: 30. All personal work was to be laid aside on the day of atonement.

Luke 21:34-36; Matt. 6: 32, 33. The cares of this life are not to come in and crowd out God's work.

Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. Ps. 68:19

Chapter 31 - The Nature of the Judgment

THE judgment is spoken of by every Bible writer. It is mentioned over a thousand times in the Sacred Writings. It is more solemn than death; for death separates friends only until the resurrection, but the judgment separates them forever. No one can escape it. To ignore the thought of the judgment and live without preparing for it, will not evade it. Solomon recognized this fact when he wrote, "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment." 5701

The decisions of earthly courts may often be changed by money

and friends, and the guilty may be released; but not so

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the heavenly court. There every one must meet the record of his own life. "Every one . . . shall give account of himself to God." 5712 Earthly parents have been known to sacrifice every thing they possessed to save one child from the condemnation of earthly courts. Think you our heavenly Father would let Satan destroy all his children without an effort to save them? He risked all heaven for their sakes, "God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" 5723 No human being can face his life record in the books of heaven, and escape condemnation, unless belief in Christ and a love for His service is a part of that record.

Christ, the heavenly Advocate, will plead the cases of all who

have given Him their sins. He says, "I, even I, am He that blotteth

out thy transgressions for My own sake, and will 232

not remember thy sins." 573 4 The life record, scarlet with sins and wretchedness, the Saviour covers with the spotless robe of His righteousness; and the judge, looking upon it, sees only the sacrifice of His Son, and the record is, "Accepted in the Beloved." Who can reject such infinite love?

The judgment involves, first, the investigation of every case, the testimony of witnesses, and the plea of the advocate, if there is an advocate. Then comes the decision of the court; after that follows the execution of the sentence rendered by the court. A just sentence can not he rendered in any court until the witnesses have borne their testimony; for that reason a just sentence could not be executed upon an individual at death.

Through their writings, Payne and Voltaire have made more infidels since their death than while living. A just sentence could not be passed upon them until the record of the lives of those who had been lost through their influence, appeared as witnesses in their case. On the other hand, the influence of the righteous is like the waves on the surface of a lake, which continue to widen until they reach the shore. Abel, "being dead, yet speaketh."574 5 Wycliffe, that fearless man of God, could not have been judged at

the close of his life, for thousands have been enlightened by the influence of his life since his voice was hushed in death.

If the Bible record were silent upon this point, it would still be apparent at a glance that the judgment could not be held before the last generation had lived their life; but the Bible is not silent. The date of the opening of this great tribunal was revealed by the Lord thousands of years before it took place. Peter taught the same truth. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing

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shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you." 5756 The sins will be blotted out just before the coming of the Lord.

The investigative judgment is an examination of the life record kept in heaven. Daniel says that when the judgment was set, "the books were opened." 576 7 There are several books mentioned in connection with the records of heaven. The book of remembrance records even the thoughts of the heart 5778 . How just and merciful is our God that He takes cognisance of it when we only think upon His name! Often when pressed by temptation, our souls cry out after the living God, and a faithful record is kept of it all. Many deeds are done in darkness, hidden from even the most intimate associates; but when the books of heaven are opened, God "will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart." 578 10 "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Not only the deeds are recorded, but the motives or counsels of the heart that prompted the deed; and of the bitter tears of repentance shed in secret the Lord says, Are they not all in my book?

Our daily conversation, the words spoken without thought, we may count of little worth, but "every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment: for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." 579 11 Words are the index of the heart, "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." 58012 The

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place of birth and the environment, everything that can in any way

influence the life record, is all recorded in the books of heaven. 58113

The most wonderful book of all the heavenly records that pertain to humanity, is the book of life. This book contains the names of all who have professed the name of Christ. 58214 To have one's name recorded in that book is the highest honour given to mortals. 58315

It is a source of great rejoicing to know that our names are written in heaven, 584 16 but the life must be in harmony with heavenly things if our names are to remain with the righteous. The names of the wicked do not remain in the book of life; 585 17 they are written in the earth; 58619 for all their hopes and affections have clung to earthly things. When the cases of all whose hearts are the dwelling-place of the Most High and whose lives show forth His character, come up in the heavenly court, Jesus Christ the righteous will be their Advocate. He will confess their names before the Father and before the angels. Their sins will be blotted out, and their they will be clothed with the white raiment of Christ's righteousness.

On the day of atonement in the typical service only those sins

which had been confessed and transferred to the sanctuary through

the sin-offering, were carried out and laid upon the

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head of the scapegoat. In the investigative judgment, only the cases of those who have confessed their sins will be investigated. Their names will be in the book of life, and Peter states, "Judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" 58721 The cases of those who have not served God will go by default. There will be no one to present them. They have no advocate in the heavenly court.

Sad indeed will be the state of those who have started on the heavenly way, but after experiencing the joy of sins forgiven and the peace of God in the heart, have returned to the world and its

follies. Their names have been written in the book of life, and their cases will be presented, but only to have the sentence, "Unfaithful," passed upon them, and their names blotted forever from the book of life.

When the Saviour comes in the clouds of heaven, he will give reward to the righteous; but final judgment upon the wicked cannot yet be executed, for all are to be judged "out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." 58822

During the thousand years following the second advent of Christ to the earth, the righteous will join with Christ in judging the wicked. 589 23 Then the justice of God in condemning the wicked will be demonstrated before all. The fact that they had no part in the first, or investigative judgment, that their names were not in the book of life, and no one represented them in the court of heaven, is sufficient to condemn them. The books of heaven, containing a faithful record of their lives, condemn them. The witness of the angels who have kept the record also condemns them; but with all that evidence, God has each name considered by the saints from the earth.

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There will be many among the lost who have been accounted righteous; and if they should be destroyed without an examination of the records by the saints, there might be occasion to question the justice of God; but when the records reveal how some have worked from selfish motives, and others have been guilty of cherished sins covered from the view of their fellow men, the awfulness of sin and the longsuffering of God will be appreciated.

The Saviour said that those who had followed him while here on earth would judge the twelve tribes of Israel. 59024 Then when the records revealing the fact that the chief priests cried, Crucify Him! crucify him! are opened in heaven, John, who followed his Lord through that cruel trial, will be able to say, "I heard them speak the awful words."

As the long list of names is brought in review, the saints can appear as witnesses. When the tyrant Nero's name comes up, and the record states how he tortured the saints of God, witnesses will

be there who can say, "We are the ones who burned to light his garden." Redeemed ones gathered out of every age will sit in judgment on the cases of the wicked, and the punishment will be meted out to each one according to his works.

In the day of judgment, God will call to the heavens above. He will call for the records that have been by angels, records of men's lives, of the words they have spoken, of the deeds they have done; even the most secret acts will then be called upon to bear testimony, for "our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people." There is one class of people who will then be gathered. He says, "Gather My saints together unto me; those that have

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made a covenant with Me by sacrifice." And the heavens shall declare His righteousness, for God is judge Himself. 59125

This day of God's investigative judgement we have now entered, and the executive part of it will take place at the close of probation, after the witnesses have borne their testimony.

When the judgment of the wicked closes, the saints, the angels, and all the universe will be in harmony with the decisions rendered. At the end of the thousand years, when fire from heaven devours the wicked as "stubble fully dry," 592 26 all the universe will say, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Thy judgements." 59327

Three Books of Judgement

1. Book of Life

  • •  Luke 10:20. Name written in heaven.
  • •  Luke 10:19, 20, To be enrolled in the book of life is the highest honour

given mortals.

•  Phil. 4:3. Names of faithful workers recorded.

•  Ex. 32:33. The names of those that cling to sin will be removed.

•  Rev. 3:5. Names of the faithful retained.

•  Rev. 13: 8; 17: 8. Wicked are not recorded.

Rev, 20:15. None will be saved whose names are not recorded in the book of life.

  • •  Isa. 4:3, margin.
  • •  Ps. 69:28; Eze. 13:9.
  • •  Heb. 12:23; Dan. 12:1.

2. Book of Remembrance

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  • •  Mal. 3:16. Records every word.
  • •  Matt. 12:36, 37. Idle words.
  • •  Ps. 56:8 Tears of repentance.
  • •  Ps. 87:4-6. Birthplace and environments.
  • •  Eccl. 12:13, 14. Every secret act.
  • •  1 Cor. 4:5. Counsels of the heart, 3. Book of Death
  • •  Jer. 17:13. Those that forsake God are written in the earth.
  • •  Jer. 2:22. Sins all recorded.
  • •  Job 14:17. Sins sealed up.
  • •  Deut. 32:32-36. The sins of the wicked are all "laid up in store" until the day of judgment.
  • •  Hos. 13:12. Sin bound up.
    Chapter 32 - The Feast of Tabernacles

THE Feast of Tabernacles was the last feast in the yearly round of service, and typified the final consummation of the entire plan of redemption. It began on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when the harvests were all gathered from field, vineyard, and olive groves. As the time approached, from all parts of Palestine, groups of devout Jews might be seen wending their way to Jerusalem. And not only from the Holy Land, but believing Jews from all the surrounding countries went up to Jerusalem to attend the Feast of Tabernacles. The Lord required all the men to attend this feast, but

many of the women and children went also. 5941

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It was a time of great rejoicing. All were expected to bring a thank-offering to the Lord. Burnt-offerings, meat offerings, and drink-offerings were presented at this time. 595 2 The Feast of Tabernacles began five days after the day of atonement, and all Israel were rejoicing in their acceptance with God, and also for the bounties of the harvest which had been gathered.

The feast continued seven days, the first and the eighth days being observed as ceremonial Sabbaths. 5963

This feast was commemorative as well as typical. It commemorated their desert wanderings; and in remembrance of their tent homes, all Israel dwelt in booths during the seven days. In the streets, on the housetops, in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, booths were made of "boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and the boughs of thick trees and willows of the brook." 597 4 It was a period of rejoicing, and all were to share the feast with the Levites, the poor and the stranger. 5985

Every seventh year "the solemnity of the year of release" came during the Feast of Tabernacles, when debtors were released from their obligations, 5996 At this time the entire Levitical law was read in the hearing of all; men, women, and children; and even the strangers within their gates, were required to listen to the reading of the law. 6007

The first new year began in the autumn, for at creation, time began with fruit-trees laden with fruit all ready to furnish food for man. 601 8 The Feast of Tabernacles, or Feast of Ingathering, as it was also called, was held in the "year's end," or the "revolution of the year." 602 9 The civil year of the Jewish calendar always ended in the autumn, but the sacred year began in the springtime; hence the Feast of Tabernacles was held in the seventh month of the sacred year.

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Some very interesting Bible scenes are connected with this feast. Solomon's temple was dedicated at the Feast of Tabernacles. 60310 When Israel returned from the Babylonian captivity, this was the first feast celebrated after the wall of Jerusalem was restored, and as a time of great rejoicing. 60411

At this time the children of Israel not only commemorated their tent life by living in booths, but the temple was especially illuminated in remembrance of the pillar of fire that guided them in their wanderings; and on the last day of the feast a beautiful service, the crowning service of "the last day, that great day of the feast," commemorated the miraculous supply of water in the desert. 60512 The priest dipped a flagon of water from the Kedron, and bearing

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it aloft, meanwhile marching to the sound of music and chanting portions of the one hundred twenty-second psalm, he entered the temple court. By the altar were two silver basins, and as the priest poured the water into one basin, another priest poured a flagon of wine into the other basin; and the wine and water, mingling together, flowed through a pipe back to the Kedron.

Many incidents in Christ's life cluster around the last Feast of Tabernacles which He attended. It was on the day of this service that He stood in the temple court and cried, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." 606 13 It was Christ who led them by the pillar of cloud; He it was who supplied the water from the rock. "They drank of that spiritual Rock that went with them: and that Rock was Christ." 607 14 He, the great Life giver, was in their midst; yet even while celebrating His power to quench their thirst, they were ready to kill Him.

While this feast commemorated the journeying of Israel in the wilderness, it also commemorated their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. It would be well if every one who, has been delivered from the darkness of sin would occasionally celebrate his deliverance by recognizing the leadings of the Lord in the journey of his life, and thank Him for the many blessings received.

The Feast of Tabernacles followed the day of atonement, which meets its antitype in the judgment; hence must typify an event which comes after the close of the judgment. When Christ leaves the heavenly sanctuary, it will be but a short time until He comes to the earth to gather His people. Then He will take them to heaven,

where they will behold the glory He had with the Father before the world was. 60815

For one thousand years the saints will reign with Christ in

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heaven 609 16 before they return to their eternal home, this earth, freed from every curse. The New Jerusalem with its gates of pearl and streets of gold, will be the metropolis of the glorious abode of the redeemed. The beauties of the new earth are such that the redeemed in heaven, surrounded by the glories of the throne of the Eternal, will look forward with joyful anticipation to the time when they shall "reign on the earth." 61017

As we journey through this wilderness of sin and sorrow, it is our blessed privilege by faith to watch the movement, of our High Priest, and be ready to greet with joy His appearance when He comes to take His faithful ones to sojourn with Him for a time in the heavenly courts, before they share in the eternal bliss of the earth made new. Every feast, as well as every offering and service, in the Levitical ceremonies, pointed to the beautiful home of the redeemed. Each one is a guideboard on the great pathway of life, pointing toward the heavenly home.

The Jews failed to read these guideboards aright, and today are wandering over the earth without the light from the blessed Messiah and the cross of Calvary shining upon their pathway. Let us take warning by their failure, and not make the same fatal mistake by failing to discern the light still reflected from types and symbols, for they are all illuminated by the light of the cross. Each one reveals some special trait in the wonderful character of our Redeemer.

The entire system of Judaism was the gospel. True, it was veiled in types and symbols, but the light from Calvary illuminates the entire Jewish economy; and the one who will study it in the light of the cross, will gain such an intimate acquaintance with Him who is the Antitype of every service, that by beholding they will become

changed into His image, from glory to glory. 61118

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The typical service shines the brightest when placed by the side of the Antitype. A study of any part of the Levitical system points to some characteristic in the life of Christ; while a study of the entire system of Judaism more nearly reveals the fullness of His character than any other portions of the Scriptures. The entire Bible is full of it. Every Bible writer refers to the Levitical service to illustrate divine truth; and the person who is familiar with the entire sanctuary service, not only, receives a blessing from the study, but also understands more fully other portions of the Sacred Book, for the different feasts and sacrifices are referred to frequently all through the Bible.

TYPE

ANTITYPE

Lev. 23: 27, 34. The Feast of Tabernacles came only a few days after the day of atonement.

Rev. 22: 11,12. Quickly after the decree that closes the judgment Christ comes for his people.

Lev. 23: 40-42. The people dwelt in booths, they lived in camp life.

Rev. 20: 9. The dwelling place of the redeemed before the earth is made new is called the "camp of the saints."

Lev. 23: 42. All that were born Israelites could participate in the Feast of Tabernacles.

John 3: 5. It is the "new birth" that entitles a person to share in the "camp of the saints."

Section 8 - Levitical Laws and Ceremonies The Year of Jubilee

Oh, glory to God! it is coming again,
'Tis the glad jubilee of the children of men; Then blow ye the trumpet, shout glory, and sing, And join in the praises of Jesus, the King.

'Tis the glad antitype of that day long ago, When the hosts of the Lord might not gather or sow; When the minions of Israel from labour were free, And the land was to rest in the glad jubilee.

Yes, gladder by far is that rest by and by,

When on wings like the eagle we mount to the sky; We shall dwell evermore in that land of the blest, In that grand jubilee, in that Sabbath of rest. -Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle.

Chapter 33 - The Jubilee

THE jubilee the climax of a series of sabbatical institutions. The weekly Sabbath was the first religious institution given to man. 6121 The seventh day of the week was hallowed, and set apart to be kept as the rest day of Jehovah. 6132

After the children of Israel entered the promised land, God commanded that every seventh year should be "a Sabbath of rest unto the land, a Sabbath for the Lord." The people were not allowed to sow their fields nor prune their vineyards during the seventh year; neither could they gather into their storehouses that which grew of its own accord. The owner of the land could take all he wished for immediate use; but his servants and the strangers

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and even the beasts, had equal rights with the owner in enjoying the fruits of his fields during the sabbatical year. 6143

The seventh month of the sacred 6154 year, the month Tisri, was

called by some writers the sabbatical month, as more of the annual

Sabbaths and feasts came in that month than in any other one

month in the year. The first day of this month was the Feast of

Blowing of Trumpets; the Day of Atonement came on the tenth

day, and the Feast of Tabernacles began on the fifteenth day; and

in every fiftieth year, the tenth day of Tisri ushered in the jubilee. 6165

The keeping of the weekly Sabbath was a token that the people belonged to God; and in allowing their land to rest during the seventh year Sabbath, they acknowledged that not only they themselves, but their land, their time, and all they possessed, belonged to God. 6176

The Lord took special delight in the seventh year Sabbath, and the disregard of His command to keep it was offensive in His sight. The children of Israel were carried into Babylonian captivity

because they had not allowed "the land to enjoy her Sabbaths." 6187 In their love of greed and gain, they had worked the land every year, and God took them away and let the land lie desolate, that it might keep the Sabbath during the seventy years.

If God's command had always been obeyed and the land had had its rest every, seventh year, the earth would not have waxed "old like a garment," 6198 but would have remained productive.

God's commands will all be honoured, and as the land lay desolate seventy years, keeping the Sabbath during the Babylonian captivity, to atone for the disobedience of ancient Israel; so, after the second coming of Christ, the land will lie desolate one thousand

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years, keeping Sabbath to atone for the many Sabbaths that have been disregarded since that time. 6209

The weekly Sabbath was a stepping-stone leading up to the other sabbatic institutions; and besides being a memorial of creation, it pointed forward to the final rest of the Jubilee. When the people of God for the sake of worldly interests, disregarded it, they placed themselves where they could not appreciate God's original design in giving them the Sabbath of rest. 62110

The jubilee was the fiftieth year following seven weeks of years, and would occur once at least in the lifetime of every individual who lived out his natural life. 62211

The Day of Atonement was the most solemn of all the feasts,

and the Jubilee the most joyful. At the close of the Day of

Atonement, when the sins of Israel had all been forgiven and

borne by the scapegoat into the wilderness, then the people who

realized what God had done for them, were prepared to forgive

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the debts of their fellow men, to release them from servitude, and to restore all to their own land as willingly as they expected God to give them their eternal inheritance in the antitypical jubilee.

At the close of the Day of Atonement, on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the sabbatical year which closed the last of the

seven weeks of years (49 years), the trumpets were blown throughout all the land, announcing the jubilee.

Jewish tradition states that every Israelite was supplied with a trumpet of some kind at this time, and when the hour arrived which closed the Day of Atonement, every one blew nine blasts with his trumpet. God had said, the trumpets were to sound throughout all the land. 62312

How like the final trumpet of the Lord 62413 was the blast of the jubilee trumpets in ancient Israel! The toiling slave arose and threw off his shackles. To the avaricious and covetous man, who had oppressed the hireling and the widow to gain his possessions, it came as a death knell to all his hopes. 625 14 Every person in bondage was freed, and all returned to their own land. 62615

There is no account of any religious services, or offerings, being required during the jubilee, different from the ordinary services of other years. It was a time when all, rich and poor, high and low, shared alike of that which grew of itself in the fields and vineyards.

The jubilee followed the seventh-year Sabbath, thus bringing two Sabbath years in succession. But God made ample provision for His people by commanding His blessing upon the forty-eighth year, when the earth yielded enough to keep the people for three years. 62716

There is no mention in the Bible of the Jubilee's ever being observed, and for this reason some writers think it may not have

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been kept; but all the other Mosaic festivals were observed, and it would be strange if one that is so organically connected with the other feasts, and is really the climax of all other festivals, should have been omitted.

The jubilee must have been observed, for the law of the inalienability of landed property, which was based upon the jubilee, existed among the Jews. 62817 Josephus speaks of it as being permanently observed.

Instances are recorded where the work of the Jubilee year was performed by the Israelites. Nehemiah, in his great reformatory

work, required the Jews to give freedom to their servants and to restore the lands and vineyards to the original owners. 62918

On the eve of the Babylonian captivity, Zedekiah proclaimed liberty to every one. He evidently designed to celebrate the Jubilee. If he had done so, it would have given him liberty, but he was too vacillating to carry out the requirements. The Lord sent a message, saying that he had done right in proclaiming liberty, "every man to his neighbour," but that in failing to grant it, he had polluted the name of the Lord. 63019

All the commercial interests of the ancient Israelite taught the gospel. While he was allowed to dwell in the promised land and enjoy its privileges, yet he was only the steward, not the owner. The divine decree was: "The land shall not be sold forever: for the land is Mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners With Me." 631 20 Notwithstanding the fact that the Lord owns the world, yet He counts Himself a stranger and sojourner with His people upon the earth, until the antitypical jubilee, when Satan, the present prince of this world, will meet his doom.

If a man became involved and was obliged to sell his home, it was sold with the understanding that it should return to its

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original owner when the Jubilee trumpets were blown in the land. If the unfortunate man had one near of kin able to redeem his land, the purchaser could not hold it, even until the jubilee. 63221

A poor widow has misfortune after misfortune, until her wealthy neighbour, who has long, coveted her land, has gained possession, and she in sorrow is obliged to leave the home of her childhood and labour for a mere pittance, that fails to supply the needs of her household. The wealthy neighbour continues to advance money, until finally she herself is sold to him as a servant. Her case seems hopeless.

But in a far country she has an elder brother. He hears of her misfortune and comes to the rescue. Her brother reckons with the man who has purchased the woman, and pays the redemption money, and she is free. Then the brother begins to reckon what is due on the land; but the man objects, for the same spirit rules him

that disputed with Michael, the archangel, when He came from a far country to redeem the body of Moses from the prison-house of the grave, 63322 and he says, "No! I will not release the land. It joins my farm, I will not part with it. What right have you to interfere?" Then the brother produces evidence of his kinship, that he is "one that hath right to redeem." 634 23 He offers the redemption money, and the home is redeemed to the rightful owner. A stranger might have wished to help the poor widow, but his money could never have released her; the price must be paid by "one that hath right to redeem" one near of kin.

How forcefully, was the power of Christ thus taught in the every-day commercial life of the Israelite!

An angel could not redeem mankind, nor the world. His life would have been powerless, for he was not "nigh of kin"

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unto humanity. 635 24 Christ left the heavenly courts, partook of flesh and blood, "that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took the seed of Abraham." 63625 He became the "First born among many brethren," 637 27 the one nigh of kin, that He might have right to redeem every son and daughter of Adam; and down through the ages, comes the cheering assurance that "He is not ashamed to call them brethren."

"Thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye

shall be redeemed without money," 638 28 even "with the precious

blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." 63929

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Have you yielded to temptation until you are bound in abject slavery to Satan? Remember, you have an Elder Brother who is able and willing to redeem you from the slavery of sin, and make you a free man in Christ Jesus. In order to be free, you must acknowledge Him as "one nigh of kin" to you. If the poor widow

had disowned her brother when he came to redeem her from servitude, he would have been powerless to help her.

Satan may bind the soul until he thinks it is his forever; but when the soul cries out for help, and claims Christ as the "one near of kin," "one who has power to redeem," and Christ presents the redemption price, "His precious blood," Satan is powerless to hold the soul.

The study of the Levitical laws in regard to land and servants gives new beauty to the name Redeemer. Job knew the power of the "one who had right to redeem." Hear him in confidence saying, "I know that my Redeemer liveth." His faith grasped a power that not only redeemed from sin, "but will bring forth the patriarch's body even after the worms have consumed it." 64030

While at any time one could be given freedom and reinstated in his former home by "one nigh of kin" who had right to redeem, yet the jubilee was looked forward to as the great day of release for all Israel. It was then that every wrong was righted and every Israelite reinstated in his own possession. 64131

If one sold a dwelling-house in a walled city, during the first year after the sale it might be redeemed; but if not redeemed the first year, it remained in the hand of the purchaser. It did not revert to its original owner in the jubilee, for houses were the work of man, and had no part in the jubilee, which released only the land and persons. 64232

The cities of the Levites were under different regulations;

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they were the only walled cities that had a part in the Jubilee. If a man purchased a house of a Levite, the house that was sold "and the city of his possession" went out free in the year of jubilee. 64333678

The priests were a type of Christ. Our great antitypical Priest has prepared a walled city for His people,644 34 and in the antitypical jubilee, they will receive the city. The regulations in regard to the cities of the Levites were a constant reminder of the New Jerusalem to be given to God's people in the great final jubilee.

God designed that His people should remember Him in all their business transactions, in every detail of life. The value of property depended upon the length of time intervening between the date of purchase and the jubilee. 64535

In the type, the jubilee was ushered in at the close of the Day of Atonement. In like manner we understand that the antitypical jubilee will follow the antitypical Day of Atonement.

"The Lord shall cause His glorious voice to be heard." 646 36 Then the pious slave will rise and shake off the chains that bind him. The trumpet of the Lord's jubilee will resound through the length and breadth of the land. Saints sleeping in Satan's prison house the grave will hear the glad sound, and he "that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners" "did not let his prisoners loose homeward," 647 37 will be powerless to hold his prey; for our Redeemer has said, "The prey of the terrible shall be delivered,"-yea, delivered forever from the power of sin and Satan. 64838

God's original plan was, that man should possess the earth. "The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath He given to the children of men." 64939

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Adam was given dominion over the earth and everything upon it. 65040 But God's plans were thwarted, and Satan became prince of this world. In the antitypical jubilee the redeemed of the Lord will be re-instated in the original home of man. The earth restored to its primeval beauty will be given to the children of men for their eternal home. 651 41 The seventh day weekly Sabbaths, which the Lord sanctified and gave to mankind before the curse of sin rested upon the earth, will then be kept according to God's original design; and throughout eternity, "from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship" before the Lord. 65242

"The Lord shall comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody." 65343

Type

Anti-type

Lev. 25: 10. The jubilee gave liberty to every one.

1 Thess. 4: 16, 17. The living and the dead will all be given freedom.

Lev. 25:9. The blast of the trumpet announced the jubilee.

1 Cor. 15:51-53. The blast of the trumpet of the Lord, gives freedom to all.

Lev 25:9. The jubilee began on the Day of Atonement, the type of the judgment.

Rev. 22: 11, 12. Immediately after the decree is issued which closes the judgment, Christ comes.

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Lev. 25:13. In the year of the jubilee every man returned to his own possessions.

Isa. 35:1-10. The ransomed of the Lord will enjoy the redeemed earth forever.

Lev 25:23. The Lord always owned the land. Man was only a steward.

PS. 24:1; 1 Cor. 10:26, 28. The Lord owns all the earth. He has never relinquished His title to the land.

Lev. 25:48, 49; Ruth 2:20, margin. Only one nigh of kin had the right to redeem.

Heb. 2: 14- 16. Jesus was born of the seed of Abraham, that He might be nigh of kin.

Lev. 25:47-51. The persons of those sold in bondage were redeemed and set free.

Rom. 8: 23; Hosea 13: 14. He that is nigh of kin, says, "I will ransom them from the power of the grave."

Lev. 25: 25-28 The land could be redeemed by one nigh of kin.

Eph. 1:14. Christ has purchased the possession of His people.

Lev. 25:29, 30. Dwelling houses in walled cities did not revert to the original owners in the jubilee.

Rev 16:19; Jer. 4:26. All earthly cities will be destroyed at Christ's second coming.

Lev, 25:32, 33. Dwe11ing houses in the cities of the Levites could be redeemed. They all reverted to the original owners in the jubilee. The priests were a type of Christ

Heb. 11:10,16; Rev. 21:1-27. Christ, the antitypical priest, has a city, which will be given to his people in the anti-typical jubilee.

Gen. 2:2, 3. The weekly Sabbath was a stepping-stone toward the jubilee.

Isa. 66: 22, 23. The Sabbath will be observed on the new earth forever.

Chapter 34 - Cities of Refuge

In the early history of the world, provision was made for the punishment of the murderer. "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed," was the decree of Jehovah. 6541

The one nearest of kin to the murdered man, usually executed the murderer; but lest in the excitement of the occasion undue haste should be exercised and individuals be slain who did not deserve death, God made provision that the murderer might flee and lay hold upon his altar. None could be taken from the altar without an examination, and if it was found that the murderer had presumptuously planned to kill the man, then he was taken from the altar and slain; otherwise his life was spared. 6552

After the children of Israel entered the promised land, six

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cities were set apart as cities of refuge. These were conveniently located, three on each side of the river Jordan. 656 3 The roads leading to these cities were always to be kept in good repair, that the one fleeing before the avenger of blood might not be hindered in his flight. 6574 The cities were on elevated ground, and could be seen at a distance.

When the murderer reached the gate of the city of refuge, he declared "his cause in the ears of the elders of that city," before he was given a place within. 658 5 His case was also tried by the judges of the city near where the murder was committed, and if it was not a premeditated murder, but the deed had been done accidentally or unintentionally, then the guilty man was restored again to the city of refuge whither he had fled. 6596

The Saviour refers to this judgment in Matt. 5:21. If at any time the slayer passed outside of the limit of his city of refuge, his life could be taken by the avenger of blood, "because he should have remained in the city of his refuge." 6607 The decree was, "He shall dwell in that city until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled." 661 8 Cities of refuge in Israel were far different from the asyla of the Greeks and Romans, which often served as a protection for the most profligate characters. The cities of refuge served as a protection for only those who had slain a person without enmity. The cities of refuge were cities belonging to the Levites, thus those confined within were under the best influence. They were associated with the religious teachers of

Israel, and had every opportunity to reform their lives and establish righteous characters.

The instruction in regard to the cities of refuge was but a part of the great system of Levitical laws and ceremonies which

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taught the simple truths of the gospel of Christ. Tyndale says that "while there is a 'starlight of Christ' in all the Levitical ceremonies, there is in some so truly the 'light of the broad day,' that he can not but believe that God had showed Moses the secrets of Christ and the very manner of His death beforehand." Dr. Adam Clarke says the whole gospel could be preached from the particulars given of the cities of refuge,

Every time an Israelite looked upon one of the cities of refuge, God designed he should be reminded of Christ, the "tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion," 6629 to whom every sin-burdened soul could flee for shelter.

Satan, the accuser, is upon the track of every one; he as "a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 663 10 But the person who forsakes sin and seeks righteousness stands securely sheltered by the atoning blood of Christ. 66411

Solomon, who was beset by temptations and sin, understood this when he wrote, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it and is safe." 66512 David knew what it was to dwell in the antitypical city of refuge when he said: "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in him will I trust." 66613

There could be no delay in seeking a city of refuge. As soon as the murder was committed, the murderer must flee at once; no family ties could hold him; his life depended upon his speedy flight to the city. O that all might learn the lesson, and instead of delaying and trying to quiet our accusing conscience, when we know we have sinned, flee at once to Christ, confess our sins, and dwell in the refuge Christ has prepared. He has made ample provision that all may "have a strong consolation, who have fled for

refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us." 66714

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Anciently the one who had fled to the city found life within its walls , but death awaited him if he passed beyond its boundary. The beloved disciple was familiar with this truth when he wrote, "This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in Jesus His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life," 66815 it is not Sufficient simply to believe in Christ. we must abide in Him if we ever hope to obtain life. God has promised to "hold thy right hand." The one who abides within the refuge will feel and know his sheltering care and when assailed by the enemy, may hear the Saviour saying, "Fear not, I will help thee." 66916

In ancient Israel the one who had fled for refuge could not spend part of his time outside the City and the remainder within its sheltering walls. There was no safety at any time outside the city. Likewise our only safety is to dwell "in the secret place of the Most High," and "abide under the shadow of tile Almighty" 670 17 No man can serve two Masters. 67118 We can not give the world and its pleasures the best of our time and thought, and hope to be sheltered from the final consequences of sin. We will receive our "wages", or final reward, from the master we serve. If the best of our life is spent in the service of the world,

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we place ourselves outside the antitypical city of refuge, and will finally receive the death, which will be given every one who takes the world as his master. 67219

When the high priest died, those who had fled to the cities of refuge during His term of office return to their homes. They were free forever from the avenger of blood, and he could no longer harm them lawfully. 67320

Every high priest was a type of Christ, our High Priest. The earthly priest ceased to be high priest when he died. Our High Priest never dies; but the time will come when he will lay aside His priestly robes, and clothe Himself in a vesture upon which will be written the name, "King of Kings, and Lord of lords." 67421

No longer will He plead the cause of His people before the throne of God, for each case will have been decided for eternity. To

those who have confessed every sin and remained cleansed by the blood of Christ, He will say, "Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." They will then go to their own inheritance with no fear of the avenger of blood, for the righteous will be forever beyond the power of Satan. 67522

Satan has usurped authority over this world. He haunts the steps of every son and daughter of Adam. But God always has

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had a refuge in the earth. Abel dwelt securely within its sacred precincts, 676 23 and Job realized its sheltering power when Satan assailed him with his fiercest temptations. 67724

The weakest child of God, who lives continually within this refuge, can never be overthrown by the enemy of souls; for the angels of God encamp around such a one to deliver him. 67825

This refuge is illustrated by many symbols throughout the Bible, each one revealing some special feature of God's protecting care. Jesus, as He wept over those who had refused His love said: "How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!" 67926

Happy is the soul who can say in every, time of temptation,

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"Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." 68027

Type

Antitype

Joshua 20:2, 3; Deut. 19:4, 5. The cities were to be a shelter for all who slew any one unaware or unwittingly.

Rev. 22: 16, 17; John 7:37; 1 John 1:7. Christ is the only refuge in this world from sin and destruction.

Deut. 19:2-4. The roads were to be kept open, in good condition, that none be hindered in fleeing to the city.

1 Cor. 11: 1; Mal. 2: 8. God designs that his people should be examples for the world to copy; but when they sin, they become stumbling

blocks in the way of others.

Joshua 20: 3, 4. The one who fled for refuge confessed his sin at the gate of the city, and if he had not premeditated the murder, he was received.

1 John 1: 9. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Deut 19: 11-13. If the murderer hated the one he had slain and planned the murder, then he was not received into the city, but was given over to the avenger of blood.

Matt 7: 21-23; Heb. 10: 26-29; 12: 16, 17
Some may through fear of punishment come with only lip service, while in their hearts they are cherishing sin; such will not be accepted.

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Num. 35: 24, 25. Being received into the city did not forever settle the fate of the murderer.
He must stand in judgment before the congregation, and there his destiny was decided.

Acts 17: 31; Rev. 3: 5. Every one will be judged before the judgment bar of God for the deeds done in the body.

Num. 35:26, 27. Within the city was life, outside the city was death

1 John 5:11, 12. "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

Joshua 20:6; Num. 35:28. After "the death of the high priest that shall be in those days," the slayer may return to "the land of his possession."

Matt. 25:34. When Christ lays aside His priestly robes and reigns as king, tehn all, who abide in Him, will receive their ingeritance in the earth made new.

Chapter 35 - The Rock

ROCK has always been used as a synonym for strength and

solidity. The parable of the house built upon a rock, is an example. 6811

The word "rock" is used many times in the Bible to illustrate the protecting care of God for His people. The psalmist says, "The Lord is my rock." 6822 "Thou art my rock and my fortress" 6833

"Selah," which occurs over seventy times in the Psalms, and is defined by most commentators, "a pause or musical note," is also defined in the marginal reference to be "the rock." 6844

It is quite appropriate that in singing of the mighty power

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of God in leading His people, the psalmist should pause at times and meditate upon Selah,-'the Rock:' the "spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." 6855

Victories would often take the place of defeat in our daily lives if in our songs we inserted the same pauses used by the sweet singer of Israel. If in the rush of our daily lives we paused to meditate upon "the Rock", we could say with David, "In the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me upon a rock" 6866

The forty years' wandering of the children of Israel was in Arabia Petra, or Rocky Arabia, as it was sometimes called. Rocks confronted them at every turn in their journey; but from these rocks God caused water to flow to quench their thirst. Even so in our , daily journeys, the rocks of difficulties that seem impenetrable to us, will, if we hide in Christ, prove but stepping stones to greater victories.

God said, "I will stand before thee there upon the rock, in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses, did so in the sight of the elders." 6877

The thirsty multitude saw the pure, refreshing water gush out from the flinty rock. They drank, and were refreshed for their journey. "They thirsted not when He led them through the deserts: He caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them." 6888

It was not a meager supply of water, for it "ran in the dry, places

like a river." 689 9 During all their journey, they were miraculously

supplied with water. The stream did not continue to flow from the

first place where the rock was; smitten, but wherever they needed

water, from the rocks beside their encampment the water gushed

out. Well might the psalmist bid the earth tremble

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before the God who could turn "the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters." 69010

When the Israelites came in sight of the promised land, the water ceased to flow. God told them they were to draw water from the wells as they passed through Edom. 691 11 Strange as it may seem, after drinking of the miraculous

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streams in the desert for so many years, they now began to murmur and complain, because the water no longer gushed out o f the rocks by their encampment.

Then it was that, on the very border of Canaan, Moses, the servant of the Lord, committed the sin which prevented him from entering the goodly land. The rock had once been smitten, and the Lord told Moses to gather the assembly of people, and to speak unto the rock before their eyes, and it would give forth water. Moses, who had borne patiently with their murmurings so long, now became impatient, and said, "Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" 692 12 He then smote the rock twice, and water gushed forth.

God is no respecter of persons, and although He had highly honoured Moses, yet He punished him for his sin. When Moses smote the rock the second time, he ignored the great event of which the smitten rock was a type. Christ died once for the sins of the world, 69313 and all who speak to Him, confessing their sins and claiming pardon, will receive the healing waters of salvation. Thus not only did Moses disobey God, but he marred the beautiful symbol which had been placed before the Israelites during all their desert wanderings.

The Bible writers often refer to the experience, connected with the smitten rock, to teach God's tender care for His people. Isaiah says, "A man shall be as a hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary, land." 69414

Paul tells ns that this Man who was is "a hiding-place" "a covert," and as "rivers of water," was Christ, the Rock. 69515 He is the "shadow of a great rock in a weary land." What He was to the Israelites, He will be to every one who puts his trust in Him, He says today, "If any man thirst, let him come unto

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Me, and drink." 69616 The one who heeds the call will "drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall He lift up the head." 69717

The refreshing water flows by every encampment. All can freely drink of the life giving stream, flowing from the Rock smitten once upon Calvary's cross. "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely" 698 18 Do you long to drink? Remember the Rock has been smitten for you. Do not make the mistake of Moses, and think you must smite it again. "Speak ye unto the Rock, . . . and it shall give forth His water." 699 19 Tell Him you are weary of sin, that you long to accept his righteousness. Give Him your sins, and He will clothe you with His Righteousness. 70020

The Amazon river pours into the Atlantic Ocean such an immense volume of water that for miles out at sea the water remains fresh. It is said that a ship sailing in the ocean near the mouth of the Amazon, had exhausted its supply of fresh water, and signalled to another vessel at a distance, looking for fresh water. The answer was signalled back, "Dip and drink." The captain thought they could not have understood, and signalled again. The same reply came back across the water. In indignation he said, "They say, 'Dip, and drink'. Throw the bucket over and try the water" To their surprise the bucket brought up fresh water and their thirst was quenched.

Often we think we are in he enemy's land, and the Lord is afar

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off; but the stream of the river of life flows by every door. We have only to "dip and drink," if we wish to be led into the sunlight of God's presence and feel His sheltering care. .

Like David we need often to cry, "Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. For Thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah," 70121

While the foundation of the Christian church is the teaching of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ is the chief corner-stone. 70222 Christ is "a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious." 70323

Every soul on earth will sometime come in touch with this Stone. He will either fall on it and be broken, that he may be a new

creature in Christ Jesus; or he will reject the Stone, and at last it will full upon him and destroy him. 70424

Blessed is the one that makes Christ the chief corner-stone in all his daily work. Jesus today asks us, as He did Peter of old,

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"Whom say ye that I am?" Our lives give the answer. Peter's answer was, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." This answer was given him from the Father.

Christ responded, "Thou art Peter." In these words He acknowledged Peter as His disciple, for He had given him the name of Peter when he called him to follow Him. 70525

The word "Peter" meant a stone, or a fragment of rock. Christ's manner of teaching was to use earthly things to illustrate heavenly lessons; and He took the name Peter, meaning, a fragment of rock, to direct the mind to the solidity of the confession and the stability of the cause which was founded upon "the Rock," Christ Jesus, of which Peter, when he accepted Christ as His Master, became a portion, or fragment. Every true follower of Christ becomes one of the "living stones" in the great spiritual building of God. 70626

Christ did not say, On thee, Peter, will I build My church, but immediately changes the expression and says, "Upon this Rock I will build My church." 70727

Centuries before, Isaiah had written, "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation." 708 28 Peter and every other son of Adam has failed when tested. Christ is the only one ever born of woman that has withstood every temptation, and is a "tried stone," fit to be the chief corner-stone in the great church of God.

Christ has not placed any mortal man as the foundation of His church. Sad would have been the condition of the church if it had been built upon Peter; for only a short time after he made the above confession, his heart was so full of evil and wrong conclusions that, as the record states, Christ said to him, "Get thee behind Me, Satan: thou art an offense unto Me: for thou savorest

not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." 70929

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When the Saviour comes in the clouds of heaven, those who have rejected the Rock, Christ Jesus, will call for the mountains and rocks of earth to hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. 71030 Our enemies then will witness to the fact that "their rock is not as our Rock." 711 31 "Ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, Hiswork is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He." 71232

Type

Anti-type

"They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."1 Cor. 10:4.

Ex. 17:6. The rock was smitten to save the people from thirst.

Heb. 9:28. "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many."

Ps 78: 15, 16. "He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers."

John 7:38. Christ said, "He that believeth on Me . . . out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

Num. 20: 8. "Speak ye unto the rock. . . . and it shall give forth his water."

Luke 11:9, 10. "Ask, and it shall be given you. . . . for every one that asketh receiveth."

Chapter 36 - Various Levitical Laws and Ceremonies

THE Christian can have no life apart from Christ. 713 1 Every detail of his life is directed by the great Master. This was made very clear by the old Levitical rites and ceremonies.

The details of the every day life of the ancient Israelite were under the direction of God. His food, his dress, his planting and building, his buying and selling, were all regulated by the laws of Moses. To the careless reader these requirements may seem but a collection of meaningless forms and ceremonies; but to the student of Scripture, who is watching for the steps of his Master, each Levitical law is a reflector, giving him precious rays of light from the Sun of Righteousness.

We read: "Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of

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woolen and linen together." 714 2 The question is often asked, Why was this requirement given? One of the first things God did for

Adam and Eve after they had sinned, was to make clothes for them. 7153

Garments are a type of Christ's righteousness, with which He clothes every one whose sins are forgiven. 716 4 Before man sinned, he was clothed with a garment of light and glory, and God designs that our garments should remind us of the heavenly dress with which He will finally clothe the redeemed. 7175

God says, "I am the first, and I am the last; and beside Me there is no God." "My glory will I not give to another, neither My praise to graven images." 7186

Part of our life cannot be clothed with the "filthy rags" of our own righteousness, 719 7 and the remainder with the pure, spotless robe of Christ's righteousness. We cannot serve God in our home and church life, and serve mammon in our daily business life. The one who continues doing it will never enter. The kingdom of heaven. "We can not serve God and mammon."

The Saviour taught the lesson that we can not patch our own filthy robes of self-righteousness with the righteousness of Christ. "No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was

taken out of the new agree not with the old." 7208755
The Israelite who conscientiously refused to mingle woolen and

linen in his daily garments, and saw in it the lesson God designed to teach, would also refrain from sin. His entire dress, made of but one kind of cloth, would constantly remind him of the perfect robe of Christ's righteousness, given to the faithful.

As the Israelite started out each morning to assume his daily

tasks, another command constrained him: "Thou shalt not plow

with an ox and an ass together." 7219 The ox was a clean animal;

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the ass, or donkey, was unclean. 722 10 While each was useful, yet they were not to be yoked up together.

The Saviour prayed, not that we should be taken out of the world, but that we might be kept from the evil in the world. 723 11758 While we may use the world as the Israelites used the unclean ass,

yet we are not to yoke ourselves up with any of the evil of the world.

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" 72412

This command includes the marriage relation and every business connection. Ungodly business men often use methods in conducting their business that a Christian could not use without compromising his Christian integrity.

The Christian is to bear Christ's yoke, and engage in no business

in which Christ cannot help him carry the burden of cares and

perplexities connected therewith. The Saviour says to all, "Take

My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in

heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" 72513

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All the precepts of the Old Testament are irradiated with the glory of the Son of God. Especially is this true of the command, "Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds; lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled." 72614

Horticulturists know the value of this command. Sowing

together wheat and oats ruins the oats and injures the wheat. This,

like the other Levitical laws, referred to more than the temporal

prosperity of the Israelites. It taught them that if they would

remain true to God, they must not associate with evil companions.

"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." 72715

The Revised Version of the New Testament reads, "Evil company doth corrupt good manners." The Twentieth Century New Testament makes it stronger, showing that the contamination of evil association affects more than the outward manners. It says, "Do not be deceived; good character is marred by evil company."

The Syriac New Testament gives us a side-light on what is included in the term "evil company" or "evil communication," as

follows: "Be not deceived. Evil stories corrupt well-disposed minds." It matters not how they may be received, whether orally, or through the fashionable novels, or in the columns of the daily paper, the truth remains the same,-well-disposed minds are corrupted by them.

Just as truly as wheat, which furnishes us our daily bread, is injured by being mixed with other seed in the field; so the most spiritual-minded may be led astray by associating with evil persons, for "their word will eat as doth a canker." 728 16 "Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made

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him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin." 72917

"By beholding we become changed," is a law of our being. If we behold with open face the glory of the Lord, we are changed into His image. 730 18 If we let our minds dwell upon evil things, we become evil. Like David, we need to pray, "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken Thou me in Thy way." 73119

To the individual building a house the command was given, "When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall from thence." 732 20 The houses in Palestine generally have flat roofs, and on them men walk to enjoy the fresh air, converse together, sleep, etc. The need of the battlement is quite evident.

But there is also a deep spiritual lesson taught in the command. Every man builds his own character. Paul says, "Ye are God's building"and every building will be tested by the Lord. 73321

It is possible to build a character that will pass the test of the judgment, and in this world stand as a beacon light in the moral darkness of sin, guiding others safely into the haven of rest. On the other hand, like the housetop without any battlement, we may be the cause of ruin to many souls. In our character-building, we need

to make straight paths for our feet, "lest that which is lame be turned out of the way." 73422

It is said that the rigid features of a marble statue may be made to vary their expression, so as even to smile, when skilful hands move a bright light before it; in like manner the plain command, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn," 73523 when viewed in the light of the New Testament, contains spiritual lessons for the Christian church.

In writing of the support of the Christian laborer, Paul says:

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"It is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written." 73624

Then he proceeds to explain that if we receive spiritual help from the Christian workers, we are in turn under obligation to give them of our "carnal" or temporal things. We have no more right to enjoy the spiritual aid derived from Christian workers without giving financial aid to support the work, than the ancient Israelites had to muzzle the ox that was patiently treading out his grain.

Paul closes his argument by showing that the same system of tithing given by God to sustain His work anciently, is still binding in the Christian church. "Do we not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." 73725

"Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn,"

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contains a lesson for the Christian worker as well as for those for whom he labors. The muzzle is not put on the ox "when he treadeth out the grain," but if the ox stands idly by and does not tread out any grain, then it would be all right to muzzle him. The command is far reaching, and requires of the laborer in God's cause, faithful service; at the same time it lays upon others the obligation of faithfully supporting the gospel laborers.

Surely the following words of Tyndale apply to this text, "Similitudes have more virtue and power with them than bare words, and lead a man's understanding further into the pith and marrow and spiritual understanding of the thing, than all the words that can be imagined."

During the forty years' wandering in the wilderness, the children of Israel passed through varied experiences. Like humanity of the present day, they failed to be thankful for the protecting care of God. They did not see that God had shielded them from the poisonous reptiles that had infested their pathway through the desert. God removed His protecting care, and allowed the fiery serpents to come among the people, "and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died." 73826

The people confessed that they had sinned and spoken against God, and pleaded with Moses to pray for them. God told Moses to make a serpent of brass and set it up on a pole, and every one that would look upon it should live.

Hope sprang up in many hearts, as they lifted the heads of their dear ones and directed their eyes toward the serpent. As soon as the gaze of those who were bitten rested upon it, life and health came back to them.

The remedy was so simple-only "to look"-that some scoffed at it; but in refusing to look, they refused life.

The introduction to the wonderful words of John 3:16 are,

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"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." 73927

As the serpent was lifted up on the pole, so Jesus Christ was lifted up on the cross. As the Israelites were to look at the brazen serpent, so sinners must look to Christ for salvation. As God provided no other remedy than this looking for the wounded Israelite, so He has provided no other way of salvation than faith in the blood of His Son. As he who looked at the brazen serpent was cured and did live; so, he that believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ shall not perish, but shall have eternal life.

The fatal effects of sin can be removed in no other way than by the means God has provided. The old serpent, which is the devil, is wounding men and women on every side by his deadly bite; but Christ has shed His blood upon Calvary's cross, and every one who will look to Christ, believing that His blood will cleanse from all sin, will be free from the poison of the serpent's bite. 74028

Of the command, "Whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day," 741 29 Andrew A. Bonar gives the following comment: "Some say this was meant simply to discourage cruelty. No doubt it had this effect. But a typical reason lies hid, and is very precious. The Father was to give up His Son; and the Son was to be, as it were, torn from the Father's care by the hands of wicked men. How could this be represented if both the ewe and her young were offered together? This part of the truth must never be obscured, that 'God, so loved the world, that He gave His Son.' And the bleatings of the tender lamb in its parent's ears, as it was taken from the fold, filling the air with sadness, represented the bleatings of 'the Lamb led to the slaughter,' who so sadly wailed 'Eli! Eli! lama

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sabachthani?'...We see thus a picture hung up in every house of Israel of that great truth, 'God spared not His on Son, but delivered Him up for us all.'"

Type

Anti-type

Deut. 22:11. "Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woolen and linen together."

Isa. 64:6;61:10. We can not mingle the filthy rags of our righteousness with the robes of
Christ's righteousness.

Dent. 22:10. "Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together."

2 Cor. 6:14-17. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers."

Deut. 22:9. "Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds; lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be

defiled."

1 Cor. 15:33. Twentieth Century translation: "Good character is marred by evil company." Syriac Translation: "Evil stories corrupt well- disposed minds."

Deut. 22:8. "Thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house."

Heb. 12:13. "Make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way."

Deut. 25:4. "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn."

1 Cor. 9:11; 1 Tim. 5:18. "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing, if we shall reap your carnal things?"

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Section 9 - The Tribes of Israel When the King Shall Claim His Own

In the glad time of the harvest,
In the grand millennial year, When the King shall take His scepter, And to judge the world appear, Earth and sea shall yield their treasure, All shall stand before the throne; Just awards will then be given, When the King shall claim His own.

O the rapture of His people!
Long they've dwelt on earth's low sod, With their hearts e'er turning homeward, Rich in faith and love to God. They will share the life immortal, They will know as they are known, They will pass the pearly portal, When the King shall claim His own,

Long they've toiled within the harvest, Sown the precious seed with tears; Soon they'll drop their heavy burdens In the glad millennial years;

Num. 21:8,9. "Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, and all that looked upon it, lived."

John 3:14,15. "Even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

They will share the bliss of heaven, Nevermore to sigh or moan Starry crowns will then be given, When the King shall claim His own.

We shall greet the loved and loving, Who have left us lonely here; Every heart-ache will be banished When the Saviour shall appear; Never grieved with sin or sorrow, Never weary or alone;
O, we long for that glad morrow When the King shall claim His own.

Chapter 37 - Reuben

The Lord names individuals according to their character, and since He has chosen the names of the twelve sons of Jacob,-whence came the twelve tribes of Israel,-as names of the twelve divisions of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, there must be something in the character of Jacob's sons and of the twelve tribes of Israel worthy of careful study.

There is a significance in the meaning of names given to persons by the Lord. Jacob's name was not changed to Israel until, after long and weary wrestling, he had prevailed with God and men. 742 1 It was after Joses had given all his possessions to supply the needs of the cause of God, that he was called Barnabas, or "the son of consolation." 7432

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The company of one hundred and forty-four thousand, who will be redeemed from among men when the Saviour comes, and who throughout eternity will "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth," will enter the city of God marshaled in twelve companies, each bearing the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. 744 3 From these instances we conclude that there was a special significance to the names given to the twelve sons of Jacob.

In every ancient Israelitish family the eldest son inherited, as his birthright, a double portion of his father's estate, and the honor of officiating as priest in his father's house; and what was of more value to every true son of Abraham than wealth or earthly position, he inherited the spiritual birthright, which gave him the honor of being the progenitor of the promised Messiah.

But Reuben, the eldest of the twelve sons of Jacob, like his Uncle Esau,745 4 lightly esteemed the birthright, and in an unguarded hour committed a sin that forever debarred him from all the spiritual and temporal rights of the first-born. He committed adultery with his father's wife, a sin which Paul said was not even "so much as named among the Gentiles," or heathen. 7465

Because of this sin,-the temporal birthright-the double portion

of Jacob's earthly inheritance-was given to Joseph;747 6 the

priesthood to Levi; 748 7 and upon Judah, the fourth son of Jacob,

was conferred the honor of becoming the progenitor of Christ. 7498

Jacob on his deathbed portrayed the character which Reuben as

the first-born might have possessed. "Reuben, thou art my first-

born, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency

of dignity, and the excellency of power." We can imagine the

pathetic tone of the old patriarch's voice as he portrayed the real

character of his first-born, the one who might have had the respect

of all,-"Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel." 7509

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There are traces in the history of Reuben of the "excellency of dignity" which originally was bestowed upon him, as shown by his kindness in bringing home the mandrakes to his mother, 75110 and trying to save the life of Joseph, when his brethren determined to kill him. 75211

Reuben was a vacillating character, "unstable as water." His father had little confidence in his word; for when his brethren wished to take Benjamin down to Egypt, Jacob did not regard Reuben's pledge to return Benjamin safely to his father, but when Judah promised to stand as security for the lad, Jacob accepted the offer. 75312

The unstable nature of Reuben seems to have been transmitted to his descendants. The same selfish character was shown by

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the tribe of Reuben wishing to take possession of the first land conquered when they came out of Egypt. Moses evidently read their motive in the request, yet he granted them their possessions on "the other side of Jordan." As the result of this request they were among the first to be carried captive into Assyria by Tiglath- pileser, king of Assyria, about B. C. 740. 75413

The prophetic words of the patriarch, "Thou shalt not excel,"

were fulfilled in the history of the tribe of Reuben. That tribe

furnished no judge, no prophet, no hero, unless it be Adina and the

thirty men with him, who were reckoned among the valiant men of

David's army. 755 14 These men were no doubt among the one

hundred and twenty thousand of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and

Manasseh who went up to Hebron to make David king over Israel. 75615

Dathan and Abiram, of the tribe of Reuben, with Korah the Levite, were noted for the rebellion they instigated in the camp of Israel; and their destruction was an object-lesson of the fate of all who pursue a similar course. 75716

The territory chosen by the Reubenites placed them in close proximity to Moab. The towns in the inheritance of Reuben- Heshbon, Elealeh, Kirjathaim, Nebo, Baalmeon, Shibmah,-are familiar to us as Moabitish and not Israelitish towns.

It is not strange that Reuben, thus remote from the central seat of the national government and of the national religion, relinquished the faith of Jehovah. "They went after the gods of the people of the land whom God destroyed before them," and we hear little more of the tribe of Reuben until Hazael, king of Syria, held possession of their territory for a time. 75817

When as a tribe they had completely failed to do the work God

intended they should do in their own land, the Lord permitted Pul

and Tiglath-pileser to carry them into the upper part

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of Mesopotamia, where they remained until, at the end of the seventy years captivity, representatives of the twelve tribes were again gathered into the land of promise. 75918

The history of the tribe is a record of failures in carrying out the purposes of God. As Reuben, the first-born, had the opportunity to stand as a leader, so the tribe of Reuben, situated on the borders of Moab, might have proved true to God, and been a beacon light to lead the heathen to the true God; but they, like their father Reuben, were "unstable as water."

Although the patriarch and his descendants failed to carry out the purposes of God, yet the name of Reuben will be immortalized, for throughout eternity, the countless millions of the redeemed will read that name on one of the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem. Twelve thousand of the one hundred and forty four thousand will be of this class, and will enter the kingdom of God under the name of Reuben.

How can one be thus honoured who apparently made a failure of life? That is the great mystery of Godliness. How can the thief, who made a complete shipwreck of his life, be with the Saviour in Paradise? It is through the power of the blood of Christ, the sin- pardoning Redeemer.

When Moses pronounced his parting blessing on the tribes of Israel, of Reuben he said: "Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few." 760 19 We might wonder how a character "unstable as water" could "live, and not die;" but the course pursued by Reuben at the time of a great crisis in Israel, explains how such a one can be an overcomer.

At the time of the battle of Megiddo, which is in many respects

a type of the final battle of Armageddon, it is stated that "in the

divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart." 761 20

Here is the secret of the whole matter.

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There are multitudes of men and women in the world today with characters like Reuben. They are "unstable as water," with no power in themselves to do any good thing; but if they will begin earnestly to search their hearts, they will discover their own

weakness; and if they turn to God, He will come to their rescue, and pronounce over them, as He did over Reuben of old, "Let such a one live and not die."

Summary

The birthright embraced:
o A double portion of property, o The priesthood of the family, o The progenitor of Christ.

  • •  Reuben had four sons, whose descendants formed the tribe which bore his name. 1 Chron. 5:3.
  • •  The tribe numbered 43,730, when they entered the promised land. Num. 26:7.
  • •  The Reubenites were carried captive into Assyria. 1 Chron. 5:26. Chapter 38 - Simeon

Simeon was the second son of Jacob's unloved wife Leah. He was a man of strong passions. His life and that of the tribe which bears his name contain some of the darkest stains in the history of ancient Israel.

The crowning sin of Simeon's life was the murder of the men of Shechem. 762 1 Levi was connected with Simeon in this wicked work, but Simeon seems to have been the leading spirit; for the divine record always mentions his name first when speaking of the sin.

There is something pathetic in the whole affair. The prince of

Shechem had ruined Dinah, the only daughter of Jacob. It is easy

to imagine how an only sister would be loved and cherished by her

brothers, and especially by the sons of Leah who

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was also the mother of Dinah. When Jacob reproved Simeon and Levi for the murder, their only reply was, "Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?" 7632

Love for their sister evidently prompted the act of revenge. They also wished to rescue her; for Dinah had been enticed to the house

of the prince of Shechem, and after the murder, Simeon and Levi brought her home with them. 7643

The words addressed to Simeon by Jacob, show that God does not overlook sin in any one. The fact that their only sister was ruined, was no excuse for committing that terrible act of vengeance.

When the sons of Jacob gathered around their father's couch to receive his parting blessing, the sight of Simeon and Levi brought vividly to the mind of the dying patriarch the detail of this murder committed some forty years before, and he exclaimed, "Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret." And as if he shrank from the very thought of his name being tarnished by their wicked course, he continues, "Unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united; for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self will they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." 7654

Both tribes were "divided" and "scattered." But how differently! The Levites held positions of honour, and were scattered over the country as religious educators and priests. The dispersion of the tribe of Simeon arose from corrupting elements in the tribe itself, which reduced their numbers and finally resulted in driving them from their inheritance.

When the land was divided among the different tribes, Simeon

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had no part given him; but as the allotment of Judah was too large for that tribe, Simeon was allowed to occupy a portion of the inheritance of Judah. Afterward some of the Simeonites were obliged to seek new territory, and were thus separated from the rest of their brethren. 7665

In the writings of the ancient Jewish doctors it is stated that the tribe of Simeon became so straitened in their habitations that a very great number of them were forced to seek subsistence among the other tribes by teaching their children. Truly they were divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel.

When Israel was numbered at Sinai, Simeon had 59,300 fighting men. Only two tribes surpassed it in strength. But when Israel was again numbered at Shittim, Simeon was the weakest of all the tribes, numbering only 22,200. Why this great change? The strong men of Simeon did not sacrifice their lives on the battle- field, fighting for the honour of God; they were slain because of the licentiousness of their own hearts. The twenty-fifth chapter of Numbers relates the sad story of the ruin of Simeon. It seems from the record that the chief men of Simeon were the leaders in that great apostasy. They became a prey to the harlots of Midian. Truly "she hath cast down many wounded; yea, many strong men have been slain by her." 7676

Solomon, the wisest of men, who was thrice called the beloved of God, became a slave to his passion, and thus sacrificed his integrity to the same bewitching power. 7687

The shores of the stream of time are strewn with the wrecks of characters that have been stranded upon the rock of sensual indulgence. Israel became a prey to licentiousness before they were led into idolatry. When licentious desires rule the heart, other sins quickly follow.

"Blessed are the pure in heart." 7698 He that ruleth his spirit

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is greater than he that taketh a city; 7709 but "he that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." 77110

Some suppose that the omission of Simeon's name in the blessing of Moses was due to Moses' displeasure at the behaviour of the tribe at Shittim.

Little is said of the position taken by this tribe when the

kingdom was divided; but there are two references that would seem

to indicate that their sympathy was with the kingdom of Israel. 77211

The same fearless, warlike disposition manifested in the outbreaking sins committed by Simeon, was in the life of Judith used for the protection of God's people.

It is uncertain whether the book in the Apocrypha that bears

her name is a history or a historic romance, but from the record

there given, Judith will always remain one of the prominent figures

among the deliverers of her nation. She, like Jael, slew

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the leader of the enemies' army. 773 12 She nerved herself for her tremendous exploit by a prayer to the "Lord God of my father Simeon;" also in her prayer she alluded to the massacre at Shechem. 77413

The history of Judith, who, like Esther, risked her life for the deliverance of her people, is in pleasing contrast to the record of the wicked course pursued by Simeon and his descendants.

In the Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, it is Simeon and Levi who plot to destroy young Joseph; and Simeon bound Joseph before he was lowered into the well at Dothan. This was only about two years after the same men had planned and executed the murder of the men of Shechem. Memory must have brought all these events very vividly to the mind of Joseph as he stood before his brethren and commanded that Simeon be bound as a hostage before the eyes of the very men who had once seen him bind Joseph with intent to murder him. 77514

It may be thought strange by some that the name of a man who was famous only for murder and sin, should be inscribed on one of the gates of the Holy City of God, and that one twelfth of the one hundred and forty-four thousand will enter the city of God bearing the name of that man. But the fact that one has committed sin will never exclude him from the kingdom of God. All have sinned. It is unconfessed sin that debars any one from receiving eternal life.

Jesus is the only one born of woman that is sinless. He alone of all the family of Adam will throughout eternity have an uncovered life record. No part of His record will be covered. But our life record, marred by sin, will be covered by Christ's righteousness. The blood of Christ can cleanse from sin of the deepest dye, and even murderers can enter heaven; not as murderers, but as

pardoned sinners; for "though your sins be as 298

scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." 77615

Gathered out of the sin and wickedness of the last generation, there will be twelve thousand redeemed ones, who through the virtue of the blood of Christ, will be grafted into the tribe of Simeon, and throughout eternity will represent that tribe on the earth made new.

Summary

  • •  Simeon had six sons, whose descendants formed the tribe which bore his name. Gen. 46:10.
  • •  The tribe numbered 22,200, when they entered the promised land. Num. 26:12-14.
  • •  Judith, the only noted character in the tribe, slew the leader of the enemies' army. Judith 13:6-14.

Chapter 39 - Levi

When Leah gave birth to her third son, she said, "Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have borne him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi," or "joined." 777 1 Little did Leah, in the longing for the love of her husband, realize that the little babe would fulfil its name in a far broader sense than she anticipated, and help to join the children of Israel to their great Husband, the Creator of all things. 7782

The name of Levi seemed a prophecy of the life-work of the whole tribe. As Satan, through envy and jealousy, separated Leah from her husband's regard, so he sought to ruin Levi by persuading him to unite with Simeon in avenging the wrong done their only sister. 7793

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The words of Jacob on his deathbed reveal the magnitude of the crime, and how the Lord regarded it. The old father's heart was stirred at the remembrance, and he exclaimed, "O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united. . . . Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel." And then, as if he could not bear to think

of their ever growing into a strong tribe to perpetuate such crimes, he exclaimed, "I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." 780 4 It was more like a curse than a blessing; but when a sinner repents and turns from his sins, our God turns even curses into blessings, and thus it was in the case of Levi. 7815

There is nothing to indicate that the tribe of Levi had any special pre-eminence over the other tribes during the Egyptian bondage. It is quite evident that the original plan of having the first-born officiate as priest of the household, continued until the encampment at Sinai. The "young men of the children of Israel" offered the sacrifices at that time. 782 6 In the Targum Pseudo- Jonathan, it is expressly stated, "He sent the first-born of the children of Israel, for even to that time the worship was by the first- born because the tabernacle was not yet made, nor the priesthood given to Aaron."

Character is formed by the way individuals meet the common events of every-day life; but it is tested by the way they meet the crises of life. At Sinai the people of God passed through one of the greatest crises in the history of the church, when the whole multitude of Israel worshiped the golden calf. It was at this time, when even God Himself was ready to destroy Israel, 783 7 that the tribe of Levi came forward, and by their faithfulness helped to save the cause of God.

When Moses came down from the mount and found the

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children of Israel worshiping the golden calf, he stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses." 7848

At the time of this crisis the honour of God and His cause was dearer to the Levites than all worldly connections; neither brothers, companions, or friends, stood between them and their duty to God.

As a reward for their faithfulness, the priesthood,-a portion of the birth right,-was given to the sons of Levi. What Reuben lost by unfaithfulness in his father's home, Levi gained by being true to God before all Israel.

Jacob on his deathbed denounced Levi's sins; but Moses in his parting blessing, extolled him above all others. Of Levi he said, "Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah; who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed Thy word, and kept Thy covenant. They shall teach Jacob Thy judgments, and Israel Thy law: they shall put incense before Thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon Thine altar. Bless, Lord, his substance, and accept the work of his hands." 7859

From the fall of man, each household had celebrated its worship

with a priest of its own. When the time came to change this

method of worship, God did it in a way that gave all Israel a

thorough understanding of the matter.

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The first-born males of all Israel were numbered, and found to be 22,000. Then the tribe of Levi was numbered, and there were 22,273. Thus the Levites outnumbered the first-born; so the redemption price for the first-born,-"five shekels apiece by the poll," was paid for the 273 Levites,-the number by which they outnumbered the first-born. 786 10 Then all the Levites were set apart for their life-work.

The sum of the numbers given in the third chapter of Numbers for each of the three branches of the tribe of Levi is 22,300. It is understood that these extra 300 were the first-born of Levi, and as such were already consecrated, and could not take the place of others.

The tabernacle was a sign to the children of Israel of their unseen King, and the Levites were as a royal guard that waited exclusively upon Him. When the people were encamped, the

Levites were the guardians of the sacred tent. When they travelled, the Levites alone carried all that pertained to the sanctuary.

When Israel entered the promised land, the tribe of Levi was given no inheritance. It was not expected that they would spend their time and strength in cultivating the soil and rearing cattle. The spiritual welfare of all Israel was to be their burden; and, that they might the more easily perform this work, the Levites were given forty-eight cities, scattered throughout all the twelve tribes, and the tithe was used for their support.787 11 Thus Jacob's prophecy, was fulfilled; they were "divided in Jacob, and scattered in Israel."

The history of the temple and its service is a history of the Levites. When God was honoured by His people, the Levites were given their appointed work; but when apostasy came in, the Levites were obliged to seek other employment for their support. 78812

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Levi, like the other tribes, had a checkered history; not all were true to God, but the tribe continued to exist in Israel to the time of Christ, and had a worthy representative among the early apostles in the person of Barnabas. 78913

It was in the time of a crisis that the Levites gained their great victory. In a crisis decisions are made quickly. Many fail at such times, because they do not have independent Christian characters. They are in the habit of following the leadings of those in whom they have confidence, and they have no strength in themselves. He who would always prove true in the crises of life, must have a clear connection with the God of heaven, and must fear God more than man.

Moses and Aaron are two of the most noted characters in the tribe of Levi. There was a marked contrast in the two men. Moses stood like a great rock, against which the waves beat continually. Aaron was gentler, and at times he seemed almost vacillating; but Aaron was a strong character, although different from his brother.

Aaron's crowning test came when his two sons were smitten

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down in the tabernacle, because, under the influence of strong drink, they offered strange fire before the Lord. Aaron was not allowed to show any signs of grief; thus teaching the people that God was just in punishing evildoers, even if they were his own sons.

This was no small test, and after studying Lev. 10:11 we can better understand how, notwithstanding the murders committed in Levi's early life, the Lord could speak of Aaron as "the saint of the Lord." 79014

One twelfth of the one hundred forty-four thousand will be marshaled under the name of Levi. They will be persons who, on account of sin, merited only curses, but who forsook sin; and while men all around them were wavering and falling, they stood true to God and His cause, and will receive a rich blessing from the hands of a merciful God.

Summary

  • •  Levi had three sons, whose descendants formed the tribe which bore his name. Gen. 46: 11.
  • •  Aaron and his sons officiated as priests.
  • •  The remainder of the tribe assisted in the work of the temple.

Noted Characters

  • •  Moses and Aaron were the most noted Levites in the Old Testament.
  • •  Barnabas and Mark are prominent characters in the New Testament.

Chapter 40 - Judah

Name, or pedigree, separate from character, has no weight in the records of heaven. Because Reuben failed to cultivate a character worthy of the first-born,-the one entitled to both the temporal and the spiritual birthright,-its blessings were taken from him, and given to others who had developed characters worthy of them.

Joseph, who had become a noted business manager, was given the double portion of his father's inheritance,-the temporal birthright; but it required more than ability to control great wealth to be entitled to the spiritual birthright, and to become the progenitor of the Messiah.

The records state that Judah, the fourth son, "prevailed above

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his brethren, and of him came the Chief Ruler." 791 1 Jacob, upon

his deathbed, pronounced the prophetic words: "The scepter shall

not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until

Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." 7922

How did Judah prevail above his brethren, and thus inherit the spiritual birthright? This is a subject worthy of careful study by every one who desires a part in the great spiritual birthright by which we today may become heirs of the eternal inheritance. We have no record of Judah's ever prevailing over his brethren by force of arms. But a careful study of the lives of the twelve sons of Jacob, reveals the fact that Judah was a leader. When he offered to stand as surety for Benjamin, Jacob consented to let Benjamin go into Egypt, although Reuben's offer had been refused. 7933

When Jacob and his family arrived in Egypt, Jacob "sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen." 7944 When the sons of Jacob were in great perplexity because the ruler of Egypt demanded Benjamin as a hostage, it was Judah who pleaded their cause so earnestly that Joseph threw off

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his disguise, and made himself known unto his brethren. 7955
By strict integrity to principle, Judah had won the confidence of his father and his brethren. The whole story is told in the blessing pronounced over Judah by his aged father, just before his death: "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies. Thy father's children shall bow

down before thee." 7966
His brethren bowed down before Joseph, but the circumstances

were different. Joseph's wealth and position, acquired in a foreign

land, gave him the pre-eminence; but Judah won the respect of his brethren in the every-day contact of the home life. This confidence was not born in a moment; but day by day his strict integrity won their respect, until of their own free will, not from force of circumstances, they praised him and bowed down before him. A life of conflict and victory over the selfish tendencies of his own heart, is bound up in the words, "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise."

It is worthy of note that Judah prevailed under the same

circumstances in which Reuben failed. It was not sins committed

against the public that debarred Reuben from the privileges of the

first-born; he proved himself untrue in the home life. 797 7 He had

no regard for the honour of his own family. His father and his

brethren could not trust him in their private life. In the same home,

surrounded by the same temptations and environments, "Judah

prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the Chief Ruler." 7988

Twelve thousand of the one hundred and forty-four thousand will enter the holy city under the name of Judah, 799 9 -persons who, in times of perplexity, have been recognized by their brethren as trusted leaders.

"Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone

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up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?"800 10 In these words Jacob gives the impression that it would be as easy to conquer a lion as to overcome one with the character of Judah; that it would be as safe to rouse an old lion as to contend with one who stood fast in his integrity to God.

Judah's is a character we may well covet,-that firmness that will

not surrender our Christian integrity, but will know of a surety that

the Lord is with us when we are assailed by Satan and all his hosts. 80111

Judah is mentioned oftener in the Scriptures than any other of the twelve patriarchs, except Joseph. Of the five sons of Judah, two

died childless; but from the three remaining sons came the strongest tribe in all Israel.

At Sinai the children of Judah numbered 74,600. They evidently had a very small part, if any, in the apostasy at Shittim, where Simeon's numbers were greatly reduced; for Judah numbered 76,500 as they left Shittim to enter the promised land.

The tribe of Judah occupied a position among the other tribes similar to that which their progenitor held in his father's family. They were entrusted with the care of the priesthood. The nine cities occupied by the family of Aaron, the priests, were all within the territory of Judah and Simeon. 802 12 The remainder of the forty-eight cities occupied by the Levites were scattered throughout the other tribes.

Judah was an independent tribe. After the death of Saul, they did not wait for others to acknowledge David as king, but crowned him king of Judah, and David reigned over them seven and one- half years before he was crowned king over all Israel. 80313

After the death of Solomon, Judah and Benjamin remained true to the seed of David, and formed the kingdom of Judah.

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This kingdom retained their own land about 142 years after the kingdom of Israel was carried captive into Assyria. 80414

Zedekiah, king of Judah, was given the last opportunity of saving the holy city from falling into the bands of the heathen, 80515 but he failed, and Judah, the kingly tribe, was carried captive into Babylon.

The scepter never fully departed from Judah until Shiloh came. Herod, the last king who reigned over the Jews, died a few years after the birth of Christ. In his first will Herod appointed Antipas as his successor; but his last will named Archelaus as the one to reign in his stead. The people were ready to receive Archelaus, but afterward revolted. Archelaus and Antipas both went to Rome to present their claims before Caesar. Caesar confirmed neither, but sent Archelaus back to Judea as ethnarch, 80616 with the promise of the crown if he proved worthy of it; but he never received it. Thus

the land "forsaken of both her kings" during the childhood of Christ, as was prophesied by Isaiah. 80717

The tribe of Judah furnished a galaxy of names noted in sacred history. No other tribe furnished the world so many mighty

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men of God. At the head of the list is the one incomparable name,-Jesus of Nazareth, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

Caleb's great faith and dauntless courage has been an inspiration to men of all ages. In the prime of life his faith was strong. When other men saw only the giants of difficulties in the way of entering the land, he said, "We are well able to overcome it." 80818 At the age of eighty-five, in the strength of God, he drove the enemies from the stronghold of Hebron. 80919

David has been honoured above all earthly kings in being taken as a type of Christ, and inspiration calls the Saviour "the son of David."810 20 Judah furnished a number of other kings who, surrounded by all the temptations of the court life, stood true to God.

After the captivity, when for a time it seemed as if the Israel of God were almost obliterated from the earth, four young men of Judah, true to the lion-like character of their tribe, risked their lives rather than defile themselves with the royal dainties 811 21 from the table of the king of Babylon. 81222

A few years later three of these men stood fearlessly before

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the king of Babylon, saying, "Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods." 81323 In fulfilment of the promise made over one hundred years before, 814 24 the Lord walked with those three sons of Judah through the fiery furnace, and they came forth unhurt. 815 26 And Daniel, true to the integrity of his tribe, faced hungry lions rather than have any interruption in his communion with God.

Summary

Judah was the progenitor of Christ. 1 Chron. 5:2; Gen. 49:10.

  • •  The tribe of Judah were the descendants of the three youngest sons of Judah.
  • •  The tribe numbered 76,500 when they entered the promised land. Num. 26:19-22.
  • •  The scepter did not depart from Judah until Shiloh came. Isa. 7:14,16. Noted Characters
  • •  Caleb, the son of Jephunneh. Num. 13: 6.
  • •  Othniel, a nephew of Caleb, judged Israel forty years. Judges 3:9-11.
  • •  Ibzan of Bethlehem, of the land of Judah, judged Israel seven years. Judges 12:8-10.
  • •  Judah furnished many kings; prominent among them were David, Solomon, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah.
  • •  The greatest character of all is Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Rev. 5:5.

Chapter 41 - Naphtali

NAPHTALI, the sixth son of Jacob, was the second son of Bilhah, Rachel's maid. The Bible is silent in regard to his personal history, except the statement that he had four sons from whom sprang the tribe of Naphtali; but Jewish tradition states that Naphtali was noted as a swift runner, and that he was chosen by Joseph as one of five to represent the family before Pharaoh.

In Jacob's dying blessing, Judah was compared to a lion, Dan to a serpent, Issachar to a strong ass, Benjamin to a wolf, but "Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words." 816 1 A hind, or female deer, is a timid animal, ready to flee at the first approach of danger. No one would attempt to bind a burden on a deer.

Naphtali indicates a character quite different from Issachar, couching down between two burdens, or Judah with his kingly

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power; yet Naphtali has a precious gift that every one may Covet: "He giveth goodly words." Unencumbered by many of the heavy burdens and responsibilities borne by some of his brethren, he has time to find those who are downcast and discouraged, and by his

"goodly words" to encourage the despondent and comfort the sorrowful.

Naphtali does not represent the unruly tongue that "is set on fire of hell," 817 2 far from it, for he "giveth goodly words," and "pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." 8183

Let no one think because Naphtali spoke "goodly words" that he represented a light, unstable character; for in the great typical battle of Megiddo, "Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field." 8194 The literal translation of the original is very emphatic, "they desolated their lives to death;" they were determined to conquer or die, and therefore plunged into the thickest of the battle. The cause of God was more precious to them than life, and they did not shrink from fighting in the high places of the field, exposed to the fiery darts of the enemy, if the success of the battle demanded it.

There will be twelve thousand of the tribe of Naphtali that throughout all eternity will "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth;" twelve thousand that during their probationary life on this earth spoke "goodly words," and in difficult places, fearlessly stood firm at their post of duty, ready to sacrifice their lives rather than compromise the cause of God.

In Moses' last blessing, of Naphtali he said, "O Naphtali,

satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord." 820 5

Surely, this is a condition to be coveted by every child of God,

"satisfied with favour." The Lord greatly favours every one whose

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sins are forgiven; but how often we are dissatisfied and impatient, and go through life with downcast faces.

Because we are not "satisfied with favour," we are not "full with the blessing of the Lord." The child of God who fully realizes what it is to be cleansed from sin and clothed with Christ's righteousness, will he "satisfied with favour:" and if he appreciates the many blessings he receives at the hand of the Lord, and counts them over day by day, he will find that his life "is full with the blessing of the Lord."

Naphtali joined with the rest of Israel in crowning David king at Hebron, and the record states that with other northern tribes they brought large quantities of provisions to Hebron at that time. 8216

Barak, of Kadesh-Naphtali, is the only great hero of this tribe, mentioned in the Bible. The battle fought by him under the direction of Deborah the prophetess was in many respects the greatest battle fought by the ancient people of God, and is a type, or object lesson, of the great battle of Armageddon. 8227

The territory bordering on the west shore of the Sea of Galilee and extending northward, was given to Naphtali. It was a fertile country, and during the reign of Solomon was one of his commissariat districts, in charge of Ahimaaz, a son-in-law of the king. 8238

The territory of Naphtali lay in the path of the Syrian and Assyrian invaders. It was from the goodly land of Naphtali that Ben-hadad and Tiglath-pileser had their first taste of the plunder of the Israelites. In 730 B.C, Tiglath-pileser overran the whole of the north of Israel, and the tribe of Naphtali was carried captive into Assyria.

In the time of Christ, Naphtali no longer possessed the shore of the Sea of Galilee, but it was to be far more renowned than when

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held by him. Isaiah, more than seven hundred years before Christ, had prophesied that the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali would see a great light, 8249 and in fulfilment of it, Jesus, the "Light of the world," had His home in Galilee. It was the cradle of the Christian faith, and from the shores of the Sea of

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Galilee the leading disciples were called to their life-work.

O Galilee, sweet Galilee,
What memories rise at thought of thee! In mortal guise upon thy shore The Saviour trod whom we adore.

The waves which once His vessel bore Will sound His praise forevermore;

Summary

And from thy depths, beloved sea, We hear the call, "Come follow me."

Through ages yet to come, thy name Will sound His praise forevermore; 'Tis hallowed ground where once He trod, The Prince of Peace, the Son of God.

O Galilee, sweet Galilee, Thy blessed name will sacred be In every clime, on every shore, Till suns shall set to rise no more.

  • •  The tribe of Naphtali sprang from four sons of Naphtali. Gen. 46:24.
  • •  The tribe numbered 45,400, when they entered the promised land. NUM.

26:50.

•  Barak, of Kadesh-Naphtali, is the only great hero of this tribe.

•  Christ's work in the borders of what had been the Land of Naphtali, was a subject of prophecy.

•  Isa. 9:1, 2.

Chapter 42 - Gad

Of The childhood and personal life of Gad, the seventh son of Jacob, nothing definite is preserved. He was the first son of Zilpah, Leah's maid; but from the record given it seems that Gad and the other sons born to Jacob by Bilhah and Zilpah, were far from being exemplary characters in

their early lives. 8251

The prophetic words of his dying father open up a volume in the life and character of this son: "Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last." 8262 Gad may be taken as a type of the backslider, who is overcome by a troop of temptations, but awakens to his danger; and in the strength given him from God, overcomes at last, and enters the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem, rejoicing in the Lord.

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The secret of the Gadites' being victorious over their enemies, is given in the account of one of their great battles: "They cried to God in the battle, and He who entreated of them; because they put their trust in Him." 8273

When Peter found that he was actually sinking beneath the waves that he had been walking upon, he cried, "Lord, save me. And immediately, Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him." 8284 In like manner, the one who finds himself overcome by temptations over which in the past he has been victorious, has the privilege, like Gad and Peter, of crying out for help, and he will immediately, receive it, if he puts his trust in God.

To every backslider the Lord sends this message: "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion." 8295 The Lord uses the, symbol of marriage to illustrate the close union between Himself and His people; and when they backslide and dishonour Him, wonderful thought!-He still says, "Go and proclaim these words I am married unto you,"- the backslider.

Again the Lord asks: "Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of My creditors is it to whom I have sold you?" He answers the question Himself: "Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourself." 8306

The Lord requires but one thing of the backslider: Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God. 8317 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 8328

To every backslider the Lord says, "Come now, and let us reason together: . . . though your sins be as scarlet, they shall

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be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." 8339

Hear the Lord pleading with the backslider: "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." 83410 That is a wonderful promise; but listen again to His pleading voice: "I will

heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away." 83511 It is no stinted portion that the backslider receives; the Lord heals his backslidings and loves him freely.

Who, that has ever once tasted the peace and joy of sins forgiven, can refuse such offers of pardon and love?

On one of the gates of the city of God, the name of Gad will be written, Gad, the one who was overcome by a troop, but at the last became the victor.

Twelve thousand of the one hundred forty-four thousand will

also be marshaled under the name of Gad 83612 -twelve thousand,

who arise from backslidings and defeat, acknowledge their

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transgressions, claim the promises of God, wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb, and enter as victors the city of God. 83713

It is very difficult for the human heart to reinstate one who has

betrayed his confidence and has spurned love and friendship; but

the infinite God will not only heal our backslidings and love us

freely, but He also says, "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy

transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." 83814

Because they were shepherds, the Gadites requested that their portion be given them out of the land first conquered "on the other side of Jordan." They took part in the conquest of the land on the west side of Jordan, and did not return to their families until they were given an honourable discharge by Joshua, at the door of the tabernacle in Shiloh. 83915 Moses evidently refers to their choice of land and faithfulness in the parting blessing. 84016

Their inheritance lay between the territory of Reuben on the south and the half tribe of Manasseh on the north. At first the inheritance of Gad embraced half of Gilead; later they possessed all of it. 841 17 They became so closely identified with Gilead, that in some cases the name Gilead is used synonymously with Gad.

The character of the tribe was throughout fierce and warlike, "men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains." Such is the graphic

description given of those eleven heroes of Gad, the least of them

more than equal to a hundred, and the greatest to a thousand; that,

undaunted by the swollen floods of Jordan, joined the forces of

David at the time of his greatest discredit and embarrassment. 84218

Gad, although separated from the rest of Israel west of the

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Jordan, still retained some connection with them. From the following words of Ahab we should infer that Gad was considered a part of the northern kingdom: "Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria?" 84319

Tiglath-pileser carried Gad captive into Assyria, 844 20 and the Ammonites inhabited their cities in the days of Jeremiah. The prophet bewails the condition in the following words: "Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? Why then doth Melcom (Moloch) inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?" 84521

Of all the tribes of Israel, Gad and Reuben alone returned to the land their forefathers had left five hundred years before, with their occupations unchanged. The civilization and persecution in Egypt changed the occupation of most of the tribes.

Barzillai, the friend of David, was a Gileadite; 84622 and so was Jephthah, that "mighty man of valour." Among the worthy characters of Gilead, or Gad, was "Elijah the Tishbite," who by his word locked heaven for three years and a half; and in answer to his prayer, the clouds emptied themselves again upon the earth.

Elijah was honoured by God as only one other person was

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ever honored; 847 23 and when the time for his translation drew near, he crossed over Jordan into the land of his childhood, where, by the grace of God, he had gained that strength of character which enabled him fearlessly to rebuke Ahab and Jezebel his wife. It was from his own native land of Gilead that the chariots of God bore him in triumph into heaven. 848 24 Once he has returned to earth, when he with Moses "appeared in glory," on the mount of

transfiguration, and talked with Jesus of the great sacrifice soon to be offered at Jerusalem. 84925

Summary

  • •  The tribe of Gad were the descendants of the seven sons of Gad. Gen. 46:16.
  • •  The tribe numbered 40,500, when they entered the promised land. Num. 26:18
  • •  Tiglath-pileser carried Gad captive into Assyria. 1 Chron. 5:26. Noted Characters
  • •  Barzillai, the friend of David. 2 Sam. 19: 32-39.
  • •  Jephthah, that "mighty man of valour." Judges 11:1
  • •  "Elijah the Tishbite" was from Gilead, or Gad. 1 Kings 17:1.

Chapter 43 - Asher

Like several of the patriarchs, there is little personal history recorded of Asher, the eighth son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah's maid. Leah greatly rejoiced at his birth, and named him Asher, which means, in the Hebrew, "happy" 8501

Of his childhood and early manhood we know nothing, only

that he grew up with his brethren, and went into Egypt with the

rest of the family. Asher had four sons and a daughter named

Sarah, from whom sprang the tribe which bore his name. 8512

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When the books of the Chronicles were written, the men of the tribe of Asher were spoken of as "choice and mighty men of valour;" and there were twenty-six thousand of them "that were apt to the war." 8523

When all Israel gathered at Hebron to make David king over

Israel, Asher gathered forty thousand that were "expert in war." 8534

Since the name Asher (Aser, the Greek form of the word) is given to one division of the one hundred and forty-four thousand 8545 the character of Asher is the most important thing for us to

consider; and as little or nothing is recorded of his life, we shall have to take the prophetic words of Jacob and Moses as a guide in the study.

The patriarch Jacob's dying blessing on Asher was, "Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties." 8556 These words indicate prosperity.

When Moses pronounced his parting blessing upon the tribes of

Israel, he said, "Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be

acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil. Thy shoes

shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be." 8567

Asher seems to have had an amiable disposition; for he was acceptable to his brethren. "Let him dip his foot in oil." Some people have the happy faculty of always getting out of difficulty as if everything was oiled; they apparently step over difficulties that others would fall under. They dip their feet in oil, and pass smoothly over the rough places in life.

The precious promise, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be,"

was given to Asher, the one Jacob said "should yield royal dainties,"

and of whom Moses said, "Let him dip his foot in oil." In ordinary

life the one who dips his foot in oil, and apparently

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passes smoothly through life, receives little sympathy. Sympathy is usually extended to the one who does not have his feet oiled, and experiences all the roughness by the way; but God knows that the person who holds tip his head and goes cheerily through life, giving "royal dainties" of kind words of cheer to others, often in reality experiences heavier trials than the one who sighs and cries on account of the roughness of the way; and to them He says, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be."

It is a glorious thing to dip the foot in oil! Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit; the one whose feet even, are anointed with the Spirit of God, will pass over the rough places in life with a heart full of praise and thanksgiving. Under the feet of such a one will be iron and brass a firm foundation. He will not sink amid the pitfalls of life, for God assures him, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be."

The feet of the one who dips his feet in oil will be shod with iron

and brass. When the beloved disciple saw in vision the Saviour

officiating as our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, His feet

appeared "like unto fine brass, as if they

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burned in a furnace." 8578 Brass is formed only in the furnace; and the Saviour's feet appearing like "fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace," would remind John of the fiery furnace of affliction through which the Saviour had passed.

There are some of the human family who are so imbued with the Spirit of God, and follow so closely in the Saviour's bloodstained footsteps, 858 9 that their feet seem clad with brass, resembling the feet of their Master. Others have their feet covered with iron; they, too, have special strength given them, but do not come into such intimate relationship with the Master as their brethren.

Twelve thousand of the one hundred and forty-four thousand will be of the tribe of Asher,-those who will dip their feet in oil, and will be so filled with the Spirit of God that they will let the Lord by His Spirit smooth the rough places in their pathway. Like Zerubbabel, the mountains of difficulties will become plains before them. 859 10 They will yield "royal dainties," words of cheer and comfort, that will encourage others by the way. It is well to learn how to dip the foot in oil, and cultivate the character of Asher.

The Bible gives little more of the history of the tribe of Asher than is given of him as an individual. The tribe is mentioned in connection with the other tribes; but no independent action is recorded of the tribe in the sacred history.

Asher is the only tribe west of the Jordan, except Simeon, which furnished no hero or judge to the nation. The obscurity which enshrouds the members of the tribe is pierced by only one noted character,-Anna the prophetess, who "served God with fastings and prayers night and day" in the temple. She had the honour of bearing the glad news of the birth of Christ to the faithful ones who were looking for redemption in Israel. 86011

The territory of Asher bordered on the Great Sea, and embraced

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Mount Carmel, the scene of Elijah's great victory, and continued northward. The descendants of Asher did not have the fierce, warlike propensities of some of the other tribes, and did not drive out the former inhabitants of the land; "but the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites the inhabitants of the land." 861 12 As the result of mingling with the heathen, they were greatly weakened.

When Israel was numbered at Sinai, Asher was a strong tribe; 86213 but in the days of David they had become so reduced that their name is not mentioned in the selection of chief rulers. 863 14 Although as a tribe they, departed from the ways of the Lord, yet among them were honest hearts who feared God.

When Hezekiah held his great Passover and invited all Israel to

join in celebrating the feast at Jerusalem, some entire tribes laughed

at the messengers and mocked them; "nevertheless divers of

Asher . . . humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem." 864 15 It

takes moral stamina to be true to God when the surging masses on

every side are rejecting the light of

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God's word. That spirit of faithfulness never left the tribe, and when the Saviour entered His temple for the first time in human form, of the two persons in all the city of Jerusalem who were in a spiritual condition to recognize the "Babe as the Redeemer of the world." one was the prophetess Anna of the tribe of Asher. 86516

Summary

  • •  Asher had four sons and a daughter, from whom sprang the tribe which bore his name. 1 Chron. 7:30.
  • •  The tribe numbered 53,400, when they entered the promised land. Num. 26: 47.
  • •  Asher furnished no hero or judge to the nation. Anna, the prophetess, is the only noted character of the tribe of Asher, mentioned in the Bible. Luke 2: 36-38.

Chapter 44 - Issachar

ISSACHAR was the ninth son of Jacob and the fifth son of Leah, the first wife. Of Issachar as an individual the Bible is silent after recording his birth. Of his associations with his brethren, we know nothing; but the old father's dying blessing reveals the history of Issachar's life of self-sacrifice and burden-bearing, and his meek and quiet spirit.

Jacob likens him to the patient ass or donkey, bearing two such heavy burdens that he couches down beneath them. The fact that this is not a common animal, but a "strong" one, indicates the strength of Issachar's character. "Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens." Then the patriarch reveals the secret of Issachar's self-sacrificing life by giving the motive that actuated him in carrying the double burdens: "He saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and

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bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute." 8661

Many lose the blessing by murmuring and complaining when they are required to carry double burdens. But Issachar was sustained by the thought of the pleasant land in store and the rest by and by. The same hope will sustain burden-bearers at the present day.

In the battle of Megiddo we find Issachar true to the character portrayed in Jacob's dying blessing. "The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; even Issachar, and also Barak." 8672 From the words of Deborah, it would seem that Issachar bore the burden of the battle even more than Barak.

The same characteristic is given of Issachar when all the tribes gathered to crown David king of Israel. Issachar had clear discernment. The record states, "The children of Issachar . . . were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do."868 3 They represented men that bore heavy responsibilities, pillars in the cause of God. They were not like Zebulun, expert warriors, ready to rush impulsively into the fiercest

of the fight on a moment's notice; but they were able to plan the battle, and to carry the burden of the work.

It takes all the different phases of Christian character to represent the perfect character of Christ. The burden-bearer fills as important a place in the work of God as the kingly Judah or the Levitical teacher.

There will be twelve thousand of each class in that wonderful company,-the one hundred and forty-four thousand, "which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth."

The children of Issachar were a laborious, hardy, valiant tribe, patient in labour and invincible in war. They "were valiant men of might."869 4 They possessed one of the richest portions of Palestine. It was bounded on the cast by the river

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Jordan, on the north by Zebulun, and on the south by the half tribe of Manasseh.

Many places noted in sacred history were within the borders of Issachar. It was there that the great victory of Barak and Deborah was won "in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo." 8705

In Shunem was the residence of the noble woman who, when she found her house was not large enough to entertain Elisha, the "holy man of God" built an additional room and furnished it that she might have the privilege of his association in her home. 8716

By, the rich blessings that came into her 8727 she realized

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the truthfulness of the words, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." 8738

It was at the gate of the city of Nain in the borders of Issachar, that the Saviour's words, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise," brought life and health into the dead body of the man whom his friends were carrying to the tomb. 8749

The same territory that was hallowed by the footsteps of the Saviour and the prophets of God, also witnessed the power of the devil. Endor, in the land of Issachar, was where Saul committed the crowning sin of his life by consulting the witch, and thus took himself entirely out of the hands of God and became a prey of the

devil. 875 10 Saul was slain because he asked counsel "of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it." 876 11 Those who follow the same course to-day will eventually meet the same fate; they will die spiritually, and be eternally separated from the Lord. 87712

Jezreel, situated in the fertile plain of Esdraelon, was the scene of the wicked murder of Naboth; 878 13 and in the streets of the same city, dogs ate the flesh of Jezebel. 87914

Tola, under whose rule of twenty-three years Israel had rest, was of the tribe of Issachar. 88015 Baasha, who ruled over the northern kingdom twenty-four years, was an Issacharite. "He did evil in the sight of the Lord." Elah, his son, followed in his footsteps, and was slain by Zimri, and the kingly power passed out of the hands of the tribe of Issachar. 88116

Issachar was the center of Jezebel's power, and the Baal worship introduced by her exerted an influence long after her death.

About five years before Issachar was carried captive into Assyria

by Shalmaneser, 882 17 Hezekiah celebrated his great Passover at

Jerusalem. The tribe of Issachar had so far departed from the true

worship that they had forgotten to make the necessary

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purifications; yet some of them responded to the invitation, and went to the feast, though ceremonially unfit to partake of it. Hezekiah was in close enough touch with the Lord to discern that the desire in the heart to serve God was of more consequence than forms and ceremonies. He allowed them to eat of the Passover, and, as they partook of it, he offered the following prayer: "The good Lord pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary;" and the Lord, who "seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart," "hearkened" to the prayer of the king, and "healed the people." 88318

Summary

Issachar had four sons, from whom sprang the tribe which bore his name. 1 Chron. 7: 1.

  • •  When the children of Israel entered the promised land, the tribe of Issachar numbered 64,300. Num. 26: 23-25.
  • •  Issachar possessed one of the richest portions of Palestine.
  • •  The valley of Megiddo, or the plain of Esdraelon, was within the borders of

Issachar.

•  Tola, who judged Israel twenty-three years, was an Issacharite. Judges 10:1, 2.

•  Baasha, king of Israel, was of the tribe of Issachar. 1 Kings 15: 27Chapter 45-Zebulun

Chapter 45 - Zebulun

LEAH was the mother of six of the twelve patriarchs. It is worthy of note that, although Jacob accepted polygamy under what might be termed force of circumstances, yet he recognized Leah, the first wife, as his lawful wife. She was buried in the family burying-place. When he came to die, he requested that he might be buried in the cave of Machpelah. "There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah," were among the last words of Jacob. It would seem that he wished his descendants to be able to say of the noted cave, "There they buried Jacob and Leah his wife." 8841

During his life, Jacob allowed circumstances and his love for

Rachel to influence him; but when he faced death, he

acknowledged God's original plan of marriage. 8852

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Zebulun was the youngest son of Leah; he was older than Joseph, and was born while Jacob was serving Laban. Jacob on his deathbed prophetically located Zebulun's inheritance, saying, "Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; he shall be for a haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon." 8863

Zebulun's portion in the promised land lay between the territories of Naphtali and Issachar, bordering on the southern part of the west shore of the Sea of Galilee, and is supposed to have extended also to the shore of the Great Sea. Moses, in his parting blessing, spoke of Zebulun as a sea-faring people. 8874

The Bible records nothing of Zebulun as an individual, except his birth. Three sons are ascribed to him, who became the founders of the tribe which bore his name. 888 5 There is no record of the tribe having taken any part in the events of the wandering or the conquest of Palestine.

Deborah, in her song of triumph after the battle of Megiddo, says that among the tribes of Zebulun were those who handled "the pen of the writer," or as the margin reads, "they that draw with the pen." 8896 This would indicate that they were a literary or artistic people.

In the battle which was a type of the great battle of Armageddon, Zebulun "jeopardized their lives unto the death in the high places of the field;" or, according to the marginal reading, they "exposed to reproach their lives." 8907 God and His cause were more precious to them than their own lives or reputation.

Twelve thousand of the one hundred and forty-four thousand

will enter the city of God under the name of Zebulun,-twelve

thousand who, when the enemies of the Lord are numerous and

popular, will expose "to reproach their lives unto the death in the

high places of the field." There will be men in high places who, like

those of Zebulun of old, "handle the pen of the writer,"

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and wield a wide influence; these men, when the cause of God is in a crisis, will rise up and "jeopardize their lives unto the death in the high place," thus bringing victory to the cause of God.

It was pure love that actuated Zebulun in that ancient battle, for Deborah says, "They took no gain of money." 8918 From the record it would appear that Zebulun and Naplitali were exceptions in this respect. Whether they were more prosperous in this world's goods and better able than the other tribes to go to battle as self- supporting warriors, the record does not state.

After Israel returned from captivity and the cause of God was again in a crisis, Nehemiah, a self-supporting worker, came forward and did what others could not do. When the Saviour hung dead upon the cross and ignominy was heaped upon His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, two rich men holding high positions, came

forward and performed a work for the Saviour which those who loved Him perhaps more sincerely were not able to do.

While Zebulun and Naphtali may not have loved God more than the other tribes, yet from the record given by Deborah, it would seem that they turned the tide of the battle by risking their lives, and they "took no gain of money" for their service.

It seems that Zebulun was an intelligent tribe, blessed with this world's goods; but when there came a crisis in the cause of the Lord, we find them risking all to maintain the honor of God's name.

Over two hundred years later there was another crisis in the cause of God. Saul was dead, and the true hearted in Israel, came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, "according to the word of the Lord."892 9 Every tribe was represented, but no tribe excelled Zebulun in number and equipage. Fifty thousand expert warriors came, bringing their own instruments

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of war. "They were rangers of battle," able to "set the battle in array;" and what was of more value to the cause of God than numbers or skill, "they were not of double heart," but men the Lord could trust in a crisis. 89310

Who is prepared to perfect such a character in the fear of God,

and have the seal of God placed upon his forehead? Who will covet

Zebulun's character so earnestly that he will be willing to expose to

reproach his life for Christ's sake?

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The land of Zebulun has the high honor of being the childhood home of Jesus. Nazareth was situated within its borders. The people here had an opportunity of seeing and hearing more of Christ than those in any other place.

Isaiah prophesied that the land of Zebulun would see a great light. 894 11 Truly this prophecy was fulfilled, for they had within their borders the greatest Light this world has ever seen.

The first miracle performed by Jesus was at Cana in Zebulun. It was also in Cana that the nobleman came to Jesus asking for the

life of his son, and the request, like every other prayer of faith, was granted by the Great Physician.

Summary

  • •  Zebulun had three sons, whose descendants formed the tribe which bore his name. Gen. 46: 14.
  • •  The tribe numbered 60,500, when they entered the promised land. Num. 26: 26,27.
  • •  In the typical battle of Megiddo, they were self-supporting warriors. Judges 5:19
  • •  Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus, was within the borders of Zebulun.
  • •  Isaiah prophesied that Zebulun would receive great light. Isa. 9: 1, 2. Chapter 46 - Joseph

IN THE pages of sacred history, Joseph stands prominent among the few characters of whom inspiration has recorded no faults.

Joseph received one of the three portions of the birthright. It is interesting to note that each part of that birthright has been immortalized.

Judah, in his home life, perfected such a character that the honor of being the progenitor of Christ was bestowed upon him; and before the throne of God in heaven, holy beings point to Christ and say, "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah." 8951

Levi triumphed in the time of a great crisis in the cause of God, and thus perfected a character which entitled him to the

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priesthood, whose work was a shadow of that of the great High Priest in heaven. 8962

Joseph, separated from his brethren, surrounded by idolaters in a strange land, gained a victory which entitled him to the double portion of the inheritance. Two portions of the promised land were given to the family of Joseph; and throughout eternity, these two divisions of that distinct company,-the one hundred and forty-four thousand,-bearing the names, one of Joseph and the other of

Manasseh, the son of Joseph, will be a reminder of his faithfulness. 8973 This was prophetically announced in the blessing given by his father:

"The blessings of thy father and of thy mother
Have prevailed beyond the blessings of the eternal mountains, Beyond the glories of the everlasting hills
They shall rest upon the head of Joseph,
And upon the crown of the head of him
Who was separated from his brethren."
8984

Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob, and the first-born of Rachel, the beloved Wife. 899 5 The first seventeen years of his life were spent with his father's household. 9006

The principal points recorded in the early life of Joseph were the great love of Jacob for the lad, the coat of many colors, Joseph's dreams, and his being sold into Egypt.

There was evidently a marked significance to that coat of many colors, Joseph was not a child when given the coat, but a young man seventeen years of age, with an exemplary character. The old father knew that Reuben had forfeited his right to officiate as priest of the household; and as the patriarch watched the godly life of Joseph, it would be only natural that he should select him as the one worthy to fill the holy office, It is possible that in vision he may, have been permitted to see the great

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heavenly Priest; and that he made the coat as a faint representation of the priestly robe to be worn by his descendants.

But God sees not as man sees; from that group of envious, jealous sons, plotting murder in their hearts, the Lord took one, and purified and refined him until his descendants were fitted to fill the holy office of the priesthood.

The dreams of Joseph, revealing that the family would bow down before him, were more than the jealous hearts of the ten brothers could endure. Benjamin, the twelfth son, was but a child at this time.

When Joseph came to his brothers in the field, at a distance from their father, it would seem that all but Reuben had murderous designs against him. Jewish tradition states that Simeon bound Joseph before they lowered him into the pit, designing that he should perish there; otherwise he might have climbed out, and escaped.

When the dreams of Joseph's childhood were fulfilled, and his brothers bowed with their faces to the earth before him, then he remembered his dreams. 901 7 May we not conclude that Joseph, when he commanded the officers to take Simeon and bind him before their eyes, remembered how Simeon once bound himself, unmindful of his cries for mercy, while these same men looked on without any pity for him? Simeon must also have remembered it, for Reuben had just reminded the brothers of their cruelty to Joseph. 9028

Joseph had no resentment in his heart; he could say to those men, "It was not you that sent me hither, but God." 903 9 "Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good." 90410 Joseph saw only the Lord's hand in it all. When sold as a slave to Potiphar, he realized he was in God's hands. His faith took hold of God; and while serving Potiphar, "the muscles of his

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hands were strengthened through the power of the Mighty One of Jacob." 90511

The psalmist says, "The word of the Lord tried Him." 90612 He believed the word of God that had been taught him in childhood. It was that word which kept him courageous in prison, and humble when ruling Egypt. His strength, both in adversity and in prosperity, came from the "mighty God of Jacob."

When considering the strict integrity of Joseph in the midst of Egyptian darkness, we must not forget that Rachel, his mother, lived until he was about sixteen years of age. After she had, by her godly instruction, fortified her son for the great life-work before him, God in mercy laid Rachel to rest before Joseph was sold into Egypt, so she was spared that great sorrow. And throughout eternity she will see the fruit of her training; for it was no doubt his

mother's godly instruction that enabled Joseph to connect with God so closely that "his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the bands of the mighty God of Jacob." 90713

The Septuagint translation of Gen. 49:26 joins the mother's name with the father's in the blessing: "The blessings of thy father and thy mother, it has prevailed above the blessing of the lasting mountains and beyond the blessings of the everlasting hills." The dying patriarch, as he thought of the character of Joseph, remembered the years of faithful instruction which Rachel had given him from his birth until death separated them. The mothers of the other sons are not mentioned in the blessings.

Happy the mother that gives, and thrice happy the child that receives, such instruction. There is a power in godly training in childhood, that moulds the character. It places a "diadem of grace" on the head of the one who receives it. 90814

Joseph saw the hand of God in all the events of his life.

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Job manifested the same spirit; for after God had permitted the devil to take away, all his earthly possessions, he left the devil out of the reckoning entirely, and said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken blessed be the name of the Lord." 909 15 This spirit cherished in the heart to-day will make a man great, the same as in the days of Job and Joseph.

The first years of Joseph's life in Egypt were passed in the house of Potiphar, who made him overseer of all his interests. 910 16 "His master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand." 91117

Joseph's personal appearance is spoken of as "goodly" and "well favored." The wife of his master tried to entrap him; but his reply, "How ...can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" 91218 showed his strict integrity; but it cost him his position. From a place of honor he was cast into prison. Again God vindicated Joseph, and he was honored by being placed in charge of all the prisoners. 91319 He accepted his position in the prison as from the hand of the Lord.

After several years of prison life, at the age of thirty, 914 20 he stood before Pharaoh and interpreted the king's dreams, but he was careful to attribute all the honor to God. Then he was exalted to the second place in the kingdom,915 21 where he taught the Egyptian senators wisdom. 91622

During the seven years of plenty, Joseph laid up large quantities of grain for use during the seven years of famine. He married an Egyptian wife, and his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, were born during these seven years of plenty. 91723

Joseph had been chief ruler in Egypt nine years, 91824 when his brothers came to Egypt to buy food. It is interesting to note that when Joseph told his brothers that he would keep Benjamin as an hostage, he had the satisfaction of hearing Judah, the very one

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who, years before, had suggested selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, offer to become his bondman for life, in place of Benjamin. 91925

Joseph had the privilege of sustaining his father and his brothers

many years, and of seeing the fulfilment of his youthful dreams,

During Joseph's long life of one hundred and ten years, we have no

record of his ever proving untrue to God in any way. He died with

a firm faith in the promise made to Isaac, and Jacob. His last words

were, "God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones

from hence." 920 26 His body was embalmed, and when Moses led

the children of Israel out of Egypt, they fulfilled his dying charge. 92127

When the voice of Christ shall call the sleeping saints from their dusty beds, Joseph will spring forth clad in glorious immortality, to greet the "Shepherd, the Stone of Israel," 922 28 through faith in whom he gained all his victories.

Summary

  • •  Two large tribes sprang from the two sons of Joseph. Gen, 46:27.
  • •  When the children of Israel entered Egypt, the descendants of Joseph numbered 85,200. Num. 26: 34-37; Gen. 49: 22.
  • •  Joseph received one part of the birthright,-the double portion of the inheritance. 1 Chron. 5 : 1.
  • •  This portion of the birthright is perpetuated throughout eternity by two divisions of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, representing the family of Joseph. Rev. 7:6, 8.

Chapter 47 - Benjamin

BENJAMIN, the twelfth son of Jacob, was left motherless at the time of his birth. The only recorded request of his mother, Rachel, was that the babe might be called Benoni, "the son of my sorrow;" but Jacob changed the name to Benjamin, "the son of the right hand," 9231

The tender love of the father for his motherless son is shown by his unwillingness to allow him to accompany his brethren into Egypt. 924 2 Benjamin is often referred to as a lad when he went into Egypt; 925 3 but the record states that he was the father of ten sons at

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that time. 926 4 The patriarchal form of government no doubt brought him more closely under the direction of his father than are married sons of the present day.

While little is recorded of Benjamin as an individual, the tribe which bore his name acted a prominent part in the history of the children of Israel.

The character of the tribe seems to be portrayed by the prophetic words of Jacob in his parting blessing: "Benjamin shall raven as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil." 927 5 These words do not describe an enviable character, but rather that of a child indulged and petted until it is self-willed and petulant, as one might expect the youngest son in a large family would be, with no mother to control him.

This same stubborn spirit was shown by the tribe of Benjamin fighting until they were nearly exterminated, rather than deliver up the wicked men of Gibeah, that they might be punished. 928 6 Notwithstanding they were at this time reduced in number to six

hundred, yet in the time of David they had again become a numerous tribe. 9297

In the days of the judges, the Benjamites could furnish seven hundred men that could "sling stones at a hair breadth, and not miss." 9308

About three hundred and fifty years later, we read that the mighty men of Benjamin "could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow." 9319 The Benjamites were the only tribe which seemed to have pursued archery to any purpose, and their skill in the use of the bow and the sling was celebrated. 93210

Benjamin's territory lay north of Judah's, the boundary, line between the two tribes running through the city of Jerusalem.

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After the great crisis which resulted from the unfortunate transaction at Gibeah, 933 11 there were many things that mould have a tendency to change the stubborn, self-willed nature of the tribe.

For twenty years the sacred ark of the Lord remained within

their borders, in Kirjath-jearim, with a priest to take charge of it. 93412

Ramah, a city of Benjamin, was the home of Samuel the prophet, who had an altar built unto the Lord in this place, and offered sacrifices. Samuel "went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. And his return was to Ramah." 93513

Mizpeh, the place where the great assemblies of all Israel were held, 936 14 was within the borders of Benjamin. Here the Lord wrought a mighty deliverance for His terrified people. "The Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel." 93715

The prophetic words of Moses in his parting blessing on the tribes, indicate that there would be a decided change from the character portrayed by Jacob: "Of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover

him all the day long, and he shall dwell between His shoulders." 93816

The same fearless character that Jacob compared to a wolf, destroying everything before it, is changed by the converting power of the Spirit of God; and the strength once used to destroy, is now used to protect the people and interests of the Lord. "The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him."

It is interesting to notice the similarity between the character of the ancient tribe and that of the leading apostle to the Gentiles,

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who said of himself, "I also am an Israelite . . . of the tribe of Benjamin." 93917

Saul, afterward called Paul, is first introduced to witnessing the stoning of Stephen and "consenting unto his death." 94018 Next we hear of him as a ravening wolf, in making havoc of the church entering into every house and haling men and women, and committing them to prison. 94119 Like a savage wolf, thirsty for the blood of his prey, he was "breathing out threatenings and against the disciples of the Lord." 94220 There was no safety for any of the beloved of the Lord near such a character. But the same strength of character that will cause one to raven as a wolf and to hurt and destroy the people of God, will, when converted, shield and protect the honor of God and His cause.

From that time, that Saul, the Benjamite, had had one view of Jesus, 943 21 his wolf-like nature departed, and the beloved of the Lord could dwell in safety by him. The saints at Damascus were in no danger: he who had designed to destroy

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them was now their friend. 94422
God never forgets to return an act of kindness.
94523 When Saul

shielded and protected the "beloved of the Lord," the Lord covered him all the day long; nothing could harm him. The sting of the poisonous serpent was powerless. 946 24 There was not enough water in the sea to drown him. 947 25 God covered him all the day long.

The blessing given by Moses says, "The Lord shall cover him all the day long, and It shall dwell between His shoulders." Some commentators think that this refers to the temple being built on Mount Moriah, within the borders of Benjamin; but to the one who has childhood recollections of being carried between the strong shoulders of his father over the rough, uneven places in the road, the words have another meaning.

"The Lord shall cover him all the day long," protect from all

harm and danger. And when we come to impossibilities in our

pathway, things which our strength could never master,

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our heavenly Father lifts us in His mighty arms, and carries us safely over that which without his help it would be utterly impossible for us to accomplish. Like the child resting securely. between the shoulders of its father, with its arms clasped firmly around his neck, we accomplish that which is beyond all human power. Blessed place to be! but it is for the one by, whom the beloved of the Lord can dwell in safety. The voice of criticism and slander must be forever hushed by the one who hopes to fill that place. 94826

Ehud, under whom the land had rest fourscore years, was a Benjamite. 94927 He was left-handed, and it seems that by using his left hand, he was able more adroitly to slay Eglon, king of Moab, who was oppressing Israel. 95028

Saul, the first king of Israel, was of the tribe of Benjamin. 95129 God not only anointed Saul king over Israel, but He "gave him another heart." 952 30 He had associated with him men "whose hearts God had touched;" 953 32 and as long as he remained humble, the Lord was with him. When he became exalted in his own mind, he was rejected of the Lord. Then the wolf-like propensities in his character were clearly seen; for he like a ravening wolf, for years chased David as "a partridge in the mountains." His one desire was to slay "the beloved of the Lord."

In direct contrast with Saul, who spent the strength of his manhood in plotting to destroy the "man after God's own heart," is Mordecai, "the son of Kish, a Benjamite." Their fathers bore the

same name and they may have been related more closely than the tribal connection. The whole history of Mordecai is a series of deliverances of people from trouble. He saved the life of the Persian king. 95435 Afterward Satan and Haman planned to destroy every believer in the true God; 955 36 and while Mordecai was earnestly seeking the Lord for deliverance, 956 37 God used the kindness

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he had shown to the king as a means of escape. 957 38 Mordecai was raised to an exalted position in the kingdom, and was used by the Lord to shield and protect His people. 95839

The true, lasting victory that extends throughout all eternity does not depend upon tribal connections or hereditary tendencies, but upon a humble trust in God. "The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him." 95940 God can humble kings when they disregard His word; 96041 and He can take captives and give them kingly power. 96142

The natural character of Benjamin is the character of the unconverted heart in every age of the world. 962 43 Happy the one at the present day who, like Mordecai, will stand true to principle, 96344 and will risk all to protect the "beloved of the Lord;" he can claim the promise given to Benjamin of old: "The Lord shall cover him all the day long and he shall dwell between His shoulders."

Twelve thousand having this character, bearing the name of Benjamin, will serve the Lord day and night in His temple throughout eternity. 96445

Summary

  • •  Benjamin had ten sons from whom sprang the tribe of Benjamin. Gen. 46:21.
  • •  When they entered the promised land the tribe of Benjamin numbered

45,600.

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The Benjamites were noted for archery, and for left handed, 1 Chron. 8:40; 2 Chron 17:17

  • •  Ramah, the home of Samuel, was within the borders of Benjamin. Mizpeh where Israel held great assemblies, was in the land of Benjamin.
  • •  Noted Characters Ehud, who judged eighty years. Judges 3:21-26. Saul the first king of Israel 1 Sam 9:21. Mordecai, whom the Lord used to save Israel in the days of Esther. Esther 2:5.
  • •  Paul, the leading apostle to the Gentiles. Rom 11:1. Chapter 48 - Manasseh

A dying patriarch's blessing meant much in ancient times; and Joseph heard that his father was sick, he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and visited him.

After repeating to Joseph the promise of the land of Canaan which had been given to Abraham and renewed to Isaac and Jacob, the old patriarch said, "Thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, . . . are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine." When Jacob saw the boys, he said: "Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them." 9651

Joseph placed the first-born at Jacob's right hand and the

youngest at his left; but the aged patriarch laid his right hand on

the head of the younger, and his left hand upon the head of

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the eldest as he blessed them. When Joseph saw it, he attempted to place Jacob's right hand on the head of Manasseh, the eldest, saying, "Not so, my father: for this is the first-born." But his father refused, saying, "I know it, my son, I know it: . . . he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he." 9662

Like his great Uncle Esau, Manasseh, although the first-born, received the second place in the blessing; but the circumstances were entirely different. Manasseh did nothing to forfeit his privileges in the family blessing. While he did not have the war-like propensities of Ephraim, which enabled him to build up the kingdom of Israel, yet Manasseh's name will outlive that of Ephraim.

There was one portion of the patriarch's blessing which seemed to be shared more largely by Manasseh than by his more

prosperous brother. "The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads." 9673

The blessing of the Lord was prized by Manasseh and his descendants. Although they lived at a distance from the center of the nation, and from the temple, and though they had become a part of the northern kingdom, yet they took an interest in all the reforms instituted by the good kings of Judah. When

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King Asa broke down the idols and renewed the worship of the Lord, they came to him "in abundance" from Manasseh, "when they saw that the Lord his God was with him." 9684

When Hezekiah held his great Passover feast, representatives from Manasseh humbled their hearts and came and partook of the Passover. 969 5 They also joined in the work of breaking down the images in their own territory. 9706

The work of reform in the days of Josiah was also carried to the land of Manasseh. 971 7 They did not lose their interest in the temple at Jerusalem, but gave of their means to restore it after its defilement during the reigns of Manasseh and Amon. 972 8 It is supposed that the eightieth Psalm was written by some inspired penman of the house of Joseph during one of these seasons of reform.

Little is recorded of the tribe of Manasseh after the settlement in Canaan, but it is gratifying, that faint and scattered as the passages are that refer to that tribe, they all indicate a desire on the part of many to serve the Lord.

The blessing of the Angel rested upon Manasseh, and while Ephraim and Manasseh were the names of the two portions given to Joseph in the earthly possession, the names given to the two divisions of the one hundred and forty-four thousand in the kingdom of God will be Manasseh (Greek, Manases) and Joseph. 9739 The name of Manasseh is thus immortalized, while that of Ephraim sinks into oblivion.

Gideon, the greatest of the judges, was of the tribe of Manasseh. He seems to have been the only great warrior in the western half of the tribe; the eastern portion were more warlike.

When David went out with the Philistines to battle against Saul,

warriors from Manasseh joined. themselves to David; but when the

lords of the Philistines would not allow David to go

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with them to the battle, seven mighty warriors, "captains of the thousands of Manasseh," joined David at Ziklag. "They helped David against the band of the rovers" who had carried captive David's family; "for they were all mighty men of valor." 97410

After the death of Saul, eighteen thousand of the half tribe of Manasseh "were expressed by name, to come and make David king" at Hebron. 97511

The five daughters of Zelophehad, of the tribe of Manasseh, are the first women mentioned in the Bible as holding an inheritance in their own name and right. 97612

If Reuben had never lost his birthright through sin, or if Dan had not formed a character so near akin to Satan that his name was omitted from the list of the twelve tribes, Manasseh's name might never have been given to one of the divisions of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. In all this experience are lessons for every child of God.

When God says, "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown," 97713 it is well that we heed the admonition. If we do not, we may find, when too late, that we have allowed the world to rob us of our love for the Master; and that our judgment has become so darkened by sin and unbelief that, like Reuben, we fall far short of doing the work the Lord designed we should accomplish. Some one who, like Joseph, has been separated from those of the same faith, without the opportunities we have enjoyed, will by simple faith and trust in God, do the work we have failed to do, and receive the reward we might have obtained.

The pathway of time is strewn with the wrecks of character,- men who were once true and faithful members of the Israel of God, 978 14 and who were "written to life in Jerusalem;" 979 15 but

who allowed Satan to fill their hearts with envy, jealousy,

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and criticism, until, like Dan, they have lost their hold on heavenly things, and are no longer numbered with the Israel of God.

"Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Summary

  • •  The only son of Manasseh mentioned is Machir, whose mother was a concubine; from him sprang the tribe of Manasseh. 1 Chronicles 7:14.
  • •  When Israel entered Canaan the tribe of Manasseh numbered 52,700. Numbers 26:34.
  • •  Gideon, the greatest of the judges, was of the tribe of Manasseh.
  • •  The first women mentioned as holding property in their own names, were

of the tribe of Manasseh. Numbers 27:1-8.

Chapter 49 - The One Hundred and Forty-Four Thousand

Genesis is the book of beginnings, Revelation the book of endings. The most important lines of truth given by all the Old Testament writers meet in the Revelation. Genesis introduces us to the twelve tribes of Israel; Revelation shows us the last representatives of those tribes standing upon Mount Zion in the eternal kingdom of God. 9801

The redeemed of the Lord are an innumerable company, which

no man can number; but among that multitude is one separate

company, who are numbered and are designated by their number,-

one hundred and forty-four thousand. This company is composed

of twelve different divisions, each containing twelve thousand

redeemed souls; and each division bears the name of one of the

twelve tribes of Israel. 9812 The 1ist given in Revelation

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varies somewhat from the list of the twelve sons of Jacob, 982 3 as Dan is omitted, and the extra division is given the name of Manasseh, Joseph's eldest son.

This company have special privileges. They stand upon Mount Zion with Christ, 983 4 and "follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth." 9845 They have the exalted privilege of serving Christ in the heavenly temple; 985 7 and like all the redeemed host, they are faultless before God, and in their mouths is no guile.

The great reaper death has laid one generation after another of the saints of God in the silent tomb; and lest some might fear that the grave would be the final end of the faithful, God gave the following pledge through His prophet: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death." 9868

The one hundred and forty-four thousand are redeemed from

the earth-from among men. 987 9 They are alive upon the earth

when the Saviour comes, and will be translated, together with the

innumerable host who will come from their dusty beds, clad in

glorious immortality, when Christ comes in the clouds of heaven. 98810

The one hundred and forty-four thousand are distinguished from all others by their having the seal of the living God in their foreheads. All who have this seal are included in this company. 98911 This distinguishing mark is called the "Father's name." 990 12 Ezekiel was evidently shown the same work, and speaks of it as a "mark" upon the forehead. 99113

We are familiar with the term "seal" in connection with legal documents. A seal contains the name of the person issuing the document, his office or authority, and the extent of his jurisdiction. The seal placed upon the foreheads of the one hundred and forty- four thousand, is the seal of the living God. Seals are attached to laws and legal documents; therefore we should look for God's seal to be attached to His law. The prophet Isaiah,

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looking down through the ages, saw a people who were expecting

Christ to come from the heavenly sanctuary to the earth, and the

message of God to them was, "Seal the law among My disciples." 99214

The Bible was given through prophets,-holy men whom God used as mouthpieces, to make His will known to His people; 99315 but the law of God-the ten commandments-was not given through any human agent. God the Father, Christ the Son, and myriads of heavenly beings came down upon Mount Sinai, 99416 when the ten commandments were proclaimed to the vast multitude of Israel- over a million people. 99518 Then, lest there might be some mistake

in writing out the law which He had given, God called Moses up into the mountain, and gave him two tables of stone, upon which He had engraved with His own finger the same ten commandments that He had spoken in the hearing of the multitude. This law will be the standard by which every son and daughterofAdamwillbejudged. HasGodattachedHissealto this law, whereby all may know its binding

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claims? Remembering that the seal must contain, first, the name of the one issuing the law; second, the office or authority vested in the lawgiver; and third, the territory over which he rules, let us look for the seal in the law of God.

The first three commandments, and also the fifth, mention the name of God, 996 20 but do not distinguish Him from other gods. 99721 The last five commandments show our duty to our fellow men, but do not contain the name of God. 99822

The fourth commandment contains, first, the name, "the Lord thy God;" second, the statement that the Lord thy God is the Creator of all things, and therefore has power to issue this law; third, a record of His territory, which consists of "heaven and earth," which He created. 99923

The fourth commandment requires all who dwell in the territory of the Lord God the Creator, to keep holy the seventh day of the week, which He has sanctified and blessed, 1000 24 as a memorial of His creative work.

The Sabbath commandment contains the seal of the law. The word sign is sometimes used as a synonym for "seal." 100125 Of the Sabbath God says: "It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever." 1002 26 "Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." 100327

God blessed and sanctified the Sabbath; 1004 28 and to the one who will keep it holy, it is a sign, or seal, of God's power to sanctify him. 100529 There is a knowledge of God in the proper observance of the Sabbath. "Hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign

between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God." 100630

During the Dark Ages, when the word of God was hidden from the people, the seal was taken from God's law. Sunday, the

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first day of the week, a day upon which God worked, 1007 31 was substituted for the seventh-day Sabbath, upon which He rested. 100832 The Lord revealed through Daniel the prophet that a power would arise which should "think to change" the law of God, 100934 and that the law would be given into his hands during twelve hundred and sixty years, a period of time mentioned by both Daniel and John. After that period had passed and the Bible was again in the hands of the people, the true Sabbath of the fourth commandment was to be restored and observed. The breach in the law would be repaired, and the law sealed among the disciples of the Lord, who would be eagerly looking for His return.

In Rev. 7:2, this sealing message is represented as coming from the east, or sun-rising. We should understand from this that it would begin like the sun-rising, first a faint light, steadily increasing until it lightens the whole earth.

Four angels were commissioned to hold the four winds until the work was accomplished. Winds are a symbol of war. 101038 In

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fulfilment of this we should expect to find that during some period of the world's history the winds of war were miraculously held, while the work of restoring the seal to the law of God was going forward in the earth.

There have always been upon the earth some adherents of the seventh-day Sabbath; but the work of restoring the breach which had been made in the law was begun about 1845, by those who were then watching for the second coming of the Lord. After the time set for Him to come had passed, in the autumn of 1844, the attention of those who had expected Christ to return to the earth at that time was directed to the heavenly sanctuary, where by faith they saw Christ officiating as their High Priest. As they followed the Saviour in His work, "the temple of God was opened in heaven,

and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament." 101139 Their attention was attracted to the law contained in that ark, 101240 and some of them recognized the binding claim of the Sabbath of the Lord, and accepted it as the seal of the law. About 1847-48 the Sabbath began to be preached as the seal of the law of the living God.

In 1848 occurred one of the greatest upheavals in the national affairs of Europe that had been for many centuries. Decided changes were made in some of the leading nations. In a brief period of time, many of the crowned heads of Europe submitted themselves to the people. It looked as if universal war was inevitable. In the midst of the turmoil and strife, came a sudden calm. No man could assign any reason for it, but the student of prophecy knew that the angels were holding the winds until the servants of God could be sealed in their foreheads.

The forehead is the seat of the intellect; and when the honest in

heart see and acknowledge the binding claims of God's law, they

will keep holy the Sabbath. The seal placed in the forehead

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by the angel can not be read by man, for God alone can read the heart. Simply resting upon the seventh day from all physical work will not place the seal upon the forehead of any one. The resting is necessary, but with the rest must be also the holy and sanctified life that is in harmony with the holy and sanctified day. 101341

Ezekiel saw an angel placing a "mark" upon the foreheads of those who were distressed because of the abominations practised by the professed people of God. 1014 42 Those who are at ease in Zion drifting with the current, their hearts' affections centered on the world, will never receive the seal of the living God.

The Sabbath reform-the sealing work of Rev. 7:1-4-arose as the sun. For some years there were only a few that kept the Sabbath of the fourth commandment; but as individuals here and there, in all parts of the world, found that the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation teaches that the seventh day is the Sabbath, and that Christ 101543 and the apostles 101644 kept it, they accepted it; 101745 and today in every division of the earth there are those who honor

God as the Creator, by keeping holy the day which He sanctified and blessed as a memorial of His creative work.

In the Christian church there is neither Jew nor Gentile; all are one in Christ Jesus. 1018 46 We are all grafted into the family of Abraham. 101947 The one hundred and forty-four thousand are not necessarily literal descendants of the Jews, 102048 but they are those who have received the seal of the living God in their foreheads, whose lives are in harmony with the holy precepts of Jehovah.

In Rev. 14: 9-14 we are told of a power that is opposed to God's

law, and that has a mark which it will try to enforce upon the

people by means of the civil power. 102149 Since the Sabbath of

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the Lord is given by Jehovah as a sign of His power and His right to rule, the counterfeit sabbath, or Sunday, the first day of the week, will be the mark of the opposing power. God's law commands all to keep holy the seventh day of the week, God's memorial of creation; but the laws of the land will command all to rest upon Sunday, the first day of the week. 102250

When this test comes, each person will have to decide for himself. Many, like Peter and John, when they faced the magistrates and imprisonment, will say, "We ought to obey God rather than men." 102351

This conflict will continue, says John, until the dragon, Satan, will become so angry with the church that he will "make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 102452

Out of this conflict the one hundred and forty-four thousand

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will be gathered. Their experience will be similar to that of the children of Israel coming out of Egypt. Pharaoh would not allow them to rest on the Sabbath. He called the instruction of Moses and Aaron "vain words;" 102553 or as Dr. Adam Clarke expresses it, Pharaoh said, "Let religion alone, and mind your work." On "the same day" 1026 54 that Pharaoh complained because Moses and Aaron were instructing the people to rest, the king gave the command, "Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick,"

and the burdens of the children of Israel were greatly increased. 102756 Satan was determined that the Israelites should not honor the Sabbath of the Lord; but God delivered His people and destroyed Pharaoh and all his host.

On earth the distinguishing mark of the one hundred and forty- four thousand is the seal of God in their foreheads; in heaven it will be the wonderful song which they will sing: "They sung as it were a new song before the throne: . . . and no man could learn that song but the one hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth." 1028 57 "They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the lamb." 102958 It is a song of experience-wonderful melody! Not even the angel choir can join in those marvelous strains as they echo through the arches of heaven. Even Abraham, the friend of God, with all his faith, cannot join in that song. What a chorus that will be! one hundred and forty-four thousand voices all in perfect accord, singing the "song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb."

As the twelve tribes, after crossing the Red Sea, all united in the song of triumph, so the last representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel on earth, as they stand a mighty phalanx on the sea of glass before the throne of God in heaven, will sing the song of Moses and the Lamb.

Summary

  • •  The one hundred and forty-four thousand receive the seal of the living God in their foreheads. Rev. 7:2-4.
  • •  They obtain the victory over the beast and his image. Rev. 15:2.
  • •  Are redeemed from among men. Rev. 14:3,4.
  • •  Stand upon Mount Zion. Rev. 14:1.
  • •  "Follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth." Rev. 14:4.
  • •  Sing a song that no one else can sing. Rev. 14: 3.
  • •  Serve Christ in the heavenly temple. Rev. 7:15.
  • •  A seal attached to a legal document must give the name, office, or authority, of the one issuing the document, and the territory over which he rules.
  • •  God has a seal; this seal is connected with His law. Rev. 7:3,4; Isa. 8:16.
  • •  The fourth commandment contains the seal of the law of God. It gives His name,-Lord God; His authority,-the Creator; and His territory,-the heaven and earth which He has made.
  • •  Ex. 20:8-11.
  • •  Sign and seal are synonymous terms. Rom. 4:11.
  • •  The Sabbath is the sign, or seal, of the law of God. Eze. 20:12,20.
  • •  A blessing is pronounced upon the one who will keep the Sabbath. Isa. 56:1,2.

Chapter 50 - The Lost Tribes

Much has been said and written about the lost tribes of Israel, and many fanciful theories have been invented in regard to them. We will not attempt to follow any of these lines of argument, but will speak of those tribes which are truly lost.

In the previous chapters we have seen that Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, and Manasseh, not only had a part in the land of Palestine, but that their names are immortalized, and will be represented in the kingdom of God throughout eternity, while the names of Ephraim and Dan sink into oblivion. They are the lost tribes of Israel.

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Why was proud Ephraim, who was the strength of the kingdom of Israel, and Dan, who was surpassed only by Judah in the number of its warriors when they entered the promised land, left out of the final great gathering of Israel as tribes?

Ephraim was the son of an Egyptian princess who was an idolater, as far as we have any record. It is very probable that most of Ephraim's life was spent among the Egyptians, for we can hardly suppose that with his proud connections he associated much with the Israelites in Goshen, until a king arose that knew not Joseph. 10301 Manasseh lived in the same surroundings; but the fact that Ephraim had received first place in the blessing of the patriarch, may have filled his heart with pride and given a different mould to his life. Ephraim was about twenty-one years of age when he received Jacob's blessing. He had the godly example of his father

before him for many years; for Joseph lived to see Ephraim's children of the third generation. 10312

Only one glimpse of the individual life of Ephraim is given. The record states that his sons, in a marauding expedition, stole the cattle belonging to the men of Gath, and the men of Gath slew them. "Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him." 10323

While Ephraim was still mourning the loss of his children, another son was born to him, and he named him Beriah, or "evil," "because it went evil with his house." 10334 Strange as it may seem, from Beriah came the most illustrious of all his descendants,- Joshua, the great leader of Israel. 1034 5 "Oshea, the son of Nun," 10356 was chosen as one of the ten spies, and after his faithfulness had been tested on that occasion, his name was changed from Oshea, "help," to Joshua, "the help of Jehovah." This change of names was common in ancient times, for names then indicated the character of the bearer. Abram became Abraham

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when he received the promise; and after the night of wrestling, Jacob, the supplanter, became Israel, the prince of God. 10367

Another illustrious descendant of Beriah was his daughter, Sherah, who built two cities. 10378

Samuel, the last judge of Israel, was of the tribe of Ephraim. It was in Shiloh that Hannah gave Samuel to Eli, the priest. 1038 9 Samuel is one of the strong characters of the Bible. Few men have filled so many offices during a long and useful life as did Samuel. He officiated as priest, but he was not a priest. 1039 10 He judged Israel all the days of his life. 1040 12 He was also a great educator, and established the schools of the prophets. When but a child Samuel was entrusted with the Spirit of prophecy, and it is usually supposed that a portion of the Bible was written by him.

Ephraim as a tribe had many advantages; but they failed to profit by them. They were envious and jealous, always sensitive over supposed slights. 104113

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After the death of Solomon, the kingdom was divided, and from that time the history of Ephraim is the history of the kingdom of Israel.

Jeroboam, their first king, was an Ephrathite. It was God that

rent the kingdom out of the hands of Rehoboam, and gave ten

tribes to Jeroboam; 1042 14 and if he had walked humbly with God,

an entirely different history would have been written of Ephraim.

It was the same spirit of jealousy and suspicion that had marred

the history of his tribe, that influenced Jeroboam to make the

golden calves, and set them up in Bethel and Dan, thus establishing

a system of idolatrous worship. 104315 The Lord sent a message of

warning, and even performed a miracle

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upon the person of the king; 1044 16 but "Jeroboam returned not from his evil way." 104517

There are few things more mournful than the steady descent of the haughty, jealous tribe of Ephraim from the pinnacle of success,-their leader the leader of the entire nation, and the center of the worship at Shiloh within their borders,-to the sudden captivity and total oblivion which closed its career.

Some most pathetic messages were sent by the Lord to the tribe of Ephraim. Almost the whole of Hosea's testimonies were entreaties for Ephraim to repent. "I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with the cords of a man, with bands of love; . . . but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return." 104618

Hosea gives the reason for the downfall of Ephraim: "Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned." 104719 God's kingdom and the kingdoms of the world are entirely distinct. No one can serve God and mammon. Ephraim was "a cake not turned;" he did not have a thorough experience in the things of God. One cannot mix himself among the people of the world, spending his strength in the pursuit of wealth and fame, and at the same time be a member of the true Israel of God.

The Lord pleaded with Ephraim, saying, "How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel?" 1048 20 Again, He

said, "I have written to him the great things of My law, but they were counted as a strange thing." 104921

Idolatry was the great sin of Ephraim; he failed to appreciate

the sacred things of God. After the pleadings of the Lord were

rejected, then the word went forth, "Ephraim is joined to idols: let

him alone." 105022 "My God will cast them away, because

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they did not hearken unto Him," 105123 nor accept His love.
There are many idolaters in the world today, traveling the same road over which Ephraim passed. They are not worshiping idols made of metal, wood, or stone, for the popular gods of the present day are not of that form; they are money, wealth, pleasure, and high position. God is calling after them, but they, like Ephraim, are joined to their idols. Like Ephraim of old, they are reckoned as a part of the church of God, but the theatre and pleasure resorts have more attraction for them than the house of prayer, and

worldly society is more enjoyable than the companionship

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of saints. They will one day be taken captive by a King greater than the kings of Assyria and Babylon. The great King of all kings will arise and shake terribly the earth. "In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they have made each one for himself to worship, to the moles, and to the bats, . . . for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly, the earth." 105224

Dan was the fifth son of Jacob, and his descendants composed one of the strong tribes of Israel. Sixty-four thousand four hundred warriors were marshaled under the standard of Dan as they entered the promised land. 105325 For some reason the large tribe of Dan was given one of the smallest portions of the inheritance, and in time they pushed northward and fought against "Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father." 1054 26 Jeroboam set up his golden calves, one in Bethel in the territory of Ephraim, the other in the city of Dan;

and the Danites were given over to idolatry. Even before the days of Jeroboam, we find the Danites worshiping graven images. 105527

When the tabernacle was built in the wilderness, God especially endowed Aholiab, of the tribe of Dan, with wisdom to "devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass," 1056 28 and also gave him ability to teach others the same art. 105729 These gifts remained with the tribe of Dan, and were doubtless the reason why they were attracted toward the wealthy city of Tyre, and intermarried with its inhabitants. 105830

Years afterward, when Solomon built the temple, Hiram, king of

Tyre, sent a descendant of Dan, one still possessing the gifts given

his forefathers by the Lord, to make the cunning

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work in gold, silver, and brass, for the temple, 105931 in Jerusalem. The tribe of Dan still kept its place among the Israelites in the time of David; 106032 but after that the name as applied to the tribe vanishes, and it is seldom mentioned, except when referring to the

northern city by that name.
Samson is the only ruler furnished Israel by the tribe of Dan.

He judged Israel for twenty years. 106133
The blessing pronounced upon Dan by Jacob, portrays his

character: "Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward." 1062 34 Like the blessing pronounced upon Reuben, the first part portrays the character he might have possessed, if he had embraced the opportunities God placed in his pathway. What a contrast between a judge, respected and honored by all, and a serpent by the roadside, ready to fasten its deadly fangs into the flesh of every passer-by!

Dan was the first son born of the concubines, but the old patriarch gave him an honored place among the tribes of Israel. Naturally he was endowed with the quick, keen discernment that makes a good judge; but he did not exercise the gift as God designed; he used it in detecting the evil in others, instead of the good.

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"An adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward!" What words could better describe the evil tongue that "is set on fire of hell" and is "full of deadly poison"? 1063 35 Dan represents the backbiter, for the adder strikes the heels of the horse. Such characters are hated by both God and man. The word of the Lord says, "Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off." 1064 36 The prophetic words of Jacob reveal why the tribe of Dan has no part in the eternal inheritance; God had decreed, long before they sealed their destiny by their wicked course, that no backbiter should ever stand on Mount Zion.

The psalmist asks the question, "Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in Thy holy hill?" In other words, Who will serve Thee day and night in Thy temple, and stand with Thee upon Mount Zion? "He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up reproach against his neighbor," is the answer of Jehovah. 106537

Reuben, by "great searching of heart," overcame his natural character, which was "unstable as water," until it could be said of him, "Let Reuben live, and not die;" and Levi, by the grace of God, changed his father's dying curse into a blessing. Judah, by the help of the Lord in his daily life, "prevailed above his brethren" to such an extent that the dying father could say, "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto him shall the gathering of the people be." Gad, although overcome by a troop of temptations, gained the victory, and "overcame at last." Benjamin, from ravening "as a wolf," learned to trust in God so fully that of him it could be said, "The Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between His shoulders." Asher learned to "dip his foot in oil," and pass smoothly over the trials that,

377

without the spirit of God, could never have been mastered. Ephraim and Dan, with the same opportunities that their brethren had of overcoming evil traits in their characters, failed to gain the victory, and are not reckoned with the one hundred and

forty-four thousand who will stand on God's holy hill and abide in His tabernacle.

In families all over the land today the same story is being repeated. Brothers, reared by the same parents, surrounded by the same environments, are passing over the same experiences as are recorded of the sons of Jacob. Of them, 1ike the wheat and the tares, the commandment is given, "Let both grow together until the harvest." The same sunshine and storm that ripen the golden heads of wheat for the garner, ripen the tares for the final destruction; so the same daily blessings from the Father of lights ripen one individual for the kingdom of God, and the other for final destruction.

Each one is the architect of his own character. To all the call is given, "Look unto Me, and be ye saved." The one who will keep his mind stayed on God, by beholding will be changed. Day by day a transformation will take place in the soul, which

378

will cause angels to marvel at the work wrought in humanity.
The same Christ who once walked the earth, clothed in human form, will by His divine Spirit, dwell in every human being who will open wide the door of his heart and bid Him enter. He who will meditate upon Christ, and study His sinless life, by beholding the glory of the Lord will be "changed into the same image from

glory to glory."
"Christ is sitting for His portrait in every disciple." It is possible

for poor fallen humanity through the power of God to reflect the divine character. Christ covers the marred life with the spotless robe of His own righteousness. God and angels beholding the individual thus clothed, see only the perfect character of the divine Son of God; and throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity, the redeemed will witness to the transforming power of the blood of Christ.

  1. 1  Genesis 3:15
  2. 2  John 1:9
  3. 3  Genesis 2:17, margin
  4. 4  Romans 6:23
  5. 5  Hebrews 2:14
  6. 6  Rev 13:8
  7. 7  Malachi 4:1-3
  8. 8  Hebrews 8:5
  9. 9  Jeremiah 17:12
  10. 10  Psalms 102:19
  11. 11  2 Chronicles 30:27
  12. 12  Hebrews 9:8
  13. 13  Revelation 11:19
  14. 14  Hebrews 8:2
  15. 15  Psalms 103:19,20
  16. 16  Daniel 9:21-23
  17. 17  Isaiah 57:15
  18. 18  1 Corinthians 6;19,20
  19. 19  1 John 3:15
  20. 20  John 5:2-9
  21. 21  Exodus 26:15-30
  22. 22  Exodus 36:37, margin
  23. 23  Revelation 4:2-4; 5:11
  24. 24  Exodus 26:1, margin
  25. 25  Ezekiel 1:28
  26. 26  Exodus 26:1-14
  1. 27  Exodus 40:38
  2. 28  Isaiah 32:2
  3. 29  Psalms 91:1
  4. 30  Exodus 40:38
  5. 31  Psalms 89:15
  6. 32  John 10:28,29
  7. 33  Matthew 14:28-31
  8. 34  Matthew 22:1-14
  9. 35  Genesis 4:4; Hebrews 11:4
  10. 36  Hebrews 11:17-19
  11. 37  Genesis 22:2
  12. 38  James 2:23
  13. 39  2 Samuel 5;6-9
  14. 40  2 Chronicles 3:1
  15. 41  Zechariah 14:4-11
  16. 42  Exodus 25:8
  17. 43  Joshua 5:10,11
  18. 44  Joshua 18:1; 19:51
  19. 45  1 Chronicles 16:39; 21:29
  20. 46  1 Chronicles 28:11-19
  21. 47  1 Kings 14:25,26
  22. 48  2 Kings 12:4-14
  23. 49  2 Kings 12:17,18
  24. 50  2 Kings 16:14,18
  25. 51  2 Chronicles 29:3-35
  26. 52  2 Kings 21:4-7
  27. 53  Ezra 6:16-22
  1. 54  John 2:20
  2. 55  Matthew 27:50,51
  3. 56  Matthew 23:37,38
  4. 57  Exodus 25:10
  5. 58  Exodus 34:5-7
  6. 59  Romans 4:15
  7. 60  Romans 5:13
  8. 61  Deuteronomy 4:10-13
  9. 62  Exodus 31:18
  10. 63  Romans 6:23
  11. 64  Leviticus 16:15
  12. 65  Galatians 3:13
  13. 66  Exodus 25:21,22
  14. 67  Ezekiel 28:14,16
  15. 68  Romans 2:12
  16. 69  Psalms 119:172
  17. 70  Psalms 97:2, margin
  18. 71  I Kings 8:9
  19. 72  Numbers 17:10
  20. 73  Deuteronomy 10:1,2
  21. 74  2 Samuel 6:6,7
  22. 75  1 Samuel 6:19
  23. 76  Deuteronomy 10:8
  24. 77  1 Samuel 4:3-11
  25. 78  2 Maccabees 2:1-8
  26. 79  Psalms 97:6; 98:2
  27. 80  1 John 3:4
  1. 81  Romans 3:21
  2. 82  Exodus 25:31-37
  3. 83  Exodus 25:40, margin
  4. 84  Revelation 1:12-20
  5. 85  Hebrews 8:5
  6. 86  Hebrew 12:23, margin
  7. 87  Ephesians 2:10
  8. 88  I Peter 4:12
  9. 89  Revelation 4:2,5
  10. 90  2 Chronicles 16:9, margin
  11. 91  Leviticus 24:2
  12. 92  Exodus 30:7,8
  13. 93  Hebrews 4:15
  14. 94  Luke 1:10
  15. 95  Zechariah 4:1-14, margin.
  16. 96  2 Chronicles 36:20-23; Jeremiah 25:12; Hosea 1:7.
  17. 97  Exodus 25:23-30; 40:22
  18. 98  1 Chronicles 9:32; Leviticus 24:5
  19. 99  Leviticus 24:8; 1 Samuel 21:3-6; Matthew 12:3,4
  20. 100  Leviticus 24:6,7
  21. 101  Leviticus 24:9
  22. 102  1 Samuel 21:4
  23. 103  Exodus 16:22,23
  24. 104  1 Chronicles 9:32
  25. 105  Hebrews 7:25
  26. 106  John 6:51-53
  27. 107  John 6:63.
  1. 108  John 14:24.
  2. 109  Revelation 1:1.
  3. 110  Ezekiel 20:12.
  4. 111  1 Peter 2:2-5.
  5. 112  Exodus 30:1-6.
  6. 113  Exodus 30:8.
  7. 114  Exodus 30:34-38.
  8. 115  Exodus 30:7,8.
  9. 116  Hebrews 8:5.
  10. 117  Hebrews 3:1.
  11. 118  Revelation 8:3,4, margin.
  12. 119  Romans 8:26,27
  13. 120  John 16:23
  14. 121  John 14:30
  15. 122  Psalms 141:2
  16. 123  2 Chronicles 30:27
  17. 124  Exodus 29:38-42
  18. 125  Luke 1:10
  19. 126  Deuteronomy 33:25
  20. 127  Leviticus 16:13
  21. 128  Isaiah 61:10
  22. 129  Revelation 5:8, margin
  23. 130  Exodus 30:37,38
  24. 131  Leviticus 10:1-10
  25. 132  Isaiah 64:6
  26. 133  Numbers 16:46-48
  27. 134  Numbers 16:3-35
  1. 135  Hebrews 1:4.
  2. 136  John 1:29,36.
  3. 137  Leviticus 4:27-29.
  4. 138  Ephesians 1:6.
  5. 139  John 10:17.
  6. 140  Hebrews 9:12.
  7. 141  Hebrews 6:19,20.
  8. 142  Ephesians 4:8, margin; Matthew 27:52,53.
  9. 143  Revelation 1:6; 5:10.
  10. 144  Romans 8:17.
  11. 145  Zechariah 2:8.
  12. 146  1 Peter 2:21.
  13. 147  Hebrews 1:14.
  14. 148  1 Peter 2:23.
  15. 149  Hebrews 2:17,18; 3:1.
  16. 150  Hebrews 9:6,7.
  17. 151  Hebrews 8:5
  18. 152  Hebrews 9:3.
  19. 153  Isaiah 53:11.
  20. 154  Zechariah 3:17.
  21. 155  Revelation 5:13.
  22. 156  Genesis 4:7, margin.
  23. 157  Genesis 49:3,4; 1 Chronicles 5:1,2.
  24. 158  Genesis 37:3,4
  25. 159  Deuteronomy 21:17.
  26. 160  1 Chronicles 5:1,2; Numbers 3:6,9.
  27. 161  Deuteronomy 33:8-11.
  1. 162  1 Corinthians 5:8.
  2. 163  Isaiah 9:6.
  3. 164  Exodus 29:5-35.
  4. 165  1 Samuel 1:1,19,20.
  5. 166  1 Kings 2:26,27.
  6. 167  Hebrews 9:7.
  7. 168  1 Chronicles 6:49.
  8. 169  Hebrews 13:11.
  9. 170  Leviticus 4:3-7,13-18.
  10. 171  Exodus 30:7,8.
  11. 172  Genesis 14:17-20
  12. 173  Hebrews 6:20
  13. 174  1 Chronicles 24:1-19
  14. 175  2 Chronicles 8:14
  15. 176  Ephesians 4:8 margin.
  16. 177  Numbers 3:10
  17. 178  Ezra 2:26
  18. 179  1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 20:15
  19. 180  Psalms 24:1
  20. 181  Psalms 50:10-12
  21. 182  Leviticus 27:30-33
  22. 183  Numbers 18:20-24
  23. 184  Malachi 3:8-11
  24. 185  Genesis 14:17-20
  25. 186  Genesis 28:20-22
  26. 187  John 8:39
  27. 188  1 Cor 9:9-14
  1. 189  Genesis 49:5-7
  2. 190  Nehemiah 13:2
  3. 191  Isaiah 1:18
  4. 192  Exodus 32:26-29
  5. 193  Deuteronomy 33:8-11
  6. 194  Numbers 18:20; 35:1-8
  7. 195  Hebrews 13:8
  8. 196  Jeremiah 18:7-10
  9. 197  Numbers 18:1-7
  10. 198  Numbers 8:9-14
  11. 199  Numbers 8:17,18
  12. 200  Numbers 4:20
  13. 201  1 Chronicles 23:24-32
  14. 202  Numbers 8:23-26, margin
  15. 203  Exodus 28:40-42
  16. 204  Revelation 19:8
  17. 205  Isaiah 61:10
  18. 206  Isaiah 9:6
  19. 207  Exodus 28:2-39
  20. 208  1 Samuel 23:9-12
  21. 209  Exodus 28:36,37
  22. 210  Ezekiel 44:19
  23. 211  Exodus 28:15
  24. 212  Revelation 3:5
  25. 213  1 Corinthians 5:7
  26. 214  Deuteronomy 16:16
  27. 215  Exodus 23:16; 34:22, margin
  1. 216  Exodus 12:2
  2. 217  Exodus 12:6, margin
  3. 218  Exodus 12:1-46
  4. 219  1 Cor 5:8
  5. 220  Exodus 12:13
  6. 221  Revelation 20:14,15
  7. 222  1 John 1:7,9
  8. 223  I Cor 5:7
  9. 224  John 11:47-54
  10. 225  John 18:28
  11. 226  Luke 23:52-56
  12. 227  Leviticus 23:6,7
  13. 228  Matthew 27:46-50
  14. 229  John 19:30
  15. 230  Hebrews 4:15,16
  16. 231  Exodus 12:29,30
  17. 232  Job 34:20
  18. 233  Revelation 15:2,3
  19. 234  I Thessalonians 4:16,17; Jeremiah 25:30-33
  20. 235  Exodus 12:48
  21. 236  Isaiah 1:18
  22. 237  1 John 2:1
  23. 238  Exodus 34:24
  24. 239  Matthew 6:24-33
  25. 240  1 Corinthians 11:26
  26. 241  Numbers 28:17
  27. 242  Leviticus 23:11, 15
  1. 243  John 19:31
  2. 244  Genesis 2:2,3
  3. 245  Exodus 20:1-17
  4. 246  Matthew 27:50-53
  5. 247  Matthew 5:17,18
  6. 248  Romans 4:7,8
  7. 249  Leviticus 23:5-11
  8. 250  1 Corinthians 15:20
  9. 251  I Thessalonians 4:14
  10. 252  Matthew 27:52,53
  11. 253  Matthew 28:11-15
  12. 254  Luke 24:10,11
  13. 255  John 20:17
  14. 256  Matthew 26:40-44
  15. 257  Matthew 28:9
  16. 258  Ephesians 4:8, margin
  17. 259  John 5:28,29
  18. 260  Isaiah 49:16
  19. 261  Matthew 26:26-29
  20. 262  Romans 6:3-5
  21. 263  Leviticus 23:16
  22. 264  Acts 2:1
  23. 265  Exodus 23:14-16
  24. 266  Deuteronomy 16:10
  25. 267  Numbers 28:26
  26. 268  Leviticus 23:15-21
  27. 269  Acts 2:41
  1. 270  Exodus 23:16
  2. 271  Acts 1:14-26
  3. 272  Joel 2:23,24
  4. 273  Col 1:23
  5. 274  2 Cor 9:6
  6. 275  Leviticus 4:1-35
  7. 276  Leviticus 4:29; Numbers 5:7
  8. 277  Leviticus 6:30
  9. 278  Hebrews 10:4
  10. 279  1 Peter 1:19
  11. 280  Levitcus 10:18
  12. 281  1 Peter 2:24
  13. 282  Leviticus 6:30
  14. 283  Hebrews 9:11,12
  15. 284  Romans 4:7,8
  16. 285  Jeremiah 2:22
  17. 286  Isaiah 43:25
  18. 287  Hebrews 10:4
  19. 288  Leviticus 7:30,31
  20. 289  Psalms 37:20; Isaiah 43:23,24
  21. 290  Psalms 73:2-17
  22. 291  Malachi 4:1-3
  23. 292  Isaiah 61:10
  24. 293  Leviticus 4:31
  25. 294  Ezekiel 33:11
  26. 295  Revelation 20:8,9
  27. 296  Leviticus 5:7-13
  1. 297  Deuteronomy 23:14
  2. 298  Genesis 3:17
  3. 299  Genesis 4:11,12
  4. 300  Isaiah 24:5,6
  5. 301  Numbers 35:33
  6. 302  Ephesians 1:14
  7. 303  Revelation 21:1
  8. 304  Genesis 4:4; 8:20
  9. 305  Leviticus 1:2-9
  10. 306  Genesis 12:7,8; 13:4,18; 35:3
  11. 307  Deuteronomy 12:5,6
  12. 308  2 Samuel 24:18-25
  13. 309  1 Kings 18:31-38
  14. 310  Genesis 22:2-13
  15. 311  Judges 6:21-28
  16. 312  Romans 12:1
  17. 313  Isaiah 1:10,11; Amos 5:22
  18. 314  Mark 12:41-44
  19. 315  Philippians 4:16-19
  20. 316  I Samuel 15:22
  21. 317  Leviticus 9:7
  22. 318  Leviticus 1:4; Numbers 8:12
  23. 319  Exodus 29:38-42
  24. 320  Numbers 28:9,10
  25. 321  Mark 12:33
  26. 322  Psalms 119:11
  27. 323  Hosea 6:6
  1. 324  Genesis 27:36, margin
  2. 325  Genesis 32:28, margin
  3. 326  Leviticus 17:11; Matthew 26:27,28
  4. 327  Numbers 15:10
  5. 328  Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-19
  6. 329  Exodus 30:9
  7. 330  Joel 2:28; Isaiah 44:3
  8. 331  Philippians 2:16,17, margin
  9. 332  I Chronicles 11:17-19
  10. 333  I Samuel 1:24; 2:1-10
  11. 334  Daniel 9:27
  12. 335  Genesis 1:29
  13. 336  Leviticus 2:1
  14. 337  Leviticus 2:4-13; 6:17
  15. 338  I Corinthians 5:8
  16. 339  Leviticus 6:15
  17. 340  Leviticus 6:16,17
  18. 341  Leviticus 6:20-22
  19. 342  Leviticus 5:11
  20. 343  Numbers 5:15
  21. 344  Numbers 15:3-12
  22. 345  Exodus 29:39-42
  23. 346  Leviticus 2:14-16
  24. 347  John 12:24
  25. 348  Psalms 102:4
  26. 349  Hebrews 5:8
  27. 350  John 8:29
  1. 351  Leviticus 2:4-8, margin
  2. 352  Ezekiel 46:20
  3. 353  Leviticus 5:15
  4. 354  Leviticus 27:31
  5. 355  Deuteronomy 15:19
  6. 356  Leviticus 5:16; 6:5
  7. 357  Numbers 5:7,8
  8. 358  Luke 19:8
  9. 359  Matthew 5:23,24
  10. 360  Deuteronomy 21:1-9
  11. 361  2 Corinthians 5:21
  12. 362  John 10:18
  13. 363  John 3:16
  14. 364  Deuteronomy 21:1-9
  15. 365  Numbers 19:1-8
  16. 366  Hebrews 13:12,13
  17. 367  Luke 23:38-43
  18. 368  Hebrews 7:25
  19. 369  Isaiah 65:17-19
  20. 370  Numbers 19:9,10
  21. 371  James 1:14,15
  22. 372  Numbers 19:18,19
  23. 373  Hebrews 9:11,12
  24. 374  Psalms 51:7
  25. 375  Hebrews 9:13,14
  26. 376  1 John 5:46, 47
  27. 377  John 14:27
  1. 378  Leviticus 3:1
  2. 379  Leviticus 7:12,16
  3. 380  1 Chronicles 16;1-3
  4. 381  Leviticus 7:29-34
  5. 382  Psalms 37:20; Isaiah 43:24
  6. 383  Galatians 1:3,4
  7. 384  Isaiah 40:11
  8. 385  Isaiah 9:6,7
  9. 386  Isaiah 22:22
  10. 387  1 Samuel 9:23,24
  11. 388  Deuteronomy 18:3
  12. 389  Isaiah 50:6
  13. 390  Matthew 5:39
  14. 391  Job 1: 8; 16:10
  15. 392  1 Corinthians 5: 8
  16. 393  Genesis 18:1-10
  17. 394  Leviticus 7:18
  18. 395  John 11:39
  19. 396  Psalms 16:10
  20. 397  Acts 2:25-32
  21. 398  I Corinthians 15:3,4
  22. 399  Revelation 1:18
  23. 400  Numbers 12:9-15
  24. 401  2 Kings 5:20-27
  25. 402  Leviticus 13:45,46
  26. 403  Leviticus 14:4-7
  27. 404  Jeremiah 9:21
  1. 405  1 Kings 4:33
  2. 406  Isaiah 11:6
  3. 407  Hebrews 9:19
  4. 408  Luke 22:44
  5. 409  Genesis 4:11,12
  6. 410  Isaiah 24:5,6
  7. 411  Numbers 35:33
  8. 412  Exodus 15:23
  9. 413  John 19:34
  10. 414  Luke 23:39-43
  11. 415  Isaiah 1:18
  12. 416  Leviticus 14:10-14
  13. 417  Leviticus 14:15-18
  14. 418  Luke 7:47
  15. 419  Leviticus 14:34-45
  16. 420  Leviticus 13:47-59
  17. 421  1 Peter 3:3,4; 1 Timothy 2:9
  18. 422  Isaiah 3:16-26
  19. 423  Numbers 15:38
  20. 424  Exodus 27:9-18
  21. 425  Exodus 40:6,7
  22. 426  Exodus 27:8
  23. 427  Exodus 27:1-8
  24. 428  Exodus 29:37
  25. 429  1 Kings 1:50; 2:28
  26. 430  Leviticus 9:24
  27. 431  Leviticus 6:13
  1. 432  Revelation 20:9; Mark 9:43-48
  2. 433  Isaiah 59:2
  3. 434  Hebrews 13:10
  4. 435  Psalms 2:7-9
  5. 436  Revelation 20:9
  6. 437  Hebrews 8:5
  7. 438  Leviticus 6:10; 1:16
  8. 439  Malachi 4:1-3; Ezek 28:18,19
  9. 440  Matthew 13:41
  10. 441  Exodus 12:26
  11. 442  Joshua 4:1-7
  12. 443  Malachi 4:1-3
  13. 444  Numbers 18:2-7
  14. 445  Exodus 30:17-21
  15. 446  John 3:5; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 5:26
  16. 447  Exodus 29:42,43; 30:36; Numbers 17:4
  17. 448  Exodus 40:34,35; I Kings 8:10,11; 2 Chronicles 5:13,14; 7:2
  18. 449  Hebrews 12:2
  19. 450  Exodus 30:6-8
  20. 451  Revelation 8:3,4
  21. 452  John 1:9
  22. 453  Luke 1:10
  23. 454  Daniel 6:10
  24. 455  Revelation 3:8
  25. 456  1 John 5:4
  26. 457  Isaiah 49:15,16
  27. 458  Psalms 32:1
  1. 459  Matthew 18:23-35
  2. 460  Revelation 3:5
  3. 461  Leviticus 16:30
  4. 462  Acts 17:31
  5. 463  Ecclesiastes 3:17
  6. 464  Daniel 8:1-14, margin
  7. 465  Daniel 8:20-27
  8. 466  Daniel 9:1-23
  9. 467  Daniel 9:23
  10. 468  Daniel 8:23-25
  11. 469  Daniel 8:13, margin
  12. 470  Daniel 8:14, margin
  13. 471  Daniel 9:24-27
  14. 472  Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6
  15. 473  Genesis 29:27
  16. 474  Hebrews 2:14
  17. 475  Colossians 1:20
  18. 476  Exodus 40:9
  19. 477  Daniel 9:24,25
  20. 478  Ezra 6:14
  21. 479  Ezra 7:9
  22. 480  Daniel 9:25-27
  23. 481  John 1:41; Luke 3:21,22; Acts 10:38, margin
  24. 482  Daniel 9:27
  25. 483  Hebrews 2:2,3
  26. 484  Acts 8;1-4
  27. 485  Daniel 8:14
  1. 486  Numbers 10:10
  2. 487  Numbers 10:2
  3. 488  Numbers 10:2-8
  4. 489  Numbers 10:9
  5. 490  2 Chronicles 5:12,13
  6. 491  Exodus 19:16,19; Hebrews 12:21
  7. 492  Numbers 10:10
  8. 493  Joshua 6:4,5
  9. 494  Judges 7:19-23
  10. 495  Numbers 29:1
  11. 496  Numbers 10:10
  12. 497  Numbers 28:11-15; 29:1-6
  13. 498  Leviticus 23:24
  14. 499  Exodus 34:22, margin
  15. 500  Job 38:4-7
  16. 501  Daniel 7:9,10
  17. 502  Revelation 14:6,7
  18. 503  Acts 24:25
  19. 504  Luke 19:35-40
  20. 505  Galatians 3:13
  21. 506  Revelation 14:6-14
  22. 507  Revelation 11:19
  23. 508  Joel 2:1
  24. 509  Hebrews 12:26
  25. 510  Hebrews 12:26
  26. 511  Revelation 20:13
  27. 512  Matthew 25:34
  1. 513  Isaiah 66:22,23
  2. 514  Leviticus 23:27
  3. 515  Leviticus 23:30
  4. 516  Leviticus 23:28-30
  5. 517  Leviticus 16:6-14
  6. 518  Leviticus 16:8, margin
  7. 519  Leviticus 16:15-19
  8. 520  Leviticus 16:20-22, margin
  9. 521  Leviticus 16:23
  10. 522  Leviticus 16:24-28
  11. 523  Hebrews 9:23
  12. 524  Jeremiah 2:22
  13. 525  Psalms 32:1
  14. 526  Daniel 8:14
  15. 527  Leviticus 16:2
  16. 528  Leviticus 16:4-6
  17. 529  Daniel 7:9,10
  18. 530  Ezekiel 10:1-22
  19. 531  Revelation 20:12
  20. 532  Daniel 7:13,14
  21. 533  Revelation 3:5
  22. 534  Exodus 39:6-17
  23. 535  Isaiah 49:15,16
  24. 536  Leviticus 16:18,19
  25. 537  Numbers 29:7-11
  26. 538  Isaiah 59:16
  27. 539  Revelation 22:11
  1. 540  Leviticus 16:20
  2. 541  Psalms 7:16
  3. 542  Jeremiah 4:23-27; Zecheriah 1:2,3
  4. 543  Malachi 4:1-3; Revelation 20:9,10; Ezekiel 28:18,19
  5. 544  Matthew 13:41,42
  6. 545  Malachi 4:3
  7. 546  Isaiah 62:4
  8. 547  Leviticus 23:29,30
  9. 548  Levitcus 23:28-30
  10. 549  James 2:17
  11. 550  Leviticus 23:27,28
  12. 551  Hebrews 10:21-25
  13. 552  Matthew 18:20
  14. 553  Luke 21:25-33; Matthew 24:29-35, margin
  15. 554  1 Corinthians 9:27
  16. 555  Isaiah 22:12,13
  17. 556  Isaiah 22:14
  18. 557  Luke 21:34-36
  19. 558  Proverbs 23:20,21
  20. 559  Genesis 3:1-6
  21. 560  Matthew 4:3,4
  22. 561  Isaiah 7:14,15
  23. 562  Proverbs 24:13
  24. 563  Proverbs 25:27
  25. 564  1 Thessalonians 5:23
  26. 565  Leviticus 23:31
  27. 566  Romans 12:11
  1. 567  Matthew 6:31-33
  2. 568  Luke 21:34
  3. 569  Revelation 22:11
  4. 570  Ecclesiates 11:9
  5. 571  Rom 14:12
  6. 572  John 3:16
  7. 573  Isa 43:25
  8. 574  Heb 11:4
  9. 575  Acts 3:19,20
  10. 576  Dan 7:9,10
  11. 577  Mal 3:16
  12. 578  Eccl 12:14
  13. 579  Matt 12:36,37
  14. 580  Matt 12:34
  15. 581  Ps 87:4-6
  16. 582  Phil 4:3
  17. 583  Luke 10:19,20
  18. 584  Luke 10:20
  19. 585  Ex 32:33; Rev 13:8; 17:8
  20. 586  1 John 2:1
  21. 587  1 Peter 4:17
  22. 588  Rev 20:12
  23. 589  Rev 20:4; 1 Cor 6:2,3
  24. 590  Matt 19:27,28
  25. 591  Ps 50:3-6
  26. 592  Nahum 1:9, 10
  27. 593  Rev 16:7
  1. 594  Ex 23:16, 17
  2. 595  Lev 23:37
  3. 596  Lev 23:36, 39
  4. 597  Lev 23:40-43; Neh 8:15, 16
  5. 598  Deut 16:13-17
  6. 599  Deut 31:10; 15:1-4
  7. 600  Deut 31:11-13
  8. 601  Gen 1:29; 2:5
  9. 602  Ex 34:22, Margin
  10. 603  1 Kings 8:2, 65
  11. 604  Neh 7:73; 8:17,18
  12. 605  John 7:37
  13. 606  John 7:37-39
  14. 607  1 Cor 10:4, Margin
  15. 608  john 17:5, 24
  16. 609  Rev 20:4, 16
  17. 610  Rev 5:9, 10
  18. 611  2 Cor 3:18
  19. 612  Gen 2:2, 3
  20. 613  Isa 58:13, 14; Ex 20:8-11
  21. 614  Lev 25:1-7
  22. 615  The Jewish sacred year began in the spring, and the civil year in the autumn.
  23. 616  Lev 25:8-11
  24. 617  Eze 20:12, 20
  25. 618  2 Chron 36:18-21
  26. 619  Isa 51:6
  27. 620  Rev 20:1-4; Zeph 1:1-3; Jer 4:23, 27
  1. 621  Jer 17:21-27
  2. 622  Lev 25:10, 11
  3. 623  Lev 25:9
  4. 624  1 Cor 15:51-53
  5. 625  Isa 2:20, 21
  6. 626  Lev 25:12, 13
  7. 627  Isa 37:30; Lev 25:11,12
  8. 628  Num. 36: 4,6,7; Ruth 4: 1-4.
  9. 629  Neh. 5: 1-19
  10. 630  Jer. 34: 8-17.
  11. 631  Lev. 25: 23
  12. 632  Lev. 25: 25-28
  13. 633  Jude 9.
  14. 634  Ruth 2: 20, margin.
  15. 635  Lev. 25: 47-49.
  16. 636  Heb. 2:14-16.
  17. 637  Heb. 2: 11.
  18. 638  Isa. 52:3.
  19. 639  1 Peter. 1:18,19.
  20. 640  Job. 19: 23-27.
  21. 641  Lev. 25: 28,33,40,41.
  22. 642  Lev. 25: 29-30.
  23. 643  Lev. 25: 32,33.
  24. 644  Heb. 11: 10,16.
  25. 645  Lev. 25:16,16.
  26. 646  Isa. 30:30.
  27. 647  Isa. 14:17, margin.
  1. 648  Isa. 49:25.
  2. 649  Ps. 115:16.
  3. 650  Gen. 1:26.
  4. 651  Matt. 5:5; Ps 37:11,34.
  5. 652  Isa. 66:22,23.
  6. 653  Isa. 51:3.
  7. 654  Gen. 9:6.
  8. 655  Ex. 21: 13,14.
  9. 656  Joshua 20: 2,7,8.
  10. 657  Deut. 19:3.
  11. 658  Joshua 20: 3-5.
  12. 659  Num. 35: 12,24,25.
  13. 660  Num. 35: 26-28.
  14. 661  Joshua 20: 6.
  15. 662  Micah 4:8.
  16. 663  1 Peter 5:8.
  17. 664  Ex. 12: 13; 1 John. 1: 7,9.
  18. 665  Prov. 18:10.
  19. 666  Ps. 91:2.
  20. 667  Heb. 6:18.
  21. 668  1 John 5: 11,12.
  22. 669  Isa. 41:13.
  23. 670  Ps. 91:1.
  24. 671  Matt. 6:24.
  25. 672  Rom. 6:23.
  26. 673  Num. 35:25.
  27. 674  Rev. 19:16.
  1. 675  Jer. 31:16,17.
  2. 676  Heb. 11:4.
  3. 677  Job 1:10.
  4. 678  Ps. 34: 7; John 10: 29.
  5. 679  Luke 13: 34.
  6. 680  Ps. 124: 7,8.
  7. 681  Matt. 7: 24,25.
  8. 682  Ps. 18: 2.
  9. 683  Ps. 71: 3.
  10. 684  2 Kings 14: 7, margin.
  11. 685  1 Cor. 10: 4.
  12. 686  Ps. 27: 5.
  13. 687  Ex. 17: 6.
  14. 688  Isa. 48: 21.
  15. 689  Ps. 105: 41.
  16. 690  Ps. 114: 8.
  17. 691  Deut. 2: 3-6.
  18. 692  Num. 20:10
  19. 693  Heb. 9: 28.
  20. 694  Isa. 32:2
  21. 695  1 Cor. 10:4.
  22. 696  John 7:37.
  23. 697  Ps. 110: 7.
  24. 698  Rev. 22:17.
  25. 699  Num. 20:8.
  26. 700  Gal. 1:4; Isa. 61:10.
  27. 701  Psalms 61:2-4
  1. 702  Ephesioan 2:20
  2. 703  I Peter 2:3,4
  3. 704  Matthew 21:42,44
  4. 705  John 1:42
  5. 706  I Peter 2:5
  6. 707  Matthew 16:13-20
  7. 708  Isaiah 28:16
  8. 709  Matthew 16:23
  9. 710  Revelation 6:15,16
  10. 711  Deuteronomy 32:31
  11. 712  Deuteronomy 32:3,4
  12. 713  John 15:4,5
  13. 714  Deuteronomy 22:11
  14. 715  Genesis 3:21
  15. 716  Isaiah 61:10
  16. 717  Revelation 3:5; 19:8
  17. 718  Isaiah 44:6; 42:8
  18. 719  Isaiah 64:6
  19. 720  Luke 5:36
  20. 721  Deuteronomy 22:10
  21. 722  Leviticus 11:3,4
  22. 723  John 17:15
  23. 724  2 Corinthians 6:14-17
  24. 725  Matthew 11:29
  25. 726  Deuteronomy 22:9
  26. 727  1 Corinthians 15:33
  27. 728  2 Timothy 2:17
  1. 729  Nehemiah 13:23-26
  2. 730  2 Corinthians 3:18
  3. 731  Psalms 119:37
  4. 732  Deuteronomy 22:8
  5. 733  1 Corinthians 3:9-17
  6. 734  Hebrews 12:13
  7. 735  Deuteronomy 25:4
  8. 736  1 Corinthians 9:9,10
  9. 737  1 Corinthians 9:13,14
  10. 738  Numbers 21:5,6
  11. 739  John 3:14,15
  12. 740  1 John 1:7,9
  13. 741  Leviticus 22:28
  14. 742  Genesis 32:24-28
  15. 743  Acts 4:36,37
  16. 744  Revelation 14:1-4; 7:4-8
  17. 745  Genesis 25:34; Hebrews 12:16
  18. 746  1 Corinthians 5:1; Genesis 49:4
  19. 747  1 Chronicles 5:1
  20. 748  Deuteronomy 33:8-11
  21. 749  1 Chronicles 5:1,2
  22. 750  Genesis 49:3,4
  23. 751  Genesis 30:14
  24. 752  Genesis 37:21,22,29; 42:22
  25. 753  Genesis 42:37,38; 43:8,9
  26. 754  Numbers 32:1-33; 1 Chronicles 5:26
  27. 755  1 Chronicles 11:42
  1. 756  1 Chronicles 11:37,38
  2. 757  Numbers 16:1; Deuteronomy 11:6
  3. 758  2 Kings 10:32,33
  4. 759  Ezra 6:17; 8:35; Nehemiah 7:73
  5. 760  Deuteronomy 33:6
  6. 761  Judges 5:16, margin.
  7. 762  Genesis 34
  8. 763  Genesis 34:31
  9. 764  Genesis 34:26
  10. 765  Genesis 49:5-7
  11. 766  1 Chronicles 4:27,39,42
  12. 767  Proverbs 7:26
  13. 768  Nehemiah 13:26
  14. 769  Matthew 5:8
  15. 770  Proverbs 16:32
  16. 771  Proverbs 25:28
  17. 772  2 Chronicles 15:9; 34:6
  18. 773  Judges 4:21; Judith 13:6-9
  19. 774  Judith 9:2
  20. 775  Genesis 42:19-24
  21. 776  Isaiah 1:18
  22. 777  Genesis 29:34
  23. 778  Isaiah 54:5
  24. 779  Genesis 34
  25. 780  Genesis 49:5-7
  26. 781  Nehemiah 13:2
  27. 782  Exodus 24:5
  1. 783  Exodus 32:10
  2. 784  Exodus 32:26-28
  3. 785  Deuteronomy 33:8-11
  4. 786  Numbers 3:46-49
  5. 787  Numbers 18:20,21
  6. 788  Nehemiah 13:10,11
  7. 789  Acts 4:36
  8. 790  Psalms 106:16
  9. 791  1 Chronicles 5:2
  10. 792  Genesis 49:10
  11. 793  Genesis 43:8-13; 42:37, 38
  12. 794  Genesis 46:28
  13. 795  Genesis 44:14-34; 45:1-3
  14. 796  Genesis 49:8
  15. 797  1 Chronicles 5:1
  16. 798  1 Chronicles 5:2
  17. 799  Revelation 7:5
  18. 800  Genesis 49:9
  19. 801  Matthew 7:24,25
  20. 802  Joshua 21:9-16
  21. 803  2 Samuel 2:4,11
  22. 804  2 Kings 17:6; 2 Chronicles 36;17-20
  23. 805  Jereminah 38:17-20
  24. 806  Matthew 2:19-22
  25. 807  Isaiah 7:14-16
  26. 808  Numbers 13:30
  27. 809  Joshua 14:6-15; 15:13-15
  1. 810  Matthew 21:9
  2. 811  Proverbs 23:1-3
  3. 812  Daniel 1:8
  4. 813  Daniel 3:18
  5. 814  Isaiah 43:2
  6. 815  Daniel 6:7-10,16-22
  7. 816  Gen 49:21
  8. 817  James 3:5-8
  9. 818  Prov 16:24
  10. 819  Judges 5:18
  11. 820  Deut 33:23
  12. 821  1 Chron 12:40
  13. 822  Judges 4:6-24
  14. 823  1 Kings 4:7,15
  15. 824  Isa 9:1, 2; Matt 4:15, 16
  16. 825  Gen 37:2
  17. 826  Gen 49:19
  18. 827  1 Chron 5:20
  19. 828  Matt 14:30, 31
  20. 829  Jer 3:12-14
  21. 830  Isa 50:1
  22. 831  Jer 3:13
  23. 832  1 John 1:9
  24. 833  Isa 1:18
  25. 834  Jer 3:22
  26. 835  Hosea 14:4
  27. 836  Rev 7: 4,5
  1. 837  Rev 7:14
  2. 838  Isa 43:25
  3. 839  Joshua 22:1-4
  4. 840  Deut 33: 20,21
  5. 841  1 Chron 5:11, 16
  6. 842  1 Chron 12:8, 12, 13, margin
  7. 843  1 Kings 22:3
  8. 844  1 Chron 5:26
  9. 845  Jer 49:1, margin
  10. 846  2 Sam 19:32-39
  11. 847  Heb 11:5
  12. 848  2 Kings 2:7-14
  13. 849  Luke 9:28-31
  14. 850  Gen 30:13, margin
  15. 851  1 Chron 7:30
  16. 852  1 Chron 7:40
  17. 853  1 Chron 12:36
  18. 854  Rev 7:6
  19. 855  Gen 49:20
  20. 856  Deut 33:24, 25
  21. 857  Rev 1:15
  22. 858  1 Peter 2:21
  23. 859  Zech 4:6, 7
  24. 860  Luke 2:36-38 margin
  25. 861  Judges 1:31, 32
  26. 862  Num 1:40, 41
  27. 863  1 Chron 27:16-22
  1. 864  2 Chron 30:10, 11
  2. 865  Luke 2:36
  3. 866  Gen 49:14,15
  4. 867  Judges 5:15
  5. 868  1 Chron 12:32
  6. 869  1 Chron 7:1-5
  7. 870  Judges 5:19
  8. 871  2 Kings 4:8-10
  9. 872  2 Kings 4:12-37
  10. 873  Matthew 25:40
  11. 874  Luke 7:11-17
  12. 875  1 Samuel 28:7-25
  13. 876  1 Chronicles 10:13,14
  14. 877  Isaiah 8:19,20
  15. 878  I kings 21:1-19
  16. 879  2 Kings 9:30-37
  17. 880  Judges 10:1,2
  18. 881  1 Kings 15:27-34; 16:1-10
  19. 882  2 Kings 17:3-6
  20. 883  2 Chronicles 30:17-20; I Sam 16:7
  21. 884  Genesis 49:31
  22. 885  Genesis 2:24
  23. 886  Genesis 49:13
  24. 887  Deuteronomy 33:18,19
  25. 888  Numbers 26:26,27
  26. 889  Judges 5:14
  27. 890  Judges 5:18
  1. 891  Judges 5:19
  2. 892  1 Chronicles 12:23
  3. 893  1 Chronicles 12:33, margin
  4. 894  Isaiah 9:1,2
  5. 895  Revelation 5:5
  6. 896  Hebrews 8:1-5
  7. 897  Revelation 7:6,8
  8. 898  Genesis 49:26, Spurrell
  9. 899  Genesis 30:22-24
  10. 900  Genesis 37:2
  11. 901  Genesis 42:6-9
  12. 902  Genesis 42:21-24
  13. 903  Genesis 45:8
  14. 904  Genesis 50:20
  15. 905  Genesis 49:24, Spurrell.
  16. 906  Psalms 105:19
  17. 907  Genesis 49:25
  18. 908  Proverbs 1:7-9
  19. 909  Job 1:21
  20. 910  Genesis 39:4-6
  21. 911  Genesis 39:3
  22. 912  Genesis 39:9
  23. 913  Genesis 39:20-23
  24. 914  Genesis 41:46
  25. 915  Genesis 41:43
  26. 916  Psalms 105:21,22
  27. 917  Genesis 41:45,50-52
  1. 918  Genesis 41:46,47; 45:6
  2. 919  Genesis 44:33
  3. 920  Genesis 50:25
  4. 921  Exodus 13:19
  5. 922  Genesis 49:24
  6. 923  Genesis 35:16-18, margin
  7. 924  Genesis 42:38
  8. 925  Genesis 43:8
  9. 926  Genesis 46:21
  10. 927  Genesis 49:27
  11. 928  Judges 20:12-48
  12. 929  1 Chronicles 7:6-12
  13. 930  Judges 20:16
  14. 931  I Chronicles 12:1,2
  15. 932  I Chronicles 8:40; 2 Chronicles 17:17; 2 Samuel 1:22
  16. 933  Judges 19:14-39
  17. 934  1 Samuel 7:1,2
  18. 935  1 Samuel 7:15-17
  19. 936  Judges 20:1; 2 Kings 25:23
  20. 937  1 Samuel 7:5-11
  21. 938  Deuteronomy 33:12
  22. 939  Romans 11:1
  23. 940  Acts 7:58; 8:1
  24. 941  Acts 8:3
  25. 942  Acts 9:1
  26. 943  Acts 9:3-9
  27. 944  Acts 9:10-19
  1. 945  1 Samuel 2:30
  2. 946  Acts 28:1-6
  3. 947  Acts 27:23-25
  4. 948  James 1:26
  5. 949  Judges 3:15,30
  6. 950  Judges 3:21-26
  7. 951  1 Samuel 9:21
  8. 952  1 Samuel 10:9
  9. 953  1 Samuel 15:17-23
  10. 954  Esther 2:21-23
  11. 955  Esther 3:8-15
  12. 956  Esther 4:1-3
  13. 957  Esther 6:1-11
  14. 958  Esther 8:7-17
  15. 959  2 Chronicles 16:9
  16. 960  2 Chronicles 36:1-4, 9, 10
  17. 961  Daniel 6:1-3; Esther 8:15; 10:3
  18. 962  Jeremiah 17:9
  19. 963  Esther 3:2
  20. 964  Revelation 7:15
  21. 965  Genesis 48:1-9
  22. 966  Genesis 48:15-20
  23. 967  Genesis 48:16
  24. 968  2 Chronicles 15:8,9
  25. 969  2 Chronicles 30:1,10,11,18
  26. 970  2 Chronicles 31:1
  27. 971  2 Chronicles 34:1-6
  1. 972  2 Chronicles 34:9
  2. 973  Revelation 7:6,8
  3. 974  1 Chronicles 12:19-22
  4. 975  1 Chronicles 12:31
  5. 976  Numbers 27:1-8
  6. 977  Revelation 3:11
  7. 978  Romans 2:28,29
  8. 979  Isaiah 4:3, margin
  9. 980  Revelation 14:1
  10. 981  Revelation 7:4-8
  11. 982  1 Chronicles 2:1,2
  12. 983  Revelation 14:1
  13. 984  Revelation 14:4
  14. 985  Revelation 14:5
  15. 986  Hosea 13:14
  16. 987  Revelation 14:3,4
  17. 988  1 Thessalonians 4:16,17
  18. 989  Revelation 7:2-4
  19. 990  Revelation 14:1
  20. 991  Ezekiel 9:4
  21. 992  Isaiah 8:16
  22. 993  2 Peter 1:20,21
  23. 994  Psalm 68:17
  24. 995  Deuteronomy 10:1-5; Exodus 31:18; 32:15,19
  25. 996  Exodus 20:3-7,12
  26. 997  1 Corinthians 8:5
  27. 998  Exodus 20:13-17
  1. 999  Exodus 20:8-11
  2. 1000  Genesis 2:2,3
  3. 1001  Romans 4:11
  4. 1002  Exodus 31:13,16,17
  5. 1003  Ezekiel 20:12
  6. 1004  Genesis 2:2,3
  7. 1005  Isaiah 58:13,14
  8. 1006  Ezekiel 20:20
  9. 1007  Genesis 1:1-5; Ezekiel 46:1
  10. 1008  Genesis 2:2,3
  11. 1009  Daniel 7:25; 12:7
  12. 1010  Daniel 11:40
  13. 1011  Revelation 11:19
  14. 1012  Exodus 25:16
  15. 1013  Isaiah 58:13
  16. 1014  Ezekiel 9:1-4
  17. 1015  Luke 4:16; Matthew 5:17,18
  18. 1016  Luke 23:54-56; Acts 17:2; 16:13; 18:4,11
  19. 1017  Romans 3:19
  20. 1018  Galatians 3:28
  21. 1019  Romans 11:17-21; Galatians 3:29
  22. 1020  Romans 11:21-23
  23. 1021  Revelation 13:13-18
  24. 1022  Revelation 13:16,17
  25. 1023  Acts 5:29
  26. 1024  Revelation 12:17
  27. 1025  Exodus 5:9
  1. 1026  Exodus 5:5,6
  2. 1027  Exodus 14:19-31
  3. 1028  Revelation 14:3
  4. 1029  Revelation 15:3
  5. 1030  Exodus 1:8
  6. 1031  Genesis 50:23
  7. 1032  1 Chronicles 7:21,22
  8. 1033  1 Chronicles 7:23
  9. 1034  1 Chronicles 7:27
  10. 1035  Numbers 13:8,16
  11. 1036  Genesis 17:5; 32:28,margin
  12. 1037  1 Chronicles 7:24
  13. 1038  1 Samuel 2:24-28
  14. 1039  1 Samuel 7:9
  15. 1040  1 Samuel 3:1-21
  16. 1041  Judges 8:1; 2 Samuel 19:41-43
  17. 1042  1 Kings 11:29-31
  18. 1043  1 Kings 12:26-33
  19. 1044  1 Kings 13:1-6
  20. 1045  1 Kings 13:33
  21. 1046  Hosea 11:3-5
  22. 1047  Hosea 7:8
  23. 1048  Hosea 11:8
  24. 1049  Hosea 8:12
  25. 1050  Hosea 4:17
  26. 1051  Hosea 9:17
  27. 1052  Isaiah 2:20,21
  1. 1053  Numbers 26:42,43
  2. 1054  Joshua 19:40-48
  3. 1055  Judges 18:30
  4. 1056  Exodus 31:3-6
  5. 1057  Exodus 35:34
  6. 1058  1 Kings 7:13,14
  7. 1059  2 Chronicles 2:13,14
  8. 1060  1 Chronicles 27:22
  9. 1061  Judges 13:2; 15:20
  10. 1062  Genesis 49:16,17
  11. 1063  James 3:6-8
  12. 1064  Psalm 101:5
  13. 1065  Psalm 15:1,3