When God Wins the Great War With Satan
In the Old Testament, the true worship of God was done in types and shadows, something like children playing with toys to teach them about grown-up life. A high priest, a sinner "chosen from among men," led out in the services. He was only a type of Jesus Christ, the true sinless High Priest in heaven; he couldn't save anyone.
Let's not forget that this earthly sanctuary came to an end at the cross of Christ. It was an object lesson, or a picture of the work of Jesus as Saviour of the world, a "shadow of good things to come" (Hebrews 10:1). Its services directed by the high priest were an example or shadow of heavenly things (Hebrews 8:5).
You cherish a picture of a loved one when he/she is absent. But when the loved one finally comes, you no longer look at the picture, for your beloved is with you. So, when Jesus the Great High Priest came in person, the picture, or "type" of the Hebrew sanctuary was no longer needed. The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, meaning that the earthly sanctuary had now come to an end (Matthew 27:51).
When Jesus ascended into heaven after His resurrection, He began His work as High Priest in a better sanctuary than the old one. His disciples followed Him by faith as He entered the sanctuary above (Hebrews 4:14).
Now "we have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man" (Hebrews 8:2). Thus our minds are directed to the true one in heaven, of which the earthly was a mere pattern. Since the vision given to Daniel was for "the time of the end" (8:17, 19), he understood that the sanctuary to be cleansed is the heavenly one and not the earthly one.
1. When does Christ begin the final phase of His ministry? Daniel 8:14.
ANSWER: "Unto __________ __________ and __________ __________ days; then shall the __________ __________ __________."
We have seen how the earthly had a service called "The Day of Atonement" in which the people and the sanctuary were cleansed from sin. This service typified the final extinction of Satan and sin from God's universe, and directed the people's minds to the time when He will create "new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13).
2. What all-important work does Daniel see taking place in the heavenly sanctuary? Daniel 7:9, 10.
ANSWER: "Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the __________ __________ __________, and the __________ __________ __________." (See also Daniel 7:22, 26.)
3. Part of the cleansing of the sanctuary is a work of judgment. The broken law in the ark is the standard of judgment (see James 2:12). In Revelation 14:7 we see the judgment as part of the gospel message. Describe the people who hear and believe the message of Revelation 14:12:
ANSWER: "Here are they that __________ the __________ of __________, and the __________ of __________."
4. Note Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6. What time element symbolizes 2300 prophetic days?
ANSWER: "Each day for a __________."
In the time prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, a day symbolizes a literal year. This is attested by many fulfillments and applications of this principle.
5. In Daniel 9, the angel returns to give the prophet more understanding of the 2300 days (years). What portion of time is the angel now focusing on? Daniel 9:24.
ANSWER: "__________ __________ are __________ upon thy people."
The verses following Daniel 9:24 are all an explanation of this initial time period. Applying the year/day principle, how many years are we concerned with here? 70 weeks is " __________ days" or __________ years.
6. What is the starting point for this important prophecy? Daniel 9:25.
ANSWER: "Know therefore and understand, that __________ the __________ __________ of the __________ to restore and to build Jerusalem."
We find this decree recorded in the seventh chapter of Ezra. The time there is given as the seventh year of the reign of King Artaxerxes. History tells us this was 457 B.C.
7. The Messiah and His ministry is the focal point of the 2300-day prophecy. What event occurs toward the end of the 70-week prophecy? Daniel 9:26, 27.
ANSWER: "After __________ and __________ weeks shall Messiah be __________ __________."
The 70 weeks can only mean weeks of years. The prophecy was actually portraying a time period of 490 literal years, and not merely 490 days. Every detail of the time prophecy fits the life of Christ if the year/day principle is followed. Beginning with 457 B.C., the 69 weeks or 483 years bring us to 27 A.D. when Christ was anointed at His baptism. The seven years reached to the year 34 A.D., the year when Stephen was stoned and probation for the Jewish nation ended.
Three and a half years after beginning His ministry (in the middle of the last prophetic "week"), Jesus was "cut off or crucified. The sacrificial system had met its fulfillment. The prophecy states, "He shall cause the sacrifice ... to cease." For the remainder of the last prophetic "week," the gospel invitation was sent especially to the Jews. But with the stoning of Stephen in A.D. 34, the message of salvation was freely given to the world.
Subtracting the 490 years of Daniel 9:24 from the 2300 years leaves us with 1810 years. From A.D. 34, 1810 years extend to 1844. Consequently, the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14 end in 1844.
8. What would occur at the end of the 2300 days or years? Daniel 8:14.
ANSWER: "Then shall the __________ __________ __________."
9. As the sanctuary is cleansed from sin, what else needs to be cleansed? Leviticus 16:30.
ANSWER: "The priest [shall] __________ an __________ for __________, to __________ __________, that ye may __________ __________ from all __________ __________ before the Lord."
The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary requires also the cleansing of the hearts of God's people.
10. What were the people to do during this special time? Leviticus 23:28-32.
LIST some of God's commands to His people during the Day of Atonement: "Ye shall do __________ __________ in that same day: ... your soul shall __________ __________ in that same day."
While the earthly high priest made atonement, Israel was required to "afflict" their souls by repentance. So now, God's people humble their hearts by true repentance. There is deep, faithful searching of heart.
11. What is one of the gifts that Jesus gives us, according to Acts 5:31?
ANSWER: "A Prince and a Saviour, for to __________ __________ to Israel, and __________ of __________."
"There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). We receive the grace of God; but faith is not our Saviour. It earns nothing. It is the hand by which we lay hold upon Christ, and appropriate His merits, the remedy for sin. And we cannot repent without the help of the Spirit of God. Repentance comes from Christ as truly as does pardon.
The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God, drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Saviour. Then the Spirit of God through faith produces new life in the soul. The thoughts and desires are brought into obedience to the will of Christ. The heart, the mind, are created anew. Then the law of God is written in the mind and heart, and we can say with Christ, "I delight to do Thy will, O my God" (Psalm 40:8). The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is the most important activity going on today! The world must hear the news.
12. Do you pray, "Lord, cleanse my heart"? __________.
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7 "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17