Bible Readings for the Home
Chapter 48
The Atonement in the New Testament
At the death of
Christ, what miracle signified that the priestly work of the earthly
sanctuary was finished?
"Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the
ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the
top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent."
Matthew 27:50,51.
Where has the work
of the sanctuary been conducted since the ascension of Christ?
"Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such
an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the
Majesty in the heavens." Hebrews 8:1.
Who is this high
priest?
"But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come,
by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to
say, not of this building." Hebrews 9:11.
Who erected this
heavenly tabernacle, of which Christ is the minister?
"A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the
Lord pitched, and not man." Hebrews 8:2.
Could Christ be a
priest while He was on earth, and before the old priesthood ceased?
"For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest,
seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:"
Hebrews 8:4.
What did the
service of the earthly priests signify?
"For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there
are priests that offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the
example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when
he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make
all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount." Hebrews
8:4,5.
What was the
earthly sanctuary designed to be?
"The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all
was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered
both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service
perfect, as pertaining to the conscience." Hebrews 9:8,9.
Are there different
apartments of the heavenly sanctuary in which Christ ministers?
"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with
hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself,
now to appear in the presence of God for us:" Hebrews 9:24.
Does the heavenly
sanctuary contain an ark of the testament (covenant)?
"And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in
his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and
voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." Revelation
11:19.
The earthly
sanctuary was cleansed by a high priest Is it necessary for the heavenly
sanctuary also to come to a time of cleansing, or purifying?
"It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens
should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with
better sacrifices than these." Hebrews 9:23.
From what will it
be cleansed, or purified?
"Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest
entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then
must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now
once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by
the sacrifice of himself." Hebrews 9:25,26. For the counterpart of this,
in the type, see Lev.16:30.
When the earthly
high priest came out to the people after making the atonement, how did he
transfer the sins of the people from himself?
"And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat,
and confess 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 shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the
wilderness:" Leviticus 16:21.
How will it be when
Christ has finished the atonement for his people?
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto
them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin
unto salvation." Hebrews 9:28.
What immediately
follows the blotting out of sins?
"And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto
you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all
things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since
the world began." Acts 3:20,21.
While Christ as
high priest is still before the Father, what is given Him?
"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came
with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they
brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and
glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should
serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass
away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." Daniel 7:13,14.
And when He comes
to earth; what is His purpose?
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in
Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17.
But before any are
thus raised at Christ's coming, what decision must be rendered in their
cases?
"But they which shall be accounted worthy
to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead,
neither marry, nor are given in marriage:" Luke 20:35.
Is there a
specified time for the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary?
"And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days;
then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." Daniel 8:14.
How may one know
that this does not refer to the earthly sanctuary?
"So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and
fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for
at the time of the end shall be the vision." Daniel 8:17.