The Hebrew Sanctuary

[Richard Myers]

Dear Brother Ian, it is a blessing to have so much common understanding. We seek to build upon that which we hold dear and agree upon. I know that there is so much more that I can learn and look forward to an eternity of doing so with our Lord!

Babylon has fallen, has fallen. That gives us a clue something is wrong, very wrong. The wine spoken of is pointing us to false doctrine. Can we agree?
And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.  Rev. 14:8.  

What better to deceive the nations than a false gospel. How is it false? It gives salvation to those who are not fully surrendered to Christ. It teaches that one is saved while sinning. Let us look at your questions.

As I understand it you are saying that the 'evangelical gospel' teaches that santification is an ongoing experience, 'the work of a lifetime', while you believe we are sanctified when we are justified?

I would not say it in that manner, because sanctification is an ongoing process, the work of a lifetime. One of the problems with most false gospels is that once you say the sinner's prayer you are saved forever. But, not so, one must continually be sanctified in order to retain everlasting life.

But, your statement that I believe we are "justified" and "sanctified" at the same time is true. We must add to this that we must be justified daily and that our sanctification will continue to grow daily as long as we "die daily". Justification is the new birth and that means we must be born again daily, or as Paul put it, we must "die daily". When we die to self, then Christ is enthroned upon the heart. If we have Him, we have His Spirit. If we have His Spirit, then the fruits of His Spirit are seen in the life. If the fruits are seen in the life, then there is evidence of salvation. If we love Him, we will keep His commandments. We do not keep them in order to be saved, for we are saved by grace, but we keep the commandments because it is Christ, not I. When Christ is Master in my life, then I am a partaker of His divine nature even though I still live in fallen flesh. Paul says I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Cor. 9:27.  

The evangelical gospel, makes a provision for sin while abiding in Christ or it allows for salvation apart from Christ. Such an abomination!! Giving life to one who is apart from Christ!! The gospel of grace gives glory to God, not to man. It is Christ, not I!! Apart from Christ, man can do no good thing. But, Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13.

I hope this helps to clarify how I see the false gospel being taught by most evangelical churches as compared to what I see the Bible teaching. If we want to reach people with the gospel, then we must reflect Christ, we must be examples of what the power of love can do to transform not only the drunk, but us who do not drink, but are selfish and unlovely in character. We ought not make excuses for sin. We ought to go to Christ and plead to be changed, to become partakers of His divine nature that we might escape "the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4.    

The true gospel has power to not only forgive, but to cleanse from all sin. 1 John 1:7. It is the greatest of all miracles!! Let that be our experience today!

[ian rankin]

Since the fall only one man has a record of perfect righteousness; that was Jesus. His perfect righteousness is not the standard I must have for salvation, it is the means of my salvation.
At Pentecost, the gift of the fullness of the Holy Spirit changed the role and accountability of the follower of God. Our present failure to understand an appropriate the gifts of the Spirit delays the second coming of Jesus.
Heb 9:13-14)  ‘For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an 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’?
I read the statement of Rom 12:1-2 as an introduction to God’s provision of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as providing our means of service, whereby we are to build a spiritual temple of God Eph 2:20-22.
1 Cor 3:10-15 makes clear that salvation depends on being on the foundation of Jesus Christ, but that many who are saved will have very imperfect records.

[Richard Myers]

Yes, dear Brother Ian, they will have very imperfect records. There is a record of all their sins recorded in the Books of heaven. The record is more than most imagine. The deeds are recorded. The words are recorded. The thoughts are recorded. The motives are all put down in the books. Can you imagine all of your sins being recorded in such a manner! But the good news is that we are not judged by our past record, but just as the 11th hour worker was paid a full days pay, so it is with the sinner who turned and became a partaker of the divine nature. The past sins are all forgiven. What a blessing! Even the most horrid sinner can be forgiven and taken to heaven when he allows the Spirit of Christ to indwell his heart.

The perfection that we must have is "moral" perfection that comes with Christ. It is not I, but Christ. All of the fruits of the Spirit are in the life of the true Christian. Not one is missing. This is the perfection that all must have to enter the kingdom of God. A person may keep the wrong day, may eat the wrong food, wear the wrong clothes, but this is not the measure of his character. It is the heart that must be pure. Unless a man be born of the Spirit, he will not see the kingdom of God. We must be born of the Spirit. If we have not His Spirit, we are none of His.   The evangelical gospel has no such standard. The profession of faith is enough. But, God cares nothing about a profession, He demands the whole heart. "  Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." And Jesus said "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live."  Luke 10:27,28.

The Hebrew Sanctuary had a service on the Day of Atonement. On that day, the sinner was to learn that if his sins were not confessed and forsaken, he would be cut off. It was to teach us that there is a day of judgment for each person who professes to serve God. On that day, the anti-typical Day of Atonement, the books are opened and the record is seen. 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.  Daniel 7:9,10. It will then be known who truly had given the whole heart to Christ when their probation had closed. If the heart was fully surrendered, it will be seen as such in the books. The motives will clearly reveal who had the heart. Was self really dead, or was it just a profession of faith? Such a blessing to have the gospel revealed in types and shadows in the Hebrew Sanctuary. The judgment is not for God, for He already knows the heart. It is a witness to the universe that God's ways are just and merciful. Christ will stand in the place of all who have truly accepted Him as Lord and Saviour. The books faithfully record the condition of the heart at the time of death.

This anti-typical Day of Atonement began in 1844 and when it is completed, the sanctuary in heaven will be cleansed from the stain of sin.The sins of the saints will be blotted out of the books forever. Then Jesus will leave the heavenly sanctuary and there will be no more forgiveness of sin. Those living saints will sin no more. They will live without a mediator. This is what the Bible teaches in both the Old and the New Testaments. The Sanctuary and its services pointed forward to the cross and the ministration of  Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary.

[ian rankin]

Amen and again I say amen.
I am uncomfortable though with your reference to an evil ‘evangelical gospel’. I have no question that you could easily find groups calling themselves evangelical who have the sort of beliefs you reject, but I question its use as a blanket term.
I have no question that there is an investigative judgement, but I believe we need to look into this more closely. For example I would appreciate your comments on the following verses.
John 5:24 ‘Truly,truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life and does not come into judgement but has passed out of death into life’
Rev 22:12 ‘Behold I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done’. See also Jer 17:10, Is 40:10, 2 Cor 5:10, 1 Cor 3:10-15. See also Jesus parable of the servants and the talents. My question is that these cannot be references to eternal life, because eternal life is a gift, not a reward.

[Richard Myers]

Brother Ian, I use the term "evangelical" as a reference to the common teaching in the fallen Protestant churches. I understand the term evangelical has a good meaning as does the word love. But, in reality the fallen churches claiming to be "evangelical" in nature are not at all. They reject the Bible and teach a false gospel. Are there some exceptions? Well....there are individuals in these fallen churches that believe the truth, but the churches themselves as denominations are fallen and as far as I can see, all teach a false gospel. They all teach that one is saved in sin. Some are more extreme in saying that once a person is born again they cannot be lost. This seems to be more and more common.

Your Scripture verses do not appear to contradict what I have presented. Do you see that they may?

[ian rankin]

Brother Richard I agree that Babylon includes apostate Protestantism, but I am mindful of Sis White’s statement (GC 390) that , ‘the great body of Christ’s true followers are still to be found in Babylon’. She goes on to write of their dissatisfaction with the churches with which they belong and how ‘they look in vain for the image of Christ in the churches with which they are connected’.
These people are not condemned for holding false doctrine, they are identified by the fact that they are not at peace with the absence of  evidence of true doctrine.
The question for us Seventh-day Adventists is what evidence do others see that we hold true doctrine? When they look at our church do they see the image of Christ? Israel was condemned for holding the truth in unrighteousness.


As regards your question about the significance of the texts I referred to regarding rewards at judgement, my concern is my understanding that eternal life is not a reward.
Romans 6:23 ‘The wages of sin ( the outcome of being slaves to sin) is death, but the free gift of God (the outcome of being slaves to God) is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’

Ephesians 2:8-9 ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no man may boast’.

Once saved always saved is a heresy, but a heresy is a perversion of a truth. The truth in this case is that we can be lost and once lost there is no further opportunity of salvation.

The question I have is, what do you make of Jesus statement in Revelation 22:12 ‘Behold I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.’
In 2 Cor 5:10 Paul makes a similar statement.
As I said, I understand the bible to clearly say that eternal life is a gift, not a reward.
What then is Jesus and Paul referring to?

[Tim2]

A thought, brother Ian -- effort towards our own salvation is nothing more than duty for the "unprofitable servant."  It requires that we "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling."  -- that we "make our calling and election sure."  This is done cooperatively, not only by the power of "forgiving grace", but by God's "enabling grace."  Jesus gave us the types in the Hebrew Sanctuary to show that "continual" human effort combined with a continual pleading by our Mediator of His divine, infinitely perfect merit (blood), brings the repentant sinner a complete salvation that is wholly undeserved.  Therefore, it is a gift.  Praise God!!  But beyond this, we are asked to unselfishly work and to sacrifice for souls.  This effort, though required for our own growth, blessing and salvation, is a reward in addition to the gift of eternal life.  Although the two go hand in hand; the one is a gift and the other brings a reward.  But, we should always keep in mind that because we serve a generous God, He is rewarding us for things done ultimately in and by His power.  You have to love and appreciate a God like that!!

I'm sure this is only a partial answer.  After the sealing, we don't have a Mediator.  But we have been pronounced holy and righteous still.  This is because we have made it a habit now, during these final minutes of probation, to walk in the Spirit (not according to the flesh). 

[ian rankin]

Hi Brother Richard, I am sorry but I cannot accept what you have stated.
You write:- ‘Jesus gave us the types in the Hebrew Sanctuary to show that "continual" human effort combined with a continual pleading by our Mediator of His divine, infinitely perfect merit (blood), brings the repentant sinner a complete salvation that is wholly undeserved.  Therefore, it is a gift.  Praise God!!  But beyond this, we are asked to unselfishly work and to sacrifice for souls.  This effort, though required for our own growth, blessing and salvation, is a reward in addition to the gift of eternal life.’

Maybe you did not intend to say it, but your statement says that the merit of Jesus’ blood is not sufficient for my salvation. Your statement says that to be saved I have to add my human effort to the merits of His blood.
That is the Roman Catholic teaching (and it is also Mormon teaching) that Luther and the Reformers fought against. The Reformer’s belief is embodied in their slogan of Scripture alone, grace alone.

You state that the types of the Hebrew sanctuary show that continual human effort combined with a continual pleading by our Mediator brings a complete salvation.
What the Hebrew sanctuary showed was that the Israelite depended on the morning and evening sacrifice of the Lamb of God and to have that covering he offered the appropriate offerings to cover his and his family’s ceremonial defilement and keep his covenant status.

The reward, as you state, is beyond this.
In the parable of the servants and the talents Matthew 25:14-30, the lord distributed the talents to each according to his own ability v15.
In COL p362 we are told ‘We shall individually be held responsible for doing one jot less than we have ability to do. The Lord measures with exactness every possibility for service. The unused capabilities are as much brought into account as are those that are improved. For all that we might become through the right use of our talents God holds us responsible. We shall be judged according to what we ought to have done, but did not accomplish because we did not use our powers to glorify God. Even if we do not lose our souls, we shall realize in eternity the result of our unused talents. For all the knowledge and ability that we might have gained and did not, there will be an eternal loss.  {COL 362.’
The rewards referred to in Rev 22:12 ( ‘behold I come quickly and my rewards are with Me to render to every  man according to what he has done’.) are presented in type in Matt 25:20-23

As New Covenant believers each of us receives at least one gift of the Spirit.
1 Cor 3:10-15 We each build on the foundation of Jesus Christ and while there are rewards for those who build with gold, silver and precious stones, while the works of those who build with hay wood and straw are burned, yet they themselves are saved.

How do you read it?

[Tim2]

Yes Richard, this doesn't sound like you.  Can you please clarify?  The old Hebrew covenant shows us that we cannot obey on our own and points us to Jesus in the everlasting covenant. In Jesus we find the glory and power of the gospel.  His 100% human effort did not take away in the least from His divinity.

The fruit of a changed heart is obedience.  Inspiration tells us that once the choice is made to follow Christ, we must gird up ourselves for a "life long struggle against inherited tendencies."    "Let us open our hearts to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. Let us work cheerfully, joyfully in the service of our Master. A slothful, languid professor will never secure an abundant entrance into the kingdom of God. From the cross to the crown there is earnest work to be done. There is wrestling with inbred sin; there is warfare against outward wrong."  {RH, November 29, 1887 par. 12}

Jesus loves His children, even if they err. They belong to Jesus and we are to treat them as the purchase of the blood of Jesus Christ. Any unreasonable course pursued toward them is written in the books as against Jesus Christ. He keeps His eye upon them, and when they do their best, calling upon God for His help, be assured the service will be accepted, although imperfect. Jesus is perfect. Christ's righteousness is imputed unto them, and He will say, Take away the filthy garments from him, and clothe him with change of raiment. Jesus makes up for our unavoidable deficiencies. Where Christians are faithful to each other, true and loyal to the Captain of the Lord's host, never betraying trusts into the enemy's hands, they will be transformed into Christ's character. Jesus will abide in their hearts by faith.--Letter 17a, 1891, p. 8. (To Brother and Sister Ings, and Elder Fulton, Nov. 18, 1891.)  Released Sept. 19, 1961. {2MR 184.2}

The effort that we have to put forth is not to earn anything -- It is our duty as unprofitable servants.  What came naturally to Adam and Eve before the fall, does not come naturally to fallen beings.  Our effort is to "keep the heart with all diligence." To "put nothing wicked before our eyes."  To tame the tongue.  To "choose this day whom ye will serve."  To discipline the body; to run the race.  I could continue, but you get the idea.

The life of the soul cannot be sustained, except by the right exercise of the affections heavenward, Christward, Godward. Repentance and faith in Christ for the forgiveness of sins are essential, but not all that is required. . . . The Christian's life is now but just begun.  He must, as exhorted by the apostle, "go on unto perfection." He must bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ....The Christian life is never at a standstill. It is, it must be, progressive. Our love for Christ should become stronger and stronger.[/b]

We have Jesus' example of perfect human effort.  He sweat great drops of blood and became obedient unto death; even the death of the cross.   Paul states that we have not yet resisted unto blood.

I wish it was easier, but I have to crucify the flesh daily (really more often than that).  When God gave what we call the Mosaic law with the ten commandments, civil and ceremonial instructions to the children of Israel, they responded "all this we will do."  There was real effort in keeping every "jot and tittle" of the law.

One of the reasons we call the everlasting gospel, "the gospel of grace", is because it takes a supernatural enabling grace for us to even approach an acceptable obedience.  Again, all this does not put Jesus in our debt -- it earns us nothing.  

Hope this helps clarify what our brother Richard meant.  He is usually so much more balanced in expressing himself.  

[Richard Myers]

It is nice to have someone else fight my battles for me. On the other hand, it has led me to be confused somewhat.

Brother Ian, it was Tim who posted, not I. But, I think that what he said is accurate. Let us look more closely at our difference on the idea of gift versus works.

How many will be saved if they do nothing? Then, can we say something is required before salvation can be obtained?

[ian rankin]

Brother Richard,
You ask, ‘Let us look more closely at our difference on the idea of gift versus works. How many will be saved if they do nothing? Then, can we say something is required before salvation can be obtained’?

I believe that this is a subject that no doubt will remain a matter of dispute till Jesus comes and I continually seek a clearer understanding. That is why I enjoy this forum.

You ask, ‘How many will be saved if they do nothing’.
Do the words, ‘salvation is unearned, undeserved’ sound familiar?
Everybody who is saved will have done nothing to earn, deserve, merit their salvation.
What separates the saved from the condemned? Some believed the gospel, some didn’t. 
How do I obtain salvation?
Rom 10:9-10 ‘If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.’
Belief results in righteousness. Righteousness is real, but it is a by-product, not the catalyst.
John 5: 24 ‘he who hears My word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and does not come into judgement.’
The sheep and the goats of Matthew 25:31-46 are identified by their works, but, those works are an unconscious activity, not a conscious choice. They ask, ‘When did we do that?
If you have not chosen to do something, there is no merit in it.   

[Richard Myers]

Brother Ian, we are very close in our beliefs at the foundation. I too, enjoy our fellowship. There is no danger in allowing our beliefs to be questioned. If we are in error, we want to know it. If we are correct in our beliefs, a close examination will only strengthen our faith.

I agree with all you have said, up to the last thought. This is very true: "Righteousness is real, but it is a by-product, not the catalyst." Amen!!

But, the idea that no effort is needed to either die to self or to maintain conversion, I would have to disagree with. The greatest battle we ever have to fight is the battle of conversion. And, after we have died to self, we must continue to choose to hold on to Christ. And, even in Christ, we must put forth effort to do that which is right. The correct principle as I see it is that our part is immeasurably small, and God's part is immeasurably great. This in no way speaks to "merit". You are correct in saying that man cannot do anything to "merit" salvation. It is a gift. But, it is not a gift that bears fruit until something is done by the sinner. Again, because the resistance to receiving God's love requires a decision to cease resisting His calling, that does not equate with being saved by works. It is not. It is a gift that must be received. We must come to Christ as a sinner or we will not be saved.

Brother Ian, this is a contentious subject that is mis-taught in Christianity. Justification by Faith is the foundation of the gospel. It is the third angel's message in verity. It was the issue in the Protestant Reformation. The "evangelical gospel" uses this subject to teach that one may be saved while sinning. You, on the other hand, are saying that righteousness, or obedience to the law is the fruit of grace received. I agree. I think the more we dig into this subject the closer we shall come in our understanding. i appreciate the opportunity to do so.

We have a topic in this forum that deals specifically with Justification by Faith. It would be good to discuss this subject in that forum. On the other hand, the Hebrew Sanctuary and its services taught justification by faith. An Israelite was saved in the same manner as a Christian is, by God's grace. The blood of bulls and goats could not save a Jew then anymore than it can save us today. The blood of the lamb was a symbol of the blood of Jesus. It cleansed the sinner and it cleanses the heavenly sanctuary as shadowed forth in the Hebrew Sanctuary. The Day of Atonement was a shadow of the real cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary by the blood of Christ. Let us continue our study in to this most important subject

[ian rankin]

Brother Richard,
I see I need to clarify my statement of my understanding about works.
In my statements I have been focussing on the question of works and justification.
When it comes to a question of our ongoing salvation I totally agree with your statement that, ‘the idea that no effort is needed to either die to self or to maintain conversion, I would have to disagree with’.
For a Hebrew, the sanctuary experience started with being born an Israelite, but after coming of age an Israelite was committed to a life of service. That service brought the protection and blessing of God.

Since Pentecost things have changed. We are baptised into the body of Christ and each is given at least one gift of the Spirit, which we are called to use in the building up of the body of Christ. We are not promised protection, we are called to be active co-workers with God, out their in the forefront of the battle. We have to put on the full armour of God and become skilled in abttle.Jesus will return when this gospel is preached for a witness in all the world.

[Richard Myers]

Good morning, Brother Ian. I pray your Sabbath was a blessing.

Yes, some things changed after the cross. The shadows and types are no longer practiced, they have been or are being fulfilled. The Hebrew Sanctuary and its services were a revelation of the gospel. A Jew was saved back then in the same manner we are today, by grace. This has not changed. The ceremonial law was to illustrate the gospel, but it had no power to save in and of itself. The Israelite had to accept the promised sacrifice of God's Son in order to be saved. He was to learn that the lamb being sacrificed was a symbol of the Son of God. David understood, Abraham knew, and Adam understood as testified to by his son, Abel. Cain rejected the blood sacrifice and therefore rejected the offer of grace.

Let us dig deeper into this most important lesson God has given in the Hebrew Sanctuary and its services. So many lessons to learn!  It is a blessing to examine this with you, my friend.

[Richard Myers]

The Hebrew Sanctuary

"And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." Exodus 25:8.

The Hebrew Sanctuary and its services were the gospel in types and shadows.  The plan of salvation was clearly taught throughout the Sanctuary. All pointed to Christ, His suffering and death, His resurrection, His righteousness, and His high priestly ministry in the real sanctuary in heaven. The Israelite was to learn of his need of the grace of Christ. The bread represented the Word of God which was made flesh. He was the Manna which came down from heaven. It taught that man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Justification by faith in the atoning blood of Christ was the all important theme. The grace offered was represented in many ways, but none more striking or simple than the sinner confessing his sin over the innocent lamb and then killing it. God did not desire sacrifice, He wanted the heart of the sinner. The dead lamb represented His dear Son who would one day come and die because of the sin confessed over the lamb. The wages of sin is death and Christ paid that price for every sinner that would ever live. This was the all important lesson that the sinner was (is) to learn. We need to see that God loves us while we were (are) yet sinners. This is called grace and this is what changes the heart. This is what Christ promised to do when He told Satan that He would put enmity between him and mankind. But, we must come to Christ to be changed, to have that hatred of sin come into our hearts, for by nature we have no enmity towards Satan or sin. When we see God's great love for us, by allowing His innocent Son to come to this dark world, to fight the battle as we must fight it, to suffer and die on our account, our hearts are moved, they are changed, and we are given a new heart that hates sin.

We must daily see this love, accept this grace, and then we will be able to resist the temptations that come. Then we can give honor and glory to God.

[Peter L]

Blue, Purple, Scarlet and Fine linen
Gate of the Court, Sanctuary Door, Vail, Curtains, Ephod, Breastplate

Blue=Law-Numbers 15:38, 39
Purple=Royalty- Song of Solomon 7:5/Mark 15:17/Luke 16:19
Scarlet=Cleansing-Isaiah 1:18/Hebrews 9:19, 20
Fine Linen=Righteousness- Revelation 19:8

The Law convicts us of sin Romans 3:20=Blue
So we are invited to come to Christ Matthew 11:28, 29=Purple
So that He can cleanse us of our sin 1 John 1:7, 9=Scarlet
And clothe us in His righteousness Isaiah 61:10=Fine linen

[Richard Myers]

Here is part one of a series of videos on the Sanctuary in the Old Testament. It reveals how God led the children of Israel out of Egypt so he could lead them to trust and obey Him. God established the Sanctuary as the center of worship so the people could learn the great truths of salvation
Tabernacle in the Wilderness

[Richard Myers]

Jesus acts as a mediator between our heavenly Father and sinful man. What does it mean to be a mediator? When did Jesus begin this work? Does His work as a mediator cease prior to His second coming? If so, when?

[Dorine]

One of my favourite topics. I'm very poor at answering questions but I will attempt it.

Mediator- An unbiased negotiator working to bring two parties together through compromise or helping one party towards accepting the other side. (Dorine's version) BUT that does not describle Jesus' mediation. Jesus is very biased towards both sides but not for a compromised situation. Because of His love for His Father and for man, He is doing all in His power to win over the sinner to His Father's love. No compromise. There's much more that could be said and I don't do a good job so I'll leave it there.

When did He begin mediating? - As soon as man sinned?

When will it end? - When probation closes?

Notice my hesitancy with the question marks at the end of my answers!

[Richard Myers]

You are a good Bible student, dear sister. Next time you address the subject, you may remove the question marks. 

The Holy Spirit is leading you.  As you were sharing about a mediator, my mind  was saying, but Jesus was biased!   And, you then said precisely that.

Yes, Jesus does not compromise to get us to heaven, so He in His work is mediating between sinners and God. He intercedes in our behalf. God does not destroy us because we sin. The truth is that the  wages of sin is death, not the wages of many sins. But, because of the mediation of Christ, we are granted more time to die to self and to choose to live for Christ. We are granted a period of probation to be reconciled to God. It is the work of our Savior to draw us to Himself and to extend our temporal life until that happens or we are so hardened against the truth that we cannot be drawn any  longer. Jesus is our connection between heaven and Earth.

The  question as to when He began His mediation or intercession on our behalf came to my mind because at the resurrection of Christ, He entered into the Holy Place to intercede for us. The question then came, but did He not intercede for man before the cross? How was it that a Jew was saved  before Christ was crucified? It was in the very same manner we are saved today. From the time Adam sinned, Christ stood between the sinner and death. He immediately began the work of saving the sinner, of interceding in behalf of guilty man. How that applies to the heavenly sanctuary I don't know. But, we know that this intercession (mediation) was revealed in the sanctuary and its services. The work of Jesus in behalf of sinners did not begin after the cross, but the moment Adam and Eve sinned.

And, yes dear sister, the mediation of Christ will cease when probation closes. There is no need to intercede on behalf of sinners any longer since character is fixed at that point  in time. "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." Rev. 22:11. The loveliness of Jesus does not touch the heart of the impenitent sinner. He does not hear the Spirit any longer. Grace does not have an effect on the one whose character cannot be changed.

Some confuse our need of Jesus with our need for an intercessor or mediator. These are two different things. When we sin, we need a Mediator that we do not die. When probation closes, there is no more mediation, but the penitent sinner still needs Jesus. If it were not for Jesus indwelling the 144,000  they could not stand in the face of temptation.

Dorine, any ideas about where Jesus stood in heaven before He came to the Earth? I don't know of any statement about where He interceded for sinners.