This week, Pastor Ted Wilson concludes the discussion of Christ's ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, specifically on what Jesus is doing in heaven right now, as part of the twenty-fourth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists. The earthly sanctuary and its services pointed to Jesus, the Lamb of God. But when He came to earth and took the consequences of sin for us by dying on the cross, He became the fulfillment of the ceremonial offerings. Hence, there has been no need for animal sacrifices. After His resurrection and ascension, Christ began His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary as our High Priest, Advocate, and Intercessor. "It is Christ Who died and furthermore is also risen, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also makes intercession for us" (Romans 8:34). But if Christ's sacrifice was enough, what is left to do in the heavenly sanctuary? It is important to remember that in the earthly tabernacle, after the lamb was slain, its blood was sprinkled inside the sanctuary, symbolically transferring the sin into the sanctuary. The sinner was forgiven but his sin remained in the tabernacle. And just like the earthly service had a yearly atonement, the heavenly sanctuary must also be cleansed. In heaven, a record is kept to document every person's life. This record is what will be studied during judgment. "For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:14). God showed Daniel a vision of the heavenly sanctuary where he saw an overview of future world happenings and learned about the 2300-day prophecy. "For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed" (Daniel 8:14). This prophecy would begin when "the command to restore and build Jerusalem" was given by King Artaxerxes in 457 BC (Daniel 9:25). It would end in 1844 AD. In the 1800s, a group of believers who read these prophecies believed that the earth was the sanctuary and its cleansing would be at the second coming of Christ. Just as the earthly sanctuary was cleansed on the Day of Atonement, they believed that Jesus would return on the Day of Atonement on October 22, 1844. Unfortunately, it didn't happen as they expected. Hence, that day was called The Great Disappointment. However, through further Bible study and prayer, they discovered that instead of returning to earth, Jesus would begin His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary on that day. With this, there must be a time of investigation: Whose sins does Jesus need to cover? Who has made the decision to accept His gift of forgiveness? Who has committed their lives to Him? Seeing the judgment scene in his vision, Daniel wrote, "I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated…His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire…a thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened" (Daniel 7:9, 10). Prophet Zechariah also described it this way: Joshua, a high priest, is "standing before the angel of the Lord." Satan is "at His right hand to oppose Him" (Zechariah 3:1). Then, a voice rings out, "The Lord rebuke you, Satan!" (verse 2). The priest realizes he is "clothed with filthy garments" (verse 3). The Lord looks at Joshua, commanding those who are standing before Him, "Take away the filthy garments from him." To Joshua, He says, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes" (verse 4). Like Joshua, we come to judgment in dirty clothes. "All our righteousnesses are like filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). But "if we confess our sins," Jesus "is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). When we surrender ourselves to Him, He will guide our case through the judgment. "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" (Revelation 3:5). Soon, the words will be spoken: "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still" (Revelation 22:11). Then, the case of every person will be decided upon. As much as God wants to save all people, He respects their choices. As soon as Jesus finishes His work of intercession and the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, He will return to earth, joined by all who have chosen to accept His gift of salvation. Right now, Jesus lingers in the heavenly sanctuary, ready to forgive our sins as soon as we confess them all to Him. Have you accepted His gift of forgiveness and cleansing? Learn more about Christ's ministry in the heavenly sanctuary at www.adventist.org/christs-ministry-in-the-heavenly-sanctuary. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxUWqfCIs08
Sermone a cura di Armando Fabbri
Meditazione a cura di Armando Fabbri Registrato presso la comunità di Firenze il 06 agosto 2022 Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI9mslNFjJs
Video Giornale Avventista – 3 settembre 2022
Edizione Speciale Villa Aurora Meeting Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjvThYWbhr8
Dio prima di tutto – Una questione di risveglio spirituale
Mini devotional n. 10/3 trimestre 2022 – Una questione di risveglio spirituale, della serie Dio prima di tutto. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYMvJ2bqx_I
Inside Story: South America Division ~ Part 10: Power of a Name
Part 10: Power of a Name
By Andrew McChesney
Father was awakened by invisible hands clutching his throat in Manaus, Brazil. Futilely he tried to pull away the hands. Finally, he gasped, “Lord, please help me!” But the deadly grip tightened. When all hope seemed lost, he heard a soft voice say, “Ask Jesus to help. Say the name of Jesus.”
“Jesus, save me!” Father cried. The unseen hands immediately released their grip. Father, gasping, understood the power of Jesus’ name for the first time. Still lying in bed, he exclaimed joyfully, “I am saved by the name of Jesus! I am saved by the blood of Jesus and Jesus’ sacrifice!” From that day, Father called on Jesus’ name whenever evil spirits harassed him.
As baptismal studies continued, Father was astonished to learn that God condemns the spiritism that he had practiced in the Candomblé temple. In Deuteronomy 18:9-14, he read, “There shall not be found among you anyone … who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord” (NKJV). In the Ten Commandments, he read, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). He thought, “I was worshiping other gods.” Continuing the chapter, he read, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image,” and told himself, “I have been following everything that God calls an abomination.” When he reached the Fourth Commandment — “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” — he told Mother, “I got the wrong day. The spirits told me to keep another day holy.”
In Revelation 21:8, he read, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” It was the same verse that Mother read when she first went to Sabbath School, and had prompted her to start praying for Father. When Father read the verse, he realized that he had been headed for the lake of fire.
Father reached a breakthrough when the Bible study focused on the state of the dead. He read that people sleep after death and do not have spirits that fly around. “The body dies, and that’s the end,” he told Mother with surprise. “The gift of life is what goes back to God.” The evil spirits had taught that people’s spirits float around after their bodies die and some of those spirits were among the legion of evil spirits that accompanied Candomblé leaders.
The evil spirits continued to annoy Father. But the more they attacked, the more Father called on the name of Jesus. A desire grew in him to lead others to Christ. “Instead of teaching people the way of darkness,” he thought, “I should use my knowledge and own experience to guide people to the light.”
Your Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help open eight churches in the South American Division, including four in Brazil, where Father (Eduardo Ferreira dos Santos) and his family live.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Find more mission stories at adventistmission[dot]org
Amen!
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