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What Is Christ Doing Now?
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open. The Jews had refused to seek Him in the only way He could
then be found, through the sanctuary in heaven.
The unbelieving Jews illustrate the careless and unbelieving
among professed Christians who are willingly ignorant of the work
of our High Priest. In the typical service, when the high priest
entered the most holy place, all Israel were required to gather about
the sanctuary and humble their souls before God, that they might
receive pardon of sins and not be “cut off” from the congregation.
How much more essential in this antitypical Day of Atonement that
we understand the work of our High Priest and know what duties
are required of us.
A message was sent from heaven to the world in Noah’s day, and
their salvation depended on how they treated that message.
Genesis
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6:6-9
;
Hebrews 11:7
. In the time of Sodom, all but Lot with his wife
and two daughters were consumed by fire sent down from heaven.
Genesis 19
. So in the days of Christ. The Son of God declared
to the unbelieving Jews: “Your house is left unto you desolate.”
Matthew 23:38
. Looking down to the last days, the same Infinite
Power declares concerning those who “received not the love of the
truth, that they might be saved”: “For this cause God shall send them
strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”
2 Thessalonians 2:10,
11
. As they reject the teachings of His Word, God withdraws His
Spirit and leaves them to the deceptions which they love. But Christ
still intercedes in man’s behalf, and light will be given those who
seek it.
The passing of the time in 1844 was followed by great trial to
those who held the advent faith. Their only relief was the light
which directed their minds to the sanctuary above. As they waited
and prayed they saw that their great High Priest had entered upon
another work of ministration. Following Him by faith, they were
led to see also the closing work of the church. They had a clearer
understanding of the first and second angels’ messages, and were
prepared to receive and give to the world the solemn warning of the
third angel of
Revelation 14
.
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