Cleansing the Temple

On the first day of the week before the Passover, the ninth day of the first Hebrew month, Christ rode triumphantly into Jerusalem and the record says he viewed the temple and then went out. The following day, on the tenth day of the month, he drove out the money changers for the second time. We know that it was the tenth day because 1) it is strongly implied by the text that it was the following day Mark 11:11-15, and 2) in the type, the Passover lamb was set aside on the tenth day. Christ became a marked man from that day because it settled the Jews in their purpose to put Him to death.

Inspiration tells us that the first time he drove out the money changers He was announcing his mission. While the gospels do not say directly what day he did this, they do tell us that it was just before the Passover, and since Ellen White tells us that this was his announcement of His mission, the type points us again to the 10th day. Notice what He did: He stood up in the temple as guardian and judge, king and priest, and cleansed it.

It struck me today that this may also be a type of when Michael stands up and cleanses and delivers the church one last time in the final battle. Ellen White tells us that Christ's dual cleansing of the temple is a type of the second and third angel's messages, both of them cleansing messages.



The Conquest of Canaan

Israel crossed the Jordan and began to possess the Promised Land on the 10th day of the first month as well. Joshua is a type of Christ who brings spiritual Israel to her inheritance. He, as captain of the hosts of heaven leads the armies of Israel triumphantly in her final conquest. Since anciently the 10th day of the month is the day Christ, captain of the hosts lead Israel by Joshua into Canaan, this date is a leading candidate for that time prophesied by Daniel when He will stand up again and lead us fearlessly on white horses into the great final battle.

But before the armies of light and darkness fully engage the prophecy tells us there is a dramatic pause, a prophetic half hour of silence, seven days, as God takes His place as judge of all the earth. Revelation 8:1. Anciently, when Israel crossed the Jordan on the 10th day, the men were circumcised and the record states that the Lord removed the reproach of Israel on that day. Again this is a type of Michael standing up for His people, removing the reproach that Satan, the accuser of the brethren has cast on them. In Zechariah 2 and 3 we have the same picture. At the close of chapter 2, God rises to judge and vindicate Israel. In the next scene of Joshua and the Angel, the Lord removes Joshua's reproach. Joshua's filthy garments, a symbol of the sins of Israel and his own sins that he bears as high priest are exchanged for the righteousness of Christ and the crown of His glory.

The pause over and the reproach of Israel removed, seven days later on the 16th of the month which is the Feast of First Fruits, the armies of spiritual Israel swing into action. The seven trumpets sound culminating in the overthrow of spiritual Jericho, Babylon the Great at the seventh trumpet.

Some such as Pastor Henrique are teaching that the 144,000 are manifested on the Feast of First Fruits and this is a reasonable interpretation. The only caution I'd give is that no one knows he is fully sealed until he passes the test of the death decree and hears the voice of God announce the everlasting covenant. And as I mentioned above Ellen White also cautions us that there will be two distinct cleansings of the church at the end brought about by the second and third angels. She states in another place that the third angel's message is the sealing message. So notice that the cleansing of the second angel's message is not the sealing message. It precedes the sealing message of the third.

Daniel also cautions that among the wise (those who receive the wisdom and grace of the latter rain), some of these will fall to purify and refine those who remain. So while the 144,000 may be manifested on the Feast of First Fruits at the beginning of the battle of Armageddon, it is only those who are victorious right to the end of the battle who will be sealed.

Many Adventists still hold to the view that Michael standing up marks the close of probation and that Armageddon takes place after this. While all of the inspired sources do teach that probation closes for many when Michael stands up, (the unwise virgin class), they also teach that probation doesn't close for the rest of humanity – the wise virgins and the rest of the wedding guests - until the end of the battle. Regarding the perils of Armageddon the Lord Himself cautions us: Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Revelation 16:15. He forewarns us that during Armageddon it is entirely possible to loose our salvation because probation has not yet closed.

I'd be grateful for any comments, questions, feedback, etc pro or con.

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book” [Daniel 12:1]. When this time of trouble comes, every case is decided; there is no longer probation, no longer mercy for the impenitent. The seal of the living God is upon His people. LDE 259.2

What is meant by the following:

1) every case is decided
2) there is no longer probation
3) no longer mercy for the impenitent.

“I was then pointed to the flattering things taught by some of these transgressors of God's law. I was shown also a bright light, given by God to guide all who would walk in the way of salvation, and also to serve as a warning to the sinner to flee from the wrath of God, and yield a willing obedience to his claims. While this light should continue, there would be hope; but there would be a time when it would cease,—when he that is holy will remain holy forever, and when he that is filthy will remain filthy forever. When Jesus stands up, when his work is finished in the most holy, then not another ray of light will be imparted to the sinner. LS88 341.1

“But Satan flatters some, through his chosen servants, as he flattered Eve in Eden, ‘Thou shalt not surely die;’ and tells them there will be a season for repentance, a time of probation when the filthy can be made pure. The co-workers with Satan and his angels carry the light into the future age, teaching probation after the advent of Christ, which deludes the sinner, and leads the cold-hearted professor to carnal security. They become careless and indifferent, and walk stumblingly over the hours of their probation. The light is made to reach far ahead, where all is total darkness. Michael stands up. Instead of mercy, the deluded sinner feels wrath unmixed with mercy, having awakened too late to the fatal deception. This plan was studied by Satan, and is carried out by ministers who turn the truth of God into a lie.” LS88 341.2

Ellen White's statements on Michael standing up are like her statements on Armageddon. Some of her statements seem to suggest that Armageddon takes place after the close of probation for all of humanity while many others make it plain that she did not believe that. When you accept all of them they are easily reconciled and her position is plain that during Armageddon, which is the final spiritual war between the forces of darkness, (the dragon, the beast and the false prophet), and the forces of light, the probation of some closes at or near the start of the war but for some it closes during the war and for some at the end. The same is true for her statements regarding Michael standing up. Look it up for yourselves friends. Compare her statements carefully with scripture, with Daniel 12:1-13, Revelation 16:15 etc. They agree of course.

Charity, you wrote - "He forewarns us that during Armageddon it is entirely possible to loose our salvation because probation has not yet closed." This is the first I've heard of anyone stating definitively that the Bible and EGW say the battle of Armageddon begins before Michael stands up, before the close of human probation, and that some Christians will be sealed and saved after Michael stands up and that others can forfeit their salvation.

Michael "standing up" says ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about what he was doing before, but what was going to happen when He did: all-out war against the Jews! We know this for certain because the angel told Daniel so. He said, "And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time." Dan. 12:1b. Jesus also gave this interpretation in Mat. 24:15-22.

In fact, Michael is not the only one who is said to "stand up"; but in every single case where anyone "stands up", the expression is used to signify -- not the end of some exercise in advocacy -- but the beginning of conflict. In the book of Daniel, using the KJV as SDA are wont to do, here are all the references to "standing up". The following are particularly pertinent:

• Daniel 8:22, "Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power."
  
  Were the four horns pleading for mercy on behalf of anyone? OR were they preparing themselves to attack?
   
• Daniel 8:23, "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up."
  
  Was that king pleading for anybody with lots of incense before standing up; or was he, irrespective of anything done before, about to engage in brutal warfare?
   
• Daiel 8:25, "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."
  
  Before standing up, what was he doing? And what does "standing up" REALLY mean?
   
• Daniel 11:2, "And now will I shew thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia."
  
  Were those three kings seeking mercy before God previously? OR were they just said to be starting out in war and that is all?
   
• Daniel 11:3, "And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will."
  
  What was that mighty king doing before?
   
• .... and on and on and on and on. Read the references for yourself.

It is so sad that SDA who promote themselves as faithful to the rudiments of honest exegesis, take terms such as this totally out their contexts, apply fantastic meanings to them, plug them back in and arrive at strange and exotic interpretations -- in complete and blind disregard for the clear, consistent and simple meanings that may be derived very plainly from the text.

///

James, you obviously do not believe Michael standing up refers to the end of the investigative judgment and the close of human probation. Why are you here?

I did not realize that belief on those two points was a prerequisite to participation on this forum.

I myself reject both the IJ and the concept of probation, as I see insufficient Biblical support for either one. If you would like to pursue that discussion, there are threads for each idea already started.

James can speak for himself.

That is a good question. Why am I here?

When Jesus began his ministry, He came to his own in Nazareth and stood up to read from the prophet Isaiah. Then He concluded by interpretation, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:21.

What ensued could very well have been something like what you ask of me, except it was asked of Him, "Jesus, why are you here?" As Luke says, "... all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff." Luke 4:28-29

That is not far from the way the Roman Catholics treated the Reformers Wycliffe, Hus and Luther, is it? In any house, no one sees exactly as the others do; but woe to him who uses that to divide and cast out. Perchance he may inadvertently be casting himself over the cliff instead of the other way around.

Hebrews 13:1-2

///

So, why are You here? I mean, what are you hoping to accomplish here? Are you hoping to help SDA Christians reject some of the 28 Beliefs?

True when in prophecy someone "stands up" it marks the beginning of something new. But the very fact that something new is beginning generally also means something previous has ended.

Daniel 8:22 -- the powerful Grecian horn signifying Alexander the great comes to his end, and a divided Grecian empire stands up and takes over.

It marks the end of something and the beginning of something else.


Daniel 12:1 Micahael stands up -- something concerning Christ has ended and yes, a last great "time of trouble" begins.

Jesus will not leave the most holy place until every case is decided either for salvation or destruction, when Jesus has finished His work in the most holy place, He stands up to execute justice -- lays off His priestly attire, and clothes Himself with the garments of vengeance. He will stand up, put on the garments of vengeance, and then the seven last plagues will be poured out.



Isaiah 59:15-21


w

Reading this thread, I am reminded of the old adage that goes like: If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.

Cannot help but to wonder why questions arise about when probation will close.

The goal is not to see how close we can get to the end of our probation before we get right with God.

Get right with God now and the close of probation will take care of itself.

• You cannot go around inventing meanings for words and expressions contrary to the clear definitions implied in the text. "Stand up" marks the beginning of conflict, an overturning. It means to take charge, to go for it, to bring a sword to the table: that's all; and nothing else. It is much like the saying, "He left to go see his mother," has nothing to do with what he was doing before, but what he was about to do.
  
  Daniel 8:22, "Now that [single horn] being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." -- the four "stand up" to take the reigns of power in response to the one being broken. That's all.
   
• Concerning Michael standing up:
  
  !!!!!!!!!!! READ THE CONTEXT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  11:45 And [the king of the north] shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain [Mt. Zion, i.e. Jerusalem]; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
  
  12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people [i.e. the Jews]: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.
  
  !!!!!!!!!!! READ THE CONTEXT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  See? Michael stands up, in defense of His people, in direct response to the king of the north surrounding the doomed Jerusalem.
  
  Mat. 24:15-22

///

-------------------------
How is it I have to beg and plead with SDA of all people to read the Bible for themselves, consider the text, the context, and how any term was used by the same author before and after, to refrain from reading extraneous matter that contradict the word of Christ, the interpretation He gave for our benefit and for our own good? Why? Why? Why?

It is written in 1SP 123.3:

Those who have delayed a preparation for the day of God, cannot obtain it in the time of trouble, or at any future period. The righteous will not cease their earnest, agonizing cries for deliverance. They cannot bring to mind any particular sins; but in their whole life they can see but little good. Their sins had gone beforehand to judgment, and pardon had been written. Their sins had been borne away into the land of forgetfulness, and they could not bring them to remembrance. Certain destruction threatens them, and, like Jacob, they will not suffer their faith to grow weak because their prayers are not immediately answered. Though suffering the pangs of hunger, they will not cease their intercessions. They lay hold of the strength of God, as Jacob laid hold of the angel; and the language of their soul is, “I will not let thee go except thou bless me.” The saints at length prevail, like Jacob, and are gloriously delivered by the voice of God.

You do understand that "Jerusalem" is not in the text. And if you read the chapter in context, the verses are talking about something other than literal Jerusalem.

Yes, it is clear that Michael stands up to deliver all of God's people, Jew and gentile. In Revelation 19 we have the same picture and the same result. The Word mounts His white horse and rides forth to the battle against the dragon, the beast and the false prophet which are all defeated by Him and thrown into the lake of fire.

So in the context of what that means for the literal Jews James, look for a gathering of them out of physical Israel similar to the gathering of the gentiles out of the fallen churches of Babylon and the heathen religions. Christians generally are looking for Jerusalem to be besieged as it states in Zechariah. But rather than expecting a remnant to escape spiritually, they expect physical Jerusalem and literal Israel to be saved. Like the Jews themselves they expect the Messiah to intervene. But how can Messiah do that when they reject Him still as a nation?

God hasn't changed. The same God that destroyed and dispersed Israel twice before will go it again and deliver a remnant like He has always done. In Daniel's day, Daniel and others remained faithful. In the Apostle's, no Christian Jews perished in the siege of Jerusalem. That history is repeated in Daniel 12. All of the children of Abraham by faith, every one will be delivered, but no others, not one.

If James wants to pair those two verses, It is noteworthy that President Trump recently declared Jerusalem the capitol of Israel and ordered America's embassy moved there.

And if a word study is done of Daniel 12:1 (looking up each word in the text) it can be read as follows



IMHO, We are almost there.

To clarify, Revelation 19 tells us that in the final battle, Christ defeats the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. What that means is that all those who receive the mark of the beast during this time will be defeated along with the beast. The only exceptions are those who receive the seal of God. Spiritual Israel at the end of this battle are the 144k made up of adopted gentiles and physical, converted Jews, the sealed. It is the sealed who are delivered from the final siege of spiritual Jerusalem.

Numbering Israel and Numbering the 144,000

Under Mosaic law Israel was numbered and census taking was lawful provided a half shekel of silver was paid for the ransom of every male numbered. The requirement was symbolic of that time when God numbers the armies of spiritual Israel - they are the ransomed. The law indicated that the purpose of the ransom was to prevent a plague from God on Israel. So in the last days, the host who are numbered and sealed by God are the 144,000, while those who are not ransomed receive the mark and the plagues.

Israel was first numbered as a nation one month after the Exodus.

The record states that all of the tribes were numbered at this time except Levi.

Shortly after this Levi was numbered separately and at the same time the first born from every tribe were numbered because the Lord was going to do an exchange. God had hallowed all of Israel's first born to Himself when He killed the first born of the Egyptians passing over the first born of Israel. But instead of requiring the service of the firstborn as priests the Lord selected the men of Levi. So the number of the men of Levi was taken and found to be a little less than the number of all the first born men of Israel. God accepted the Levites in the place of the firstborn but to make up the difference the firstborn who were in excess of the Levites were ransomed for five shekels each, 10 times the redemption price of the regular Israelites! (That should have been more than enough evidence to Korah, a Levite, of how highly the Lord valued the services of the Levites, but he was not content with the Lord's valuation. He, along with Dathan and Abiram wanted it all. They coveted the leadership of Moses and the priesthood of Aaron.)

Forty years later a second census was taken. This one had two purposes; 1) to verify that all of the previous generation had died to fulfill the oath that none of them would enter the Promised Land and 2) to be used in allotting the land of Canaan fairly, giving each tribe an amount of land according to its number, but with the provision that the land was still to be divided by the Lord by lot.

At this census the Levites were numbered separately from Israel again and not counted with the rest because they were not given any land as an inheritance.

Israel followed the census requirement in its early history but once under King David it was not followed and God did indeed plague the nation for three days. This history has several interesting parallels to the numbering of spiritual Israel, the 144,000 and to the time of Jacob's trouble.

The story begins with Satan standing up against Israel and provoking David to number the nation without the required redemption money. Joab protests the plan warning David of the consequences but David is dismissive. Perhaps one reason Joab's warning fell on deaf ears is that he did not refer to the redemption requirement. David was well aware of it and Joab's failure to hold David accountable to the sacred obligation weakened his ability to persuade. David may have rationalized that the redemption money was not required because this was a census of fighting men not a census of the nation. But as soon as Joab returned with the tally the Lord sent the prophet Gad to rebuke David and required him to choose the punishment – three years of famine, three months of defeat at the hands of his enemies or three days of plague. David wisely chose the plagues preferring to fall into the hands of God rather than into the hands of men.

The plague immediately began and ravaged Israel killing 70,000 men. On the third day of the plague an angel stood with a drawn sword over Jerusalem on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. God through Gad instructed David to build an alter there that the plague might be stayed. The land belonging to Ornan, Mount Moriah, was allotted to Judah when Israel was numbered and entered Canaan but over four hundred years later it was still owned by a Jebusite, one of the nations that Israel was commanded to dispossess. Exodus 32:2. Before David could offer there he needed to obtain the land. The owner, Ornan may have understood that he had no right in the land. He offered it to the king at no charge but David gave him the full price of it, offered there and the plague was stopped.

Notice the connection between numbering Israel, the plague, and the future temple site that God Himself selected which was a threshing floor in active use. The lesson for us is that just as in Zechariah, when the Lord stands up as judge of all the living there is a pause as the winds are held back and Israel is numbered. During the numbering Satan stands up to accuse Israel but the Angel rebukes him. Israel is sealed and the plagues cannot touch them. Joshua, a symbol of spiritual Israel is clothed in the righteousness of Christ and crowned with His glory.

The Oath of Michael

Revelation 10 parallels that time in Daniel 12 when Michael stands up. Here we find this unique promise that Christ makes personally to us under oath:

We know the above oath is extremely important because Christ Himself makes it and swears by none other than God. Christ rarely makes an oath in scripture but in this case He underlines its importance by making it twice; once here and once in Daniel 12:

This oath friends, assures the church that before the end the mystery of God, Christ revealed in His people, will be fulfilled. This is what happens when Michael stands up: Israel is numbered, the temple is cleansed by the consuming fire of God's presence, the wheat is threshed, the chaff removed, and when God takes up residence in the hearts of His people He makes His glory known in all the earth.

We are on the cusp of this today. The numbering of the armies of spiritual Israel is almost complete. Once it is, the next scene is this:

The idea is that Michael takes a stand for the purpose of defending and delivering His people imo.

That is obvious when all of the added words by the translators are accepted as if they are really in the text.

The additional words are used to give the meaning in our language that are intended but unnecessary in the original language. So before a person rejects the words supplied by the translators he ought to have some proficiency in the original or some clear justification for rejecting words supplied by those who are fluent. One less reliable way of checking supplied words for those who have no knowledge of Hebrew and Greek is to look at a literal translation. I looked at two of these, Young's and the LITV and both agree with the KJV, ASV, RV, Websters, ISV, ESV, JPS and MKJV.

Charity, that sounds like good advice.

Rejecting is a strong word. Consider the alternatives is a better choice.

Consider Daniel 8:12 in the versions that you checked. Then consider Ellen Whites comment on that verse.























The word Sacrifice does not belong to the text. Many of the versions you checked put it into the text. Some note that it is an added word while others do not. And others on your list replace sacrifice with burnt offering or some other words that do not belong in the text.

Faulty reasoning, as shown in this example, allows a traditional understanding of the translators to be written into a text: Something that does not belong there.

Turning to Daniel 12:1 This is what Daniel wrote

time <06256> Michael <04317> take one’s stand <05975> (8799), great <01419> prince <08269> take one’s stand <05975> (8802) son <01121> people <05971>: brought about <01961> (8738) time <06256> trouble <06869> nation <01471> time <06256>: time <06256> people <05971> to be delivered <04422> (8735) to be found <04672> (8737) written <03789> (8803) book <05612>.

With the numbers removed...This is what Daniel wrote:



Many Bible translators read it like the KJV with all those added words that ate not in the text.

Daniel does not say stand for his people their people or our people. Though the KJV rendition might be correct from one perspective, that is no reason to assume that this text cannot be read differently.

From the words that Daniel actually wrote in conjunction with my study of Daniel and Revelation, I believe that this is the warning that we all need to consider:

Excellent quote. I'll do my diligence to take it to heart. About your interpretation of Daniel 12:1, your view doesn't detract from what we know is true. It could actually be helpful.

About Notre Dame, did you notice it burned on the 10th of the first Hebrew month, the day the lamb is examined and set aside and the day Christ cleansed the temple, the day Israel's conquest of Canaan began? Given that, I'd say let's stay tuned this weekend and in the coming weeks. You may remember that in October 2018 David Gates predicted a spring of trouble this year. The burning of Notre Dame, like the flooding of the Midwest which was classed as the greatest agricultural disaster in American history, is a harbinger of what's in store for for the church, for France, for the USA, and for the world. God in love is trying to get our attention off of the world, to wean us from our own selfish ambitions and help us prepare for the return of Christ.

That was an interesting quote by Ellen White on Daniel 8:12 but you only quoted a portion of that quote.

Here is the whole quote:

Thank you for giving the rest of the quote. It is extremely difficult to sweep away the trash that has entered into the Church since 1844 and to restore a right understanding.

That does make sense!
The idea is that Michael takes a stand for the purpose of defending and delivering His people.
And I do believe that signals the close of probation.

Daniel 11:40-45 outlines the rise of this last power. There may well be physical battles that enable the rise of this "king of the north" which I believe has morphed into the same confederacy we see in Revelation 17. The beast controlled by religious (Papal and apostate protestant) power. Probation is still open during the "rising" period.

43 But he (this last great power, king of the North) shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: (economic control, regulating buying and selling, no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark,) the Libyans and the Ethiopians at his steps.(nations will join with him)

11:44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. (He will cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. )

11:45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
12:1 For Michael holds his ground, when this mighty ruler takes his stand against the children of thy people. He will bring about a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: then thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Rev. 7:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful.