Ellen White makes one or two statements that Christ ministers in both appartments of the heavenly sanctuary. Reading most Adentist material on this subject, if a person was not aware of that statement he might conclude that the only ministry of Christ since 1844 is in the Holiest. Has anyone given thought to the implications of her statement?

Mark,

Where I am now I don't have a computer at home, and I can't read the whole discussion. Could you please post for me the statements where EGW says that Christ is now ministering in both apartments?

Mark, on the day of atonement the veil dividing the two apartments was drawn aside, essentially making one room. I believe it is this sense that Jesus can be in the MHP performing the IJ of the dead and still empower the living to grow in grace in the HP. As such, we do not have to assume that sanctification occurs in the MHP.

As I see it, justification (sins forgiven) takes place in the OC, sanctification (sins forsaken) happens in the HP, and glorification (sins forgotten) occurs in the MHP. These distinctions are maintained while Jesus ministers in the MHP.

The following quote establishes the idea that Jesus somehow handles confessed, forsaken and pardoned sins that were committed and confessed before and after 1844 separately. To me it implies that the threefold ministry of Jesus after 1844 maintains the distinction between the OC, the HP, and the MHP.

EW 279-281
… Then I saw Jesus, who had been ministering before the ark containing the ten commandments, throw down the censer. He raised His hands, and with a loud voice said, "It is done." …{EW 279.2}

Every case had been decided for life or death. While Jesus had been ministering in the sanctuary, the judgment had been going on for the righteous dead, and then for the righteous living… {EW 280.1}

… Every case was decided, every jewel numbered. Jesus tarried a moment in the outer apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and the sins which had been confessed while He was in the most holy place were placed upon Satan, the originator of sin, who must suffer their punishment. {EW 280.2}

Let me give that more thought MM. My initial response is that the single room concept has validity because in the types when Atonement is made in the Holiest in Lev 16, it is said to atone for the Holy as well. It would imply that the Law and mercy seat are visible to the saints who enter with Christ by faith, and you have the support of Ellen White's vision as well that the saints are represented as waiting for Christ in the Holy Place by directing their attention and prayers to the Holiest.

Happy New Year Rosangela. Glad you're back and I hope you're enjoying/enjoyed your vacation. My statement above on Christ ministering in both apartments was the result of not checking the context of her statement. It's from Spiritual Gifts Vol. 1 page 161 but just now when I checked it the context makes it clear that she is saying Christ ministered in succession in each apartment.

But the have a look at the passage in Lev 16 regarding the 'one room' concept. There is some support for it. In addition, the clothing, of the High Priest on the Day of Atonement suggests that the ministry relates to both apartments. If you look at verse four of chapter 16 you'll see that on the Day of Atonement the priest wore the garments of a common priest and what is significant about this for Adventists is that he did not wear the breastplate while performing the cleansing. The pioneers believed otherwise, (except see Acts of the Apostles page 33 where Ellen White seems to acknowledge this) but the text is clear, and Jewish scholars agree (see Alfred Edersheim, The Temple and Its Services)that the High Priest did not put on his pontifical robes including the breastplate until his work in the Holiest was finished.

I think the reason for this is that the Holiest Ministry encompasses aspects of both apartments, but to make the distinction clear to the Isrealites the atonement for the nation was performed in pure white linen. To summarized the dress sequence, in the morning on the tenth day of the seventh month the High Priest was dressed in his normal ponticial robes to officate. After the morning offerings he washed at the laver and went into the Holy Place and put on the white linen graments. He performed his ministry in the Holiest in these. Only after confessing the sins of the nation on the head of the scapegoat did he re-enter the sanctuary, remove the linen clothes, bath and recloth himself in this pontifical dress. Verses 23 and 24. Then he was to come out and offer his own burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, again to make an atonement. We historically have not given these things any attention as far as I am aware but it would be good if we did.

Regarding the breastplate and the high priest of Israel, it is written, He "shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually." [EX. 28:29.] The requirement here is that the breastplate should be worn for the ministry in the Holy Place. This agrees with Lev 16 where it is not required to be worn into the Most Holy Place. Ellen White also appears to agree:

quote:

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As in the typical service the high priest laid aside his pontifical robes and officiated in the white linen dress of an ordinary priest; so Christ laid aside His royal robes and garbed Himself with humanity and offered sacrifice, Himself the priest, Himself the victim. As the high priest, after performing his service in the holy of holies, came forth to the waiting congregation in his pontifical robes; so Christ will come the second time, clothed in garments of whitest white, "so as no fuller on earth can white them." Mark 9:3. He will come in His own glory, and in the glory of His Father, and all the angelic host will escort Him on His way. AA p.33

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In the first part of the above quote when Ellen White refers to the fact that the high priest laid aside his pontifical robes, referring to the ornate, multicoloured official dress, and officiated in the white linen dress, she can only be referring to the Day of Atonement because this is the only scriptural exception to the rule that the high priest was to wear the prescribed clothing while ministering in the sanctuary. What is especially interesting about the quote is the last part where she speaks of coming forth ‘to the waiting congregation in his pontifical robes, clothed in garments of whitest white’. Here she is combining the two dresses; Whereas the ancient high priest’s ‘pontifical robes’ were never whitest white’, they were multicoloured, here she makes the statement that after the atonement is complete, the ‘pontifical robes’ become a spotless white.

This is consistent with the types. One of the lessons of the multicoloured robes is the prominence of scarlet, a symbol of blood, in the warp and woof. As our sin-bearer, Christ has interceded in the Holy Places. When He comes out of the Holiest however and lays the sins on the scapegoat, His atonement is finished, sin is removed and His garments are whitest white.

One or more of her visions appears to contradict this because she indicates clearly that Christ bears the names of his people on the breastplate while ministering in the Holiest. But this is also correct because until the atonement in the Holiest is complete, Christ continues to bear the sin of Israel. The white linen prescribed on the Day of Atonement was to underscore the point that once the work of our High Priest is completed in the Holiest, He will no longer bear our sin. It will be placed on the scapegoat. But until that event occurs, the vision of Ellen White holds true that Christ bears the names of Israel on His breast.

Mark, it sounds like you are willing to entertain the idea that Jesus is preserving the three separate sanctuary ministries, that He is maintaining their distinctiveness, that He did not merge them into one ministry when He entered the MHP in 1844.

MM, in my last post I was addressing the conflict between Ellen White's visions of Christ in the Holiest wearing the breastplate with Lev 16 where it appears to say that the priest not to wear the breastplate but was to wear white linen. In general Adventists have the picture from her visions that the earthly High Priests ministered in their full pontifical robes on the Day of Atonement but Lev 16 and Jewish scholars say otherwise. I was making the case that there is an underlying harmony between her visions and Lev 16.

Where does it say Jesus wears the breastplate in the MHP? I looked for it, but couldn't find it. I found the following quote, but it doesn't say Jesus wears a breastplate in the MHP.

GW 34
Of Aaron, the high priest of Israel, it is written, He "shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually." [EX. 28:29.] What a beautiful and expressive figure this is of the unchanging love of Christ for His church! Our great High Priest, of whom Aaron was a type, bears His people upon His heart. And should not His earthly ministers share His love and sympathy and solicitude? {GW 34.2}

It is interesting, indeed, that this is the only time and place she said Jesus wears a type of breastplate in the MHP. Later she seems to have clarified this insight by saying it symbolizes Jesus bearing His people upon His heart in the MHP.