Satan's Attack on the Heavenly Sanctuary

LESSON 7

SATAN'S ATTACK ON THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY

You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.

In this edition, we continue with our series on His Way is in the Sanctuary. The topic for this study is: Satan's Attack on the Heavenly Sanctuary. In this study, we will consider the following issues:

i) how Satan sought to impede the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary by attacking the spiritual ordinances of the articles of furniture in the sanctuary and

ii) how God counteracted Satan's plan by restoring the spiritual ordinances of the sanctuary.

1) IMPORTANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Satan's attack on the heavenly sanctuary is chronicled within the key passage of Daniel 8:9-12 as follows: "8:9 And out of one of them came forth A LITTLE HORN, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

8:10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.

8:11 Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, AND THE PLACE OF THE SANCTUARY WAS CAST DOWN.

8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered."

(Daniel 8:9-12; Capital Emphasis Added)From the passage in Daniel 8 above, we learn how Satan worked through the little horn power to attack the sanctuary of God. Now, before we proceed to uncover the meaning of this passage, it is important for us to have clear answers to two important background questions:

i) Who or what is the little horn power?

ii) What sanctuary was the prophet Daniel referring to in Daniel 8:9-12?

Beloved, the answers to these two important background questions are as follows:

First, the little horn power that is described in the passage of Daniel 8:9-12 is the antichrist power of Bible prophecy. Scripture and secular history makes it clear that this power is none other than the Roman Catholic Church System. To provide the biblical evidence as to why the Papacy is the antichrist power of Bible prophecy will make this study tediously long. However, anyone who wants a detailed explanation on how the Catholic Church fulfills all the characteristics of the antichrist power as outlined in the twin prophecy books of Daniel and Revelation, should please request for our end time Bible prophecy series dubbed: The Final Events of Bible Prophecy through any of the WhatsApp numbers at the end of this study.

Second, the sanctuary which the prophet Daniel refers to in Daniel 8:9-12 is not the earthly sanctuary but the heavenly sanctuary. This is basically because this sanctuary which is referred to within the context of Daniel 8 is linked with the time of the end (see Daniel 8:17), a time period where no earthly sanctuary will be left standing (see Matthew 24:1-2, 15-20; Luke 21:5-6, 20-24). In fact, history makes it clear that the most recent sanctuary which was utilised by the Jews in biblical times was destroyed by Titus and the Roman army way back in A.D. 70. This fact leaves us with only one option for the correct interpretation of the sanctuary in Daniel 8; which is, the original sanctuary in heaven upon which the architecture of the earthly one was based (see Exodus 25:8-9, 40; Hebrews 8:1-2, 5).

Beloved, at this point in our study, an important question that begs for an answer is this: how was the little horn (which is an earthly power) able to war against the tabernacle in heaven? Friends, the answer to this question is found within the contents of our previous study. From our previous study, we noted clearly from Scripture that there is a heavenly sanctuary (see Exodus 25:8-9, 40; Hebrews 8:1-2, 5; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 14:15, 17-18; Revelation 15:5-8), where Christ is working on our behalf as our High Priest. It is important for us to note that it is this work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary that Satan sought to attack. Thus, it is not the physical structure itself in heaven, but rather, the spiritual significance of it that the enemy has sought to destroy through succeeding generations.

But one will ask; why will Satan be so interested in destroying the spiritual significance of the articles of furniture in the heavenly sanctuary? You see friends, every article of furniture in the heavenly sanctuary was designed by the Godhead as a necessary part of the plan of salvation. Thus, Satan rightly figured out that if he could destroy the spiritual meaning of these articles in the sanctuary, he could obstruct the redemptive work of Christ for mankind. The next section of this study will highlight how the enemy of souls sought to attack the spiritual ordinances of the articles of furniture in the heavenly sanctuary.

2) SATAN'S ATTACK ON THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY

Beloved, it is not for nothing that the prophet Daniel wrote: "Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, AND THE PLACE OF THE SANCTUARY WAS CAST DOWN" (Daniel 8:11; Capital Emphasis Added). From this text in Daniel above, we gather rich details about how Satan sought to overthrow the beautiful plan of God's salvation for mankind by destroying the spiritual significance of the articles of furniture in the heavenly sanctuary.

At this point in our study, it is important for us to note that Christ's work as our High Priest in the heavenly tabernacle is a continuation of His work of atonement that He accomplished here on the earth for us. These two phases of Christ's redemptive work for mankind are inseparable. And so even though the focus of this study is on the heavenly sanctuary, we will first capture how Satan sought to destroy the spiritual significance of Christ's work of redemption at the outer court of the sanctuary which was fulfilled here on the earth. This addition will help us to obtain a total picture of how Satan worked through the antichrist power to destroy the spiritual ordinances of the articles of furniture in the entire sanctuary. Thus, we will begin our analysis from the articles of furniture at the court of the earthly sanctuary, and then work our way through the various articles of furniture in the Holy Place and Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary.

A) THE OUTER COURT ON EARTH

The outer court was the open area around the tabernacle. It had two articles of furniture: the brazen altar of sacrifice and the laver. Before we consider how Satan attacked the spiritual ordinances of these two articles of furniture, I want us to consider the door of the court.

i) THE DOOR

The outer court had only one door through which the people could enter into the sanctuary (see Exodus 27:16). This door represented Jesus Christ, the only One through whom mankind could come unto the Father (John 14:6). From John 10:9, we read the following clear words of Christ: "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture". As we noted earlier in a previous study, Christ is not only the Door, but also the only Way through which mankind can approach unto the Father (see John 14:6).

Satan worked through the Papacy to destroy the spiritual meaning of the door of the sanctuary by accommodating alternative ways to salvation. Today, this fact is clearly revealed through the Catholic-led ecumenical movement where people from all faith backgrounds congregate together to access the blessings of the heavenly Father.

ii) THE BRAZEN ALTAR OF SACRIFICE

After the door, the first article of furniture one encountered at the court was the brazen altar of sacrifice. On this altar, the priests burned the lambs which the people had brought to atone for their sins. The Scripture makes it clear that the lambs that were burned at the altar of sacrifice represented the atoning sacrifice of Christ for the human race. When John the Baptist encountered Christ, he made the following definite statement concerning Him: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29; see also 1 Peter 1:18-21; Revelation 5:6; Revelation 7:14; Revelation 13:8).

Satan worked through the Papacy to destroy the spiritual meaning of the altar of sacrifice by introducing penance into the church. The doctrine of penance basically furthers the pagan concept of salvation by works. This doctrine portrays the falsehood that Christ's sacrifice is not enough for the salvation of mankind; and that for one's heart to be right with God, he or she must also go through certain exercises of pain to atone for sinful deeds committed.

iii) THE LAVER

The laver was the second article of furniture one encountered at the court. It came after the altar of sacrifice and before the entrance to the tabernacle. It was a washing basin made of solid bronze and set on a bronze stand. The laver was filled with water for the priests to wash their hands and feet before they could handle the animal sacrifices brought by the people or enter the tabernacle to serve (see Exodus 30:18-21). The laver first represented Christ, who is the Water of Life (see Jeremiah 17:13). It also represented Christian baptism through immersion (see Matthew 3:13-17; John 3:5, 22-23; Acts 8:26-40; Titus 3:5).

Satan worked through the Papacy to destroy the spiritual meaning of the washing laver at the court of the sanctuary. Instead of the biblical baptism through immersion, the Catholic Church substituted in its place, the pagan practice of sprinkling or pouring at the Council of Ravenna in 1311. Moreover, instead of following the biblical standard of baptising adult persons who could believe and make decisions for Christ (see Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16), the Catholic Church instituted infant baptism which has no place in Scripture. From the book History of the Romanism, page 510 we read the following decree from the pen of Catholicism: "Let him be accursed who says adults should be baptized". But friends, how could infants believe in Christ, feel sorrow for their sins, repent from them and then be baptised? However, it is sad to realise today that several protestant churches who once knew better have fallen for this unbiblical doctrine of the Catholic Church.

B) THE MAIN TABERNACLE IN HEAVEN

After Christ had finished with His work of redemption here on earth, He entered into the original tabernacle in heaven to continue with the second phase of His work of redemption for mankind (Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 8:1-2, 5; Hebrews 9:24). Just like the earthly tabernacle, the heavenly tabernacle is also divided into two apartments: the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. We will now consider how Satan sought to destroy the spiritual ordinances of the articles of furniture in the Holy Place as well as the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary:

i) THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD

This table is located on the north side of the Holy Place and is directly opposite the golden candlestick in the heavenly sanctuary (see Hebrews 8:1-2, 5). The bread on this table is first a symbol of Jesus Christ. In fact, Christ referred to Himself as the Bread of Life (see John 6:35). The bread is also a symbol of the Scripture, which is the written Word of God. From Matthew 4:4, we read that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God". Satan worked through the Papacy to destroy the spiritual meaning of the bread at the Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary. During the dark ages, the Catholic Church ensured that the Bible was accessible only through the scholarly Latin language. Moreover, the church prohibited the common people from owning their own Bibles. From The Church Council of Tarragona 1234 AD; 2nd Cannon, we read the following: "No one may possess the books of the Old and New Testaments, and if anyone possesses them he must turn them over to the local bishop within eight days, so that they may be burned" (D. Lortsch, Historie de la Bible en France, 1910, p.14). Beloved, it is not for nothing that the terrible rule of the Papacy from 538 A.D. to 1798 is described in history as the dark ages; for the Bible was taken from the common people, and the race of Adam wandered in utter spiritual darkness.

ii) THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK

This candlestick is located on the south part of the Holy Place, and is directly opposite the table of showbread in the heavenly sanctuary (see Hebrews 8:1-2, 5). The continual light on this candlestick is first a symbol of Jesus Christ. Christ referred to Himself as the Light of the world (John 8:12). The candlestick is also a symbol of the believer's witness about Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. From Matthew 5:14-16, we read the following: "14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).Satan worked through the Papacy to destroy the spiritual meaning of the light at the Holy Place of the sanctuary. It was Christ Himself who commanded the disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every nation, kindred, and tongue and people (see Matthew 28:18-20; Revelation 14:6-7). However, Satan worked to impede this work of Christian witness and evangelism by utilising the Catholic Church to exterminate Bible - based witnessing and evangelism from the hearts of God's people. During the dark ages, church members could only practice the minute scriptural references which were even mixed up with numerous traditions from their priests, thus making them powerless to witness about the Living Christ.

iii) THE GOLDEN ALTAR OF INCENSE

The altar of incense is located on the west side of the Holy Place, immediately before the veil which separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary (see Hebrews 8:1-2, 5).

From the book of Revelation, we read the following in relation to the altar of incense: "3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand" (Revelation 8:3-4; see also Revelation 5:8). Friends, as the passage above clearly point out, the altar of incense is a symbol of our prayers to the Father through the intercessory work of Christ (see 1 Timothy 2:5). Through the medium of the sweet incense; which represents the precious righteousness of Christ, our prayers reach beyond the veil to the Father. The apostle Paul makes this point clearer in the book of Hebrews:"4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

(Hebrews 4:14-16)Satan worked through the Papacy to destroy the spiritual meaning of the altar of incense at the Holy Place of the sanctuary. Instead of encouraging members of the church to come boldly unto the throne of God through Christ, the Catholic Church set up the confessional, and instituted human priests to receive the prayers of people that were supposed to have gone directly through Christ to the Father.

In relation to the above point, we read from the book, Shall I be a Priest? By William Doyle, pages 14 and 15, the following: "The poor sinner kneels at his confessor’s feet. He knows that he is not speaking to an ordinary man, but to another Christ. He hears the word, 'I absolve thy sins' and the hidden load of sin drops from his soul forever." Moreover, in the book; The Catholic Priest, p. 78, the read the following: "Seek where you will, through heaven and earth, and you will find one created being who can forgive the sinner, who can free him from the chains of hell. That extraordinary being is the priest, the Roman Catholic Priest." Friends, the quotes above are loud and clear. In setting up the confessional, the Roman Catholic Church instituted one of the most serious pagan rituals that sought to undermine the work of Christ in the Holy Place of heaven's sanctuary.

iv) THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

The Ark of the Covenant is the only article of furniture at the Most Holy Place of the heavenly tabernacle. The ark contains the Law of God, which is the perfect character of Jehovah (see Hebrews 8:1-2, 5; Revelation 11:19). When mankind sinned against this law, the penalty for our transgression was eternal death (Genesis 2:16-17; Romans 6:23); and the justice of God which the law required had to be met.

In the light of this hard truth, it is interesting to learn that the lid which covers the ark that contains the law is referred to as the mercy seat (see Exodus 25:17-22). From the symbolism of the ark, we learn that even though our disobedience of the law of God required nothing short of eternal death, the Lord Himself provided a way for our reconciliation unto Himself through the merciful surrender of His only begotten Son. In the symbolism of the ark, the justice and mercy of God are clearly revealed (see John 3:16; Psalm 85:10).

Friends, when we come to believe in Jesus, He bids us the following: "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). But it sad to realise that a greater majority of the denominations in Christendom assert and teach that the moral law was done away with at the cross. You see, if the moral law which is found within the Ark of the Covenant could be done away with, Christ would not have suffered that ignominious death on Calvary to save the human race. It was because the justice of the law had to be met that Christ came to die for you and I.

But beloved, Satan, through the Catholic Church has worked tirelessly to attempt to repudiate the law of God. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we find how the church has tampered with the Law of Jehovah by removing the second commandment forbidding image worship. The Catholic Church has also made it clear through several of her publications that she changed the Sabbath time from Saturday, the Seventh-day of the week to Sunday, the first day. In relation to this point, we read the following from verifiable Catholic sources:

i) From the "Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine" 2nd Edition 1910, p. 50 we read the following:"QUESTION: Which is the Sabbath day?"

"ANSWER: Saturday is the Sabbath day."

"QUESTION: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?

"ANSWER: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the council of Laodicea transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday."ii) From the book Rome's Challenge, page 34, we read the following: "Most Christians assume that Sunday is the biblically approved day of worship. The Roman Catholic Church protests that it transferred Christian worship from the biblical Sabbath (Saturday) to Sunday, and that to try to argue that the change was made in the Bible is both dishonest and a denial of Catholic authority. If Protestantism wants to base its teachings only on the Bible, it should worship on Saturday."iii) From the Saint Catherine Catholic Church Sentinel May 21, 1995, we read the following: "Perhaps the boldest thing, the most revolutionary change the church ever did happened in the first century. The Holy day, the Sabbath was changed from Saturday to Sunday... not from any directions noted in the Scriptures, but from the churches sense of its own power. People who think that the Scriptures should be the sole authority, should logically become Seventh-day Adventists, and keep Saturday holy."Friends, Satan's prime motive in attacking the spiritual symbols of the articles of furniture in the sanctuary was to overthrow Christ from the hearts of God's people so he could take that place. Have you noticed how Christ is not the central figure in Catholicism but rather Mary? Have you noticed how prayers are addressed to Mary and the so called "saints" in Catholicism rather than to Christ? But it was Christ Himself who said this: "13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it" (John 14:13-14). Now beloved, which of the apostles in Scripture made Mary and the "saints" the focal point in Christian experience? The answer is simple: there is nothing like that in the Bible.

Beloved, from what we have gone through so far from Scripture and other credible sources, it is clear that Satan's attack on the spiritual ordinances of the sanctuary, was an all-out attempt to make God's people lose sight of Christ who is their Sacrifice, their Water of Life, their Bread of life, their Light of the world, their Compassionate Intercessor and their Mighty God.

3) THE RESTORATION OF THE SPIRITUAL ORDINANCES OF THE SANCTUARY

During a good portion of the terrible reign of the Papacy from 538 A.D. to 1798, a time period usually referred to as the dark ages, it looked as if Satan was highly successful in destroying the plan of salvation that God had designed for mankind through the blueprint of the sanctuary. Now, the key question that begs for an answer at this point in our study is this: Did the God of the universe watch in silence for His plan of salvation for mankind to be thwarted by the devil? Friends, we are not alone in asking this question. Angelic beings wanted to find out too. From Daniel 8:13-14, we read the following: "8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

8:14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."

(Daniel 8:13-14)Beloved, this passage above from the prophet Daniel gives us hope that God was going to do something to restore the spiritual significance of the sanctuary by the end of the 2300 - year prophecy. And friends, just as the Scripture prophesied, so did it come to pass. Within a period of 500 years, God inspired faithful men to counteract all that Satan had done in relation to the sanctuary. These men, popularly referred to as reformers, exposed the spiritual idolatry of the Church of Rome, and restored to God's people the treasured symbolism of the various articles of furniture in the sanctuary. Captured below are the stories of how the restoration of the sanctuary actually took place:

i) THE TABLE OF SHOWBREAD

Foremost among the reformers that God used to begin restoring the spiritual symbolism of the heavenly sanctuary is John Wycliffe. Wycliffe is referred to as the morning star of the reformation. During the 1300's, it was John Wycliffe who questioned why the Bible should only be in the form of scholarly languages, and kept away from the common people. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, John Wycliffe translated the Bible from the scholarly Latin Vulgate to the English language so the common man could read. In restoring the Bible to the common people, God utilised John Wycliffe to restore the spiritual significance of the table of showbread in the Holy Place of the sanctuary.

ii) THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE

In the 1400-1500's, God raised up another man with the name Martin Luther. As a Catholic Priest, Luther had sought to find rest for His soul by obeying the man - made creeds of the Church of Rome. He had gone through varieties of penance to make His heart right with God. One fateful day, while climbing the popular Pilate's staircase on his knees in an attempt to obtain the favour God, a Bible text that he has been struggling with for some time, now powerfully flashed through his mind; 'the just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17). With this powerful revelation from the Holy Spirit, Luther got up and decided to rather trust in the merits of Christ for salvation instead of his own works of penance. He came to believe that Christ's sacrifice was enough for the salvation of mankind, and that none needed to go through the pagan practice of penance. In promoting the scriptural truth of salvation by faith alone in the perfect sacrifice of Christ for mankind, God utilised Martin Luther to restore the spiritual significance of the altar of sacrifice at the court of the sanctuary. Martin Luther became the founder of the Lutheran Church.

iii) THE ALTAR OF INCENSE

In the 1500's, God raised up another person with the name of John Calvin. John Calvin had a special burden for prayer. He drew people's attention to the biblical fact that we can all come boldly before the throne of grace in prayer (review Hebrews 4:14-16), and that we don't need human priests. In opening the eyes of people to this biblical truth, God utilised Calvin to restore the spiritual significance of the altar of incense in the Holy Place of the sanctuary. John Calvin became the founder of the Presbyterian Church.

iv) THE LAVER

In the 1600's, the Holy Spirit inspired another man with the name of John Smyth. Smyth studied his Bible and recognised the error of infant sprinkling. Contrary to the concept of infant sprinkling, the Bible clearly teaches that a person must come to believe in Jesus, feel sorry for his sins, confess those sins, and repent from them before he or she can be baptized (see Matthew 3:6; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-38). And as you and I aware, this process is not something an infant can go through. In exposing the errors of infant sprinkling, God utilised John Smyth to restore the spiritual significance of the brazen laver at the court of the sanctuary. John Smyth became one of the prominent founders of the Baptist Church.

v) THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK

In the 1700's, the Holy Spirit inspired another man with the name of Charles Wesley. Charles Wesley had a special burden to take the gospel to the whole world. He brought people's attention to the great commission that Christ had given the church. Through John Wesley, God restored the spiritual significance of the light in the Holy Place of the sanctuary. Charles Wesley became the founder of the Methodist Church.

vi) THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

By the 1800's, it was left with only one article of furniture that was to be restored. That is, the Ark of the Covenant that contained the law of God. How was God going to restore this final article of furniture in the sanctuary? Friends, it is interesting to learn that within the 1800's, God raised up not just a person, but rather, a movement of people to restore the final article of furniture in the heavenly sanctuary. From the remnants of the Millerite movement in the 1800's, God raised up the Seventh-day Adventist Church to draw the world's attention to His eternal law enshrined in the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary.

Beloved, it is not for nothing that the apostle John wrote the following concerning God's end time people: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12). It will interest you to note that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the only worldwide denomination that is preaching against all the odds today; that God's Law, which includes the Seventh-day Sabbath, is still binding upon all His children. Besides sharing this present truth in relation to the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary, Seventh-day Adventists also believe in salvation by faith alone as taught by Martin Luther, baptism by immersion as taught by John Smyth, Scripture above tradition as taught by John Wycliffe, the gospel commission to all the world as taught by John Wesley, and going into the very presence of God for ourselves as taught by John Calvin. Seventh-day Adventists believe in all these doctrines of the former reformers because they are Bible - based.

You see friends, the Lord utilised the reformers to bring out a special light that was present truth during the time in which they lived. Unfortunately, the followers of these reformers refused to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit in accepting new light as and when the Lord revealed them in the future. Today, because the protestant world has largely rejected the light of Scripture in relation to the Ark of the Covenant (that is, the Law with a special focus on the Sabbath), a large number of them have found themselves back into the arms of Roman Catholicism, the very Church that their founders had separated from because of her spiritual idolatry. It is sad to learn that after 500 years of Martin Luther's protest against the Catholic Church, almost the entire Protestant world has now embraced Catholicism (see the book "Towards Unity: Ecumenical Dialogue 500 Years after the Reformation" with an Introduction by Cardinal Walter Kasper).

Beloved, I believe the Holy Spirit has made it clear to you through this study that the Catholic Church is the antichrist power that Satan utilised to attack the spiritual symbolism of the articles of furniture in the sanctuary so God's people cannot focus on Christ's present work on their behalf in the heavenly sanctuary. But praise be to God for the reformers who stood boldly to denounce the falsehood of Catholicism. Today, through the worldwide movement of Seventh-day Adventists, the reformation continues; for Seventh-day Adventists believe that Bible truth is more important than unity, and hence they cannot, and will not unite with other faith groups in the Catholic - led ecumenical movement that believe otherwise.

4) Friends, the Lord is calling on all His children to separate from the falsehood of Babylon the Great (which is the Papacy), and unite with God's end time people to preach the everlasting gospel, and the three angels' messages that are to prepare a people for the second coming of Christ (see Revelation 14:6-12). It will interest you to know that the Seventh-day Adventist Church comprises of former Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Lutherans and people from other faith backgrounds who have seen the present truth as revealed in the word of God in relation to the Ark of the Covenant and followed the Lord by faith in His Word.

Beloved, it is not by accident that the Lord has opened before you this important truth through the beautiful symbolism of the sanctuary. He wants you to take a stand for Him by aligning yourself with His end time movement that keeps all the commandments including the creation Sabbath, and do your part in proclaiming the everlasting gospel and the three angel's messages which prepares the world for the soon coming of Jesus (review Revelation 14:6-12). My dear friend, knowing what you know now, are you going to embrace this plain truth or you are going to continue to stay in error? It is my fervent prayer that the Spirit of the Lord will impress your heart to accept the truth now before it is too late.

Exhortation: In the apocalyptic book of Revelation, the beloved apostle writes the following to all of God's children who has any alliance with Babylon, the antichrist power of Bible prophecy: "18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities."

(Revelation 18:1-5; Capital Emphasis Added)NB: If you have any questions in Scripture that relates to the Law of God and the Seventh-day Sabbath, you may send a request for our Law and Sabbath series through any of the WhatsApp numbers at the end of this series.

In our next study, we will consider the topic: The Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary. The Bible study references for this study are Leviticus 16, Daniel 8:14, Daniel 9:24-27, Revelation 11:18-19 and Revelation 14:6-7. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.

Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.

Maranatha!

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