| Author | Message | ||
| Jody Registered user Username: Jody Post Number: 115 Registered: 7-2007 |
I have a question concerning the Sanctuary.Hebrews 7 and 8 state that Jesus is our High Priest and that he lives to make intercession for us. Yet in Hebrews 1 and in Heb 10:12 it says that he sat down. Is Jesus finished his work as High Priest or is he continuing to do it? According to Heb 8:2 there is a temple or sanctuary in Heaven yet John in Revelation said there was none. (Rev 21:22)Yet in other places in Revelation John does talk about a temple. So i guess what i am asking is: Is there a temple or sanctuary in Heaven now as SDA's claim or not?? And if so is Jesus a High Priest there for us or not? | ||
| Bskillet Registered user Username: Bskillet Post Number: 863 Registered: 8-2008 |
I think we should be careful taking an over-literal view of Hebrews and Revelation. His sitting down forever indicates both His finished work and His sovereign royal authority over all creation. His intercession for us in the Most Holy refers to Him as our mediator, as the true and second Adam, as the true and complete humanity, as the head of humanity before God. John's reference to there being no Temple in the New Jerusalem speaks to God's accessibility to the Christian in and through Jesus Christ. The Christian need not go to a Temple, a sacred place, or even--dare I say it--a church building to be in the presence of God. He is in Christ and Christ in Him, so that the Christian is eternally seated in heaven with God (Eph. 2:6). Adventism took that New Jerusalem idea literally, which is silly. The symbolism clearly points to Jerusalem as the bride of Christ, the church. The New Jerusalem is described as "the bride, the wife of the lamb" (Revelation 21:9). As well, note this: . This should be compared to The New Jerusalem is indicative of the Lord's church, the bride of the New Covenant (Gen. 17:7, Jer. 32:40). For instance, note what Paul says of the church, using the metaphor of Hagar and Sarah: John's writing that there is no sactuary and no temple in the New Jerusalem is indicative of two things: The church is always in God's presence and has access to Him, and worships Him, at all times and all places: The Lord God dwells within the believers, so that the bride of Christ has no Temple separate from her, but she is His temple, and He is hers. (Message edited by bskillet on September 23, 2011) | ||
| Jody Registered user Username: Jody Post Number: 117 Registered: 7-2007 |
Okay,so but according to Adventists Christ is doin a work in Heaven yet some scriptures indicate he indeed is yet others say he has sat down which indicates his work is finished. Is this a tension in scripture similar to what Anthony Hoekema referred to as the already but not yet?? I recently watched a bit of Doug Batchelors video on YouTube titled SDA Cult or Christian. Has anyone seen it? Any rebuttals to his ideas? Jody | ||
| Rossbondreturns Registered user Username: Rossbondreturns Post Number: 260 Registered: 10-2009  |
You could say He's doing a work in Heaven while sitting down. I see no reason for Him to be up walking around interceding on our behalf. He's just sitting there and when Satan accuses us before the Throne, He says to the Father (though the Father already knows) "Covered by My blood." That's how I've always seen it. (Message edited by RossBondReturns on September 23, 2011) | ||
| Indy4now Registered user Username: Indy4now Post Number: 1047 Registered: 2-2008  |
Hi Jody, I love Brent's statement of "His sitting down forever indicates both His finished work and His sovereign royal authority over all creation." For a Jew, being at the right hand was a sign of authority. The fact that Jesus is always seen sitting (except at Stephen's death when He's standing at the right hand of God) indicates His work is finished. The writer of Hebrews in writing to Jewish people used the pattern of the earthly sanctuary to make his point. His point was to show the Hebrews that the earthly sanctuary was a shadow and Christ was the reality. In the earthly sanctuary, the "work" was never done. Priests never sat down while they were at the temple. There were always duties, sacrifices, etc. So when Christ died, His death, His sacrifice "finished" the "work" that was going on in the earthly sanctuary. It is no longer necessary to offer sacrifices for atonement with God... Christ's sacrifice "finished" that work. In the earthly sanctuary, the High Priest always went into the Most Holy with blood because the blood is always for atonement. If the Priest came into the Most Holy Place in God's presence without blood, he would have died. God's holiness cannot be in the presence of sin. So as we go before God, in our sinful nature, we have Christ's blood covering us. We are not literally covered in blood obviously. So Christ is our mediator. I don't see Christ as pleading before God... "hey God, you see Vivian, she's really a decent person, she still sins, but she's OK to come before you because she's covered in my blood." There's no begging or pleading... it's a completed and finished work that Christ's blood covers me. He is done because He doesn't need to offer Himself as a sacrifice over and over. His work is done and His blood mediates and covers us. This is not work... but a fact. It's the only way we are allowed to come before God's presence in prayer. Thank you Jesus! This is how I see that Christ's work is finished and that He is our mediator. Hope this helps! vivian | ||
| Indy4now Registered user Username: Indy4now Post Number: 1048 Registered: 2-2008 |
p.s. I still believe that if God would have used chocolate instead of blood... us girls would have understood this whole atonement thing a long time ago! ha! ;) | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 1259 Registered: 7-2004  |
Imagine how much more popular chocolate would be at communion. Unfortunately, God didn't get the memo about polling the wants and felt needs of the community to establish His "programs". Completely tongue in cheek, in case anyone was in doubt! | ||
| Indy4now Registered user Username: Indy4now Post Number: 1049 Registered: 2-2008 |
LOL Ric! ... maybe He did and that's why there's wine (for some congregations).  | ||
| Nowhitehats Registered user Username: Nowhitehats Post Number: 45 Registered: 4-2010 |
Hebrews 8:1 has a sitting Jesus whereas Acts 7:55 has a standing Jesus. Clearly this suggests to me that there is no absolute position that Jesus has to be in (seated or standing). Context probably plays an important part as to why a change in positions. I just finished reading Andrew Farley's book The Naked Gospel. A short video clip based on the book illustrates what I think is the focus of Jesus being seated as mentioned in Hebrews. It's about 10 minutes long. The illustration Andrew uses is at about the 6:40 minute mark. Here's the video link: http://www.youtube.com/user/NakedGospel#p/search/0/GZ2wrvykPdE Enjoy! |
