These Perilous Times



These Perilous Times

Vol. 9 No. 7 April 7, 2018

The Sanctuary Doctrine

Review-Part III

God’s “remnant people” have been warned that our doctrines (teachings) that identify us as Bible –believing, God-fearing people would be attacked from without and within in the last days!

One of those teachings is the “sanctuary doctrine.”

A church history lesson

“On March 16, 1905, Elder Daniells of the General Conference, wrote to Elder W. C. White regarding a disturbing predicament about Elder Ballenger who had recently been sent to England as an evangelist and mission superintendent.

Daniells stated in his letter that Ballenger was saying some odd things concerning the sanctuary doctrine-ideas similar to that that had taken D. M. Canright out of the church 18 years earlier.

Everywhere Ballenger had been preaching and teaching in England was now in turmoil… leading brethern were suddenly having “serious difficulty” with the subject of the sanctuary.” [1]

Ballenger claimed that when Jesus ascended to heaven He went directly into the Most Holy place. So stated Dr. “D. F.” in the late 1970’s. Also we are reminded that Pastor “Jack S.” stated in one of his books that there is only justification-which indicates there is no sanctification or Christian growth (once saved always saved-in our sins) which is not Biblical. (See Matt. 1:21; Heb. 10:26, 27)

What does this mean for us?

Obvious Signs Do Tell the Season

It may not appear like a serious doctrinal problem, however Satan well knows if can distort the sound teachings of the sanctuary message in any way, God’s remnant people will fall into a theological quagmire!

Some dissenters of our faith are now teaching that the sanctuary doctrine, (as well as other teachings) are not a “salvation issue.” Only believe in Jesus, and we’re good to go, which is partly correct.

The devils also believe! [2] Those who ascribe to this credulous attitude and way of thinking abolish what actually transpired concerning Jesus’ heavenly ministration in the Most Holy Place beginning in 1844 concerning the judgment hour, and cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary (Daniel 8:14).

If we, as a people decide to reject the 1844 teaching, we also reject the three angel’s messeges of Revelation 14, (which speaks of the judgment hour as now being in session-see also Dan. 7:9-13) and like dominos all our Biblical beliefs begin to crumble just the way Satan designed it!

Unfortunately, I was a personal witness to such heresy just a few years ago at one of our church’s leading universities Adult Sabbath School classes. “Dr. J.” stated that 1844 was not referring to the cleansing of the heavenly but to our body sanctuaries/temples. [3] I privately approached him after class and asked him what he meant.

He then in a patronizing tone said, “You are probably a traditional Seventh-day Adventist that believe in a literal heavenly sanctuary-there is no such thing.”

I then said what about Dan. 8:14, and the 2300 days, to which he responded. “I don’t have enough time to explain it to you.” I then respectfully said, I’ll pray for you.

Please friends do not take God’s grace for granted. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, rightly dividing the truth…” [4] Jesus loved us so much that He endured the agony and shame of the cross. God’s loving grace and mercy are not a license to sin willfully.

Sin does, and will always separate us from our heavenly Father. Though Jesus will always love the sinner, He is horrified by the sins of His people.

Seventh-day Adventist Believe…

“There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man. In it Christ ministers in our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross.

He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at the time of His ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of the 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of his atoning ministry.

It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement…

The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ, and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection (Rev. 20:6).

It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, (Rev. 12:17; 14:12) and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into his everlasting kingdom.

This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Advent” [5] (Emphasis supplied).

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[1] Letter, A. G. Daniells to W. C. White, March 16, 1905.

[2] James 2:19

[3] I Cor. 3:16, 17; 6:19, 20

[4] II Tim. 2:15

[5] Christ’s Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary, “Seventh-day Adventists

Believe …,” A Biblical Exposition of 27 (now 28) Fundamental Doctrines,

6840 N. W. Washington D. C., Ministerial Association General

Conference of Seventh-day Adventist, 1988. Chap. 23, pp. 313-331.

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