Athen's Library

The Sacrifices

a Prophecy of

The First and Second Advents

March 2007

I have heard scholars say that when we read the Bible we should read it with the mind set that it was written “for Christ, about Christ or as if Christ were speaking”.  I like the way Paul puts it in Romans 11:36 “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things; to Him be glory forever! Amen”.   Jesus our messiah gave up His power, position, wealth, dignity and Glory to come to be a sacrifice for mankind.  We reproach the Jewish nation for not recognizing their King when He came as a suffering sacrifice.  Why?  Because bound up in types and symbols in the law God committed to Israel for safekeeping is the prophecy of Messiah’s atonement.  In other words we say they had the prophecy but refused to see the forest for the trees.

“And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,  That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,  Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.”  (Deuteronomy 31: 24 - 26)  “The “book” here spoken of would contain the whole Pentateuch up to this verse, and be “the Book of Moses,” called generally by the Jews “the Law” (compare Mat 22:40; Gal 4:21).” Barnes Notes for Deuteronomy 31:24.

The Jewish nation having been subservient to heathen nations for many generations searched the Law for a promise to claim.  They found what they were looking for in the prophecies of Messiah’s Second Advent.  Instead of returning to a true worship of God that would bring again His blessing upon them, they began claiming this promise.

“About that period Messiah was expected. By many he was looked for to come as a mighty monarch. The Jews had boasted to the Gentiles of his coming, and had dwelt largely upon the great deliverance which he would bring them, that he would reign as king, and put down all authority. Every kingdom and nation would bow to him, and the Jewish nation would reign over them. They had the events of the first and second comings of Christ confounded together.”  4aSG 115

At the first advent Messiah, the Prince of Heaven came to be born, into the human family, in order to establish His birthright to the throne of David.  Many in the priesthood understood this but failed to see that He came also to establish a new covenant.  We better understand the word covenant by its Latin rendering, testament, because of our familiarity with the term last will and testament.  A last will and testament does not become binding until the testator dies and so the first covenant was ratified with a substitute, the death of an animal.  The second covenant being better, must then be ratified with the death of the author of that covenant.

“And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”  Hebrews 9:15-17

A few days before His crucifixion Jesus explained His impending death like this.  “And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”  John 12:23-24.  When a seed germinates it divides in half and the sprout grows up between the two halves taking nutrients from both until it is able to stand on its own.  Jesus was explaining that it was time for His Glory (helpmeet) to be separated from His side, like Eve was separated from Adam’s side.  In order for that to happen He must go into a deep sleep, die.  It is impossible for Jesus to have a harvest from the “But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”  Galatians 4:26, until the Woman, mother of all living, is separated from Him.  For it is on this stalk of grain that we see the harvest.  The Child, the heir, sprouts up between His Mother and Father to receive the new covenant, and we by faith become joint heirs with Him.

This is a perfect illustration of the Hebrew word for covenant.  This term literally translates “a cutting” because the animal sacrifice was cut into two pieces and the recipient of this covenant passed between the two parts to show acceptance of the covenant.  Jesus is the Son of God and also the Son of David, heir to the thrones of Heaven and Earth.  After His death His Child according to the law becomes the beneficiary of the last will and testament of His Father Jesus.  Until the Child is born and sprouts up between His parents this new and better covenant cannot be executed.  No other Christian can pass between these two halves of the sacrifice to accept it, because we are dead in sin, born of the “...Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.”  There is no provision for a dead person to receive the benefits of someone else’s last will and testament.

The “book of the Law” was entrusted to the descendants of Israel and has been passed down in the course of their generations, through the time of Christ, right down to our day.  This book will be used as a witness, not only at their judgment, but also at ours.  What, you ask, is this book going to bear witness to?  The word witness in verse 26 refers to the word of an honorable person, even a prince.  According to the Law no person is allowed to be put to death on the word of one witness.  “He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:” Hebrews 10:28.  The sacrifices point to the ones that make intersession for us.  Our Messiah and His Family will bear witness either for us, or against us, depending on how we have kept His Law.  “If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”  John 15:10

“Jesus was the foundation of the Jewish economy, the author of all the laws, statutes, and requirements of his chosen people...”  RH, September 13, 1906

“Jesus Christ was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy. He established the sacrificial offerings which typified himself. The whole system of types and symbols was one compacted prophecy of the gospel, a presentation of Christianity...”  RH, March 21, 1893

The sacred times pointed out in the Law upon which an animal was to be sacrificed continue to be our tutor to bring us to Christ so we can understand what our Messiah has done or soon will do in our behalf. By observing the times set aside for our Messiah to make atonement for us, we accept the offering and the One by whom it is offered.  This is how we cover our nakedness with Christ’s Righteousness.  History will reproach us also, if we do not avail ourselves of the present truths that are now being brought into view in the tutor that brings us to Christ.  Only through diligent study of the new truths being gleaned from the Law (Pentateuch) can we comprehend the totality of the sacrifice our Lord undertook to accomplish for us.  

Again Heaven is preparing the church to receive the message of the Angel of Revelation 18.  This message comes to the church built upon the foundation of the “Sabbath” the “Sanctuary” and the “State of the Dead”.  Because an understanding of these doctrines prepares the mind of the student to grasp the magnitude of the sacrifice Heaven is making for humanity

Ellen White in a pamphlet written to the ministry says “Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that he is taking the reins in his own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that he will use to bring about and perfect his work of righteousness.” SpTA06 pg. 60, 61

Also she says “As the message of Christ’s first advent announced the kingdom of His grace, so the message of His second advent announces the kingdom of His glory. And the second message, like the first, is based on the prophecies. The words of the angel to Daniel relating to the last days were to be understood in the time of the end. At that time, “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” “The wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Dan. 12:4, 10. The Saviour Himself has given signs of His coming, and He says, “When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:31, 34, 36.”  DA pg. 234

After careful consideration one will realize that for the First Advent we have several distinct prophecies.  If we wish to know who, how and why we must study the types and symbols recorded in the book of the Law.  If we wish to know when, we must study the twenty-three hundred day prophetic prophecy found in Daniel chapter 9.  If we wish to know where, we must study the prophecies concerning Bethlehem. The message of the Second Advent like the first is also based on prophecy.  Many mistakenly confuse the signs Jesus gave of the Second Advent as prophecies, but these are only reference marks.  The real prophecies of the Second Advent are found in types and symbols in book of the Law and the twenty-three hundred day literal prophecy found in Daniel chapter 9.

Turning to the book of the Law, Genesis chapter 22 we find types and symbols in story form concerning some of the sacrifices in the plan of salvation.  Looking at the literal, not concerning ourselves now with prophetic prophecy, but looking only at literal prophecy, we see a family sacrifice.  Abraham represents Jesus Christ our messiah.  Sarah represents His “helpmeet” Eve, released from His side as He hung, in a deep sleep, upon the cross.  She is also found in Revelation 1:13 “And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.”, and again in Revelation 12:1 “And there appeared a great sign in the heavens, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head,”.  Isaac represents Their Son. He is found in Matthew 18:5 “And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”  And in Revelation 12:5 “And she bore a son, a male, who is going to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne.”  When Abraham placed the ram, (father of the lamb) caught by His horns in the thicket, upon the altar instead of Isaac the picture is complete.  Now we see clearly the “Everlasting Father” of Isaiah 9:6.  While all sacrificed together at the cross, only one died.

This is the present truth God has for our time.  This is why we are being brainwashed with heresies about Jesus and Mary Magdalene.  Jesus Christ and His Helpmeet are our first parents “near kinsman”.  Together Jesus and His Helpmeet make the ultimate sacrifice by giving Their “alive child” to succeed in the name of the dead, Adam and Eve and thus They redeem Adam’s lost inheritance.

All parents of military youth know that when their sons or daughters, give up their life in service for their country, it is in reality a family sacrifice.  God the Father and God the Holy Spirit both sacrificed for humanity by sending Their Son to bleed and die on foreign soil in the battle of good and evil on this earth.  “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.”  John 5:19.  Jesus bears witness to what His parents did for mankind and following Their example gives also His Son for the redemption of humanity.

Turning to the book of the Law we find the law by which Adam’s lost inheritance is to be redeemed for him by his near kinsman.  This is the same law by which Boaz redeemed Naomi and Ruth’s inheritance lost by reason of the death of their husbands.  “If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her.  And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Israel.” Deuteronomy 25: 5-6.  In the case of Adam and Eve, both died, were dead in sin, leaving no heir to rule this earth because their children were born dead.  This requires the Second Adam, Adam’s near kinsman, to go in to the Second Eve, Eve’s near kinsman, and Their first-born shall succeed in the name of the dead.

“And after these things I saw another angel come down from Heaven, having great authority. And the earth was lighted up from his glory.”  Revelation 18:1

The Angel of Revelation 18 is about to proclaim to the world his message.  When he arrives the earth will be lighted with his glory.  The message that this angel brings “Babylon the great has fallen, has fallen!” is a call out of Babylon the Great into a kingdom God has prepared, the stone kingdom of Daniel 2. This is a repeat of the second angels’ message, except now God’s people are called out into a kingdom instead of into a church like in the first call.  “...the message of His second advent announces the kingdom of His glory...”  This Angel comes having great power and authority because the Child who will be given to Adam and Eve as an “alive” heir, “...who is going to rule all nations with a rod of iron...” has been made sure.  Now it becomes plain how with the arrival of this Angel the earth is lightened with the “Glory” of Jesus Christ.  We all know that the wife is the glory of her husband and the son is the glory of his father.  This being true for you and me is also true for the man Jesus Christ!

The time is fast approaching for the Son of Jesus to be born.  This dear reader is the Second Advent.  The church leaders in studying the prophecies of the end times have confounded together the prophecies of the Second Advent and the Return of Jesus to receive His Kingdom.  It is well known that the times leading up to and during the Second Advent will be tumultuous times.  The time of Jacob’s trouble, the Tribulation, the plagues and enforcement of the Sunday Laws, are all future.  Like the people before the First Advent believed they could change the course of history by claiming a promise, the church is now teaching we can claim the promise of the Return of Jesus and by doing so we will somehow be able to bypass the uncomfortable and frightening times that are right now knocking at the door.

Many in the church believe that the laws governing the sanctuary were nailed to the cross, not realizing they will continue to be in effect as long as Jesus is our High Priest.  Humanity cannot stand in the presence of God without a mediator until we have His laws written upon our hearts.  According to Hebrews 10:16, this is a benefit of the New Covenant.  The Victim for this covenant has already been divided into two parts.  The two fountains opened in Jesus’ side, the curtain of the Most Holy Place torn in two from top to bottom and the cloven tongues of fire all testify to this fact.  All that is left is for the beneficiary to pass between the two parts of the sacrifice to receive it.  Whether you believe or not, the sacrifices recorded in the Law explain the Second Advent differently than the church is teaching.  If this trend continues God’s church like the Jewish nation will reject their Messiah.

Yours to be counted among the redeemed.

Athen Slawson