“Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed” (Daniel 8:14). This integral time-prophecy recognized by Adventists and those believers in the second coming of Jesus started in 457 bc with the rebuilding of Jerusalem, followed by Christ beginning His earthly ministry in ad 27 (69 weeks), the stoning of Stephen and the gospel going to the Gentiles in ad 34 (70 weeks), and 1844, when Jesus Christ our High Priest went from the holy place to the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary, continuing His work of intercession during the antitypical Day of Atonement. See Daniel 9:24-27.

According to Leviticus 23:27, the tenth day of the seventh month was the Day of Atonement. “It was regarded as more sacred than any other day in the yearly round of service. It was a ceremonial Sabbath and a fast day.”4 (Verse 32.)

The Israelite who did not afflict his or her soul upon that day was cut off from among the people (Verses 28-30.)

On that day the High Priest went through a specific process that is detailed by the Advent pioneer, Stephen N. Haskell.5 This sacred work was the cleansing of the sanctuary and the removing of the sins. Let us be mindful that every sin is marked before the Lord in heaven (Jeremiah 2:22). When sins are confessed and forgiven they are covered by the blood of the sacrifice (Psalm 32:1). This was typified by their being transferred to the sanctuary, where no human eyes except those of the priest ever beheld the stains of the blood of the sin offering upon the horns of the golden altar before the veil.

It could not be possible that the books of heaven will always hold the records of sin, or that Christ will always bear the sins of the world. As the typical work was performed at the close of the year, so the cleansing of the sanctuary necessitates an examination of the records - an investigative judgment. This work was begun in ad 1844 at the end of the prophetic period of the 2300 days.

All are judged out of the those things which are written in the books, according to their works (Revelation 20:12). As the books reveal one life record after another, Christ confesses the name of every overcomer before the Father and before the innumerable company of angels (Revelation 3:5).

The earthly high priest presented blood to atone for the sins of the people; our High Priest pleads His own blood: Father, My blood, My blood, My blood.

While Jesus pleads as our High Priest, there is hope for every repentant sinner; but when He at last comes forth from the sanctuary, mercy’s door will be forever closed. There will be no intercessor then (Isaiah 59:16).

He will proclaim, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still” (Revelation 22:11).

“Anciently the congregation was not accepted as a whole; but it was an individual work. So today, each one answers for himself before God. We must not content ourselves by doing just as our fathers did, who passed away before the judgment opened in the courts of heaven. God requires special service of His people now.” 6

The individual who, during the antitypical Day of Atonement, or the investigative judgment, thinks that Christ will plead his or her case while he or she ignores the work that God has enjoined upon the antitypical congregation will be among those whose names will be blotted out from the book of life. We are saved by faith in our High Priest, but faith without works is dead (James 2:17). If we have a living faith, we shall gladly do as the Lord directs.

Four things were required of each individual member of ancient Israel on the Day of Atonement, as found in Leviticus 23:27, 28:

1. A holy convocation: Assembling for religious worship. “There is a special blessing in worshiping with others. God promises that where even two or three are gathered in His name, He will meet with them. This first requirement is a spiritual thermometer by which every Christian can test his [or her] spiritual condition.”7 Absenting oneself from the worship of God - taking no pleasure in it - indicates a low level of spirituality (Hebrews 10:21-25).

2. Afflict the soul: Searching our own heart. Each individual was to “afflict” the soul - search his or her own heart, put away every sin, and spend much time in prayer. With this was connected abstinence from food. This was so forcibly impressed upon the mind of the Jews that even at the present day the fast upon the tenth day of the seventh month. The individual who realizes that the judgment is going on in the heavenly sanctuary, and that his or her name will surely be presented before the great tribunal, will search his or her heart and pray earnestly for God’s acceptance - being temperate in all things and in complete control of the appetite (Luke 21:25-33; Isaiah 22:12-14).

3. “Offer an offering made by fire.” The Lord desires that the whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, that the entire life of the Christian be laid on the altar, ready to be used as the Lord directs. None can do this who do not daily accept Christ as his or her personal Saviour, his or her sin-offering, and know what it is to be accepted in the Beloved (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

4. God’s work comes first. God’s work was given the first thought during the entire day. He promises to bless His people in temporal things if they look after His work and service first, and their temporal interests second. “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with . . . cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares” (Luke 21:34).

God is testing the congregation today. Who will fulfill God’s design for His people? Who will not forsake the assembly of God’s people? Who will keep a clear mind by controlling the appetite - and a pure heart by prayer and personal, deep heart searching? Who will lay all their interests upon God’s altar, to be used for His glory, and never let the cares of this life crowd out God’s work or the study of His word?

Over such as these our High Priest will say, “He that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still” (Revelation 22:11). Only such can stand before a righteous God without a Mediator.