Key to the 1843 Prophetic Chart
7. The most holy place in the type was entered only on the day of atonement. Lev.xvi (16),2,12-15,29,30; Heb.ix (9),7. So it is in the antitype. Rev.xi (11),19. Cleansing the Sanctuary, and making the atonement, are identical works.
And what could be more befitting than that a work of such momentous importance, the last ministration of mercy by our great High Priest, the closing up of the work of salvation for the world, should be introduced by the termination of a great prophetic period? What point of more thrilling interest and importance could be made known than the commencement of the great, though brief period of examination and decision of the characters of men? When this is finished the great decree of Rev.xxii (22),11, will go forth: "He which is filthy let him be filthy still, and he that is holy let him be holy still.
OUR DISAPPOINTMENT IN 1844
The reason why the expectation of those who were looking for the Lord to come in 1844, were not realized is clearly explained by the subject of the Sanctuary. The prophetic command had been given to write the vision and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. Hab.ii,2; Isa,xxx,8. And this had been fulfilled. All was apparently so plain that he that ran might read and understand it. And yet this same prophecy implied a disappointment in the next verse. "For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it shall speak and not lie. Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Hab.ii,3. A person or thing cannot be said to tarry till the time passes at which it was expected. We were sure that no mistake had been made in the time, and in that we were correct; but we mistook the events to transpire at the end of the days. The testimony adduced relative to the Sanctuary shows us that not the coming of the Lord, but the cleansing of the Sanctuary was the work to take place at that time; and that we were only warranted to expect from the declaration, "Then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed" [Dan.viii (8),14], that at the end of the days our great High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary, would enter within the vail into the most holy place, to perform before the ark of ten commands, the last act in his ministration. Having, since his ascension, ministered in the first apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary, as foreshadowed by the ministration of the priests in the earthly tabernacle, we believe that at the end of the days in 1844 He entered the most holy place and commenced, according to the prophecy, that work which is called the cleansing of the Sanctuary.
THE THREE ANGELS OF REVELATION XIV (14)
At the left of the Sanctuary we have the illustration of three angels flying through heaven, followed by a royal personage coming in the clouds of heaven with power and glory. These angels are the three angels brought to view in Rev.xii (12),6-12. When we talk of the first, second and third angel's messages, we are frequently accused of being fanciful in our ways of Scripture. But we wish to ask plainly every person who respects the sacred text, if there are not three