The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 419

blood of animals; in the latter, with the blood of Christ. Paul states, as the
reason why this cleansing must be performed with blood, that without
shedding of blood is no remission. Remission, or putting away of sin, is
the work to be accomplished. But how could there be sin connected with
the sanctuary, either in heaven or upon the earth? This may be learned by
reference to the symbolic service; for the priests who officiated on earth,
served “unto the example and shadow of heavenly things.” Hebrews 8:5.
The ministration of the earthly sanctuary consisted of two divisions;
the priests ministered daily in the holy place, while once a year the high
priest performed a special work of atonement in the most holy, for the
cleansing of the sanctuary. Day by day the repentant sinner brought his
offering to the door of the tabernacle and, placing his hand upon the
victim’s head, confessed his sins, thus in figure transferring them from
himself to the innocent sacrifice. The animal was then slain. “Without
shedding of blood,” says the apostle, there is no remission of sin. “The
life of the flesh is in the blood.” Leviticus 17:11. The broken law of
God demanded the life of the transgressor. The blood, representing the
forfeited life of the sinner, whose guilt the victim bore, was carried by
the priest into the holy place and sprinkled before the veil, behind which
was the ark containing the law that the sinner had transgressed. By this
ceremony the sin was, through the blood, transferred in figure to the
sanctuary. In some cases the blood was not taken into the holy place;
but the flesh was then to be eaten by the priest, as Moses directed the
sons of Aaron, saying: “God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the
congregation.” Leviticus 10:17. Both ceremonies alike symbolized the
transfer of the sin from the penitent to the sanctuary.
Such was the work that went on, day by day, throughout the year.
The sins of Israel were thus transferred to the sanctuary, and a special
work became necessary for their removal. God commanded that an
atonement be made for each of the

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