The Great Controversy The Great Controversy | Page 431

and forgiveness of sins was offered to men through the intercession of
Christ in the most holy. One part of His ministration had closed, only
to give place to another. There was still an “open door” to the heavenly
sanctuary, where Christ was ministering in the sinner’s behalf.
Now was seen the application of those words of Christ in the
Revelation, addressed to the church at this very time: “These things saith
He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that
openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know
thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can
shut it.” Revelation 3:7, 8.
It is those who by faith follow Jesus in the great work of the
atonement who receive the benefits of His mediation in their behalf,
while those who reject the light which brings to view this work of
ministration are not benefited thereby. The Jews who rejected the light
given at Christ’s first advent, and refused to believe on Him as the
Saviour of the world, could not receive pardon through Him. When Jesus
at His ascension entered by His own blood into the heavenly sanctuary
to shed upon His disciples the blessings of His mediation, the Jews were
left in total darkness to continue their useless sacrifices and offerings.
The ministration of types and shadows had ceased. That door by which
men had formerly found access to God was no longer open. The Jews
had refused to seek Him in the only way whereby He could then be
found, through the ministration in the sanctuary in heaven. Therefore
they found no communion with God. To them the door was shut. They
had no knowledge of Christ as the true sacrifice and the only mediator
before God; hence they could not receive the benefits of His mediation.
The condition of the unbelieving Jews illustrates the condition of the
careless and unbelieving among professed Christians, who are willingly
ignorant of the work of our merciful High Priest. In the typical service,
when the high priest

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