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How was the sin problem dealt with in Israel on a daily basis?
“And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty; Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.” Leviticus 4:27-30.

Note: Although the daily sacrifices were part of the ceremonies symbolizing forgiveness, those who offered sacrifices were not considered fully cleansed of all sin. (See next question.)

How were the accumulated sins in the sanctuary cleansed each year?
“And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.” Leviticus 16:29-30.

Note: The yearly Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) dealt with the sins accumulated for the year.

Of what was the earthly sanctuary a pattern?
“And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.” Exodus 25:8-9.
Note: Moses saw a pattern of the sanctuary in Heaven, which became his pattern. Also see Hebrews 8:5.

Did this sanctuary in heaven serve any purpose after Jesus returned to heaven?
“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Hebrews 8:1–2.

What does Jesus bring with Him at the Second Coming?
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12.

How does God decide who will receive what reward?
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31.

Note: A judgment is appointed for all people, to determine their reward: eternal life or death.

When did the final judgment of the world begin?
“Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Daniel 8:13-14.

Note: When dealing with prophetic periods of time in Daniel and Revelation, a day equals a year. For an example of this usage in another prophecy, see Ezekiel 4:6.

When did the beginning of the 2300 days begin?
“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.” Daniel 9:25.

How was that prophecy fulfilled?
“In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house:” Ezra 6:3-4.

Note: We know from historical documents that the decree was made in 457 B.C. Counting forward from 457 B.C., 2,300 years brings us to 1844. (2300 – 457 = 1843. Because there is no “zero” year between B.C. and A.D. years, we must add one year, which gives us 1844.) This means that in 1844, the “time of the end,” or “last days,” began with the work of judgment in heaven. This judgment will determine who will receive the gift of eternal life when Christ comes.

What does the scene of judgment look like in heaven?
“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:9-10.

Note: Daniel saw in vision what would happen in Heaven when the judgment hour struck in 1844.

Out of what book are people judged?
“And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Revelation 20:12.

Who is there in Heaven to minister for the righteous in the judgment?
“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.” Daniel 7:13.

Note: Daniel saw Jesus come to stand before the Father as our intercessor at the beginning of the judgment.

What does Christ do on our behalf as our mediator and judge?
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelation 3:5.

When Christ is done with His work in heaven, what will He declare?
“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.

After the judgment, what is given to Jesus?
“And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:14.

What last warning of repentance began to go to the world in 1844?
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Revelation 14:6-7.

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