Bible study lesson 16 - Judgment part 2 - The 2300-Day Prophecy (1844)

Purpose: To show that the final phase of Christ's ministry in the heavenly sanctuary began in the year AD 1844.

Theme: The earthly sanctuary points to the heavenly work of salvation and judgment.

Bible verses to read:

  • Exodus 25: 9, 40
  • Hebrews 8:1-5
  • Hebrew 9:11, 23-24
  • Leviticus 16:2, 34
  • Leviticus 16:7-10
  • Leviticus 16:15, 16, 19
  • Leviticus 16:21-22
  • Leviticus 23:28-29
  • Daniel 8:14
  • Daniel 7:9-10
  • Revelation 20:12
  • Revelation 21:27
  • Revelation 22:11

There are many preachers that preach that judgment is coming.  However, what if you were to find out that the Bible says judgment has come?  The 2300 days prophecy is one of the longest prophecies in the Bible.  Let's study together today and learn more about what this Bible prophecy has to say about judgment!

Let's turn to Exodus 25:9, 40.

- According to these verses, how did God tell Moses to make the tabernacle and its furnishings?

  • Answer (highlight to read): God told Moses to make the tabernacle and its furnishings according to the pattern He showed him.

If the Sanctuary in the Old Testament was just a pattern, what was it a pattern of?  Where was the original?

Let's turn to Hebrews 8:1-5.

- According to these verses, what is the earthly sanctuary a copy of?

  • Answer: It is a copy of the Sanctuary in heaven.

Everything in the earthly sanctuary was just a pattern of the original Heavenly Sanctuary.

Let's turn to Hebrews 9:11.

- According to this verse, what is Jesus' role in the heavenly sanctuary?

  • Answer: High Priest

Let's turn to Hebrews 9:23-24.

- According to these verses, what is Jesus' role in the heavenly sanctuary?

  • Answer: Sacrificial lamb

Not only is the earthly sanctuary a pattern of the heavenly one, but also the earthly roles that were performed were a pattern of the roles Jesus performed in heaven.  Jesus accomplishes both roles for us: lamb and priest.

In order to understand what happens in the heavenly sanctuary, we have to understand what happens in the earthly sanctuary.  What was the most important and significant ceremony that happened in the earthly sanctuary?

Let's turn to Leviticus 16:2, 34.

- According to these verses, what happened once a year in the sanctuary?

  • Answer: A service to make atonement for the sins of all the children of Israel.

There were two types of services.  There was a daily service, which had the purpose of transferring sins into the sanctuary.  This was just the first step, however.  Then there was the yearly service, which had the purpose of removing sins from the sanctuary.  So, how does the second ceremony work?

Let's turn to Leviticus 16:7-10.

- According to these verses, why were lots cast for the two goats?

  • Answer: Lots were cast to determine which goat shall be offered up as the Lord's goat, while the other will be the scapegoat.

Let's turn to Leviticus 16: 15-16, 19

- According to these verses, why is the Lord's goat killed in the yearly service?

  • Answer: To cleanse the sanctuary from all of the sins brought in through the daily service.

Compare these verses with Daniel 8:14, where there is mention of a cleansing in the heavenly sanctuary.

Let's turn to Leviticus 16:21-22

- According to these verses, what did the priest do to the scapegoat?

  • Answer: The priest symbolically transferred all the sins of the people of Israel to the scapegoat, where it was to be led out of the sanctuary into the wilderness.

The yearly service was also known as the Day of Atonement.  It was on this day that the Lord's goat was killed to atone for the sins of the people of Israel, and the scapegoat was to bear all the sins of the people and led away to die in the wilderness away from the people.  The Day of Atonement was a day of judgment.

Let's turn to Leviticus 23:28-29.

- According to these verses, what happened to anyone who did not humble themselves and take the Day of Atonement seriously?

  • Answer: They were to be cut off from the people.

To be “cut off” = judgment.

For the Jew, the cleansing of the sanctuary was synonymous with the Day of Judgment.  Any place in the Bible where you read about a sanctuary being cleansed, you should think about judgment!

Let’s turn to Daniel 8:14.

- According to this verse, the sanctuary shall be cleansed after how long?

  • Answer: 2300 prophetic days = 2300 literal years

Remember that in last week’s lesson, we studied the 70-weeks prophecy, which spanned 490 literal years.  We started in 457 BC and ended in AD 34, which leaves 1810 years of the 2300-day prophecy after we amputate the 70-weeks prophecy.

If we add 1810 years to AD 34, we arrive at AD 1844.

Do you realize that the last time prophecy was fulfilled in AD 1844?  In the year AD 1844, Jesus began His final phase of His work in the heavenly sanctuary.

Since AD 31, Jesus was in the Holy Place (the first compartment of the heavenly sanctuary) performing the daily service with His blood.

In AD 1844, Jesus moved from the first compartment and went through the veil into the second compartment, which is the Most Holy Place.

Let’s turn to Daniel 7:9-10. 

- According to these verses, what happened after the court was seated for judgment?

  • Answer: The books were then opened.

The “books” describe the Judgment that we have been talking about.  Remember we said that there needs to be closure to our decisions?  The opening of the books was the beginning of the finalization of our decisions.  The entire universe will get to review the decisions of the human race. 

Prior to 1844, probation closed for everyone when they died.  However, we are now living so close to the end, that when this process if completed, we could still be alive when probation closes.  

The Bible is very clear that there are books and records in heaven

Let’s turn to Revelation 20:12.

- According to this verse, who are being judged?

  • Answer: The dead, small and great.

- According to this verse, how are they judged?

  • Answer: They are judged according to their works written in the Book of Life.

Let’s turn to Revelation 21:27.

- According to this verse, who can enter the New Jerusalem?

  • Answer: Only those whose name are written in the Book of Life.

God keeps careful records because He needs evidence.

Let’s turn to Revelation 14:6-7.

- What do these verses say about judgment?

  • Answer: Judgment has come.

In Matthew 24:14, Jesus said that the Gospel will be preached before the end.  The three angels’ messages in Revelation 14 is the Gospel proclaimed right before the Second Coming of Jesus.

Anyone who was alive close to 1844 was living in a special time.  Before 1844, Jesus could not have returned because there was still an unfulfilled time prophecy.  After 1844, however, there is nothing left – time is about to end.  This is why we have a message of urgency.

We are living in a time in this world’s history where Christ is performing the finishing touches in the heavenly sanctuary.  Judgment is not God choosing.  Rather, it is God recognizing what you have chosen.

Let’s turn to Revelation 22:11.

- What is this verse saying about the unjust and the righteous?

  • Answer: Let the unjust continue to be unjust and the righteous to continue to be righteous.

My friend, we are living in the end times now.  Now is not a time to play with God.  The day is coming where the choices you have made in life will determine your destiny forever.  Will you take heed of the three angels' messages?  Will you make the commitment now to follow Jesus?

 

 

Happy Sabbath!

A Short Prayer