“And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat. Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to an uninhabited land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.” Leviticus 16:20-22 (NKJV)
All those who repented of their sins during the course of the year, and whose sins had been transferred to the Sanctuary, were now forgiven. However, although such sins had been separated from the people they were not destroyed. They were removed from the Sanctuary through its annual cleansing and placed upon the head of the Scapegoat. The scapegoat represents Satan. Upon whom all the sins of the redeemed will finally be placed.
“Now the event takes place foreshadowed in the last solemn service of the Day of Atonement. When the ministration in the holy of holies had been completed, and the sins of Israel had been removed from the sanctuary by virtue of the blood of the sin offering, then the scapegoat was presented alive before the Lord; and in the presence of the congregation the high priest confessed over him “all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat.” Leviticus 16:21. In like manner, when the work of atonement in the heavenly sanctuary has been completed, then in the presence of God and heavenly angels and the hosts of the redeemed the sins of God’s people will be placed upon Satan; he will be declared guilty of all the evil which he has caused them to commit. And as the scapegoat was sent away into a land not inhabited, so Satan will be banished to the desolate earth, an uninhabited and dreary wilderness.” The Great Controversy By Ellen G. White p. 658.1
The great significance of these services inaugurated and performed during Old Testament times is the fact that they pointed towards a future event that would be of supreme importance for all mankind.
“Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.” Hebrews 9:6-10 (NKJV)
One of the wonderful realities of Christ officiating as The Melchizedek High Priest is that ALL SINS, not only those committed in ignorance, will be forgiven of men.
“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter.” Mark 3:28 (NKJV)
“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:11-15 (NKJV)
Based upon all that we have studied in scripture, it seems reasonable for us to conclude that a faithful record of our deeds is carefully transcribed in Heaven. Such a record includes not only the good that we have done but also the evil that we have committed.
“Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silence, but will repay Even repay into their bosom—Your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together,” Says the Lord.” Isaiah 65:6-7 (NKJV)
When Christ’s mediatorial work has ended, all the sins committed by His people but of which they have faithfully repented will be blotted out of the books of record, and their names will remain in The Book of Life. All those who professed Christ but clung to their cherished sins instead of forsaking them. Their sins will remain in the books of record, and their names will be blotted out of the Book of Life.
When this Investigative Judgement has ended and the cases of everyone that has ever lived been decided, then the solemn pronouncement will be made
He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11 (NKJV)
The Investigative Judgment, therefore, is conducted for the benefit of God’s People. To determine if those who professed Christ have lived up to their profession of faith in the Savior.
“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32 (NKJV)
When the work of investigation shall be ended, when the cases of those who in all ages have professed to be followers of Christ have been examined and decided, then, and not till then, probation will close, and the door of mercy will be shut. Thus in the one short sentence, “They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut,” we are carried down through the Saviour’s final ministration, to the time when the great work for man’s salvation shall be completed. Great Controversy By Ellen G. White P. 428.2
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