By Leslie Hardinge others By E.G. White.
The sacrificial offerings were ordained by God to be to man a perpetual reminder and a penitential acknowledgment of his sin and a confession of his faith in the promised Redeemer….To Adam, the offering of the first sacrifice was a most painful ceremony. His hand must be raised to take life, which only God could give. It was the first time he had ever witnessed death, and he knew that had he been obedient to God, there would have been no death of man or beast. As he slew the innocent victim, he trembled at the thought that his sin must shed the blood of the spotless Lamb of God. This scene gave him a deeper and more vivid sense of the greatness of his transgression, which nothing but the death of God’s dear Son could expiate. (PP 68)
The two brothers erected their altars alike, and each brought an offering. Abel presented a sacrifice from the flock, in accordance with the Lord’s directions. “and the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.” Fire flashed from heaven and consumed the sacrifice. (PP 71) Other instances of fire from heaven as approval (Lev. 9:24; Judges 6:21; 1 Kings 18:38; 1 Chron. 21:26; 2 Chron. 7:1; Gen 4:4)
The word “temple” is derived from the same root as are “time” and “temporary. Temple suggests a part cut off from space, as time indicates a fragment of eternity. (WJiHS, p 34.)
“I will set My Tabernacle among you…and I will walk among you” (Lev. 26:11, 12). To show His delight in being near His people, Jehovah suggested to Moses, “Let them make Me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” (Ex. 25:8 cf. 29:45; 1 Corinthians 3:16)
“The sequence of the Sanctuary festivals outlined the calendar of salvation and anticipated the timing of the Savior’s ministry.” (WJiHS. p. 38)
In order that the earthly Tabernacle might represent the heavenly, it must be perfect in all its parts and it must be, in the smallest detail, like the pattern in the heavens” (RH 11 Jan 1912) (Hebrews 8:5)
As we have noticed, God presented the Sanctuary services in microcosm at Eden’s gate to illustrate the plan of salvation to our first parents and their children. Thither Cain and Abel came to present their sacrifices and were followed by many of their descendants for sixteen centuries. Just prior to the flood the Hand that had planted the Garden withdrew it from the earth. The Gardener of Galilee will one day restore it “more gloriously adorned than at the beginning” (PP 62)
“I will set My Tabernacle among you,… and I will walk among you” (Lev 26:11, 12).
“But these mental pictures are not painted by the brush strokes of Biblical writers, nor are these emotions evoked by their words. They are emoted by the Spirit’s stimulation of our imaginations through representations far more powerful and eloquent than letters on a page.
But questions still confront us: Which of the many details of the symbols or types shall we consider meaningful, and therefore “measure,” or dismiss as merely incidental? It is my opinion that there is nothing given by Inspiration which is without significance, when all the facts are known and brought to bear upon it, as Ellen White noted, “no word (is) used in vain.” Even though I may not grasp them all yet, I would be unwise to say they are nonessential. Eternal Spirit, keep my mind from turning from Thy light.” (WJiHS, pp 55)