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Then Shall the Sanctuary Be Cleansed - Donald K. Short

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so we may know He has a supreme interest in <strong>the</strong><br />

"temple of God . . . which temple ye are." The<br />

proof for this is displayed in <strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong> True<br />

Witness continues to knock at <strong>the</strong> door of His<br />

temple in Laodicea.<br />

Therefore <strong>the</strong> final issue is whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>re is an<br />

ethical significance to <strong>the</strong> cleansing of <strong>the</strong> heavenly<br />

sanctuary before Christ can return or whe<strong>the</strong>r this<br />

is merely a ritual performed in some corner of <strong>the</strong><br />

universe without relation to us. It was <strong>the</strong> horror of<br />

glaring truth superimposed upon <strong>the</strong> rituals of <strong>the</strong><br />

Jews which urged <strong>the</strong>ir verdict of "crucify Him."<br />

We face <strong>the</strong> same issue. It is far easier for us to<br />

promote goals and urge ever larger church<br />

membership and be emotionally charged with<br />

music and entertainment in megameetings while<br />

reveling in <strong>the</strong> material glories of heaven—any and<br />

all of this—ra<strong>the</strong>r than face <strong>the</strong> ethical significance<br />

of truth as it confronts us individually and as a<br />

corporate body.<br />

The promise made by Jesus to return, recorded<br />

in John 14:1-3, contains much more than appears<br />

87

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