n the reckoning of the prophetic periods, but in the _event_ to take
place at the end of the 2300 days. Through this error the believers had
suffered disappointment, yet all that was foretold by the prophecy, and
all that they had any Scripture warrant to expect, had been accomplished.
At the very time when they were lamenting the failure of their hopes, the
event had taken place which was foretold by the message, and which must be
fulfilled before the Lord could appear to give reward to His servants.

Christ had come, not to the earth, as they expected, but, as foreshadowed
in the type, to the most holy place of the temple of God in heaven. He is
represented by the prophet Daniel as coming at this time to the Ancient of
days: "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man
came with the clouds of heaven, and came"--not to the earth, but--"to the
Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him."(696)

This coming is foretold also by the prophet Malachi: "The Lord, whom ye
seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the
covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of
hosts."(697) The coming of the Lord to His temple was sudden, unexpected,
to His people. They were not looking for Him _there_. They expected Him to
come to earth, "in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not
God, and that obey not the gospel."(698)

But the people were not yet ready to meet their Lord. There was still a
work of preparation to be accomplished for them. Light was to be given,
directing their minds to the temple of God in heaven; and as they should
by faith follow their High Priest in His ministration there, new duties
would be revealed. Another message of warning and instruction was to be
given to the church.

Says the prophet: "Who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall
stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, and like
fullers' soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and
He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that
they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness."(699) Those who
are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in
the sanctuary above, are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a
mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified
from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their
own diligent effor