Gold Tried in the Fire - Robert J. Wieland

sounding of the "seventh trumpet." Here he was
shown the opening of the most holy apartment,
whereas in previous visions he had seen the first,
the holy apartment, opened. See Revelation 11:15-
19; cf. Revelation 1:12, 20; 8:3-5. This would
clearly imply the closing of the ministry previously
centered in the first apartment. Christ's message "to
the angel of the church in Philadelphia" symbolizes
a period near the end of time; there we see the
work of the heavenly High Priest who "openeth,
and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man
openeth. ... I have set before thee an open door, and
no man can shut it." Revelation 3:7, 8. This
message is meaningless unless it refers to the
beginning of the Day of Atonement. In opening the
door of the most holy apartment, Christ
automatically shuts the door of the first. On the
ancient Day of Atonement no priest functioned in
the first apartment while the high priest was in the
second.
In speaking of this sanctuary ministry, we
employ the same terms as found in Scripture. It is
pointless to question just how literal is the idea of a
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