A Response to Holy Relics, Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1: The Standishes use quotes from Randall Price and others to present what we know is not completely accurate from Scripture. One such reference is found from a source identified from Randall Price’s book The Third Temple, where he quotes Gershon Solomon, the Director of the Temple Mount project in Jerusalem.

“In an interview in Tennessee on the John Ankerberg Television Show, Solomon threw down the gauntlet when he declared that the Ark of the Covenant cannot be put in a museum, nor in a synagogue, but in only one place—the Temple. We know that the generation of the First Temple hid the Ark of the Covenant for the time of the Third Temple, the last and eternal Temple.” (Ibid., p. 276)

“His belief is that the bringing of the Ark of the Covenant and all the holy vessels to the Third Temple will be by the will of God. We shall see it whether or not we want to see it because God [has already] decided it. And if God has decided it, it is [as good as] fulfilled. We shall be the generation of the complete redemption—we shall see again as a reality the Ark of the Covenant here on the hill of God, and nations and peoples will come from all the world to see the glory of God.” (Ibid.,317);

Then the Standishes use this quote to make a comparison with what they believe was Wyatt’s position. They say “Ron Wyatt’s theological impetus is quite different. His claim to have discovered unique blood upon the Mercy Seat stems from his conviction that the blood placed upon the Mercy Seat, as occurred on the Day of Atonement, led to the final atonement being made for the sins of the world.”

Since they indicate there is a difference I’m not certain why they are even using the quotes in the first place, Ron’s view was clearly different than Price’s, but the issue might be Ron’s view of the atonement. First of all, this is not a quote from Ron Wyatt, only the Standish interpretation of comments or materials they read. Actually, Wyatt was well versed in the writings of Ellen White, an early pioneer and leader in the SDA church. His theological impetus was greatly influenced by her writings, and founded completely on the Scriptures.

This is what I mean about misunderstanding: Standish is confusing two totally separate things. Randall Price is referring to a “completed Redemption,” and Wyatt is referring to a completed atonement. Notice this comment from E.G. White; RH 9/24 1901 – “Christ planted the cross between heaven and earth, and when the Father beheld the sacrifice of His Son, He bowed before it in recognition of ITS perfection, It is enough, He said, the atonement is complete.” This is what Ron believed.

Apparently what has eluded the Standishes is the clarity of what was occurring at Calvary. This is not a criticism at all, since most pastors/teachers, and the Christian community have a general concept only of what was happening. Most all of the sanctuary service was illustrated during Calvary, with the exception of the offering of the red heifer on the mount of Olives, only performed approximately 8 or 9 times by Moses. This altar and sacrifice typified the final destruction of the world, however, during Christ’s passion His blood was shed, collected and applied, and then the cleansing of the resurrection occurred.

When John proclaims Christ to be the way, truth, and life, (John 14:6), he is referencing to the entire Temple service, for “Thy way Oh God, is in the Sanctuary” (Ps77:13). What some may miss is the legal requirement necessary for the resurrection. The Atonement must be completed, the satisfaction of the demands of the law accepted by the Father as sufficient. Without a complete atonement at that time, the resurrection could not have legally occurred. A completed Redemption however, will occur after the millennium and the destruction of the wicked, and the earth being made new, “and there shall be no more curse…,” (Rev. 22:3). We will discuss more of the detail concerning the sacrifice of Christ later.