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After the waiting period of 1844 had passed, Adventists still believed that the coming of the Savior was very near. They thought they had reached an important climax: Jesus would now no longer stand before God as a mediator for people; the warning of the coming judgment had been given, their task in the world had been fulfilled. Therefore, the salvation of sinners' souls was no longer a concern for them. The insolent and blasphemous mockery of the wicked also proved that God's spirit had withdrawn from those who rejected his mercy. All this confirmed their belief that probation had come to an end or, as they put it, that "the door of mercy had closed". - Spirit of Prophecy 4, 268
But when we took a closer look at the sanctuary issue, a light dawned on us. Now we suddenly understood what Jesus had meant when he said in Revelation to the very church in which we lived: "These things says the Holy One, the True One, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shuts, and who shuts and no one opens: I know your works. Behold, I have opened a door before you that no one can shut." (Revelation 3:7, 8) - Spirit of Prophecy 4, 268
The doors in the temple
And for the entrance to the back room he [Solomon] made doors of olive wood ... And the two leaves of the doors were of olive wood ... And likewise for the entrance to the main room ... he made two doors of juniper wood; the two leaves of the one door were hinged, and the two leaves of the second door were also hinged. - 1 Kings 6:32, 33 Z - Editor's note
Two doors are brought into focus here: one open and one closed. When the 2300 prophetic days came to an end in 1844, Jesus moved his ministry from the Holy Place to the Holy of Holies. In the earthly sanctuary, when the high priest entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, the door to the Holy Place was closed and the door to the Holy of Holies was opened. In the same way, when Jesus went from the Holy Place to the Holy of Holies in the heavenly sanctuary, the door or service of the Holy Place was closed and the door or service of the Holy of Holies was opened. Jesus had thus ended one part of his intercessory ministry in order to begin the other part of his task. There he still presents his blood before the Father for sinners. "Behold," he says, "I have opened a door before you that no one can shut." (Revelation 3:8) - Spirit of Prophecy 4, 268
It's about the Sabbath
I saw that Jesus had closed the door to the Most Holy Place, which no man can open, and that He had opened the door to the Most Holy Place, which no man can shut (Revelation 3:7, 8). Since Jesus opened the door to the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant is located, a light from the commandments shines out to God's church, testing them with the Sabbath question. - Early Writings, 42
Applying verses 7 and 8 from Revelation 3 to the heavenly sanctuary and to Jesus' ministry was completely new to me at first. I had never heard this idea from anyone before. But now that we clearly understand the sanctuary doctrine, it is completely convincing and fascinatingly beautiful. - Early Writings, 86
"Behold, I have opened a door before you." (Revelation 3:8) Jesus opened the door or the service of the Holy of Holies. Illumination radiated from this open sanctuary door in heaven: it was shown that the fourth commandment is an integral part of the law, which is kept there in a shrine. What God has established, man cannot overthrow. - Great Controversy, 435
The shrine under the throne of grace
Jesus died for us so that we can live. He opened the way for us to keep God's law through his merits. Jesus says: "I know your works. Behold, I have opened a door before you that no one can shut." (Revelation 3:8) How hard people try to close this door, but they do not succeed. John testifies: "And the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple." (Revelation 11:19) Under the throne of grace in the ark were the two stone tablets with the law of YHWH. God's faithful saw the light that emanated from this law and knew: we must pass it on to the world. Today, Satan is trying hard to close this light-flooded door. But Jesus says: No man can close it. Many will turn away from the light, accuse it and belittle it. Nevertheless, it casts clear and distinct rays that encourage and bring blessing to all who see it. - Faith and Works, 46
Thank God there is this open door that Satan and his agents want to close in vain. The arm of omnipotence has opened it, and no other power can close it. John saw in holy vision how a door was opened in heaven (Revelation 4:1). "And the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple." (Revelation 11:19) As he looked down the stream of time, he saw a church whose attention was drawn to this open door and then to the ark within it, which contains God's commandments. The third angel of Revelation 14 flies through the middle of heaven and says with a loud voice: "Here is the patience of the saints who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus!" (Revelation 14:12) This angel brings a message that is to be proclaimed to the world shortly before Jesus' coming in the clouds of heaven so that he can gather his chosen ones to himself. Shortly before this event, people are to be made aware of the trampled law of God. - Present Truth, November 3, 1885
The rainbow over the throne of grace
There is one who sees everything. He says: "I have opened a door before you" (Revelation 3:8). This made God's throne visible, overshadowed by the bow of promise (Revelation 4:1-3), the sign of the eternal covenant. - Manuscript 27, 1891
Isaiah was permitted in vision to look into the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies of the heavenly sanctuary. The curtains of the innermost sanctuary were drawn aside, and a throne, lofty and exalted, towered straight up to heaven." - Review and Herald, October 16, 1888
Isaiah's vision depicts the state of God's church in the last days. They are allowed to see in faith what is going on in the heavenly sanctuary. "And the temple of God in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple." (Revelation 11:19) When they enter the Holy of Holies in faith and see Jesus' ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, they realize that they are a church with unclean lips ... But if, like Isaiah, they accept the impression the LORD wants to make on their hearts and humble themselves before God, then there is hope for them. The bow of promise is over the throne, and what was done for Isaiah will be done for them. - Review and Herald, December 22, 1896
Source: Hope-Worldwide
