The Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, vol. 4

II. Significance of the Bitter-Sweet Book

This came upon Edson as an inescapable conviction, like a beam of glorious light illuminating the whole question, clarifying their disappointment, and dispelling the darkness and confusion. He saw, he tells us, how Christ, the Bridegroom of the parable, must have come “to the marriage at that time; in other words, to the Ancient of days, to receive a kingdom, dominion, and glory; and we must wait for his return from the wedding” ⁶ The sanctuary to be cleansed, he adds, was clearly the heavenly sanctuary, and not this earth at all. The thought was like a message from heaven. It was a new idea, a precious truth, a wondrous discovery. His prayer was answered. PFF4 881.3

Picture 3: LIGHT ON THE SANCTURAY FLASHES INTO EDSONS MIND
On the morning following October 22, 1844, Hiram Edson, on his way across the cornfield engrossed in thought, suddenly realized that christ had
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In addition to this clarifying thought, Edson writes, “My mind was directed to the tenth chapter] of Revelation] where I could see the vision had spoken and did not lie.” This chapter presents the symbol of the sweet and then bitter book. The advent experience had indeed been as honey in their mouths. Now, in the aftermath, it had suddenly become as bitter as gall. (Revelation 10:9, 10.) The prophecy also seemed to indicate that they must testify again. But how was that to be? Who would listen? And then the thought likewise came to him that | the ark of the New Testament was to be seen in heaven. (Revelation 11:19.) These were the principal thoughts that coursed through Edson’s mind as he stood there in rapt meditation. Meantime his companion-evidently Crosier-who had been striding along, likewise deep in study, suddenly noticed that Edson had stopped. He called back, asking why he had paused. And Edson responded, “The Lord was answering our morning prayer, giving light with regard to our disappointment.” ⁷ PFF4 883.1

Joining each other again, they walked along slowly, discussing this forgotten phase of the sanctuary service and recalling what they could of the Biblical record of the ancient types given to Israel. Then they hastened from home to home, telling their brethren the good news that Christ’s priestly ministry in heaven was now somehow fulfilling another aspect of the ancient Mosaic type-that our heavenly High Priest had just entered into, instead of coming out of, the most holy, as they had formerly held. That much was clear. This, then, must be but the beginning, not the ending, of the great antitypical Day of Atonement. That revolutionary concept threw a shaft of clarifying light upon their disappointment. Christ had indeed fulfilled what the type had actually called for. It would be awhile before He would complete this cleansing of the sanctuary, and not until then would He come forth as King. This was “new light” indeed. But it was only the beginning of what was to be a long period of continuous study and developing understanding and conviction. PFF4 883.2