judgment

Editorial – When God Questions Man

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When God asks man a question, that man is required to answer. When God asked Adam in the garden of Eden “Where are you” (Genesis 3:9), Adam had to tell the Lord where he was. When God gave Job a science test (Job 38 and 39), Job said, “I am insignificant, what can I reply to you? I lay my hand on my mouth” (Job 40:3, 4, literal translation). After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said, “I repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6). But in the future the Lord is going to ask all of us to give an account to Him (Romans 14:12).

“The only question asked in the judgment will be, ‘Have they been obedient to My commandments?’ ” Gospel Workers, 315.

“Christ would have all understand that the end of all things is at hand, that the solemn scenes of the final judgment are soon to take place. In that great day, those whose characters the Judge of all the earth can vindicate will stand before the world glorified and honored. …

“The whole world will then receive sentence. Of all the question will be asked, ‘Have you diligently studied the word of God that you might know the will of God, that you might be enabled to understand the difference between sin and righteousness?’ Sad will be the fate of those who would not come to Christ that they might be cleansed from all unrighteousness. Then sinners see the character of God as it is. And they see, too, the sinfulness of the sins that have drawn souls away from Christ, and placed them under the banner of rebellion, to war against Him who gave His life for them.

“Because Christ was one with the Father, equal with Him, He could make an atonement for transgression, and save man—not in his sins, but from his sins. Those who have despised His grace will see what they have lost by treating with contempt the One who humbled Himself to stand at the head of humanity. They hear the words of condemnation, ‘Depart from Me. By your example you have caused many to err. You have led them astray from the commandments in obedience to which they would have found eternal life.’ ” The Upward Look, 272.

Inspired: “Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, ‘Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? and in Your name have cast out devils? and in Your name done many wonderful works?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you: depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’ ” (Matthew 7:22, 23, literal translation).

Judgment Day–Are You Ready?

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Judgment Day–Are You Ready?
By Brenda Douay

“I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.” “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him” (Daniel 7:9, 10, 13).

“Every individual has a soul to save or to lose. Each has a case pending at the bar of God. Each must meet the great Judge face to face. How important, then, that every mind contemplate often the solemn scene when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, when, with Daniel, every individual must stand in his lot, at the end of the days.” The Great Controversy, 488.

There are many compelling reasons why we should study the judgment hour message, but I will simply mention one. We know we have a subtle and powerful enemy seeking our souls. One of his greatest weapons is deception. Inspiration tells us we must understand the subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment or we will not make it through the coming times of trouble. Why is this message of such vital importance? Because it is the only means of salvation, and therefore is the central focus of Satan’s deceptions. Satan’s greatest deception is to twist the sanctuary message in our understanding so we will lose eternal life. It was so in the time of the Jews. He blinded them to the transition from the earthly sanctuary and its services to the opening of the holy place of the sanctuary in heaven and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry there. Today he is seeking to blind God’s people to the understanding of the transition of Jesus from the holy to the most holy place.

It is essential that we understand that shift or our worship and prayers will be to Satan, who has taken Christ’s place in the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary after Christ left it to move into the most holy place. (See Early Writings, 54–56.) We must understand the difference between the ministration that Christ performed while He was in the holy place, and how it changed when He left the holy place and moved into the most holy place. This is our “anchor.” (See Early Writings, 256.) The same page in Early Writings says, “Those who understand and receive them (that is, the three angels’ messages, which are synonymous with the sanctuary message) will be kept from being swept away by the many delusions of Satan.”

“Light from the sanctuary illumined the past, the present, and the future.” The Great Controversy, 423. “The third angel has lighted up the past, the present, and the future.” Early Writings, 255.

The following vision is chronicled in the book in which God shows His servant in detail about this coming judgment, and what we are to face. It is found in Testimonies, vol. 4, 384–387. God’s servant writes, “On the morning of October 23, 1879, about two o’clock, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I beheld scenes in the coming judgment. Language fails me in which to give an adequate description of the things which passed before me and of the effect they had upon my mind.

“The great day of the execution of God’s judgment seemed to have come. Ten thousand times ten thousand were assembled before a large throne, upon which was seated a person of majestic appearance. Several books were before Him, and upon the covers of each was written in letters of gold, which seemed like a burning flame of fire: ‘Ledger of Heaven.’ One of these books, containing the names of those who claim to believe the truth, was then opened. Immediately I lost sight of the countless millions about the throne, and only those who were professedly children of the light and of the truth engaged my attention. As these persons were named, one by one, and their good deeds mentioned, their countenances would light up with a holy joy that was reflected in every direction. But this did not seem to rest upon my mind with the greatest force.

“Another book was opened, wherein were recorded the sins of those who profess the truth. Under the general heading of selfishness came every other sin. There were also headings over every column, and underneath these, opposite each name, were recorded, in their respective columns, the lesser sins. [Emphasis author’s.]

“Under covetousness came falsehood, theft, robbery, fraud, and avarice; under ambition came pride and extravagance; jealousy stood at the head of malice, envy, and hatred; and intemperance headed a long list of fearful crimes, such as lasciviousness, adultery, indulgence of animal passions, etc. As I beheld I was filled with inexpressible anguish and exclaimed: ‘Who can be saved? who will stand justified before God? whose robes are spotless? who are faultless in the sight of a pure and holy God?’

“As the Holy One upon the throne slowly turned the leaves of the ledger, and His eyes rested for a moment upon individuals, His glance seemed to burn into their very souls, and at the same moment every word and action of their lives passed before their minds as clearly as though traced before their vision in letters of fire. Trembling seized them, and their faces turned pale. Their first appearance when around the throne was that of careless indifference. But how changed their appearance now! The feeling of security is gone, and in its place is a nameless terror. A dread is upon every soul, lest he shall be found among those who are wanting. Every eye is riveted upon the face of the One upon the throne; and as His solemn, searching eye sweeps over that company, there is a quaking of heart; for they are self-condemned without one word being uttered. In anguish of soul each declares his own guilt and with terrible vividness sees that by sinning he has thrown away the precious boon of eternal life.

“One class were registered as cumberers (meaning to hinder; to overload; burden; inconvenience; trouble) of the ground. As the piercing eye of the Judge rested upon these, their sins of neglect were distinctly revealed. With pale, quivering lips they acknowledged that they had been traitors to their holy trust. They had had warnings and privileges, but they had not heeded nor improved them. They could now see that they had presumed too much upon the mercy of God. True, they had not such confessions to make as had the vile and basely corrupt; but, like the fig tree, they were cursed because they bore no fruit, because they had not put to use the talents entrusted to them.

“This class had made self supreme, laboring only for selfish interests. They were not rich toward God, not having responded to His claims upon them. Although professing to be servants of Christ, they brought no souls to Him. Had the cause of God been dependent on their efforts, it would have languished; for they not only withheld the means lent them of God, but they withheld themselves. But these could now see and feel that in occupying an irresponsible position in reference to the work and cause of God they had placed themselves on the left hand (Matthew 25:31–46). They had had opportunity, but would not do the work that they could and should have done. [Emphasis author’s.]

“The names of all who profess the truth were mentioned. Some were reproved for their unbelief, others for having been slothful servants. They had allowed others to do the work in the Master’s vineyard, and to bear the heaviest responsibilities, while they were selfishly serving their own temporal interests. Had they cultivated the abilities God had given them, they could have been reliable burden bearers, working for the interest of the Master. Said the Judge: ‘All will be justified by their faith and judged by their works.’ How vividly then appeared their neglect, and how wise the arrangement of God in giving to every man a work to do to promote the cause and save his fellow men. Each was to demonstrate a living faith in his family and in his neighborhood, by showing kindness to the poor, sympathizing with the afflicted, engaging in missionary labor, and by aiding the cause of God with his means. But, like Meroz, the curse of God rested upon them for what they had not done. They had loved that work which would bring the greatest profit in this life; and opposite their names in the ledger devoted to good works there was a mournful blank.

“The words spoken to these were most solemn: ‘You are weighed in the balances, and found wanting (Daniel 5:27). You have neglected spiritual responsibilities because of busy activity in temporal matters, while your very position of trust made it necessary that you should have more than human wisdom and greater than finite judgment. This you needed in order to perform even the mechanical part of your labor; and when you disconnected God and His glory from your business, you turned from His blessing.’

“The question was then asked: ‘Why have you not washed your robes of character and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14)? God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that through Him it might be saved. My love for you has been more self-denying than a mother’s love. It was that I might blot out your dark record of iniquity, and put the cup of salvation to your lips, that I suffered the death of the cross, bearing the weight and curse of your guilt. The pangs of death, and the horrors of the darkness of the tomb, I endured, that I might conquer him who had the power of death, unbar the prison house, and open for you the gates of life. I submitted to shame and agony because I loved you with an infinite love, and would bring back my wayward, wandering sheep to the paradise of God, to the tree of life. That life of bliss which I purchased for you at such a cost, you have disregarded. Shame, reproach, and ignominy, such as your Master bore for you, you have shunned. The privileges He died to bring within your reach have not been appreciated. You would not be partaker of His sufferings, and you cannot now be partaker with Him of His glory.’ Then were uttered these solemn words: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still’ (Revelation 22:11). The book then closed, and the mantle fell from the Person on the throne, revealing the terrible glory of the Son of God.

“The scene then passed away, and I found myself still upon the earth, inexpressibly grateful that the day of God had not yet come, and that precious probationary time is still granted us in which to prepare for eternity.”

What are you doing with the “precious probationary time” we are granted? Are you using the time as God intends that we use it—“to prepare for eternity?” My friends, God does not tell us these things for any other reason than a yearning for your soul that He may be reunited with the children of His heart. God so loved you that He allowed His Son to be born, a helpless babe, into the world where Satan claimed dominion—Satan who hated Christ three times over—subject to the weakness of humanity, “to fight the battle as every child of humanity must fight it, at the risk of failure and eternal loss.” The Desire of Ages, 49.

Can we possibly doubt the love of such a God? He gives us this information that we may know what is coming that we may prepare. He gives explicit directions as to how to prepare. Let us heed these words from His great heart of love. As Inspiration states it, “Make it your first business to gain the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness of Christ. Live for God and heaven, and the eternal reward will be yours at the end of the race.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 225.

My friends, what is the status of your soul today? Have you heeded the pleadings of God on your behalf? Are you daily fulfilling His will in permitting nothing “to interfere with your duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God?”

Judgment Day – Are you Ready?

Brenda Douay is a staff member at Steps to Life. She may be contacted by email at: brendadouay@stepstolife.org.

Selfishness
Covetousness Ambition Jealousy Intemperance
Falsehood Pride Malice Lasciviousness

(Unbridled lust)
Theft Extravagance Envy
Robbery Hatred Adultery
Fraud Indulgence of animal passions, etc.
Avarice

 

 

Facing Life’s Judgment Day Unafraid!

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When I was a boy of some nine years of age, my father, a plaster contractor, made a verbal agreement with a builder at which time I happened to be present. During the construction of the house the builder demanded my father do that which he had never agreed to do. It was not long after this incident that my dad received a court summons to appear before a judge and give answer to serious charges. My father secured a lawyer to represent him and I was informed that I must also attend because the judge would ask me some questions. I was afraid.

When the court date arrived Dad and I entered the stateliest structure that I had ever seen. Keep in mind I lived in a humble home with nothing over the windows and a bare floor, but here I was walking on marble and even the walls were covered with marble. Everyone present seemed to be so intent with what was taking place. I spied a policeman leading a hand-cuffed prisoner off to jail. It wasn’t a good feeling to a nine-year-old. I was afraid.

When we arrived at the judge’s chamber, an officer opened the tall door and Dad and I entered. My boyish heart began to beat so that I actually shook. I saw the judge seated on a raised platform, below was a table around which lawyers were talking. Dad squeezed my hand as we sat down and whispered, “Just tell the truth. Don’t be afraid.”

As the court trial proceeded I shall never forget as Dad walked to the witness stand and was asked to swear to tell the truth. Dad looked at the judge and replied, “For religious reasons I refuse to swear, but I affirm to tell nothing but the truth.” After many questions Dad returned to his seat.

Then the judge looked at me. His smiling face seemed to quiet my fears. He spoke kindly. “Son,” he said, “Come stand here and don’t be afraid and you just tell me exactly what you heard.” I looked at Dad; his loving eyes gave me courage. Then I told the judge the best I could what I heard my father and the builder say. Then the judge spoke: “I believe that I have heard the truth from this small boy.” Looking at my father he said, “You have been exonerated. The court rules in your favor. Case dismissed.”

I trust that you will not be alarmed when I state that both you and I, who have professed faith in Jesus and have accepted Him as our Savior, will be examined before the eternal God of the universe in the coming investigative judgment day, which will take place in heaven’s sanctuary. And we need not be afraid because we have forsaken every sin and humbly asked for forgiveness. This makes it possible for Jesus our High Priest to mediate for us; that is, to act as our spiritual Lawyer. Remember He has never lost a case He has accepted in which to present His righteousness in our behalf to cover our sinful past. No wonder we need not be afraid. Praise God!

As we study this final atonement which is now taking place in heaven’s sanctuary day by day, may the Holy Spirit awaken our minds to realize how soon our life’s record will be examined and a decision rendered to which there will be no appeal. May God help us to overcome every wrong word and action and by His divine grace live daily, ready to see Jesus come and may our names be placed in His book of life.

The most solemn description of the investigative judgment now taking place in heaven’s sanctuary is found in Daniel 7:9, 10, 13, 14: “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, Whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” … “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, One like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

Inspiration continues in The Great Controversy, page 480: “The coming of Christ here described is not His second coming to the earth. He comes to the Ancient of Days in heaven to receive dominion and glory and a kingdom, which will be given Him at the close of His work as a mediator. It is this coming, and not His second advent to the earth, that was foretold in prophecy to take place at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844. Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the holy of holies and there appears in the presence of God to engage in the last acts of His ministration in behalf of man—to perform the work of investigative judgment and to make an atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits.”

The investigative judgment makes possible the final atonement which takes place in heaven’s sanctuary. This divine doctrine became one of the pillars of our faith. No other religious body in the world believes this great truth. Why? Perhaps it would be good for us to briefly examine the evangelical claim that Christ’s death on Calvary was a final and finished atonement for sin. There is a vast difference between what the churches of Babylon teach and what is taught by God’s remnant people.

The word atone means to make amends, to be in agreement and to reconcile. Most Protestants believe that Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood to save any person who accepts His sacrifice and therefore nothing more is needed. But the question is, Did the Savior’s death on the cross make an atonement for the sinner with God providing for a full agreement or is the blood which was shed by Christ now being administered by Christ in heaven’s sanctuary making the final atonement?

Every Seventh-day Adventist should be familiar with the Old Testament sanctuary service that God gave to Moses revealing the total plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. Permit me to briefly describe it. In order for a person who sinned to be forgiven, he must bring a lamb to be slain and offered on the altar of sacrifice, which was located at the entrance to the earthly sanctuary. Here it was the duty of the priest to instruct the sinner that the lamb he was about to sacrifice represented the coming Messiah, Who would become the Lamb of God to die for his sins. The sinner, having understood this divine truth, would then confess his sin by placing his hands on the lamb’s head and then slay the lamb, knowing that someday in the future, his confessed sin would slay the Lamb of God. Thus by faith in the coming Messiah’s death, his sins would be forgiven.

But there was much more than forgiveness to be obtained in this sacrifice, for the priest was to catch some of the blood in the bowl and carry it within the sanctuary, where he then dipped his fingers into it and sprinkled the blood before the veil as well as on the horns of the altar. Just behind this altar was the veil and behind the veil was the ark containing the ten commandments and above the law was the mercy seat, representing the throne of God. It was here through the mercy of God that the final atonement was completed and the sin was blotted out. How we should praise God for the mercy seat, for we all have sinned by breaking God’s divine law and are thus doomed to die. As the Bible states, “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), but through the mercy of God Christ covers man’s sins with His precious blood which blots out the sin so that we can finally be at-one-ment with God, which makes it possible for our Father to accept us as though we have never sinned.

The sanctuary service reveals the total plan of redemption with an atonement at the cross providing forgiveness and a final atonement in heaven’s sanctuary making us fit to live in heaven. But this wonderful knowledge of salvation’s plan was lost sight of through the traditions taught by the Old Testament priests and during the Dark Ages when the Bible containing this sanctuary doctrine was taken from the people. In order to prepare a people for translation at the end of the world, the Lord began to bring to the fore knowledge about the plan of salvation to a lost world.

God led Wycliffe to translate the Bible from the Latin to the people’s language in the year A.D. 1370, which made it possible some years later to be printed and circulated widely. Next, God led John Huss to discover that the Bible only was infallible and not the teachings of the church fathers. This was followed by the Holy Spirit opening the eyes of Martin Luther to discover that great truth that the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). Likewise, John Calvin found the truth of salvation by grace. Then came John Wesley, who preached the new birth, and Roger Williams, who began to baptize by emersion.

Step by step, just as quickly as the people could grasp these forgotten truths that were hidden during the Dark Ages, God again revealed these eternal truths. By the year 1844 it was time to begin to call attention to the sanctuary, to the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and to the second coming of Christ. As a result, God’s remnant church developed, preaching the three angels’ messages declaring with mighty power the investigative judgment which was now taking place. Thus the full sanctuary truth was proclaimed to prepare a people for the second coming.

“Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” (Hebrews 8:1, 2). “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14–16).

Did you notice heaven’s invitation, “Let us come boldly unto the throne of grace”? God is here declaring, Be not afraid of the investigative judgment if you have confessed and transferred your sins into heaven’s sanctuary because the Savior’s precious blood will cover all such sins with Christ’s robe of righteousness.

“In the typical service, only those who had come before God with confession and repentance, and whose sins, through the blood of the sin-offering, were transferred to the sanctuary, had a part in the service of the day of atonement. So in the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. The judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work, and takes place at a later period. ‘Judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel’ (I Peter 4:17)?

“The books of record in Heaven, in which the names and the deeds of men are registered, are to determine the decisions of the judgment.” The Great Controversy, 480. This quotation and all remaining quotes are taken from The Great Controversy, the chapter entitled, “Facing Life’s Record.”

In recent years we have entered the computer age. Today it is possible to place your life’s history on a tiny speck of a chip. At any time, by the push of a button, there can appear on the screen a record of all your health problems or your financial condition. Instantly, you can see how much money you may have in the bank, or how much debt you owe, and even a record of a failure to make a payment on time. Furthermore, your record will reveal details of your commitment to a religion, a record of every place you have lived, of travels abroad, and your marital status.

Oh, I could go on and on. If man can produce such records of your life never doubt that God keeps an unerring record of your sins. Inspiration states: “ ‘God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.’ ‘Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.’ Says the Saviour: ‘By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned’ (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36, 37). The secret purposes and motives appear in the unerring register; for God ‘will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts’ (1 Corinthians 4:5). ‘Behold, it is written before Me, … your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord’ (Isaiah 65:6, 7).

“Every man’s work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered with terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling. Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel.” Ibid., 481, 482.

But beloved, do not fear for those who are accounted worthy; that is, those who have confessed and forsaken their sins. Such are assured, “Jesus will appear as their advocate, to plead in their behalf before God. ‘If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous’ (I John 2:1). ‘For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.’ ‘Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them’ (Hebrews 9:24; 7:25).” Ibid., 482.

Oh, beloved, could anyone ask more of our Savior? Not only did He die for our sins, making an atonement on the cross, assuring us of forgiveness, but now as our High Priest in heaven’s sanctuary, He is making a final atonement by pleading the sinner’s case before God the Father, revealing that not only are our sins forgiven, but also that His blood has blotted out all such records. He is ready to cover us with robes of His righteousness so that we may stand before God as being absolutely sinless. Oh, I know you will want to join me in praising His name! Standing sinless before God is the result of the final atonement that Christ is now making for all those who have successfully met the requirements of this investigative judgment.

This is what the Holy Spirit has revealed: “All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life. The Lord declares, by the prophet Isaiah: ‘I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins’ (Isaiah 43:25). Said Jesus: ‘He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels’ (Revelation 3:5).” Ibid., 483. [Emphasis added.]

And what’s more: “The divine intercessor presents the plea that all who have overcome through faith in His blood be forgiven their transgressions, that they be restored to their Eden home, and crowned as joint heirs with Himself to ‘the first dominion’ (Micah 4:8).” Ibid., 484.

Beloved, there is still more: “… Christ now asks that this plan be carried into effect as if man had never fallen. He asks for His people not only pardon and justification, full and complete, but a share in His glory and a seat upon His throne.” Ibid. Oh friend, may God help us to comprehend those words, to share His glory and a seat on His throne. Such thoughts go far beyond the ability to comprehend. No wonder Ellen White was inspired to write, “The intercession of Christ in man’s behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. By His death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in heaven. We must by faith enter within the veil, ‘whither the forerunner is for us entered’ (Hebrews 6:20). There the light from the cross of Calvary is reflected. There we may gain a clearer insight into the mysteries of redemption. The salvation of man is accomplished at an infinite expense to heaven; the sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands of the broken law of God. Jesus has opened the way to the Father’s throne, and through His mediation the sincere desire of all who come to Him in faith may be presented before God.” Ibid., 489.

This is a wonderful promise beyond our expectations. This is why we need never be afraid of the investigative judgment with Christ as our Mediator—never, never be afraid. However, friend, there is something I must remind you of that should awaken every nerve within you. So note this carefully. Probation will soon close. Now is the time to make absolutely sure that Christ will mediate on your behalf, for Inspiration declares, “The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. For many years this work has been in progress. Soon—none know how soon—it will pass to the cases of the living. In the awful presence of God our lives are to come up in review. At this time above all others it behooves every soul to heed the Saviour’s admonition: ‘Watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is’ (Mark 13:33). ‘If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee’ (Revelation 3:3).” Ibid., 490.

“We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be put away. There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth. Everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.” Ibid., 489, 490.

“ ‘Watch ye therefore: … lest coming suddenly He finds you sleeping’ (Mark 13:35, 36). Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world. While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments—it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence: ‘Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting’ (Daniel 5:27).” Ibid., 491.

Dear child of God, with such counsel as this, we need not be afraid if we follow Christ as our Example and daily pray to God, Not my will but as Thou wilt. May God help us to heed His instruction and daily live unafraid, ready to see Jesus come.

For more than fifty years, Lawrence Nelson served the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a church pastor, evangelist, and then in Conference, Union, and General Conference leadership. When God laid upon him the responsibility to “tell it like it is” to alert the people how the church was leading them into the worldwide ecumenical movement, he was forbidden to preach in any church within the Oregon Conference. Elder Nelson passed to his rest on April 18, 2012.

Preparing for the Judgment

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Jesus emphatically told His followers that there would be a final judgment and publicity would attend it. He said,

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.”

Matthew 25:31, 32.

This judgment message was taught by God’s prophets and has been the subject of many Bible writers since the beginning of time. “Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousand of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him’ (Jude 14, 15).”

Every inhabitant of the world will be judged publicly, in the presence of all the unfallen worlds. The law of God, which the majority in this world have despised, will be exalted and seen in its true nature.

The Psalmist said, “Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people: ‘Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.’ Let the heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is judge” (Psalm 50:2–6).

“Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. A fire goes before Him, and burns up His enemies round about. His lightnings light the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples see His glory” (Psalm 97:2–6).

“Then there appears against the sky a hand holding two tables of stone folded together. … That holy law, God’s righteousness, that amid thunder and flame was proclaimed from Sinai as the guide of life, is now revealed to men as the rule of judgment. The hand opens the tables, and there are seen the precepts of the Decalogue, traced as with a pen of fire. The words are so plain that all can read them. Memory is aroused, the darkness of superstition and heresy is swept from every mind, and God’s ten words, brief, comprehensive, and authoritative, are presented to the view of all the inhabitants of the earth.” The Great Controversy, 639.

God’s law, that men either despise or say it was done away with, will be exalted as the standard of His government. Paul refers to this in Hebrews 12:18, where he wrote, “For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. (After so many years of Egyptian captivity the Israelites were afraid of God approaching them directly.) … But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel” (Hebrews 12:18, 19, 22–24).

Paul continues, “See that you do not refuse Him Who speaks …” (verse 25).

The angels have a significant part to play in the judgment for several reasons:

  1. The angels who chose to stay on the side of Christ when the controversy erupted with Lucifer have been involved since before the world was created.
  2. Angels are given assignments. Ellen White wrote, “But angels watch the precious dust of this servant of God [referring to William Miller], and he will come forth at the sound of the last trump.” Early Writings, 258. The tombs of all the righteous dead are guarded by angels and on resurrection morning none will be forgotten. All who have not committed the unpardonable sin have a minimum of one guardian angel and some have two. While Jesus was on earth he had two guardian angels who did not leave Him even when He died; they stayed at His tomb. Ellen White wrote, “These angels were of the company that had been waiting in a shining cloud to escort Jesus to His heavenly home. The most exalted of the angel throng, they were the two who had come to the tomb at Christ’s resurrection, and they had been with Him throughout His life on earth.” The Desire of Ages, 832.

“Under God the angels are all-powerful. They are mighty, and they excel in strength. On one occasion, in obedience to the command of Christ, they slew in one night one hundred and eighty-five thousand men of the Assyrian army. They can, and will, soon visit the earth with judgments. In quick succession one angel after another will pour out vials of wrath upon the inhabitants of the earth. How easily could the angels, beholding the shameful scene of the trial of Christ, have testified to their indignation by consuming the adversaries of God! But they were not commanded to do this.” The Signs of the Times, January 17, 1900. Angels observe perfect order and only do what they are directed to do by their commanders.

We know that angels frequently disguise themselves as human beings. Paul reminds us, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2).

In The Review and Herald, November 22, 1898, Ellen White wrote, “The Lord would have us understand that these mighty ones who visit our world have borne an active part in the work which we have called our own. These heavenly beings are ministering angels, and they frequently disguise themselves in the form of human beings, and as strangers converse with those who are engaged in the work of God. In the lonely places they have been the companions of the traveler in peril. In tempest-tossed ships they have spoken words to allay fear and inspire hope in the hour of danger. Many, under different circumstances, have listened to the voices of the inhabitants of other worlds. Time and again have they been the leaders of armies. They have been sent forth to cleanse away pestilence. They have eaten at the humble board of families, and often have they appeared as weary travelers in need of shelter for the night.

“We need to understand better than we do the work of these angel visitants. It would be well for us, as children of God, to consider that heavenly beings hear our words, and behold our works. Heavenly angels are co-operating with us in every good work, and thus earth is connected with heaven.”

Whether you are saved or lost in the final judgment, you will see a panorama of your whole life. Then it will be too late to get ready, for all cases will have already been decided. It is right now while probation is still open that the gospel must be preached to the whole world.

We are living in the time of grace. Right now, even the chiefest of sinners can still decide to turn around, change sides, follow Jesus and be saved. It is also true that a person who is following Jesus can lose his/her way and be lost. Decision time is running out, and soon it will be too late to make the change.

Often people are unhappy with the judgments decided by worldly courts and appeal to a higher court until the case reaches the Supreme Court. If the Supreme Court refuses to accept the case at that level there is no higher appeal.

When God judges the world there is no appeal. People will put their hand over their mouth with nothing to say (see Job 40:4; Micah 7:16). They will be silent because the evidence against them will be overwhelming. Notice the evidence of this:

Angels keep a record of every thought, word and action and will be there when the Judge appears. A panoramic view of their whole life will be seen passing in front of each one. Each life will be measured by the law of God in the presence of the universe to see if that person is safe to be in the company of unfallen worlds. Jesus is the Judge. It says in John 5:22, 27: “… the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son. … and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.”

Ellen White wrote: “God has committed all judgment unto the Son, for without controversy He is God manifest in the flesh.

“God designed that the Prince of sufferers in humanity should be judge of the whole world. He who came from the heavenly courts to save man from eternal death; He Whom men despised, rejected, and upon Whom they heaped all the contempt of which human beings, inspired by Satan, are capable; He who submitted to be arraigned before an earthly tribunal, and Who suffered the ignominious death of the cross—He alone is to pronounce the sentence of reward or of punishment. He who submitted to the suffering and humiliation of the cross here, in the counsel of God is to have the fullest compensation, and ascend the throne acknowledged by all the heavenly universe as the King of saints. He has undertaken the work of salvation, and shown before unfallen worlds and the heavenly family that the work He has begun He is able to complete. It is Christ Who gives men the grace of repentance; His merits are accepted by the Father in behalf of every soul that will help to compose the family of God.” The Review and Herald, November 22, 1898.

She continues, “Solemn will be the day of final decision. In prophetic vision the apostle John describes it: ‘And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works’ (Revelation 29:11, 12). Then is it not of tremendous importance to us, individually, that our works be right works? Probationary time is granted us, opportunities and privileges are given us, to make our calling and election sure. How we should prize this precious time, and improve every talent God has given, that we may be faithful stewards over ourselves, keeping our souls in the love of God!” Ibid.

Now is the “precious time” to make our calling and election sure. Paul said, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on the earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God Who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:10–13). [Emphasis added.] We must cooperate with God in working out our own salvation with fear and trembling to receive the gift of eternal life for it is not us doing it but God working in us. So why does the Bible say that you work it out? God never works contrary to a person’s will. He allows choice. If I choose to follow my own desire, I choose to be lost. I should be afraid that when I have to make a choice that I’ll choose my way instead of God’s way. He says, “… work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

In Ephesians 6:10–18 Paul counsels to put on the whole armor of God. He talks about the battle we must fight against evil and that we need to be strong in the Lord. The battle is a spiritual battle against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places, whether we want it to take place or not. There is no way to get out of it.

Our only defense against the enemy of souls is the armor of truth and the righteousness of Christ (verse 14), a right understanding of the gospel (verse 15), having faith (verse 16), the hope of salvation and the word of God (verse 17) to be able to stand, and praying always (verse 18).

It was His connection with His Father that strengthened Jesus throughout His earthly ministry. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said to Peter, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). Again Jesus said, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).

Peter said the same thing: “… the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious …” (I Peter 4:7, literal translation) or be sober, watch unto prayer.

Jesus said, “… search the Scriptures, because in them you think you have eternal life; and they are they that testify of Me” (John 5:39, literal translation). Paul said, concerning the Bereans, “… they were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they … searched the Scriptures daily … with all readiness of mind … whether these things were so” (Acts 17:10–11, literal translation).

Clad in the armor of God we must avoid the way of temptation. In this life, temptation will come to all but we should not deliberately look for it. It is presumptuous to walk in the way of temptation and get into trouble and expect to be excused.

Paul says to “flee sexual immorality” (I Corinthians 6:18). In other words, run away from it as did Joseph when tempted by Potiphar’s wife (see Genesis 39:13). Another thing to flee from is idolatry (I Corinthians 10:14).

“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life” (I Timothy 6:7–12).

Writing to Timothy, Paul said, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22).

Enquire of the Lord if you are not aware of your besetting sins, to reveal those areas in which the devil can most easily trip you up and then avoid those things. Each of us has entangling sins which we must guard against.

Paul taught Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith” (I Timothy 6:12). This can only be accomplished by fleeing from temptation. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, He said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’ ” (Matthew 4:4).

A careful study of the Bible will reveal the things that put us out of harmony with God’s will so they can be corrected. The Spirit moves us ever so gently, pointing us to exactly what we need to see at just the right time.

When the people of a Samaritan village refused to receive Jesus, James and John said, “ ‘Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?’ But He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them. And they went to another village’ ” (Luke 9:54–56). Though they loved Jesus and followed Him they had the wrong spirit and needed correction. There are only two spirits seeking to gain control of the world. After spending three years with Jesus, He told them that with that attitude they were under control of the wrong one.

It is crucial to study and see what spirit controls us. Ask yourself what is the motivation in the way I deal with others? It is not just what I do but what motivates the action.

The Bible records that Caleb had a different spirit. It says, “They certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of them who rejected Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him, and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it” (Numbers 14:23, 24).

The wise man said that “before honor is humility” (Proverbs 15:33). It was because of Jesus’ humility that He was rejected. In every generation those who represent Him in character are also rejected by the proud and haughty. Pride and humility do not mix.

A parable that has caused much concern for many is the fairness of the landowner recorded in Matthew 20 who went out and hired people to work in his vineyard. At the third hour He hired others, and then more at the sixth hour, and at the ninth hour more workers were hired, and even at the eleventh hour when He found the people standing idle in the market place he offered them work in His vineyard telling them “whatever is right you will receive. So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last unto the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius’ ” (Matthew 20:7–13)?

From a worldly point of view, it just doesn’t seem fair. Ellen White comments in Christ’s Object Lessons that the reason for this parable is that Jesus saw what would be the weakness and the curse of the church in all ages—self-righteousness. Most people, when they do more than others, think that they should receive more reward. The landowner said, “ ‘Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good? So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen’ ” (verses 14–16).

The council that Christ gave to the Laodicean church in Revelation 3 is that you think you are rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. He said, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed … and eye salve, that you may see” (verse 18).

In the world gold means money; money means power. In the spiritual world gold is faith and love. If you have love, you have everything you need, and if you have faith, you can get everything you need. The white raiment is the righteousness of Christ and the eye salve is the ability to see and understand the spiritual warfare that is taking place.

Time is running out. We need the armor of God to fight the final battle against Satan before Jesus returns. Watch unto prayer searching the Scriptures, and flee temptation. Have faith and live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

In Romans 7, Paul recognized his own weakness and cried out saying, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God …” (verses 24, 25).

Fall down before Him now while the day of grace is still open and you can be saved.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church of Free Seventh-day Adventists in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Bible Study Guides – The Investigative Judgment

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November 6, 2016 – November 12, 2016

Key Text

“Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after” (I Timothy 5:24).

Study Help: The Great Controversy, 479–491.

Introduction

“While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth.” Maranatha, 254.

1 YOUR CASE PENDING

  • Who has a case pending in judgment? 2 Corinthians 5:10. With whom does it begin? I Peter 4:17.

Note: “As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated.” The Great Controversy, 483.

  • When are most people judged? Hebrews 9:27. Why?
  • On what evidence is the judgment based? Revelation 20:11, 12. What is recorded in the books? Jeremiah 2:22; Malachi 3:16; Nehemiah 13:14.

2 THE STANDARD AND THE ADVOCATE

  • What is the standard by which we are to be judged? James 2:10–12. What is the character of this standard, and what does it require? Psalm 19:7; Matthew 5:48.

Note: “The law of God is the standard by which the characters and the lives of men will be tested in the judgment.” The Great Controversy, 482.

“In His teachings, Christ showed how far-reaching are the principles of the law spoken from Sinai. He made a living application of that law whose principles remain forever the great standard of righteousness—the standard by which all shall be judged in that great day when the judgment shall sit, and the books shall be opened.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 211.

  • What is the penalty for unrighteousness? Romans 6:23. Is there any hope for one with a bad record? I John 2:1, 2.

Note: “The death of the spotless Son of God testifies that ‘the wages of sin is death’ (Romans 6:23), that every violation of God’s law must receive its just retribution. Christ the sinless became sin for man. He bore the guilt of transgression, and the hiding of His Father’s face, until His heart was broken and His life crushed out. All this sacrifice was made that sinners might be redeemed. In no other way could man be freed from the penalty of sin.” The Great Controversy, 540.

  • How are we to receive the propitiation? Romans 3:25; I John 1:9.

Note: “The examples in God’s word of genuine repentance and humiliation reveal a spirit of confession in which there is no excuse for sin or attempt at self-justification. Paul did not seek to shield himself; he paints his sin in its darkest hue, not attempting to lessen his guilt. …

“The humble and broken heart, subdued by genuine repentance, will appreciate something of the love of God and the cost of Calvary; and as a son confesses to a loving father, so will the truly penitent bring all his sins before God. And it is written, ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (I John 1:9).” Steps to Christ, 41.

3 TIME OF THE JUDGMENT

  • What will happen to those who have truly accepted the Advocate? John 11:25; John 5:24–29.

Note: “All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life.” The Great Controversy, 483.

  • When Jesus returns, what will He bring with Him, and what does He do with it? Revelation 22:12; 2 Timothy 4:7, 8.
  • What must happen first in order that Christ may reward the faithful? I Timothy 5:24; I Peter 4:17; Luke 20:35, 36.

Note: “Before the final reward is given, it must be decided who are fitted to share the inheritance of the righteous. This decision must be made prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven; for when He comes, His reward is with Him, ‘to give every man according as his work shall be’ (Revelation 22:12). Before His coming, then, the character of every man’s work will have been determined, and to every one of Christ’s followers the reward will have been apportioned according to his deeds.

“It is while men are still dwelling upon the earth that the work of investigative judgment takes place in the courts of heaven. The lives of all His professed followers pass in review before God. All are examined according to the record of the books of heaven, and according to his deeds the destiny of each is forever fixed.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 310.

“There will be no future probation in which to prepare for eternity. It is in this life that we are to put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness. This is our only opportunity to form characters for the home which Christ has made ready for those who obey His commandments.” Ibid, 319.

4 THE BLOTTING OUT OF SINS

  • What will have happened to the sins of the righteous who receive their reward at the resurrection? Micah 7:19; Isaiah 43:25.

Note: “The work of the investigative judgment and the blotting out of sins is to be accomplished before the second advent of the Lord. Since the dead are to be judged out of the things written in the books, it is impossible that the sins of men should be blotted out until after the judgment at which their cases are to be investigated. But the apostle Peter distinctly states that the sins of believers will be blotted out ‘when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ’ (Acts 3:19, 20). When the investigative judgment closes, Christ will come, and His reward will be with Him to give to every man as his work shall be.” The Great Controversy, 485.

  • Explain how the parable of the unjust servant (Matthew 18:23–35) shows the difference between forgiveness and blotting out. Although we may be faithful today, what sobering reality should keep us ever vigilant? Ezekiel 33:13–16.
  • What happens to the name of an unfaithful person, written in the book of life? Exodus 32:32, 33. How is a name written there in the first place, and whose names will be retained? Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5.

Note: “We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. … Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth.” The Great Controversy, 489, 490.

5 EXAMINATION AND REWARD

  • In order for sins to be blotted out, what must happen first, as described in the parable of the man without a wedding garment? Matthew 22:9–14. What is symbolized by the wedding garment? Revelation 19:8; Philippians 3:9.

Note: “By the king’s examination of the guests at the [wedding] feast is represented a work of judgment. The guests at the gospel feast are those who profess to serve God, those whose names are written in the book of life. …

“By the wedding garment in the parable is represented the pure, spotless character which Christ’s true followers will possess. … It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 310.

  • What work is Christ doing for each repenting sinner now, and what pronouncement will be made when that work is done? Hebrews 2:17; Revelation 22:11, 12; Daniel 12:1.
  • Since the judgment concludes with the final generation who are judged while living, what is Jesus’ warning to us? Mark 13:33. What assurance do we have? Hebrews 4:14–16; 13:20, 21.

Note: “The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. … Soon—none know how soon—it will pass to the cases of the living.” The Great Controversy, 490.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 Why is the time of judgment such a solemn time in which to live?

2 How can we be sure to be judged “not guilty”?

3 Why must the judgment of professed believers happen before the Second Coming?

4 What is the distinction between forgiveness and blotting out of sins?

5 What experience must Christ’s true followers have who will be judged while living?

Copyright © 2015 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Keys to the Storehouse – Just a Little

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When I was in grade school, my mother worked and I was home alone after school. During those times I would search the house just to see what Mom and Dad had. Wow, did I find something awesome! I found my mother’s gallon dime jar in her closet. I had never seen so many dimes in one place. I was just awed. I decided that Mom would not miss a few dimes and so I decided to use a few of them. Every day I would take just a few dimes and I would stop at the little market while walking home from school and buy some Fritos and pop! I thought I was in “dime heaven.” What I did not realize was that Mom’s jar was slowly going down and that judgment was about to come—and it did! Oh I felt so bad, but the damage was done. Of course, Mom forgave me, but it was a lesson that I never forgot.

I tell this story because that is how it is when we do things that we know to be wrong but do them anyway because nobody sees us. But Somebody is watching and is saddened by our actions and is writing in the books of heaven all about it. There is one that is very happy about our actions because he, Satan, put the thought into our minds. We simply followed his bidding and because of that we will end up with him, out of heaven, unless we repent and turn from wrong.

It is good to remain loyal to God. Why? Because our “… capacity to know, to enjoy, and to love would continually increase.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 51.

God has warned us as He warned Adam and Eve of the danger that threatens us! Satan does not want you to be obedient and walk with God. His disobedience cost him the joy of heaven and he wants you to follow him.

“To man, the crowning work of creation, God has given power to understand His requirements, to comprehend the justice and beneficence of His law, and its sacred claims upon him; and of man unswerving obedience is required.

“Like the angels, the dwellers in Eden had been placed upon probation; their happy estate could be retained only on condition of fidelity to the Creator’s law. They could obey and live, or disobey and perish.” Ibid., 52 53.

“But should they once yield to temptation, their nature would become so depraved that in themselves they would have no power and no disposition to resist Satan.” Ibid., 53.

When our hearts are devoid of the love of God and His ways, our enemy finds access and leads us to follow his evil ways causing hurt to ourselves and others.

Close those doors that give Satan access. Continually fill your mind with Scripture and Spirit of Prophecy which will put a block on the devil’s suggestions. Remember, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Heavenly Father: I am so sorry for following the devil’s impressions. Help me to think on heavenly things at all times, according to Philippians 4:8 so that the devil will not be able to lead me into things that will keep me out of my heavenly home which you have prepared for me. Please set my affections only on heavenly things and not on the things of this earth. Remind me always that even a little will hurt—eternally! Amen.

Subpoenaed to the Trial of Life

by Cody Francis

Subpoenaed to the Trial of LifeThe room is hushed. All eyes are focused on the front. The destiny of the accused is about to be decided. Will he walk the streets as a free man or will he face the firing squad? The arguments have been presented. The defense has eloquently pled for mercy. The prosecution has appealed that justice be done. The expressionless judge has presided throughout the case. The jury has listened intently to all sides. The witnesses have testified on both sides and endured the relentless cross-examination. The observers have faithfully come to hear the case day in and day out. The case had continued for days, weeks, months, as every evidence was brought out and carefully weighed. Finally the defense and prosecution had each rested their cases and now it was in the hands of the jury. Behind those closed doors the jury had deliberated. Now the spokesman stands up to give the verdict. The accused’s mind is racing. His destiny is about to be forever decided. Will he hear with relief the words “not guilty”? Will he be free to go home again? Will he spend that night in his own bed with his wife and children around him? Or will the mournful word be pronounced, “guilty”? Will he never spend another night at home? Never eat breakfast and go about his daily routine? Never sit in his favorite easy chair and read the paper?

The suspense of the courtroom is great indeed. The lives of accused men and women have been followed with great interest by our entire nation. But there is a courtroom that is even more serious and the results much more far reaching than any earthly tribunal. The courtroom of the Most High is where the cases of the countless millions who have walked this earth will have their eternal destiny forever decided. How much more interest and attention should we give to God’s Great Judgment Day?

Subpoenaed!

Not only is God’s Great Judgment Day the most solemn and serious court case ever to take place in the history of our world, but also each one of us is subpoenaed to this trial of our lives. “For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ.” [Romans 14:10]. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” [II Corinthians 5:10]. This subject is something that involves every person that is alive today. In fact, this is something that involves every person that has ever lived upon the face of the earth. Not one will be exempt because the Scriptures declare, “we must ALL appear.” Both the righteous and the wicked are included in this injunction. [Ecclesiastes 3:17]. Both the rich and the poor. Both the learned and unlearned. “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.”

While I was preaching upon this topic in Africa, in order to emphasize the point, I mentioned that both the President of the United States and the President of the country that I was in were going to have to appear before God in judgment. Afterward I was told that naming publicly the political leader of the African country was not a wise thing to do for it could lead to arrest and being charged with conspiracy. Fortunately nothing happened, but none-the-less it is still true. The President of the United States and every other president in the world will one day be brought face to face with the Great Judge of the Universe. From the poorest pauper to the monarch on his throne, each will one day come before the judgement seat of Christ. Our standing in the world will have nothing to do with this judgment. The most despised outcast to the most influential politician–none are exempt. Truly each one of us has been subpoenaed to the trial of life!

A View of the Judgment

Thousands of years ago the judgment was presented to the prophets. Undoubtedly the prophets were filled with amazement and a loss for words as they tried to describe this solemn event that they had seen. “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The judgment was seated and the books were opened.” [Daniel 7:9, 10], marginal reading. Daniel watched in awe as he saw the Ancient of Days seated with the innumerable company of angels watching with intense interest. Then the judgment itself was seated and the books were opened. John elaborates on the glory surrounding the throne at the judgment, “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne in sight like unto an emerald…. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices:” [Revelation 4:2, 3, 5 KJV]. When the judgment is seated and the throne is set it is a proceeding like never before witnessed. The glory is unsurpassed and the interest of the heavenly being is unrivaled. Since this is recorded as such an important event in the Scriptures, it would seem logical that we study and understand this topic for ourselves.

The Prosecution

Perhaps the most disliked figure in any court case is the prosecuting attorney, and likewise in the trial of our lives, the prosecuting attorney is no hero. The prosecuting attorney is the one who is accusing us before God. “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night has been cast down.” [Revelation 12:9, 10]. The prosecuting attorney is none other than the Devil or Satan. He is no longer allowed in the courtroom for the courtroom is in heaven, but he is constantly doing his heinous work of accusing God’s people and demanding that they be pronounced as guilty. In Zechariah’s vision a representation of this work is seen going on. “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.” [Zechariah 3:1]. Satan was represented as standing there as a villainous prosecuting attorney opposing and accusing Joshua the high priest, a leader of God’s people. Fortunately, the scene does not end there, “And the Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?'” [Zechariah 3:2]. This takes us to the next much more encouraging point–the defense.

The Defense

We are not left alone with the grim picture of the devil, the prosecuting attorney; the Bible also pictures a defense attorney, as well. “My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” [I John 2:1]. Our advocate, our helper, our strength, our hope is our defense attorney–Jesus Christ. We are powerless of ourselves to withstand the accusations of the prosecuting attorney. It is too much for us by ourselves, but with the aid of our all powerful defense, “nothing will be impossible” for us. Matthew 17:20.

The thought of our Lord and Savior as our defense is certainly a comforting one indeed. It would be impossible for us to find an attorney here on this earth who knew every detail of what we have been through and has gone through the same experiences himself, but that is what Jesus is to us. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” [Hebrews 4:14-16]. Not only does our defense know every detail of our lives–both the outward actions and the inward motives and thoughts–but He has been tempted in every way that we have. We cannot encounter an obstacle that He did not face. The prosecution cannot bring a temptation to us that He has not endured. Truly, money could not buy a better defense than what God has provided for us.

On this earth , if there is an attorney who claims to have never lost a case, his fees are exorbitant, but it is not so with our Lord. He says, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none,” [John 18:9] “except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” [John 17:12]. As long as we do what He asks and tells us to do, our case will be won for of those who have cooperated with Him, He loses none. But if, like Judas, we go our own way and do our own thing, He can do no more and we have lost our own case. What our defense attorney asks of us is simple and plain. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'” [Matthew 16:24]. “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” [John 13:15]. “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” [I John 2:6]. We must follow Him and do what He says. If you have ever been involved in a court case you know that you have to do what your attorney says and it is the same way with our great defense attorney–we are to, by faith, do whatever He tells us to do.

Not only does our defense know every detail of our lives and has experienced it Himself, and not only has He never lost a case of one who follows and obeys Him, but He is also our judge as well. “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.” [John 5:22]. “Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance to this to all by raising Him from the dead.” [Acts 17:31]. In our judicial system today you would never get an arrangement like this. Our defense attorney and our judge are actually the same–our Lord Jesus Christ. Although He is both our defense and our judge, that does not mean that He will rule in favor of our case if we are guilty. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;” [Psalms 89:14]. He loves us with an everlasting love [Jeremiah 31:3], but His love is too great to allow the guilty to go unpunished. [Numbers 14:18]. It is only through Jesus’ great sacrifice that God can still be “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” [Romans 3:26]. Having seen the prosecuting attorney, the defense attorney and the judge, it is important to proceed to the next step in a court case.

The Books

In a literal court case, different exhibits and records are presented. Unfortunately, in our world it is possible for the evidence presented to be misconstrued or misinterpreted resulting in the sentencing of the innocent or the acquitting of the guilty, but it will not be so in God’s judgment. The evidence in this judgment is unerring and incontrovertible. God has kept a record of everyone’s life that cannot be questioned. The Bible constantly calls these records “the books.” Whether they are literal books or some type of video footage we do not know, but one thing that we do know is that God’s technology is much more advanced than ours. “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” [Revelation 20:11, 12]. John records for us as Daniel did the greatness of the judgment, but additional detail is given. It is actually by what is written in the books that we appear before God. The righteous do not appear in person before the Majesty of heaven, but it is by the faithful record of all that they have done. It must occur this way because the investigative part of the judgment occurs in heaven while life is going on as normal on the earth. (For more information on this see Steps to Life’s booklet, Your Last Chance to Be Saved.)

Everything that we do has been faithfully chronicled in the books of heaven. All of our sorrows are there. “You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?” [Psalms 56:8]. All of the times that we have worshipped God with His people are written there. “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.” [Malachi 3:16]. In fact, absolutely everything about us has been written there. “My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes see my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” [Psalms 139:15, 16]. Everything about us has been written in the books–our sorrows, our joys, the good things we have done, and our sins we have committed. An angel has been beside us watching everything that we do and recording it all. Not an iota will be missing. It will all be there, both the good and the bad.

Not only is everything that we have ever done recorded in the books, but it goes even farther than that. Every secret thing that we have thought that no one else knew about is faithfully written there as well. “For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.” [Ecclesiastes 12:14]. The Lord knows our thoughts [Luke 5:22; 6:8; 9:47; 11:17], and even those are recorded there as well. Every motive, every thought, every word, every action will meet us again. Jesus has said, “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore, whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.” [Luke 12:2, 3 KJV]. We cannot think that we can hide anything from the all searching eye of our God. The day is coming when all that was done in secret will be plainly known by all. The secrets that have gone on behind the diplomatic doors of the nations, the unknown unfaithfulness to the marriage vow, the contemptuous words spoken against another human being–all will be known and revealed in the Great Judgment Day. The records will be open to all. There will be no hiding of anything; nothing will be swept under the carpet in that day. Each case will be seen as it truly is.

How Would You Plead?

How would you plead if, today, your case came up in review before God? Jesus has warned us how some are going to plead. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'” [Matthew 7:21, 22]. Jesus tells us that many are going to plead innocent. Many are going to call Jesus “Lord.” It is only Christians that call Jesus “Lord.” He is not here talking about the various heathen religions that refuse to acknowledge Jesus; He is talking about those who claim to be His people and claim to be following Him. They can even boast that they have done a number of good works for Him. They have cast out demons, done miracles, spoken in tongues, prophesied. But although they pled innocent, Jesus pronounced another decree. “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness!'” [Matthew 7:23]. Perhaps the most fearful words on record that Jesus will ever utter–He never knew them. They plead innocent. They thought that they were saved, but they did not realize the solemnity and importance of the Great Judgment Day. They went along as if the judgment was not even going on, thinking and believing that they were saved, and they found out too late the significance of the Great Judgment Day.

Jesus has told us that in the last days there will be many who are going to plead innocent and awake to reality too late. “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.” [Revelation 3:17, 16]. Jesus is here talking to Laodicea the last of the seven churches, representing the last era of Christianity, or our time right now. Once again we see a plea of innocence and once again we see it being a false claim. Although this group of people claims to be rich, etc., Jesus declares that they are in every way lacking and as a result he will spew them from His mouth. Obviously, then, how we plead does not matter if our lives do not match up, because many are going to plead innocent and be found out to have a false claim.

The Standard of Judgment

Since there are so many who are going to plead incorrectly, there must be something that they are overlooking as unimportant that is, in reality, extremely important in this judgment. In our world there is always a standard to which we are accountable and by which if we break it we will be judged. There are endless books and codes by which our nation is governed. Does God likewise have a standard that we will be judged by? There could not be a judgment if there were not a standard to base the judgment upon, and the Bible in no unequivocal terms tells us what this standard is. “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.” [James 2:12]. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.” [Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14]. The wisest man that has ever lived is summing up his book of repentance and admonition and concludes it by stating what our whole duty is. If this is our whole duty, it is obviously something that we had better pay attention to. Our whole duty is to fear God and to keep His commandments. It is something that is totally unsafe to treat lightly, and not only is it our whole duty but it is what we will be judged by as well.

In the legislative counsels of the nations of the world countless pages of laws have been ratified into law. As law-abiding citizens it is then our duty to obey what passed into law, but not one of us has read in its entirety what is required of us. It is an impossibility, but none-the-less we go about doing the best that we know how and hoping that it is good enough. In God’s government we are not left in such a state of uncertainty. God has given the laws that govern the universe in just ten simple laws. They do not change for the Lord does not change. [Psalms 89:34; Malachi 3:6] We do not have to live in fear that we are unknowingly disobeying one for they are spelled out in clear and simple English that even a small child can understand. Exodus 20:3-17 spells out, in fifteen verses, the standard by which we will be judged. Of course, the entire Bible is written to give us more meaning to, and understanding of these verses, but it is indeed the Law of God as recorded in those few verses that we will be judged by. We can praise God that we do not have an unending stream of legal jargon to wade through, just ten simple, straightforward commandments.

We must not look at God’s standard of judgment as some hard, harsh act that God has made. God, in love to us, has given us this Law, and it is for our own good that He has established it. “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” [Deuteronomy 10:12, 13]. Then in Deuteronomy 6:24 the Lord adds that it is “for our good always.” It is for our own good the Lord has given us this Law because He knows that if we keep His great Law of love, we will be happier. God always has the good of His creatures in mind. Not only is this law for our good, but it is also not some burdensome thing that we must do. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” [I John 5:3]. I have talked with people who regard God’s Law as a list of requirements that we must do and if we slip we will be struck with lightning or something like it, but nothing could be farther from the truth. God in His love has given us a law to govern our conduct. He knows that if we keep all of His precepts, it will give us “length of days and long life and peace,” (Prov. 3:1) and He has not made it a long burdensome law, but rather a simple, delightful Law. There may be things in God’s Law that bring us in conflict with the rest of the world, but it is still a “perfect law of liberty.” James 1:25.

As we previously noted in Matthew 7, there are many who plead innocent, but Jesus pronounces them guilty because they “practice lawlessness.” [Matthew 7:23]. These are religious people who claim to have the gift of the Spirit and to do many mighty things, but Jesus still says that they have broken His holy Law. It seems inconsistent that they would be murdering, stealing, etc., but Jesus did say that they must depart for their lawbreaking. An obvious question begins to come into our minds of how much of God’s Law we have to break in order to be considered lawless. Certainly we do not want to be among that exiled group, so this is a question of paramount importance for us. The Bible clearly reveals the answer. “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.” [James 2:10-12]. If we are keeping the entire law, but breaking one, we will be held as guilty of all! This is indeed serious, but in reality it only makes sense. As I was driving by a large church, I noticed the saying that they had on their sign. It said, “The Ten Commandments are not multiple choice.” How true that is. It is the same God who spoke all ten of them with His own mouth and wrote them with His own finger, [Exodus 31:18] and He expects us not to pick and choose which ones we are going to keep and which ones we are going to reject, but to accept all ten upon His authority. This only makes sense to us today as well. Imagine a man who was caught red handed stealing a certain object. He is brought before the judge and the judge asks him how he pleads. To the shock and amazement of all he states that he is innocent. The judge asks him how he could be innocent when he was caught in the very action of stealing. The man’s answer is that yes, he was stealing, but he did not murder anyone. So, because he did not murder anyone, he feels that he is innocent. This claim would, of course, not hold up in our justice system, but how much less then would it hold up in God’s judgment? God has answered it definitively for us, “whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point (italicized, meaning that it is not in the original Greek), he is guilty of all.” James 2:10.

The Evidence

In any court case here on this earth, evidence is presented. It is by this evidence that the accused is acquitted or condemned. It is by the evidence that the prosecution endeavors to secure the sentencing of the accused and it is also by the evidence that the defense attempts to show that the accused is not guilty. The evidence is the deciding factor in the case, and so it will be in God’s judgment as well. The evidence that will determine our case is our works. “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.” [Revelation 20:12, 13]. “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” [Matthew 16:27]. “The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.” [Psalms 9:16]. “For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14.

It is important to note that we are not saved by our works. We are saved only by the grace of God through faith in Him. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8, 9]. We cannot save ourselves. We are totally powerless to do any good thing of ourselves, and it does not matter if we do all the good works in the world, it will never save us. Our works can never atone for our sin. It is only as we, by faith, accept Jesus’ sacrifice for us that our sins can be forgiven and it is only as we, by faith, accept His mediation in the heavenly sanctuary that He can give us “grace to help in time of need.” [Hebrews 4:16]. Thus it is only by grace through faith that we are saved.

Although, it is solely by grace through faith that we are saved, that does not mean that what we do is not important. In the book of James this is made very clear. “But do you not know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” [James 2:20-22]. True faith will always be accompanied by works because true faith “worketh by love.” [Galatians 5:6 KJV]. Faith does not attempt the impossibility of working its way to heaven. Faith grasps the goodness and the love of God and through love to God does what God asks us to do. Just as Paul stated in Ephesians, after emphasizing that it is only by grace through faith that we are saved, he adds, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” [Ephesians 2:10]. Paul was very careful to point out that what we do IS important. He did not want us to think that we now have a license to sin and violate God’s Law all that we want to. Paul knew that we are not saved by our works, but he also knew that we are judged by our works.

The judgment tests whether our works measure up to our profession. To say something with our mouth is not hard; to live it out in our life is when the test comes. Tragically there are going to be many who profess with their mouths, but do not live with their lives, and profession alone will not save anyone. Jesus says, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” [Luke 13:24]. Striving is essential. It is not just going to fall into place for us. We must put forth the effort because there will be millions who are going to try to enter but be unable because their works did not correspond with their profession. “When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” [Luke 13:25-28]. Here is described a group who professed. They said that they were Christians. They call Jesus Lord. They ate and drank in His presence (they thought). But Jesus told them–I do not know you. Nothing could be more graphic. Profession is clearly not enough. Paul writing to Titus says the same thing, “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” [Titus 1:16]. Even if we profess that we know God, if we deny Him by our works we are abominable. Undoubtedly profession alone saves no man, profession must be accompanied by good works in Christ Jesus.

Does this mean that religion is works oriented? Absolutely not! Our works simply reveal whether we have truly accepted Jesus or not, and this is the very purpose for the judgment. The judgment is not to exclude as many as possible from heaven. The judgment is not to see if we are “good enough” to go to heaven. The judgment is to test whether we have truly accepted, believed upon, and loved Jesus, and the only way to test this is by what we do. Thus our works are measured up against God’s great moral mirror, the ten commandment law, the standard of judgment.

A principle is repeated throughout Scripture that has caused perplexity to many, but looking at it in context with the judgment puts all the pieces together. “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” [Proverbs 28:13]. The wisest man tells us that in order to have mercy there are two essential elements–confession and forsaking. Some have wondered how mercy was dependent upon forsaking sin, but the judgment sheds a flood of light upon it. It is only those who have demonstrated that they have loved Jesus enough to forsake their sins that will receive mercy in that day. “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.” [Ezekiel 18:24]. If a righteous man turns his back upon Jesus and goes the way of the world, none of his righteousness will be remembered. Why? Because he did not hold fast his profession. He lost his “first love.” [Revelation 2:4]. He will be weighed in the balances and found wanting. [Daniel 5:27]. He turned from loving Jesus, the author of love, and loved the world instead. The judgment then discerns and excludes all false-hearted professors. The results of the judgment lay bare to the world the difference between those who love Jesus enough to obey Him [John 14:15, 21] and those who claim to love Jesus, but their profession goes no further than their lips.

Blotted Out!

In our erring human perceptions we think of the judgment as a negative thing, but in reality it is the best thing that could happen to God’s people. “But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, and the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” [Daniel 7:26, 27]. It is God’s Great Judgment day that destroys the power of the Anti-christ. The court is seated and the purpose of the court (or judgment) is to take away the dominion of the power that has persecuted God’s people for centuries. (see Steps to Life’s booklet, Surviving the Great Tribulation) What a wonderful thing! This little horn power has trampled and scattered the power of God’s people, but his day of final reckoning is coming. Then after the beast’s power is broken and he is destroyed, God’s true people who have loved Him enough to obey Him, receive the kingdom. What a wonderful promise to those who have made a covenant with God by sacrifice. [Psalms 50:5]. The judgment is not something negative; it is the promise of all promises.

Not only do God’s true commandment keeping people [Revelation 12:17; 14:12] receive the kingdom, but their sins are finally and completely blotted out to be remembered no more. Long have God’s people looked forward to this time when their sins will be completely blotted out. After David’s sin with Bathsheba, he pled, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving-kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions…. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.” [Psalms 51:1, 9]. David was confessing his sin and hanging his entire weight upon the mercy of God and pleading that his sins would be blotted out. Truly all who have complied with the conditions will have their sins blotted out at the last day. Peter gives us the time frame as to when this happens, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ,” [Acts 3:19, 20, KJV]. Right before Jesus comes, when the times of refreshing are poured out upon God’s people, their sins are blotted out. There remains “no more consciousness of sins,” [Hebrews 10:2] for they are completely purged, they are blotted out. While now we are to be confessing our sins and believing that they are forgiven, they are not completely blotted out until the close of the judgment. All whose sins have gone beforehand unto judgment [I Timothy 5:24] and who have complied with the simple conditions laid down in God’s Word are finally and completely delivered from the curse of sin.

Unfortunately, though, the judgment is not a happy ending for everyone. There are those who have professed Christ, but their profession has not been carried into their daily lives. They have said that they were Christians, but they did not think that God’s Law was important. They thought that they knew more than God. They thought that God’s sacred things did not matter–His sacred day, His sacred time, His sacred money. They claimed to love Jesus, but they did not live by every word that proceeded from the mouth of God. Like Cain they have done what they wanted to do instead of what God told them to do. They have talked like they were saved, they have believed that they were saved, they have thought that they were saved but, alas, they have fulfilled Jesus words in Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart form Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” For those who have not loved God enough to obey Him, the consequences are fearful indeed. Their names, that they thought unerasable, are blotted from the book of life. “Yet now, if You will forgive their sin–but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written. And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.'” [Exodus 32:32, 33]. Moses’ love for Israel is so great that he offers to be blotted from God’s book in order that their sin might be forgiven. The Lord replies that it is those who continue in sin, breaking God’s holy Law [I John 3:4], that will be blotted from the book. Many think that if their names are written in the Book of Life they have a clear ticket to heaven, but not so. The judgment reviews every case to determine if their character matches their profession, to see if they have loved Jesus enough to obey Him no matter what. If a person has proved unfaithful to their calling, their names will no longer be retained in the holy book. Speaking of the unrighteous, David says, “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.” [Psalms 69:28]. Those who have persisted in their own course, despite the plain warnings from the Word of God, will be blotted from the book of the righteous. “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” [Revelation 3:5]. Those who overcome–overcome sin, the world, and themselves–will find an eternal place in the Book of Life. Jesus will confess them before His Father and they will be clothed in the white garments never more to be naked again. But those who do not overcome, the only assurance given in the God’s Word is that their names will be blotted from the Book of Life, and it is only those whose names are forever written in the Lamb’s Book of Life that will enter through the pearly gates into the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:27.

The sanctuary in heaven will indeed be cleansed [Daniel 8:14]. (See Steps to Life’s booklet, Your Last Chance to be Saved) It will be cleansed from sin. The righteous, who have followed Jesus at every step of the way, will have their sins blotted out. The wicked, who didn’t think that God was that particular, will have their names blotted out. Which will it be for you?

The Final Decree

“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” [Revelation 22:11]. One of the most awesome and fearful decrees given in the Bible is recorded right here. The time is coming when it will be too late. Too late to repent, too late to make a decision, too late to follow the Lord. When the judgment closes, the results will be final. There will be no second chance. It will be said, “It is done!” [Revelation 16:17]. Those who have taken their stand under the banner of rebellion will stay there. Those who have taken their stand under the blood stained banner of Prince Emanuel will stay there. At that time there will be “no intercessor,” and Jesus will take off His priestly, mediatorial garments and “put on the garments of vengeance.” [Isaiah 59:16, 17]. Very soon this decree will be given, and directly after this decree is given “And, behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” [Revelation 22:12]. After probation closes, Jesus is coming back for His people. Very soon it will all be over. Which side will you be on?

It will be similar to the days of Noah. After Noah’s work was totally finished, “the Lord shut him in.” [Genesis 7:16]. The Lord shut the door and those that were outside, stayed outside. The Lord had shut the door and no longer could a person change their mind. It was over. Those who were outside were destined to drown. Those who were inside were going to be preserved. Likewise when the judgment closes, it will be over. You will be on one side or the other. Which side will you be on? Will you make the choice to follow God and obey Him no matter what so that you will be among His people in that day? Jesus has promised, “the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” [John 6:37]. If you will only come to Him as you are and allow Him to cleanse you, He will save you in His kingdom at last, but we must come to Him. Will you make that decision to come to Him in repentance and humiliation, choosing to love Him and keep His commandments no matter what? Or will you continue in the way of the vast majority of the world, in reckless disregard of God’s Word and His Law, and end up outside the holy city? The choice is yours. May the Lord help you to make the right choice so that you may eternally be among the righteous of all the ages.

All emphasis the author’s unless otherwise stated.
All texts from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

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Your Last Chance to be Saved

by Cody Francis

Your Last Chance to be SavedOur world keeps racing on. We have coined the term the “rat race” to describe our race of life. Everyone is busy and has so much to do. There is a living to make, a house to clean, meals to prepare, automobiles to maintain, children’s activities to attend, and on and on the list goes. We go through the routines scarcely thinking about anything other than how to make it through the day. So it was thousands of years ago. “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be when the Son of Man is revealed.” Luke 17:28-30. When Sodom was destroyed, the focus of every mind was right here on the things of this earth–eating, drinking, buying, selling, etc. They were too busy to think of eternal realities and did not know that they were speeding toward their last chance to be saved. Their eternal destiny was soon to be forever decided. It was soon to be forever fixed in the unchangeable records of heaven. It is the same today. The prophecies of both Daniel and Revelation focus upon this most solemn time in this earth’s history–the time of judgment. The judgment has eternal consequences for every person that has ever lived upon this earth, yet rarely does this most important event even enter our minds. We rush on through life little realizing that, very soon, our eternal destiny will be forever decided. This fixing of every man, woman and child’s destiny is one of the most awesome and fearful events ever to occur. We cannot, with safety, overlook the importance and solemnity of this event, because it is our last chance to be saved. Thus, God’s Great Judgment Day is a topic that demands our attention and careful study.

The Hour of His Judgment

Revelation tells us of three last messages that are to go to the entire world. In these three messages is contained the last message of mercy to the perishing world. God, through these messages, is pleading to His people. These messages must not be overlooked, for if we overlook them, we are overlooking the loving God who is sending them to us. Our decision upon these messages will determine our eternal destiny. In the very first of these messages, the truth and importance of the judgment is forced home upon our minds. “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth–to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people–saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.'” Revelation 14:6, 7. This angel [or messenger, the Greek word angelos means “messenger”] has a most startling message that goes to the entire earth. He is not commissioned to take this message to one privileged part of the world, but it is his work to take this message to every inhabitant. God attaches such importance to this message that, He decrees that it must go to every corner of the earth, and the central point of this message is that the hour of God’s judgment has come. We are exhorted to worship the Creator specifically because His judgment has now come. Apparently, God’s judgment begins while the hubbub of life is still going on! The judgment has to be going on while the earth is still inhabited with nations, tribes, etc. for it would be futile to send a message if there was no one to send it to. Could it possibly be, then, that the great judgment day is now going on? Is it possible that the hour of God’s judgment has already begun?

“Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:31. Paul was a deep student of prophecy and he knew that God had appointed a day for the judgment to begin. We know that we will not know when the Second Coming will occur, for Jesus said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matthew 24:36. We will not know the time for the Second Coming. We can rest assured that if anyone tries to tell us that they know when the Second Coming will be, they are a false prophet, for no one knows the day nor the hour of Jesus Second Coming. But we are told that there is a set day for the judgment to begin. God has furthermore promised, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants, the prophets.” Amos 3:7. Since there is an appointed day for the judgment to begin, and the Lord will do nothing without telling us through the prophets, and since a message goes to all the world saying that the judgment has come, we can conclude that God has revealed, somewhere, in the prophetic writings of the Bible when His Great Judgment Day will begin. It is only left for us, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, to dig deep and find out when and where it is.

Paul was very clear that there was going to be a time for the judgment, but at the same time he knew that it was not in his day. “Now, as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.'” Acts 24:25. As Paul was giving his defense before Felix [which turned into an appeal for Felix to give his heart to the Lord], a powerful part of his argument was the judgment to come. In Paul’s day, the judgment was still to come. This is repeated again and again throughout the Scriptures. “But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.” “Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” Psalms 9:7, 8; Matthew 10:15. The Psalmist, Jesus, and Paul testify that the judgment was still in the future; but nearly two thousand years have transpired since then, is that still the case?

This is not the only information that we have about when the judgment will come. It is an unarguable fact, that the judgment had not occurred in David’s, Jesus’ or Paul’s day, but it must occur before Jesus comes again. “He who is unjust; let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Revelation 22:11, 12. The final decree of the judgment is here recorded. The solemn declaration that it is too late to change. Those who have followed in the course of sin will stay that way, and those who have chosen to follow Jesus, no matter what, will be pronounced righteous and holy still. But then, directly after this closing decree of the judgment is given, Jesus says that He is coming quickly. Jesus’ Second Coming occurs right after the judgment closes. Furthermore, Jesus says that His reward is with Him. If he is coming again and His reward is with Him, it must have already been decided in the judgment who was given the reward and what reward they were given. Without a doubt then, the judgment takes place BEFORE Jesus comes again. Thus not only was the judgment still future in the apostles day, but it must take place shortly before Jesus comes again. Could we be in this most solemn event right now?

The Judgment in Heaven

“I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; his garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The judgment was seated, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:9, 10, margin. In verses 3 to 8, the successive rise and fall of the great empires of Bible prophecy is pictured, along with the rise of the anti-christ power in verse 8; then the next major event that Daniel sees happening is the judgment of God. This judgment does not occur on this earth, for the Son of Man is said to come to the Ancient of Days [the Father]. “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.” Daniel 7:13. This is a judgment that occurs in heaven with Jesus [the Son of Man] and the Father [the Ancient of Days] and all of the myriads of angels assisting and watching with intense interest. It does not take place here on this earth, but rather takes place in heaven. (Subpoenaed to the Trial of Life is the first booklet on the judgment in this series and thoroughly discusses why the judgment, what goes on in the judgment, who the players are in the judgment, the results of the judgment, etc. It may be helpful to read that booklet first.)

John likewise saw the judgment beginning in heaven. “The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth. Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple.” Revelation 11:18, 19. John saw when the time came for the dead to be judged, and notice that it is associated with the temple of God, which is in heaven. Once again, it is seen that this judgment takes place in heaven shortly before Jesus comes again the second time. (Revelation 22:11, 12.)

2300 Days

The book of Daniel is a progressive book; it is continually building upon the last vision. In Daniel 2, the rise and fall of the four successive empires is portrayed. Then in Daniel 7 the view is expanded to include the anti-christ and also the judgment. In Daniel 8 the scene becomes much fuller yet. Not only are the empires and the anti-christ foretold, but the climax of the vision zeroes in and pinpoints the judgment. “Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, ‘How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?’ And he said to me, ‘For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.'” Daniel 8:13, 14. In verses 3, 4 a ram is pictured, which represented Medo-Persia. (verse 20) The Medo-Persian empire lasted from around 538-331 BC. After that, in verses 5-8 there is shown a male goat which is none other than Greece, (verse 21) and Alexander the Great, its first king. The Grecian empire ruled from approximately 331-168 BC. In verses 9-11 is shown a little horn arising from one of the four winds, which history reveals to be the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire continued to rule from about 168 BC to AD 476. (For a much fuller description and history see Steps to Life’s booklet, Why Hitler Lost.) After that, by comparing II Thessalonians 2:3, 4; Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:5-7 with verse 12 is seen the anti-christ power, or the papacy. The Papacy continued from AD 538-1798. (For a Scriptural documentation on the anti-christ power see Steps to Life’s booklet, Surviving the Great Tribulation.) After Daniel was shown these earthly powers that had trampled upon God’s people, who were persecuting those who were following God’s Word all of the way, he was shown two holy beings in conversation regarding these desolating powers to come to God’s people. The assurance was given that “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” Daniel 8:14. Thus, sometime after 1798 a process was going to begin that was the means of delivering God’s people from the persecuting powers. What is this process? Daniel 7 the chapter that Daniel 8 was building upon, answers that question for us. “But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, [the anti-christ power that has worn out the saints, verse 25] to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Daniel 7:26, 27. It is the JUDGMENT that sits and takes away the powers that have persecuted God’s people, and gives the kingdom to God’s true people.

Just as Paul preached, and as John saw in heaven, there is a prophecy that tells us when the judgment begins. It is perhaps the focal point of the book of Daniel. “And he said to me, ‘For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” Daniel 8:14. The time period here given is the longest prophetic time period given in the Bible. It covers a vast amount of time, for the angel Gabriel in explaining it says, “And the vision of the evening and morning which was told is true; therefore seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.” Daniel 8:26. The part of the vision of the two thousand three hundred days [literally “evenings and mornings”] is true, but it is for many days in the future. Two thousand three hundred days may not seem like such a long time to us. After all, it is only a little less than six and a half years, but there is something that we must always remember when studying Bible prophecy. The prophecies are given in symbols. Obviously, a ram and male goat do not make any sense to us unless we understand that they symbolically represent their respective nations. So, a day in Bible prophecy is a symbol that is used again and again. A day in Bible prophecy represents a year. “According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection.” Numbers 14:34. “I have laid on you a day for each year.” Ezekiel 4:6. The children of Israel were forced to wander in the wilderness for forty years. God did not just pick a number out of a hat. It was how long the spies were spying out Canaan, and because of their unbelief, they were required to wander for forty years. It was one day for a year. It was the same with Ezekiel. The Lord had him lay on his side a day for each year. Thus we see a principle that comes up again and again throughout Daniel and Revelation–a day in Bible prophecy equals a year. Then it isn’t so hard for us to understand why Gabriel said that the prophecy was for many days in the future. It was not just six and a half years; it was for two thousand three hundred years. A long prophecy that extends many days into the future!

The Explanation

As we notice in Daniel 8, all of the vision is explained in the latter part of the chapter. Not just are the symbols given, but in some instances, the empires themselves are given by name. Gabriel was explaining this vision in very straightforward terms, but then something happened. Gabriel began to explain the part of the vision referring to the two thousand three hundred years (verse 26), but Daniel could bear it no longer. “And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king’s business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it.” Daniel 8:27. Daniel’s concern for this latter part of the vision was so great that when Gabriel began to explain it to him, he fainted. It then became useless for Gabriel to continue explaining the vision, since Daniel had fainted. You cannot explain something to someone who has fainted. The explanation of the twenty three hundred days/years was stopped. Then Daniel states that no one understood the vision. What part did they not understand? Did the ram confuse them? No, it was clearly explained to be Medo-Persia. Did the male goat astonish them? No, it was emphatically explained to be Greece. What part was causing the consternation? The only part of the vision that was not explained–the two thousand three hundred days/years.

As this was something that was terribly distressing to Daniel, he did what all Christians should do when they do not understand something. He studied God’s Word and sought the Lord earnestly in prayer. In Daniel 9:4-19 is recorded the beautiful prayer of repentance and confession for the sins of Daniel’s people. Then in answer to Daniel’s prayer, Gabriel returned (verse 21) saying, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:” Daniel 9:22, 23. Daniel was in great perplexity regarding the vision of the two thousand three hundred days/years, and so had he pled with the Lord for forgiveness and understanding. In answer to Daniel’s strong supplications, Gabriel returned with a message of comfort and hope that he was going to give him skill to understand the vision. Then he begins his explanation.

“Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;” Daniel 9:24, 25. Seventy weeks are “cut off” [the Hebrew word, chathak literally means “cut off”] for the Jewish people and for the earthly city of Jerusalem. How does seventy weeks being “cut off” explain the previous vision of the twenty-three hundred days/years? Gabriel is telling Daniel that the seventy weeks of prophetic time are cut out of the original twenty-three hundred days/years. Thus, if we can determine the starting date for the seventy prophetic weeks, we will also have the starting date for the twenty-three hundred days/years.

By looking at the seventy weeks, we see that there is indeed a clear starting point given. “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks” Daniel 9:25. It could not be stated clearer. When the decree is given to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, this is when the time period of the seventy weeks is to begin, and consequently that is when the two thousand three hundred days/years would begin as well. It was when the decree was given to both restore and rebuild Jerusalem that this great time period, extending to the judgment, was to begin. As we turn to the pages of Scripture again, we see that there was indeed a decree given for the restoration and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. At the time the vision was given, Jerusalem was destroyed, the temple was in ruins and the land of Israel was basically uninhabited. But within a few years that would begin to change. When this change occurred the prophetic time periods were to begin.

By turning to the book of Ezra we see the actual decree recorded for future generations. God made sure that these time periods were recorded in His Word, because He knew we would need these decrees in order to understand the seventy week prophecy and the prophecy that gives the starting date for the great judgment day. “So the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they built and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the command of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” Ezra 6:14. Ezra records for us that there were actually three decrees given commanding to rebuild the broken down city of Jerusalem. Which of the decrees marks the starting time for these time periods? While there were three decrees, there was actually only one that fits the two prerequisites in Daniel 9–“to restore and rebuild.” The first two dealt with the rebuilding of the temple and the city, but there was only one that both restored and rebuilt Jerusalem. This is the last decree given by Artaxerxes. The entire decree is recorded in Ezra 7:12-26. In this decree is found encouragement for the Jews who desired to return to Jerusalem to do so (verse 13, 14.) There are provisions given for rebuilding of the temple (verse 19-22) and then there is the setting up of magistrates and judges to “judge all the people that are beyond the river” (verse 25, KJV) and the exemption of the workers at the temple from “tax, tribute, or custom.” (verse 24.) This decree, then, not only commands and provides for the rebuilding of the temple and Jerusalem, but it also restores, to a certain extent, the liberty and the self-government of the Jewish people. Thus, it is the only decree that matches the requirements given in Daniel 9, and the date that we must use for the reckoning of the prophecies. When was this decree given? Once again, the Bible is not silent on this, either. “And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.” Ezra 7:8. History bears out that the first year of Artaxerxes’ reign was in 464 BC, thus the seventh year would be 457 BC (464 – 7 = 457.) It was in the fifth month of the seventh year, or around the fall of 457 BC that Ezra came to Jerusalem and the decree was able to go into effect. By the study of the Bible and history, then, we have been able to arrive at the date that was given for the beginning of the prophecies–457 BC.

The Messiah’s Ministry and Death

It would be well for us to briefly review the seventy weeks of Daniel 9, before looking more in depth into the two thousand three hundred days/years. [A much fuller study to the seventy weeks is found in Steps to Life’s booklet, The Rapture and Israel’s Future]. The seventy weeks and the twenty three hundred days/years are inseparably connected. They both begin at the same starting date. They both deal with the sanctuary. (Daniel 8:14; 9:24.) One foretells the first phase of the plan of salvation, the other predicts the second and final phase. One prophesies of the Saviour’s earthly ministry, the other tells of the Saviour’s heavenly ministry. One happens on this earth and “seals up the vision and prophecy” (9:24) so we can be certain that the second, which happens in heaven, will occur.

In the explanation of the twenty three hundred days/years, Gabriel begins by telling Daniel that there are seventy weeks allotted to the Jewish people and to their city, Jerusalem. It was during these seventy weeks that they were to finish the end of sins, etc. Israel had been in rebellion against God from day one. The Lord had loved them and taken them as his own special people, but they were continuing to rebel against their loving God. Daniel was afraid that because of Israel’s continued rebellion and backsliding, the Lord would cast them away altogether. Daniel had pled that the Lord would hear and forgive Israel’s sins again. Gabriel, in answer to Daniel’s consternation regarding the twenty-three hundred days and his concern that God was going to disown his people, said that God was still going to give Israel another seventy weeks to repent and turn to Him. Seventy weeks is not a very long time–only 490 days [70 weeks x 7 days in a week = 490 days] or less than a year and a half to be exact, but we must remember the prophetic day for a year principle. (Numbers 14:34; Ezra 4:6.) Not 490 literal days, but 490 prophetic years. Thus God was going to bear with His rebellious people for another 490 years (Matthew 18:21, 22.) During this time, He was going to work for them in a way that He had not done before–He was going to send His own Son to call them to repentance.

“Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublesome times.” Daniel 9:25. There was going to be sixty-nine weeks until the Messiah was to come. Sixty-nine weeks would be 483 prophetic years [69 weeks x 7 days in a week = 483 days or prophetic years]. Reckoning from the starting point of 457 BC and adding 483 years, it brings us down to AD 27. [483 – 457 BC = AD 26; but then you must add one year to account for the absence of a zero year in the BC/AD time-line, so 26 + 1 = AD 27.] Sure enough, we find that exactly at the appointed time Jesus was baptized and anointed to His mission as the Messiah. [“Messiah” is a Hebrew word meaning “anointed one,” just as “Christ” is a Greek word meaning “anointed one.”] At Jesus’ baptism, He was anointed with the Holy Spirit (Acts 10: 37, 38.) His baptism occurred, as divinely predicted, in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar. (Luke 3:1-3, 21, 22.) The fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar was none other than AD 27. The Lord had revealed five hundred years earlier, to His prophet Daniel, the exact time of Jesus’ baptism.

The prophecy did not end with Jesus’ baptism, though. It predicted an even more important event. “And after sixty-two weeks [the seven weeks was how long it took to rebuild Jerusalem and after the rebuilding of Jerusalem, as brought to view in the last part of verse 25, it would only be another sixty-two weeks] Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;” Daniel 9:26. The Messiah was going to be cut off! Being cut off is a clear reference to His death. “He was cut off from the land of the living;” Isaiah 53:8. Sometime during the seventieth week the Messiah was to die for the sins of the people, but it zeroes in and gives us the exact time that He was to be “cut off.” “Then He shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.” Daniel 9:27. In the middle of the week, a stop was put to sacrifice and offering. How did this happen? Jesus died on the cross as our spotless lamb of God and it is now futile to offer sacrifices, because He, the Great Sacrifice, has already been offered for us. “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure… then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second.” Hebrews 10:5, 6, 9. When Jesus came and died on the cross for us, He took away the first covenant with all its animal sacrifices, and thus brought “an end to sacrifice and offering.” This occurred exactly in the middle of the week just as the Lord had foretold. One half of a week is three and a half days, which in prophecy would equate to three and a half years. By adding three and a half years to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, we come to the spring of AD 31, the exact time when Jesus offered up Himself for our sins. [Adding three years to the fall of AD 27 brings us to the fall of AD 30; and adding another half year takes us over into the spring of AD 31]. Prophecy was fulfilled to the very day.

At Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the “Most Holy,” Jesus were anointed to the priestly and mediatorial work that began then. (Daniel 9:24; Hebrews 1:8, 9; 7:28 KJV.) Thus, Daniel 9 had predicted, not only the life and ministry of the Son of God, but also the beginning of His work in heaven. Jesus began His intercessory work for His people, but then at the end of the seventieth week, in AD 34, when Stephen was stoned, He stood in judgment upon His unrepentant people. (Acts 7:56; Ezekiel 44:24) Israel had refused to repent and now the fearful consequences had come. Instead of receiving and accepting God’s own Son, they nailed Him to the cross. Instead of believing the messages of warning that the Lord sent through His apostles on the day of Pentecost and afterward, they stoned them. Probation had closed upon the nation of Israel and now the gospel began to go to the Gentiles. (Acts 8:4; 9:15; 10:28.) The seventy weeks had ended. The events that had been predicted five hundred years earlier happened to the very letter of what God had said. The “vision and the prophecy” was sealed up. (Daniel 9:24) The events that were to occur on this earth happened exactly as predicted, and it was certain that the previous vision of the two thousand three hundred days/years which was to occur in heaven would be fulfilled to the very letter as well.

When Does the Judgment Begin?

Having briefly investigated the seventy weeks, it is now important to go back to the two thousand three hundred days/years and see how the seventy weeks fit into the twenty-three hundred days/years. We have seen that the seventy weeks were “cut off” from the twenty-three hundred years, and consequently, the starting time for the seventy weeks would be the same starting time for the twenty-three hundred years. Having seen from history, and the Bible, that the starting date is 457 BC, all that we should need to do is calculate the time in order to discover when the judgment begins. Adding two thousand three hundred days to 457 BC brings us up to AD 1844. (2300 – 457 = 1843 + 1 year to account for the missing zero year = 1844) The same date is arrived at by adding the remaining 1810 years (2300 – 490 = 1810) to AD 34, the end of the seventy weeks that were cut off from the twenty-three hundred days. (1810 + 34 AD = 1844.) However you look at it, the only feasible date that the two thousand three hundred days/years could end is in 1844. There is no other starting date that can be found other than 457 BC. There is no other time period that the seventy weeks could have been “cut off” from, than the two thousand three hundred days/years. There is no other vision that Gabriel could have been explaining in Daniel 9, than the unexplained vision of Daniel 8, or the two thousand three hundred days/years. The two thousand three hundred days/years cannot be taken as literal days, for Daniel 9 is an explanation of Daniel 8. There is not even the remotest possibility of thinking that the seventy weeks are literal days. Would God give such an important prophecy as the twenty-three hundred days/years without giving a starting date? Would Gabriel say that the seventy weeks were “cut off” and then not have them be, in reality, cut off? Would the Lord send Gabriel to explain a vision that did not need to be explained? The repeated answer is a definitive NO! The only way that chapters eight and nine of Daniel make any sense is to understand that the two thousand three hundred days/years begin in 457 BC and end in 1844.

The question that we now have to consider is what happened in 1844, and why is to so important? We have already seen that it is talking specifically about the Judgment Day of God, but why does it say, “then the sanctuary shall be cleansed”? Daniel 8:14. What sanctuary was to be cleansed? There was no sanctuary existing on earth in 1844. Then where does this grand judgment, or cleansing, take place?

The Sanctuary

When God led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, He directed that they make Him a sanctuary. “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8. This sanctuary was what the Israelites carried through the wilderness and then was set up in Shiloh. (Joshua 18:1) The sanctuary stayed here until David moved it to Jerusalem (II Samuel 6:17-18), but then Solomon built a permanent temple. (I Kings 6:1-14) Through the continued apostasy of the children of Israel that temple was finally destroyed by the Babylonians. (II Chronicles 36:18, 19) Then upon the return of the captives from their exile, they built another temple. (Ezra 6:14, 15.) But this temple too, as Jesus predicted, was destroyed, “Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Matthew 24:2. In AD 70, the Roman General, Titus, came and totally destroyed and burned the city of Jerusalem, along with the temple. (Luke 21:20.) Not one stone of that massive structure was left standing upon another. Were any of these sanctuaries existing in 1844? No. The last temple had been destroyed for over 1700 years by 1844. Was God aware that this would happen? Of course. God predicts and controls the future. He knew that there would not be an earthly sanctuary standing in 1844, at the time when the sanctuary was to be cleansed. What, then, could He have in mind? How is this amazing prophecy fulfilled?

After Jesus death upon the cross, as we have already noted, the sacrifices had no value, for Jesus had done away with them by the offering of His body. The rituals and services of the temple also passed away as insignificant at that time. No longer was there any need for the earthly sanctuary service, for Jesus had come and done away with the types of the old covenant. (Colossians 2:14-17.) The earthly sanctuary was no longer needed. Because of the abolition of the earthly sanctuary services at the cross, there is another sanctuary brought to view in the New Testament. This is not the shadowy types of the good things to come (Hebrews 10:1) or a part of the first covenant which was faulty, growing old and ready to vanish, (Hebrews 8:7, 13) but this sanctuary was one “established on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6.)

When the Lord commanded the children of Israel to build Him a sanctuary, He did not leave it up to them to decide what it looked like and how to design it. He gave them very specific instructions. “And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” Exodus 25:40. The Lord gave Moses a specific pattern and commanded that it be made exactly like the plan that he was shown. Why was it so important that Moses follow the details of this pattern? It was because this pattern was to act as a picture of the real sanctuary in heaven. The book of Hebrews elaborates on this at great length. “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord erected, and not man…who serve the copy and the shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, ‘See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.'” Hebrews 8:1, 2, 5. Paul quotes from this same verse in Exodus, and makes the point that the earthly sanctuary was just a “copy and shadow of heavenly things.” The earthly sanctuary was a replica of what the real sanctuary in heaven looks like. This is the sanctuary that is established upon better promises. This is the “true tabernacle.” This is the sanctuary that the Lord built, and not man. This is true of no other sanctuary. The Lord directed in the building of the other sanctuaries, but it was men working as God gave them skill that built the earthly sanctuaries. But there was no man who laid a hand upon the sanctuary that is in heaven–it was the Lord alone who built this sanctuary. It is this sanctuary in heaven that Gabriel was speaking about when he said, “to anoint the Most Holy.” (Daniel 9:24). It is this sanctuary in heaven that Jesus ascended to and began His mediatorial work as our Great High Priest. (Hebrews 4:14-16; 6:20; 8:1) It is the heavenly sanctuary that all of the types and shadows of the earthly sanctuary were pointing forward to. “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but their His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place [the Greek word hagia literally means “holy places”] once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:11, 12. Clearly, Christ was anointed as our High Priest, not of this poor earthly sanctuary which was only a shadowy type, but he became a High Priest of the “greater and more perfect tabernacle,” that is the heavenly tabernacle or sanctuary. This tabernacle is not of this creation for it is in heaven and was constructed in heaven. Not only did He enter that heavenly sanctuary, but He entered it with His own blood. He is not mediating with the faulty blood of bulls and goats, but is ministering with His own precious blood. From these passages there is no doubt that there is indeed a sanctuary in heaven, and it is at this sanctuary where Christ is now ministering for our salvation. If we deny that there is a heavenly sanctuary, we are denying that Christ is our High Priest, for if there were no sanctuary there would be no High Priest. No, the Bible is full of evidence of our Saviour’s work as Great High Priest for our salvation. There is a sanctuary not made with hands in the heavens, and there is a High Priest ministering for us right now.

In the book of Hebrews, not only does it validate the truth of a heavenly sanctuary for us, but it also tells us how this sanctuary looks. “Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden alter of incense and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.” Hebrews 9:1-5. A splendid description of the earthly sanctuary is given, attempting to show the dazzling glory and beauty that surrounds it, making sure to note that it was a part of the first covenant and not the heavenly, but the earthly sanctuary. Then, later on in the chapter he refers to this earthly sanctuary by another name, giving us a faint idea of what the heavenly sanctuary looks like. “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;” Hebrews 9:24. Jesus did not go into this earthly sanctuary of the first covenant, but into the sanctuary of the second covenant–the heavenly sanctuary. After giving a detailed description of the appearance of the earthly sanctuary, he gives the earthly sanctuary a most revealing name–“copies of the true.” Which sanctuary then is the true? Undoubtedly, the sanctuary in heaven. What was the earthly sanctuary? It was a copy, or a picture, of the true one in heaven. Thus, by looking at the earthly sanctuary with all of its furniture and ceremonies, we can get a glimpse of what the heavenly sanctuary looks like and what work will go on there. That is why the Lord was so specific that the pattern of the earthly sanctuary was followed exactly. If they did not follow the pattern exactly it would not be the perfect copy, or picture, of the true heavenly sanctuary of the new covenant. But they did follow the pattern God had given, so that we can now study the apartments, furniture, and ceremonies of the earthly sanctuary to learn of the heavenly sanctuary.

Revelation also reveals that there is a sanctuary in heaven. The articles of the heavenly sanctuary keep appearing again and again throughout Revelation. In fact, it appears so much that we can derive that the book of Revelation was actually given from the heavenly sanctuary itself. “Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,” Revelation 1:12. In the very first chapter this theme is introduced. John sees Jesus standing in the middle of seven golden lampstands. Where were these lampstands from? They were an article of furniture in the first apartment of the sanctuary. “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. And he was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.” Revelation 8:3. Now, John sees an angel ministering before the golden altar. Once again this golden altar was in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. A golden altar is again pictured in Revelation 9:13. “Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple.” Revelation 11:19. This time there is a difference. It is still an article of furniture from the sanctuary, but this time it is from the second apartment, or the Most Holy Place. It is the most sacred piece of the entire temple. It is the Ark of the Covenant in which the Ten Commandments were kept. Continuing on through the book of Revelation, voices coming from the temple are heard (Revelation 16:1, 17,) angels are seen coming from the temple (Revelation 14:15, 17; 15:6) and the temple is opened and filled with smoke. (Revelation 15:5, 8.) Definitely the temple, or the sanctuary in heaven, plays a prominent part in the last prophetic messages for God’s people. It can also be seen from Revelation that not only is there a sanctuary in heaven, but there is the furniture of the sanctuary, and there are the two apartments of the heavenly sanctuary just like there were the two apartments of the earthly sanctuary.

As we look in the New Testament and at the new covenant, the answer to our question about which sanctuary could be cleansed in 1844 is strikingly answered. There was no earthly sanctuary. They had all been destroyed for hundreds of years before 1844. But there was a heavenly sanctuary, and just as Daniel [in Daniel 7] had previously seen the judgment taking place in heaven, so in Daniel 8, he sees the judgment beginning in the sanctuary which is, undoubtedly, in heaven. We are coming close to being able to fit the puzzle pieces of the climatic twenty three hundred days/years prophecy together, but first, we need to look at one more thing. What was the cleansing of the sanctuary?

The Cleansing of the Sanctuary

The crux and the climax of the entire vision of Daniel 8 was the prophecy relating to the “cleansing of the sanctuary.” The “cleansing of the sanctuary” was simply another term for the most solemn of the yearly sacred assemblies known as the Day of Atonement. Speaking of the Day of Atonement, Moses records, “For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever. And the priest, who is anointed and consecrated to minister as priest in his father’s place, shall make atonement, and put on linen clothes, the holy garments; then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tabernacle of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the congregation.” Leviticus 16:30-33. It can be seen that on the Day of Atonement was when the final atonement was made for the sanctuary and for the children of Israel. The people were finally cleansed from all of their sins and an atonement, or cleansing, was made for the sanctuary.

By cleansing the sanctuary, the sins of the children of Israel were also cleansed. Throughout the year, when a man sinned he would bring a sacrifice to atone for his sin. He would slay the lamb with his own hand and the sacrifice was offered upon the altar. The priest then transferred the blood into the sanctuary. Day by day, the blood built up in the sanctuary, until the Day of Atonement. The blood was a record of all the sins that the children of Israel had committed, but it was on the Day of Atonement that the sanctuary was cleansed from the record of sin that had continually built up. Thus, not only did the Day of Atonement cleanse the record of sins from the sanctuary, but it also symbolically blotted out the people’s sins. The people were forgiven when they brought their lamb to be sacrificed, but the record was not blotted out. It was on this most solemn of all days that the sins were actually blotted out. It was a solemn day of judgment when the sins were blotted out as it is graphically described in the Bible. “And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. For any person who is not afflicted of soul on that same day, he shall be cut off from his people. And any person who does any work on that same day, that person I will destroy from among his people.” Leviticus 23:28-30. There was no doubt in the ancient Israelites mind. This was the most solemn day of judgment, and if he did not unite in soul searching he was cut off from the people of God. It was the most solemn and serious day of the entire year for the Jews. It was the time when destinies were decided and lives were fixed–it was their last chance to be saved.

On this solemn day the High Priest went alone into the Most Holy Place of the sanctuary, and it was there the final atonement was made. “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.” Leviticus 16:15. This was the only time that the High Priest entered into the second apartment of the sanctuary. Every day the priests ministered about the first apartment, trimming the lamps, burning incense and transferring the blood of the sin offering to the sanctuary, but only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, did the High Priest alone minister in the Holy of Holies. In this second apartment was the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandment Law, and the mercy seat on top. The priest would then sprinkle the blood upon the mercy seat and by so doing make an atonement for, and cleanse the sanctuary.

The Heavenly Sanctuary Cleansed

Some have questioned if the heavenly sanctuary really needs to be cleansed, but as we have already seen, the Bible explicitly answers this for us. “Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in presence of God for us;” Hebrews 9:23, 24, margin. There is no room for doubt, the heavenly sanctuary does indeed need to be cleansed. Paul says that it was necessary for the earthly sanctuary (the pattern of the things in heaven) to be cleansed with “the blood of goats and calves,” but the heavenly sanctuary will be cleansed with better sacrifices than that, even “with His own blood.” Hebrews 9:12. What is it that needs to be cleansed from the sanctuary above? What could possibly be impure in that world of perfection? Sin and sinners written in the books. So the judgment solves the problem of impurity in the heavenly sanctuary. Those who “add iniquity to their iniquity,… Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.” Psalms 69:27, 28. During the judgment, sin and sinners are blotted from the book of records, and thus the heavenly sanctuary is cleansed from the impurity that has symbolically been heaped upon it for centuries.

As everything in the old covenant was a “shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things,” Hebrews 10:1, so it is with the Day of Atonement. As the sinner brought his lamb and confessed his sins upon the head of the lamb, so we, under the new covenant, come to Christ accepting Him as our Lamb (John 1:29; I Peter 1:19) and confess our sins unto Him. (I John 1:9; Proverbs 28:13) He then forgives us on the merits of His sacrifice. (Romans 3:24-26.) But as in the earthly service, the record of the sins is still in heaven and it is not until the close of the judgment that the sins are completely blotted out. (Acts 3:19) The judgment determines whether the lives of God’s people match their profession. (see Steps to Life’s booklet, Subpoenaed to the Trial of Life.) Those who have loved their Lord enough to follow Him and keep His commandments will be retained in the book of life (John 14:15; I John 2:3, 4; Revelation 22:14) and their sins will be blotted out. Those who cling to their life of sin and lawlessness will have their names blotted from the book of life. (Exodus 32:32, 33; Revelation 3:5) Thus the sanctuary in heaven will be cleansed from sin–either the sin itself, or the sinners who cling to sin, will be blotted out.

By looking at the symbolic service of the old covenant, it is explicitly taught that the plan of salvation did not end at the sacrifice of the lamb. There was still a final atonement needing to be made, and so it is in the New Covenant as well. Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross was all sufficient and was a complete sacrifice. He said, “It is finished,” and every word is true. God’s justice was fully vindicate and the devil was soundly defeated, but there was still more to the plan of salvation than just that. “It shall be imputed to us who believed in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offense, and was raised because of our justification.” Romans 4:24, 25. Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross was for our offenses, or for our sins, and it perfectly paid the price, but there was more. He was raised for our justification. If it was completely over on the cross, everything would have been complete and there would have been no need for anything more, but the inspired record states that he was “raised because of our justification.” Our justification could not be accomplished without His resurrection. Something else needed to occur. That something else is His intercession at the right hand of God, and then the final cleansing of the sanctuary. (Romans 8:34, Acts 17:31) Because Jesus said, “It is finished,” does not mean that everything was completed, for it is recorded in Revelation that He will say the same thing at least two other times. “Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, ‘It is done!'” “And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.” Revelation 16:17; 21:6. The atonement upon the cross was, without a doubt, complete and all-sufficient, but as in the typical service, there was still more. That is why Jesus ascended to heaven, and that is why Gabriel told Daniel that the sanctuary was still to be cleansed.

What Happened in 1844?

We have seen that the “sanctuary” was to be “cleansed,” and when we do the arithmetic, the only possible date that we can come up with is 1844. There was no earthly sanctuary at this time, but there was indeed a heavenly sanctuary to which Jesus ascended after His resurrection. What then occurred in 1844?

Because the “holy places” of the earthly sanctuary were merely “copies of the true,” (Hebrews 9:24) and there were two apartments, we can have no doubt that in the heavenly sanctuary there are, likewise, two apartments. Not only do we know that the heavenly sanctuary looks like the earthly one, but also the services of the earthly sanctuary represented what the services of the heavenly sanctuary would be like as well. “For if He [speaking of Jesus, the minister of the sanctuary of the new covenant] were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things,” Hebrews 9:3, 4. The priests of the old covenant ministered according to the “copy and shadow of heavenly things.” Their ministration was a representation of what would occur under the new covenant. As on the yearly Passover, the innocent lamb was slain, Jesus, the Lamb of God, was crucified for our sins on Calvary. The feast of weeks represented the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. Likewise the Day of Atonement pointed forward to the day of judgment that was to take place. In the earthly Day of Atonement, the High Priest went into the second apartment only once a year, and from this we can conclude that Jesus also will enter once into the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. As the Day of Atonement was when the sanctuary was cleansed in the typical service, once again, we can understand that when Jesus enters the second apartment in heaven it will be for the cleansing of the sanctuary. As the Day of Atonement was the day of judgment in the earthly service, we can be certain that when Jesus enters the second apartment to cleanse the sanctuary, it will be the day of judgment. What then happened in 1844? In fulfillment of the well verified prophecy of Daniel 8:14, Jesus entered into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to do the final work of atonement and to cleanse the sanctuary from the stain of sin that has, year by year, decade by decade built up. In fact, it was October 22, 1844 (the Day of Atonement was on October 22 in 1844), that the great judgment day began. It is the only legitimate understanding of the prophecies of both Daniel and Revelation.

There is even further evidence from Revelation that this is exactly what happened. John does not write of the exact time, but he certainly tells us about the time when Jesus will enter the most holy place. “Then the seventh angel sounded:… Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple.” Revelation 11:15, 19. At the sounding of the seventh angel, John writes that the temple in heaven was opened and he saw the Ark of the Covenant. The veil into the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary was lifted and John peered into the most holy place where the work of judgment began. The Ark of the Covenant was only kept in the second apartment and this is the only thing that John could have seen. As the second apartment was only entered on the Day of Atonement, or the cleansing of the sanctuary, this was the cleansing of the sanctuary that John saw beginning in 1844. As we compare scripture with scripture, there can be do doubt about it–Jesus entered into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844 to cleanse the sanctuary and conclude the plan of salvation.

It is Done!

The judgment began in 1844 and has been going on ever since. We are living in the most grand and solemn time of this earth’s history. Right now is the time when the judgment is going on in the courts above. As the Day of Atonement was a time of soul searching and self-examination, so today we must always bear in mind that the great judgment day of God is going on right now. We may not be able to see it. We may not personally be called before God’s judgment bar, but it is going on none-the-less, and the results will be no less final. It is the last chance for the inhabitants of this world to be saved! Very soon the command will be issued, “It is done!” Revelation 16:17; 21:6. It will then be too late. If we are not following the Lord all the way at that time, we will be left outside the holy city. The final decree will be pronounced and we will be on the wrong side. “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11. All will one day be on one side or the other. We may be able to ride the fence now, but then we will be all for the Lord or all against Him. Indeed it is a fearful and solemn time to be alive, for it is our last chance to be saved, but for those who are following Jesus wherever He leads and doing whatever He asks, it is not fearful, it is not scary. It is the most joyous time for it means that very soon we will be with our Savior for the ceaseless ages of eternity. “Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain.” Isaiah 26:20, 21.

All emphasis the authors unless otherwise stated.
All texts from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Sources:

  • The Great Controversy, Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, 1911
  • God Predicts Your Future, John J. Grosboll, Steps to Life, 1994
  • Messiah in His Sanctuary, F.C. Gilbert, reprinted by Leaves of Autumn, 1991
  • Daniel and the Revelation, Uriah Smith, Southern Publishing Association, 1944
  • Subpoenaed to the Trial of Life, Cody Francis, Steps to Life, 1999

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Keys to the Storehouse – All Things Considered

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You and I are walking in the presence of the Judge of the whole earth! “… all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).

Have you considered what the “all things” consist of? Let’s look at a little list that is among the “all things” being viewed by the Judge:

  • Our words
  • Our plans
  • Our meditations
  • The motives of our hearts

“The case of every individual worker is registered in Heaven. Let us consider this.

  • Do we want our light and frivolous remarks heard in the presence of angels and before God?
  • Do we want the words of pride, that exhibit self, left on the books to condemn us in the Judgment?
  • Do we want our plans for self-exaltation written in the unerring records?

Let us ever remember that the Lord, who gave His life for us, is watching with intense interest our course of life, and that angels are witnessing our ways. Seek that singleness of purpose that will lead us to glorify God, and not self. Oh, that each might say when tempted, as did our Lord, ‘The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me’ (John 14:30). …” The Signs of the Times, March 23, 1888.

What will be considered in your case? Will your words, your plans, your meditations give glory to the God of heaven or the god of this world. O that you and I could say as did our Lord, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”

“Angels will be commissioned to guard you from the devices of the adversary, and to minister to all your needs. And the object of all this abundant solicitude must, on his part, [A] depart from all iniquity, and perfect holiness in the fear of God. [B] He must watch and pray. [C] He must fight the good fight of faith, [D] resist the devil that he may flee from him, and [E] endure hardness as a good soldier of the cross of Christ. He has to wage a constant conflict with unseen foes, and only through Christ can he come off victorious. He must cultivate courage to surmount the difficulties obstructing his pathway, and build up a character of integrity and virtue, representing to the world the character of his Redeemer. …

“We need to be refined, cleansed from all earthliness, till we reflect the image of our Saviour, and become ‘partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust’ (2 Peter 1:4). Then we shall delight to do the will of God, and Christ can own us before the Father and before the holy angels as those who abide in Him, and He will not be ashamed to call us brethren.” Ibid.

Heavenly Father: Thank you for the angels You have commissioned to guide me. I need Your grace to keep my words, my plans, my thoughts on the heavenly and not on the worldly. I do not want to walk with the god of this world. I do not want You to be ashamed of me. Help me to fight the good fight of faith and resist the devil in all areas of my life. Amen.