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THE SANCTUARY MESSAGE 2WHEN
SIN STOPS When
sin stops and how it stops is a topic of concern in our time. Will the
righteous continue to sin until the Second Coming of Christ? And if not,
when, in their lives, will sin end? Here is what Inspiration has to say
on this topic: When will sin stop for the wicked? Sin will never stop for the incorrigibly wicked until they die or are slain. As long as they have breath they will continue on in their wickedness. This, their consistent choice, has become their character and the sealing of their destiny. When
will sin stop for the righteous? It is clear from the Bible and the
Spirit of Prophecy that the righteous do not sin after the wicked are
slain after the Millennium. Sin will never rise again. And it is equally
clear that they will not sin during the Millennium. After the Second
Advent there will be no more sinning by the righteous. A brief scanning
of Biblical and Spirit of Prophecy passages on that period in history
should be sufficient to convince anyone of this. Will
there be sinning on the part at the righteous between the time of the
Close of Probation and the Second Coming of Christ? Historic Adventism
says "No." Modern Protestantism, Ford, Brinsmead, and the
"new theology" are saying, "Yes." In
the December 1963 issue of "Signs of the Times," there
appeared an article by Dr. Edward Heppenstall, at that time Professor of
Theology and Christian Philosophy at the Seventh-day Adventist
Theological Seminary (part of the Andrews University complex) at Berrien
Springs, Michigan. This
article received wide publicity by the leadership soon afterward, and
resulted in introducing to the Church the theory that men—all
men—will continue to sin until the Second Advent of Christ. This
article, entitled "Is Perfection Possible?" contended that man
has an evil nature that does not permit of obedience to God in this
life, the gospel does not make provision for the eradication of this
evil nature or obedience to the Law of God, and therefore genuine
obedience is not possible in this life, and neither is perfection of
character. The
issue here is (1) whether anyone can obey God's Law now, and (2) will
the sealed saints obey it after the Investigative Judgment ends and
human probation forever closes? Here
are some pertinent Spirit of Prophecy statements on this: "Enoch's
life and character, which were so holy that he was translated to heaven
without seeing death, rep resent what the lives and characters of all
must be, if, like Enoch, they are to be translated when Christ shall
come. His life was what the life of every individual may be if he
closely connects with God . . When Christ shall come, our vile bodies
are to be changed, and made like His glorious body; but the vile
character will not be made holy then. The transformation of character
must take place before His coming. Our natures must be pure and holy; we
must have the mind of Christ, that He may behold with pleasure His image
reflected upon our souls." Our High Calling, 278. It
is clear from the above paragraph that translation to heaven without
seeing death (which the saints alive following the Close of Probation
will experience) requires purity of life. One difficulty is that many,
such as Heppenstall and his followers, do not realize what a solemn
experience it is to undergo translation to heaven without seeing
death. "When
Christ comes, our characters will not be changed. These vile bodies will
be changed, and fashioned after the likeness of His glorious body; but
there will not be a moral change wrought in us then." Review
and Herald, August 7, /888. "When
the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people,
then He will come to claim them as His own." Christ's Object
Lessons, 69. "But
while they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they have no
concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins have gone beforehand to judgment
and have been blotted out, and they cannot bring them to
remembrance." Great Controversy, 620 (also Patriarchs and
Prophets, 202). A
very important matter in connection with all this has not yet been
mentioned. The heavenly Sanctuary ministry of Christ is the continuation
and conclusion of the Atonement, which He began upon the cross. (See
FF-351-355 for an abundance of Spirit of Prophecy quotations on this.)
And yet, when that heavenly ministry ends, the Atonement ends and
ends forever. The Atonement makes provision for the forgiveness of
sin, but after it is concluded there is no more such provision. The
awesome reality of this fact is discussed in the following passage: "Those
who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall
cease in the Sanctuary above are to stand in the light of a holy God
without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless; their characters must
be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of
God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle
with effort. 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. This work is more clearly
presented in the messages of Revelation 14. When this work shall have
been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His
appearing." Great Controversy 425 But
an even more solemn passage explains that this putting away of sin
from our lives must take place, not only before the conclusion of the
Investigative Judgment and the general close of probation,—but it must
also take place before the Latter Rain: "I
also saw that many do not realize what they must be in order to live in
the sight of the Lord without a High Priest in the Sanctuary through the
time of trouble. Those who receive the seal of the living God and are
protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully. 'I
saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were
looking to the time of 'refreshing' and the 'latter rain' to fit them to
stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I
saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the
needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing
that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God, "Those
who refuse to be hewed by the prophets and fail to purify their souls in
obeying the whole truth, and who are willing to believe that their
condition is far better than it really is, will come up to the time of
the falling of the plagues, and then see that they needed to be hewed
and squared for the building. But there will be no time then to do it
and no Mediator to plead their cause before the Father. Before this
time the awfully solemn declaration has gone forth [which signals the
general Close of Probation—GC 613-614], '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.} "I
saw that none could share the 'refreshing' unless they obtain the
victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the
world, and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, be
drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking that
preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of
the Lord. Let all remember that God is holy and that none but holy
beings can ever dwell in His presence."—Early Writings, 71. In
connection with the above, there are two parallel passages that you will
want to carefully read: "Early Writings," pages 279: 1-280:2
and onward, and "Great Controversy," page 613-614. Also note
"Early Writings," pages 43:2, 44: 1-2, and 58. This idea that
the end of the Judgment and the beginning of probationless time is of no
particular consequence to man is from the Devil. It is a
"message" exactly opposite to that of Revelation 14:6-7 and
onward, through verse 12. Since the Three Angels' warning about the
Investigative Judgment is from God, this opposite message must be from
the Prince of Darkness. This
theme, of the victory having been obtained prior to the reception of the
Latter Rain, is also the theme of "Early Writings," pages
269-271. It is well worth your careful reading. There are also passages
which connect the time of the Latter Rain with the time of the Sealing.
We are also told that we will not receive the Seal of God until, through
the grace of Christ, sin has been put away from our lives. The next
quotation indicates both of these thoughts: "Not
one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have
one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in
our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the
latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples
on the day of Pentecost." 5 Testimonies, 214. "What
are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation [for the
Seal of God]? Those who are uniting with the world are receiving the
worldly mold and preparing for the mark of the beast. Those who are
distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and
purifying their souls by obeying the truth—these are receiving the
heavenly mold and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads. When
the decree goes forth and the stamp is impressed, their character will
remain pure and spotless for eternity. "Now
is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the
forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the
forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be
placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful
hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God,
candidates for heaven." 5 Testimonies. 216 [the concluding two
paragraphs of an important chapter, entitled "The Sealing."] The
issue is really whether you believe the Bible and the Spirit of
Prophecy. If you do, you won't spend your days teaching the "new
theology" or your evenings sitting before a television set. You
will be preparing for heaven. In past ages, men and women had to prepare
to die as Christians; in our generation it is the task assigned to us to
prepare to be translated without seeing death. But
many of us would rather move into closer friendship with the world, its
customs and practices. Read just across the page 5 Testimonies,
217 to see our perilous position as a people. "We
are to exert every energy of the soul in the work of overcoming, and to
look to Jesus for strength to do what we cannot do of ourselves. No sin
can be tolerated in those who shall walk with Christ in white. . By
repentance and faith we are enabled to render obedience to all the
commandments of God, and are found without blame before Him. Those who
shall meet the approval of God are now afflicting their souls,
confessing their sins, and earnestly pleading for pardon through Jesus
their Advocate. Their attention is fixed upon Him, their hopes, their
faith, are centered on Him, and—when the command is given, "Take
away the filthy garments, and clothe him with change of raiment, and set
a fair miter upon his head" [Zechariah 3:4], they are prepared to
give Him all the glory of their salvation. "Zechariah's
vision of Joshua and the Angel [Zechariah 3] applies with peculiar force
to the experience of God's people in the closing up of the great day
of atonement. The remnant church will be brought into great trial and
distress. Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus
will feel the ire of the dragon and his hosts. Satan numbers the world
as his subjects, he has gained control of the apostate churches; but
here is a little company that are resisting his supremacy. . so in the
near future he will stir up the wicked powers of earth to destroy the
people of God. All will be required to render obedience to human
edicts in violation of the divine law. . "Their
only hope is in the mercy of God; their only defense will be prayer. As
Joshua was pleading before the Angel, so the remnant church, with
brokenness of heart and earnest faith, will plead for pardon and
deliverance through Jesus their Advocate. They are fully conscious of
the sinfulness of their lives, they see their weakness and
unworthiness, and as they look upon themselves they are ready to
despair. . He
[Satan] hopes to so destroy their faith that they will yield to his
temptations, turn from their allegiance to God, and receive the mark
of the beast. . "But
while the followers of Christ have sinned, they have not given
themselves to the control of evil. They have put away their sins, and
have sought the Lord in humility and contrition, and the divine Advocate
pleads in their behalf . . "The
assaults of Satan are strong, his delusions are terrible; but the Lord's
eye is upon His people. Their affliction is great, the flames of the
furnace seem about to consume them; but Jesus will bring them forth as
gold tried in the fire. Their earthliness must be removed that the image
of Christ may be perfectly reflected; unbelief must be overcome; faith,
hope, and patience are to be developed. "The
people of God are sighing and crying for the abominations done in the
land. With tears they warn the wicked of their danger in trampling upon
the divine law, and with unutterable sorrow they humble themselves
before the Lord on account of their own transgressions. The wicked mock
their sorrow, ridicule their solemn appeals, and sneer at what they term
their weakness. But the anguish and humiliation of God's people is
unmistakable evidence that they are regaining the strength and nobility
of character lost in consequence of sin. It is because they are drawing
nearer to Christ, and their eyes are fixed upon His perfect purity, that
they so clearly discern the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Their
contrition and self-abasement are infinitely more acceptable in the
sight of God than is the self-sufficient, haughty spirit of those who
see no cause to lament, who scorn the humility of Christ, and who claim
perfection while transgressing God's holy law. "Meekness
and lowliness of heart are the conditions for strength and victory. The
crown of glory awaits those who bow at the foot of the cross. Blessed
are these mourners, for they shall be comforted. "The
faithful, praying ones are, as it were, shut in with God. They
themselves know not how securely they are shielded. Urged on by Satan,
the rulers of this world are seeking to destroy them; but could their
eyes be opened, as were the eyes of Elisha's servant at Dothan, they
would see the angels of God encamped about them, by their brightness and
glory holding in check the hosts of darkness. "As
the people of God afflict their souls before Him, pleading for purity of
heart, the command is given, 'Take away the filthy garments' from them,
and the encouraging words are spoken, 'Behold, I have caused thine
iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of
raiment.' The spotless robe of Christ's righteousness is placed upon
the tried, tempted, yet faithful children of God. The despised remnant
are clothed in glorious apparel, nevermore to be defiled by the
corruptions of the world. Their names are retained in the lamb's book of
life, enrolled among the faithful of all ages. They have resisted the
wiles of the deceiver; they have not been turned from their loyalty by
the dragon's devices. Their sins are transferred to the originator of
sin. And the remnant are not only pardoned and accepted, but honored. 'A
fair miter' is set upon their heads. They are to be as kings and priests
unto God. While Satan was urging his accusations and seeking to destroy
this company, holy angels, unseen, were passing to and fro, placing upon
them the seal of the living God. . 'And it shall come to pass, that he
that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be
called holy, even everyone that is written among the living in
Jerusalem.' " 5 Testimonies, 472-476. The
above chapter in Volume 5 of the Testimonies is entitled "Joshua
and the Angel. and may be read on pages 467-476 of that book. It is
a most comforting and encouraging chapter. Often in life we become
discouraged at all that is transpiring around us, as we view the
darkness and the despair that Satan would seek to press upon our own
souls. But look up and rejoice, for your redemption draweth nigh! God
liveth and He careth for His own. He has guarded and protected you all
these years—and He will continue to do so even unto the end of the
world, if you will but rest your cause in His Hands and trust your
life, your plans and actions, to His wonderful care. Satan would seek to
tell you that you are little better than worthless, but the angels of
God are right now preparing crowns for the faithful, and one day soon
you, if faithful, will live with the saints in heaven. And that is what
you want, is it not? Do know two things: (1) God loves you deeply, and
(2) it is Satan's first work to discourage you (or fill you with
self-satisfaction) so that you will choose to separate yourself from
your wonderful Father. Know your weak points and cling to Christ and He
will do through your submission and willingness that which you could
never do for yourself. "The
righteous living will receive the seal of God prior to the close of
probation." 1 Selected Messages
32. "We
can never see our Lord in peace, up less our souls ale spotless. We must
bear the perfect image of Christ. . We must strive daily against outward
evil and inward sin if we would reach the perfection of Christian
character." Review May
30,1882. "When
the Lord comes, those who have preserved their bodies and spirits in
holiness, in sanctification and honor, will then receive the finishing
touch of immortality. But those who are unjust, unsanctified, and
filthy, will remain so forever, No work will then be done for them to
remove their defects and give them holy characters. The Refiner [see GC.
425: 1] does not then sit to pursue His refining process, and remove
their sins and their corruption. This is all to be done in these hours
of probation. It is now that this work is to be accomplished for
us." 2 Testimonies 355, "Everyone
who by faith obeys the commandments, will reach the condition of
sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression." Signs
July 21, 1902. "When
Christ shall come, our vile bodies are to be changed, and made like His
glorious body; but the vile character will not be made holy then. The
transformation of character must take place before His coming. Our
natures must be pure and holy." Review, September 1, 1885. "While
we cannot claim perfection of the flesh, we may have Christian
perfection of the soul" 2 Selected Messages 32. "The
latter rain, falling near the close of the season, ripens the grain, and
prepares it for the sickle . . The ripening of the grain represents the
completion of the work of God's grace in the soul. By the power of the
Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the character.
. Unless the early showers have done their work, the latter rain will
bring no seed to perfection." Testimonies to Ministers 506. "Are
we striving with all our power to attain to the stature of men and women
in Christ? Are we seeking for His fullness, ever pressing toward the
mark set before us—the perfection of His character? When the Lord's
people reach the mark they will be sealed in their foreheads. Filled
with the Spirit, they will be complete in Christ, and the recording
angel will declare, 'It is finished.'" Review, June 10, 1902. ( in
Our High Calling, 150.) "God's
people are now to have their eyes fixed on the heavenly Sanctuary, where
the final ministration of our great High Priest is going
forward,—where He is interceding for His people." Life
Sketches, 278. "It
is the purpose of redemption, not only to blot out sin, but to .give
back to man those spiritual gifts lost because of sin's dwarfing
power." Christ's Object lessons, 266. "No
man can of himself cast out the evil throng that have taken possession
of the heart. Only Christ can cleanse the soul temple. But He will not
force an entrance." Desire of Ages, 161. "Jesus
is in His holy temple and will now accept our sacrifices, our prayers,
and our confessions of faults and sins and will pardon all the
transgressions of Israel, that they may be blotted out before He leaves
the Sanctuary." Early Writings, 48. "Blow
the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the
people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the
children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth
of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the
ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let
them say, Spare Thy people, 0 Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach,
that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among
the people, Where is their God?" Joel 2:15-17. "Beyond
the inner veil [of the earthly sanctuary] was the holy of holies, where
centered the symbolic service of atonement and intercession, and which
formed the connecting link between heaven and earth." Patriarchs
and Prophets, 348 "The
minds of believers were to be directed to the heavenly Sanctuary,
where Christ had entered to make atonement for His people." 1
Selected Messages, 67. "The
passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great events, opening to our
astonished eyes the cleansing of the Sanctuary transpiring in heaven,
and having decided relation to God's people upon the earth."
Manuscript 13, 1889. "Only
those, who in their attitude before God, are filling the position of
those who are repenting and confessing their Sins in the great
antitypical day of atonement, will be recognized and marked as worthy
of God's protection." Testimonies to Ministers, 445. "This
is the great day of preparation, and the solemn work going on In the
Sanctuary above should be kept constantly before the minds of those
employed in our institutions. Business cares should not be allowed to
absorb the mind to such a degree that the work in heaven, which concerns
every individual, will be lightly regarded. The solemn scenes of the
judgment, the great day of atonement, should be kept before the people,
and urged upon their consciences with earnestness and power. The subject
of the Sanctuary will give us correct views of the importance of the
work for this time." 5 Testimonies 420-421. THIS
MESSAGE GOES BACK TO THE BEGINNINGS OF OUR MOVEMENT AND IS THE REASON
FOR OUR MOVEMENT You
may remember that near the beginning of this study we quoted that
beautiful passage in "Great Controversy," page 425, that
explains how important it is that we put away sin now while there is
still a Mediator in the heavenly Sanctuary, and that this great truth
lies at the heart of the Three Angels' Messages in Revelation 14. But
perhaps I should here share with you some of the background of this. First,
our denomination and our message is founded on the Sanctuary truth. It
was the discovery of this truth back in 1844 that made us the
denominated people that we are: "The
passing of the time in [October 22] 1844 was followed by a period of
great trial to those who still held the advent faith. Their only relief,
so far as ascertaining their true position was concerned, was the light
which directed their minds to the Sanctuary above. Some renounced their
faith in their former reckoning of the prophetic periods, and ascribed
to human or satanic agencies the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit
which had attended the Advent Movement. "Another
class [1] firmly held that the Lord had led them in their past
experience; and [2] as they waited and watched and prayed to know the
will of God, [3] they saw that their great High Priest had entered upon
another work of ministration, and [4] following Him by faith, [5] they
were led to see also the closing work of the church. [6] They had a
clearer understanding of the first and second angels' messages, and [7]
were prepared to receive and give to the world the solemn warning of
the third angel of Revelation 14."Great Controversy, 431-432. Note
the above seven points. It was in focusing their attention upon the
ministry of Christ in heaven that they were enabled to maintain their
hold on God, and at the same time to learn the special work that they
were to do for Him. For within the Sanctuary Truth they found the
message they were to give to all the world. Speaking
about the same experience, we are told: "Their only safe course was
to cherish the light which they had already received of God, hold fast
to His promises, and continue to search the Scriptures, and patiently
wait and watch to receive further light." Great Controversy,
408. The
next several lines (beginning the next chapter) tell us this: "The
scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and the
central pillar of the advent faith was the declaration: 'Unto two
thousand and three hundred days; then shall the Sanctuary be cleansed,'
Daniel 8:14 . . By the lips of thousands was this prophecy repeated as
the watchword of their faith,"—Great Controversy, 409. Then
we are taken through a chain of reasoning and Scriptural evidence in
this chapter (chapter 23): "Where
was the mistake?" 409. "The question, What is the
Sanctuary? Is clearly answered in the Scriptures. . But the most
important question remains to be answered: What is the cleansing of the
Sanctuary?" 417. At
this point, you will want to carefully read "Great Controversy,
pages 417 through 422. The last three pages (420-422) provide a
summarizing focus that is very helpful. Read them slowly and carefully.
In this special time in history, the people of God are to repent and put
away their sins and send them beforehand to Judgment. We are not to
treasure them as adorable little trinkets—we are to hand them over to
Jesus. And as we do so, they are transferred to the Sanctuary in heaven.
(We are told on 420: 2 and 421: 3 that whereas in the ancient services
the sins were transferred in symbol to the earthly sanctuary, they are
now transferred in fact—in reality to the heavenly.) "In
the new covenant the sins of the repentant are by faith placed upon
Christ and transferred, in fact, to the heavenly Sanctuary. And as the
typical cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of the
sins by which it had been polluted, so the actual cleansing of the
heavenly, is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the
sins which are there recorded. "But
before this can be accomplished, there must be an examination of the
books of record to determine who, through repentance of sin and faith in
Christ, are entitled to the benefits of His atonement. "The
cleansing of the Sanctuary therefore involves a work of
investigation—a work of judgment. This work must be performed prior to
the coming of Christ to redeem His people; for when He comes, His reward
is with Him to give to every man according to his works. Revelation 22:
12,"Great Controversy, 421-422. So
we here see that the heart of the matter is the cleaning of the lives
of God's people from sin. Naively, many of us had been thinking that all
this "investigative judgment business" was nothing more than
some paperwork activity carried on in heaven, while we on earth went
forward with giving doctrinal Bible studies, baptizing people, and
holding committee meetings. But now we see that God's plan is to clean
our lives so that, we can go out and proclaim the final message to
all the world with a loud cry, speaking amid the mighty power of the
Three Angels, whose message we live and bear. The decisions of Heaven,
in the Investigative Judgment, are based on decisions that you and I are
making right now down here on earth. What a solemn thought is this! How
very real the work of investigation becomes in our minds! You
will recall that, a few paragraphs ago, we quoted "Great
Controversy," 431-432. The faithful found that the Sanctuary
Message was their open door to encouragement amid trial, and guidance
into a clearer understanding of the message. Now, let us quote from the
opening of that same chapter (chapter 23). It is right across the page
from the 421-422 quotation we just viewed. "The
subject of the Sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the
disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a complete system of truth,
connected and harmonious, showing that God's hand had directed the
great advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light
the position and work of His people. . Light from the Sanctuary
illuminated the past, the present, and the future. Great
Controversy. 423. If
I may be so bold as to say it, the disappointment we have experienced
all the way through the history of the Advent Movement since 1844,
like that at its inception, is solved in the Sanctuary Message. Our
disappointment has been theirs: Why has not Jesus returned by now? Yet
the Sanctuary holds the key to the disappointment, for it not only
reveals a complete and interconnected system of truth (our precious
historic beliefs), but it also reveals our "present duty." How
does the Sanctuary Message reveal our present duty? by explaining our
present position and work. By means of the Sanctuary we can understand
our past, our present and our future. These are solemn thoughts and
fraught with deep meaning. And
yet, we need further clarity as to what is meant here by "our
present duty." As
we read the rest of pages 423 and 424, we find that the people of God
encountered these disappointments because they were not prepared to meet
their Lord in the clouds of heaven. There was still a duty to be
done. Now, let us learn what that duty was. Learning our duty and doing
our duty is the key to the end of time: "But
the people were NOT YET ready to meet their Lord. There was still A WORK
OF PREPARATION to be accomplished for them. Light was to be given,
directing their minds TO the temple of God in heaven; and as they should
by faith FOLLOW their High Priest in His ministration there, NEW DUTIES
would be revealed." Great Controversy. 424-425. So
we can see that a definite set of directions is being given to the
Advent people in these particular pages of the book, "Great
Controversy." At this point, I would like to mention that in the
years that I broadcasted this book over the radio, as I went over and
over this book, I was fascinated with the truth that chapter 24 was
especially written for the Advent people. As you may know, Ellen White
penned this book (in its 1888 and 1911 editions) for both those in our
Church and those outside of it. But these particular pages (and note
also the closing pages of chapter 28) seem in a special sense to be
written alone for the remnant. Now,
let us continue on with this quotation: "Says
the prophet: 'Who may abide the day of His coming [into the Most Holy
Place for the work of judgment as explained on page 424: 2-3] ? and
who shall stand when He appeareth [there]? for He is like a refiner's
fire, and like fuller's soap: and He shall sit as a REFINER AND PURIFIER
of silver: and He shall PURIFY the sons of Levi, and PURGE [clean] them
as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in
righteousness.' Malachi 3:2-3. "Those
who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall
CEASE in the Sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God
WITHOUT a mediator. Their robes must be SPOTLESS, their characters must
be PURIFIED FROM SIN by the blood of sprinkling. Through the GRACE of
God and their OWN diligent EFFORT they must be CONQUERORS in the
battle with evil. 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. This WORK is more clearly
presented in the MESSAGES of Revelation 14. When THIS WORK shall have
been ACCOMPLISHED, the followers of Christ will be READY for His
appearing. 'Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant
unto the Lord, as in the days of old, as in former years.' Malachi 3:4.
Then the church which our Lord at His coming is to receive to Himself
will be a GLORIOUS church, NOT HAVING SPOT, OR WRINKLE or any such
thing.' Ephesians 5:27. Then she will look 'forth as the morning, FAIR
as the moon, CLEAR as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.'
Song of Solomon 6:10. "Besides
the coming of the Lord to His temple, Malachi also foretells His second
advent." Great Controversy. 425. Pardon
all the capital emphases in the above quotation, but the material is so
very significant that we wished to carefully point up the impact of
what it is saying. "Great Controversy," 423-425 is the Magna
Charta of the Remnant, as far as I am concerned. There is enough
dynamite in those pages to finish the Message in our lives and in our
world, and bring everything to an end. "As
you receive the Spirit of Christ—the Spirit of unselfish love and
labor for others—you will grow and bring forth fruit. The graces of
the Spirit will ripen in your character. . 'The fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance.' Galatians 5: 22, 23. This fruit can never
perish, but will produce after its kind a harvest unto eternal life. "
'When the fruit is brought forth, immediately He putteth in the
sickle, because the harvest is come.' Christ is waiting with longing
desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the
character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then
He will come to claim them as His own. "It
is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3: 12, margin). Were all
who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole
world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great
harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious
grain." Christ's Object Lessons. 68-69. Note
"Counsels to Parents and Teachers," page 324. Paragraph 3 is
parallel to the above, but paragraph 2 provides an additional reason why
it is so. But
as you study "Great Controversy," 423-425, do not forget 426
and onward. The entrance key to those pages is 426:1. As you study
through these Biblical stories and the Spirit of Prophecy comments on
them (here in "Great Controversy" and elsewhere), you will
find rich veins of gold lying just beneath the surface. And this is
God's will for you, that you study such topics and cry to God on your
knees for strength to fulfill them in your life. Turn away from worldly
entertainment and place yourself in the full blaze of God's glorious
Word. Bask in its warmth, become strong in its heat; and then go forth
and share the fire with others. We are told that John was a
"burning, shining light." You can become one also. And never
in history has there been a greater need for such lights in our world. "Behold,
the Bridegroom cometh" was the watchword and cry of the Midnight
Cry of 1844. (see "Great Controversy," 398-403.) This phrase
is the keynote of the explanation of our duty for this time, given on
pages 426-430. "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh"—into
Judgment to examine the records—the lives—of men. "Behold the
Bridegroom cometh"—soon, to your name and mine. "Behold
the Bridegroom cometh—"to purify His people before it is forever
too late! "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh—"the marriage is
about to begin! Get ready, get ready! Sound the message over hill and
dale, and in all the cities of the land: "Behold, the Bridegroom
cometh!" "Fear
God and give glory to Him—for the hour of His Judgment has come!
Worship your Creator, repent of your sins, keep His Commandments,
return to the Seventh-day Sabbath—and flee the fallen churches! For
the Mark of the Beast is about to be placed on the foreheads and hands
of those who cling to Babylon! "Behold, the Bridegroom
cometh" for the final work of the Atonement in the Sanctuary above.
Soon it will all be over and He will return to earth with ten thousands
of His holy ones to take vengeance on all those that do wickedly.
"Behold the Bridegroom cometh. GO YE OUT TO MEET HIM!" before
it is forever too late! To
say it again: "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. THIS work is more clearly presented IN the messages
of Revelation 14."Great Controversy. 425. We
have here the heart of the Three Angels' Message. "How
much more essential in this antitypical Day of Atonement that we
understand the work of our High Priest and know what DUTIES are required
of us. Men cannot with impunity reject the warning which God in mercy
sends them. A message was sent from heaven to the world in Noah's day,
and their salvation depended upon the manner in which they treated that
message. Because they rejected the warning, the Spirit of God was
withdrawn from the sinful race, and they perished in the waters of the
Flood. In the time of Abraham, mercy ceased to plead with the guilty
inhabitants of Sodom, and all but Lot with his wife and two daughters
were consumed by the fire sent down from heaven. So in the days of
Christ. The Son of God declared to the unbelieving Jews of that
generation: 'Your house is left unto you desolate.' Matthew 23:38.
Looking down to the last days, the same Infinite Power declares,
concerning those who 'received not the love of the truth, that they
might be saved': 'for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,
that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who
believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.' 2
Thessalonians 2: 10-12. [Think about that, you who prefer theological
modernism.] As they reject the teachings of His Word, God withdraws His
Spirit and leaves them to the deceptions which they love."—Great
Controversy. 431 [also from chapter 23]. What
is she trying to say here, with these words that could not be stronger?
She is saying that we who know so much truth (the "Jews" of
today) had better hearken to the admonitions given in this chapter—and
do the duties requested by God. Not to do so can only be done at the
risk of eternal life. Seventh-day Adventists are not to set aside the
message for this time—the message of heart holiness,—to seek instead
the friendship and favor of the world. We must withdraw from worldly
policies, practices, associations, confederacies and customs. We must
come back to God as individuals and as a people before it is too late.
"Great Controversy" is the most powerful book of our day. We
must read that book, live that book and proclaim the messages of that
book. Not to do so is treason against the God who inspired that
book,—at a time in history when a whole world is about to drop over a
cliff into a terrible crisis predicted in that book. And we who know the
warnings of that book are not sharing those warnings with others. Here
is the first clear statement about the Sanctuary Message and its meaning
that is to be found in the book, "Great Controversy." It is in
chapter nineteen of the book: "In
the typical system, which was a shadow of the sacrifice and priesthood
of Christ, the cleansing of the sanctuary was the last service performed
by the high priest in the yearly round of ministration. It was the
closing work of the atonement,—a removal or putting away of sin from
Israel. It prefigured the closing work in the ministration of our High
Priest in heaven, in the removal or blotting out of the sins of His
people, which are registered in the heavenly records. This service
involves a work of investigation, a work of judgment; and it immediately
precedes the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven with power and
great glory; for when He comes, every case has been decided. Says Jesus,
'My reward is with Me, to give every man according as His work shall
be.' Revelation 22: 12. It is this work of judgment, immediately
preceding the Second Advent, that is announced in the First Angel's Message
of Revelation 14:7, 'Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of
His judgment is come.' "Great Controversy. 352. CHOOSE
THE HIGH PATH All
the world is crowded into the low roads. Be different. Choose the high
path, the narrow path described in "Early Writings," pages 14
and 15, in the first vision given to the prophet for our time in
history. Choose the clean living and high standards of those on that
narrow way. It will cost you the world but you will gain Jesus in
return. And your soul will be blessed for having done it. "Are
we striving with all our power to attain to the stature of men and women
in Christ? Are we seeking for His fullness, ever pressing toward the
mark set before us—the perfection of His character? When the Lord's
people reach this mark, they will be sealed in their foreheads. Filled
with the Spirit, they will be complete in Christ, and the recording
angel will declare, 'It is finished.' "6 Bible Commentary. 1118. "Reference
to our published works will show our belief that the living righteous
will receive the seal of God prior to the close of probation." 1
Selected Messages. 66. "God
calls upon us to reach the standard of perfection and places before us
the example of Christ's character. In His humanity, perfected by a life
of constant resistance of evil, the Saviour showed that through
co-operation with Divinity, human beings may in this life attain to
perfection of character."—Acts of the Apostles, 531. "Every
living Christian will advance daily in the divine life. As he advances
toward perfection, he experiences a conversion to God every day: and
this conversion is not completed until he attains to perfection of
Christian character, a full preparation for the finishing touch of
immortality." 2 Testimonies, 505. "We
must strive daily against outward evil and inward sin, if we would reach
perfection of character."—Review, May 30, 1882. "There
is wrestling with inbred sin; there is warfare against outward
wrong."—Review, November 29,1887. "Those
only who through faith in Christ obey all of God's commandments will
reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his
transgression. They testify to their love of Christ by obeying all H is
precepts." 6 Bible Commentary, 1118. "The
latter rain, falling near the close of the season, ripens the grain, and
prepares it for the sickle. . The ripening of the grain represents the
completion of the work of God's grace in the soul. By the power of the
Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the character.
We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ. . Unless
the early showers have done their work, the latter rain can bring no
seed to perfection."—Testimonies to Ministers, 506. "In
His providence He brings these souls into different positions and varied
circumstances, that they may discover the defects that are concealed
from their own knowledge." Acts of the Apostles, 524. "A
constant battle must be kept up with the selfishness and corruption of
the human heart. Paul was ever on the watch lest evil propensities
should get the better of him. He guarded well his appetites and passions
and evil propensities." 6 Bible Commentary, 1089. "The
old ways, the hereditary tendencies, the former habits, must be given
up; for grace is not inherited. The new birth consists in having new
motives, new tastes, new tendencies." 6 Bible Commentary, 1101. "The
grace of God must sweep through the chambers of the mind, the
imagination must have heavenly themes for contemplation, and every
element of the nature must be purified and vitalized by the Spirit of
God." 7 Bible Commentary, 940. "The
fountain of the heart must be purified before the streams [flowing from
it] can become pure. . The Christian's life is not a modification or
improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death
to self and sin, and a new life altogether."—Desire of Ages, 172. "But
Christ declared of Himself: 'The prince of this world cometh, and hath
nothing in Me.' John 14:30. . This is the condition in which those must
be found who shall stand in the time of trouble."—Great
Controversy, 623.
IMPORTANCE OF THE SANCTUARY MESSAGE "The
subject of the Sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the
disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a complete system of truth,
connected and harmonious, showing that God's hand had directed the
great Advent Movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light
the position and work of His people. . Light from the Sanctuary
illumined the past, the present, and the future."—Great Controversy,
423. "As
a people we are to stand firm on the platform of eternal truth that has
withstood test and trial. We are to hold to the sure pillars of our
faith. The principles of truth that God has revealed to us are our only
true foundation. They have made us what we are. The lapse of time has
not lessened their value." Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 2,
page 51. "Satan
invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds, that they may not dwell
upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted. The
arch-deceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning
sacrifice and an all-powerful Mediator. . Those who would share the
benefits of the Saviour's mediation should permit nothing to interfere
with their duty to perfect holiness in tile fear of the Lord. . All who
have received the light upon these subjects are to bear testimony of the
great truths which God has committed to them. The Sanctuary in heaven is
the very center of Christ's work in behalf of men. It concerns every
soul living upon the earth. It opens to view the plan of redemption,
bringing us down to the very close of time and revealing the triumphant
issue of the contest between righteousness and sin. It is of the utmost
importance that all should thoroughly investigate these subjects and be
able to give an answer to everyone that asketh them a reason of the hope
that is in them."—Great Controversy, 488-489. "Let
the truths that are the foundation of our faith be kept before the
people. Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits
and doctrines of devils. They talk science, and the enemy comes in and
gives them an abundance of, science; but it is not the science of
salvation. It is not the science of humility, of consecration, or of the
sanctification of the Spirit. We are now to understand what the
pillars of our faith are—the truths that have made us as a people what
we are, leading us on step by step."—Review, May 25,1905. 'The
correct understanding of the ministration in the heavenly Sanctuary is
the foundation of our faith." Letter 208, 1906. "In
Minneapolis [in 1888] God gave precious gems of truth to His people in
new settings. This light from heaven by some was rejected with all the
stubbornness the Jews manifested in rejecting Christ, and there was
much talk about standing by the old landmarks. But there was evidence
that they knew not what the old landmarks were. . The minds of men were
fixed, sealed against the entrance of light, because they had decided it
[the message given by Jones and Waggoner at Minneapolis] was a
dangerous error removing the 'old landmarks' when it was not moving a
peg of the old landmarks, but they had perverted ideas of what
constituted the old landmarks. "The
passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great events, opening to our
astonished eyes [1] the cleansing of the Sanctuary transpiring in
heaven, and [2] having decided relation to God's people upon the
earth, [3] the first and second angels' messages and [4] the third,
unfurling the banner on which was inscribed, The Commandments of God and
the Faith of Jesus.' One of the landmarks under this message was [5] the
temple of God, seen by His truth-loving people in heaven, and the ark
containing the Law of God. [6] The light of the Sabbath of the fourth
commandment flashed its strong rays in the pathway of the transgressors
of God's Law. [7] The non-immortality of the wicked is an old landmark.
I can call to mind nothing more that can come under the head of the old
landmarks. . "Now
at the present time God designs a new and fresh impetus shall be given
to His work. Satan sees this, and he is determined it shall be hindered.
He knows that if he can deceive the people who claim to believe present
truth [so that they shall believe that] the work the Lord designs to do
for His people is [shall be called] a removing of the old landmarks
[and] something which they should, with most determined zeal, resist,
then he exults over the deception he has led them to
believe."—Manuscript 13, 1889. "The
subject of the Sanctuary and the Investigative Judgment should be
clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for
themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest.
Otherwise it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is
essential at this time, or to occupy the position which God designs them
to fill. 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."—Great Controversy, 488. "In
the future, deception of every kind is to arise, and we want solid
ground for our feet. We want solid pillars for the building. Not one pin
is to be removed from that which the Lord has established. The enemy
will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no
sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing
from the faith. Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths
that the Lord has been giving for the last fifty years?"—Review,
May 25, 1905. [Probably written in response to the Ballenger crisis
of 1905, the teachings of which were very similar to the "new
theology" errors of our time.] "I
know that the sanctuary question stands in righteousness and truth,
just as we have held it for so many years." Gospel Workers, 303. "As
a people, we should be earnest students of prophecy; we should not
rest until we become intelligent in regard to the subject of the
Sanctuary, which is brought out in the visions of Daniel and John. This
subject sheds great light on our present position and work, and gives us
unmistakable proof that God has led us in our past experience. It
explains our disappointment in 1844." Review, November 27, 1883. "For
more than half a century [written in 1907] the different points of
present truth have been questioned and opposed. New theories have been
advanced as truth, which were not truth, and the Spirit of God revealed
their error. As the great pillars of our faith have been presented, the
Holy Spirit has borne witness to them, and especially is this so
regarding the truths of the Sanctuary question. Over and over again the
Holy Spirit has in a marked manner endorsed the preaching of this
doctrine. But today, as in the past, some will be led to form new
theories and to deny the truths upon which the Spirit of God has placed
His approval" Manuscript 125, 1907. "We
are to be established in the faith, in the light of the truth given us
in our early experience. At that time one error after another pressed in
upon us; ministers and doctors brought in new doctrines. We would search
the Scriptures with much prayer, and the Holy Spirit would bring the
truths to our minds. Sometimes whole nights would be devoted to
searching the Scriptures, and earnestly asking God for guidance.
Companies of devoted men and women assembled for this purpose. The power
of God would come upon me, and I was enabled clearly to define what is
truth and what is error. "As
the points of our faith were thus established, our feet were placed upon
a solid foundation. We accepted the truth point by point under the
demonstration of the Holy Spirit. I would be taken off in vision, and
explanations would be given me. I was given illustrations of heavenly
things, and of the Sanctuary, so that we were placed where light was
shining on us in clear, distinct rays. "I
know that the Sanctuary question stands in righteousness and truth,
just as we have held it for so many years." Gospel Workers,
302-303. In
what become known as the "Sabbath Conferences" of 1858, many
of our historic doctrines were originally brought into clearer
perspective. As the brethren would study into these matters, the mind of
Ellen White was locked as to what was taking place while these
deliberations were carried on. When the brethren would become deadlocked
on a point, she would be taken off into vision and would receive the
correct solution on each controverted point as it might develop. Our
precious historic beliefs came not from men but from God. Never forget
this. I n order to read this for yourself, I refer you (in addition to
Gospel Workers, 302, quoted above) to the following two important
passages: Testimonies to Ministers, 2426 and 1 Selected Messages,
206-207. "When
they came to the point in their study where they said, 'We can do
nothing more: the Spirit of the Lord would come upon me. I would be
taken off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been
studying would be given me, with instructions as to how we were to labor
and teach effectively. This light was given that helped us to understand
the Scriptures in regard to Christ, His mission, and His priesthood. A
line of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter
the city of God, was made plain to me, and I gave to others the
instruction that the Lord had given me . . the brethren knew that when
not in vision, I could not understand these matters, and accepted as
light direct from heaven the revelation given. Series B, No. 2,
pp. 55-57. "Such
subjects as the Sanctuary, in connection with the 2300 days, the
Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus are perfectly calculated to
explain the past advent movement and show what our present position .is,
establish the faith of the doubting, and give certainty to the glorious
future. These, I have frequently seen, were the principal subjects on
which the messengers should dwell.—Early Writings, 63. "As
the great pillars of our faith have been presented, the Holy Spirit has
borne witness to them, and especially is this so regarding the truths of
the Sanctuary question. Over and over again, the Holy Spirit has in a
marked manner endorsed the preaching of this doctrine. But today, as
in the past, some will be led to form new theories and to deny the truth
upon which the Spirit of God has placed His approval Manuscript
125, 1907. "We
all need to keep the subject of the sanctuary in mind. God forbid that
the clatter of words coming from human lips should lessen the belief of
our people in the truth that there is a sanctuary in heaven, and that a
pattern of this sanctuary was once built on earth. God desires his
people to become familiar with this Pattern, keeping ever before their
minds the heavenly Sanctuary, where God is all and in all."
Letter 233,1904. "This
is the great day of preparation, and the solemn work going on in the
Sanctuary above should be kept constantly before the minds of those
employed in our institutions. Business cares should not be allowed to
absorb the mind to such a degree that the work in heaven, which concerns
every individual, will be lightly regarded. The solemn scenes of the
judgment, the great day of atonement, should be kept before the people,
and urged upon their consciences with earnestness and power. The subject
of the Sanctuary will give us correct views of the importance of the
work for this time." 5 Testimonies, pp. 420,421. "Thank
God for the bright pictures which He has presented to us. Let us group
together the blessed assurances of His love, that we may look upon them
continually, that He might rescue man from the power of Satan; His
triumph in our behalf, opening heaven to man, revealing to human vision
the presence chamber where Deity unveils His glory: the fallen race
uplifted from the pit of ruin into which sin had plunged it, and brought
again into connection with the infinite God, and having endured the
divine test through faith in our Redeemer, clothed in the righeousness
—of Christ, and exalted to His throne—these are the pictures which God
would have us contemplate."—S.T.C., pp. 122,123. "The
enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is
no sanctuary.—Evangelism, p. 224. "Satan
is striving continually to bring in fanciful suppositions in regard to
the sanctuary. . the very message that has made us a separate people,
and "as given character and power to our work.—Special
Testimonies, Series b, No. 7, p. 17. "Such
subjects as the Sanctuary, in connection with the 2300 days, the
Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus are perfectly calculated to
explain the past Advent Movement and show what our present position is,
establish the faith of the doubting, and give certainty to the glorious
future. These, I have frequently seen, were the principal subjects on
which the messengers should dwell.—Early Writings, 63. "It
does not seem possible to us now that any should have to stand alone;
but if God has ever spoken by me, the time will come when we shall be
brought before councils and before thousands for His name's sake, and
each one will have to give the reason of his faith. Then will come the
severest criticism upon every position that has been taken for the
truth. We need, then, to study the Word of God, that we may know why we
believe the doctrines we advocate.—Review, December 18, 1888. "
'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; nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as
the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with the blood
of others; for then must He often have suffered since the foundation of
the world: but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put
away sin by the sacrifice of Himself: Hebrews 9:2426. 'This man,
after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the
right hand of God: Hebrews 10: 12. Christ entered in once into the
holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 'Wherefore by
Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them: Hebrews 7:25.
He has qualified Himself to be not only man's representative, but his
advocate, so that every soul, if he will, may say, I have a Friend at
court, a High Priest who is touched with the feeling of my infirmities.
Review, June 12, 1900. "The
sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ's work in behalf of
men. It concerns every soul living upon the earth. It opens to view the
plan of redemption, bringing us down to the very close of time,
revealing the triumphant issue of the contest between righteousness and
sin. It is of the utmost importance that all should thoroughly
investigate these subjects, and be able to give to everyone that asketh
them a reason for the hope that is in them."—Review, November 9,
1905. "Those
who received the light concerning the sanctuary and the immutability of
the law of God were filled with joy and wonder as they saw the beauty
and harmony of the system of truth that opened to their
understanding." Great Controversy, 454. |
