CHAPTER 3
The Vision of the Heavenly Sanctuary
Revelation 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8:1-6.
Revelation 19:4-10; 14:14-20


AFTER THIS I
      —John—
      —LOOKED, AND, BEHOLD, A DOOR WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN:
      —into the heavenly tabernacle—
‘AND THE FIRST VOICE WHICH I HEARD
      —when Jesus came down and stood beside me on the Isle of Patmos, (Revelation 1:9, 10)—
WAS AS IT WERE OF A TRUMPET TALKING WITH ME: WHICH SAID,
      —clear and melodious—
COME UP HITHER,
      —Take your thoughts from Patmos, and the conditions of God’s people on earth,
AND I
      —Jesus—
WILL SHEW THEE THINGS WHICH MUST BE HEREAFTER. AND IMMEDIATELY I WAS IN THE SPIRIT:
      —John is taken in vision into the very presence of the Sovereign of the universe!
      —Jesus gives him a glorious view of the throne room in heaven, and bids him watch the future activities, which were yet to be “hereafter.”
      —The most wonderful event, this side of the resurrection, is about to take place in the temple of God —the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. Isn’t there a bit of thankful expectancy in your heart, that we may watch with John, as the heavenly Family, and the celestial beings around God’s throne, prepare for the cleansing
Page 137

services. This vision, of such tremendous importance, has been recorded by Inspiration, so that we, too, may share in its blessing!
      —Let us pause a moment, and ask our Father in heaven to pardon all of our sin through the blood of His dear Son, and to anoint our eyes with the heavenly eyesalve by His Holy Spirit. Only thus may we be enabled to behold His glory beyond the veil, and be prepared to appreciate the atoning ministry of our Redeemer and Advocate —our Lord Jesus Christ!
      —“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3.

      —It is impossible for our human minds to grasp the size and splendor of God’s temple!
      —Our human imagination staggers as we try to envision the immensity of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. It is large enough to hold “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” of angels. And the 144,000 are someday going to serve God in His temple! Revelation 5:11; 7:15; GC 649. (The “temple” and the “sanctuary” are terms for the same structure. See GC 424.)
      —This temple is of such magnitude, that heaven’s glorious chariot is used inside. Both the Father and Jesus are transported for the special service, in a “cloudy chariot with wheels like flaming fire.” It bears them from one apartment of the sanctuary to the other. (See EW 55, 42. For a description of this heavenly chariot, see Ezekiel 1.)

      —Where is God’s sanctuary situated in heaven?
      God has a throne in the Holy City, which floods the city with light. But there is “no temple” in the New Jerusalem. Revelation 22:1; 21:22.
      —God’s temple is on Mount Zion.
      “Mount Zion was just before us, and on the mount was a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which grew roses and lilies . . . This temple was supported by seven pillars, all of transparent gold, set with pearls most glorious.” EW 19. See Revelation 14:1.
      —“Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.” Psalm 48:2. Mount Zion, and God’s holy sanctuary, are on the north side of the New Jerusalem.
      —(Remember? Satan aspired to place his throne on “the sides of the north.” He was trying to take God’s place! Isaiah 14:12-14.)

      —Now —back to the vision given to John of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. Why did this magnificent, immense structure, the hub of the entire universe, need to be cleansed? Is there any defilement in heaven?
      —Yes, there is! It is marred by the sad record of sin. The record of your sin —and mine— lies registered in this sacred tabernacle.
Page 138

      —Even before sin entered our world, the three Members of the heavenly Family formed a plan whereby sin could be removed, and harmony restored again to the universe. But it was a costly plan!
      —Jesus, the only-begotten Son, offered to clothe His divinity with humanity, and come to this earth:
          —to live the life required by God’s law for man’s perfection, and
          —to die the death required by God’s law for men’s transgression.
      —Jesus was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8.
          —“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
      —This is the tremendous price the family of God paid, so that the sanctuary —and the universe —and you —could be cleansed from the blight of sin!
      —Why didn’t God destroy Satan in the beginning, when he first sinned? Why wasn’t this the answer for the removal of sin?
      —“The inhabitants of heaven and of other worlds, being unprepared to comprehend the nature or consequences of sin, could not then have seen the justice and mercy of God in the destruction of Satan. Had he been immediately blotted from existence, they would have served God from fear rather than from love. The influence of the deceiver would not have been fully destroyed, nor would the spirit of rebellion have been utterly eradicated. Evil must be permitted to come to maturity. For the good of the entire universe through ceaseless ages Satan must more fully develop his principles, that his charges against the divine government might be seen in their true light by all created beings, that the justice and mercy of God and the immutability of His law might forever be placed beyond all question.” GC 498, 499.
      —God has allotted to Satan a period of approximately 6000 years, to demonstrate to the universe the nature of sin, and the results of transgressing God’s holy law. (In the margin of Genesis 1, the date for creation is set at 4004 B.C. And we are getting close to the 2000 years this side of the cross. The next 1000 years, the millennium of Revelation 20, are soon to begin. See GC 658, 659. These 7000 years correspond to the seven days of the weekly cycle.)
      —(But listen to the words of Jesus, as He tells His disciples some details about the signs of His second coming, in Matthew 24:22, 36:
          —“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened . . . But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”
      If those days are to be shortened, then the second coming of our Lord must be very near. The millennium will soon be ushered in! The redeemed will spend 1000 years in heaven, before descending to this earth with the New Jerusalem. 1Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Revelation 20:4; 21:2, 3; GC 657-663; See Chapter 7.)
      —But— before the second coming of Christ, and the millennium, and the destruction of sin, and the renovation of this earth —the
Page 139

sanctuary is to be cleansed! The pardoned sins of God’s people are to be blotted out, and an atonement is to be made for the heavenly temple which has been defiled by our sin. See Acts 3:19 ; Leviticus 16:16-20; GC 420.
      —The hour for this momentous event has come!
      —John watches with expectancy as the door is opened into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, and the members of the tribunal enter this portion of God’s sacred temple.
AND, BEHOLD, A THRONE WAS SET IN HEAVEN, AND ONE SAT ON THE THRONE.
      —The heavenly Father, enclosed in a cloud of flaming glory, enters the throne room, and is seated on His special throne. A glorious light surrounds Him, so that His person is hidden from John’s view —for sinful man can not see God and live. 1John 4:12; EW 54, 92. The       —Father is to “preside” in the activities of the cleansing services, and Jesus is to “perform” the work of cleansing. GC 479, 480.
      —Daniel also describes the entry of the Sovereign of the universe into the heavenly sanctuary:
          —“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 the 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.” Daniel 7:9, 10.
      —The books, containing the records of God’s professed people, are to be opened for this special time of solemn investigation, which Daniel speaks of as the judgment.
      —“. . . The actual cleansing of the heavenly [sanctuary] 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.” GC 421, 422.
      —(This is the reason why the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, and the investigative judgment must precede the second advent of our Lord. There is no second chance during the millennium! When Jesus comes, He brings the rewards with Him. Those whose sins are blotted out during the cleansing services, will be told, at Christ’s second coming, “Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Those whose sins are unconfessed, will hear the tragic words: “Depart from Me, ye cursed . . .” Study Matthew 25:31-34, 41; Revelation 22:11, 12; 2Corinthians 6:2.)
Page 140

Pardoned Sin is to be Blotted Out of the: ‘Book of Life:
      —“. . .The judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Daniel 9:10.
      —“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14.
      —“. . . 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 20:12; See GC 480.
      —“In the book of God’s providence, the volume of life, we are each given a page. That page contains every particular of our history . . .” DA 313. (Emphasis added.)
      —The record of sin, both pardoned and unpardoned, mars the book of life. But there was a day appointed to erase the record of sin, and to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary from the defilement our sin has caused.
      —“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.” Acts 3:19. (Emphasis added.)
      —“. . . Either our sins or our names will be blotted out of the Book of Life.” SD 49. (Emphasis added.)
          —If our sins are confessed, and pardoned by the blood of Jesus, they will be blotted out, and our names will remain in the book of life.
          —If our sins are unconfessed, our names will be blotted out of the book of fife, and will be registered in the book of death. See GC 483, 661.

What is the opening date for the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary?
      —When Jesus invited John to witness the vision inside the open door, He told him, “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.” Revelation 4:1.
      —John received this vision of the heavenly sanctuary about the year 96 A.D. (See the margin of Revelation 4.) The activities John was to witness inside the open door of God’s temple, recorded in Revelation 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, were to be after that date.
      —The first angel, of Revelation 14, announces the opening of God’s judgment: “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.” Verse 7.
      —And Daniel gives us a formula for calculating the opening date of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary:
          —“. . . Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Daniel 8:14.
      —When did the 2300 prophetic days begin, and when did they end? The 2300 days were to begin at the commandment to restore the ancient city of Jerusalem. See Daniel 9:24, 25.
      —Ezekiel tells us, that in Bible prophecy, a day of time stands for a year. Ezekiel 4:6.
      —Therefore the 2300 prophetic days will be 2300 years of actual time.
          —“The decree of Artaxerxes [to rebuild Jerusalem] went into effect in the autumn of B.C. 457.” GC 327; Margin of Ezra 7:12-26.
Page 141

      —After the decree to rebuild Jerusalem in 457 B.C., there were 456 full years left of B.C. time. To determine how far 2300 years extend] into A.D. time, is a matter of arithmetic. It takes us to the year 1844. (456 + 1844 = 2300.)
      —These dates are firmly established, because the prophecies pointing to the coming of the Messiah are within the same time prophecy.

Prophecy Foretells the Dates for the Anointing and Crucifixion of Jesus:
      —Daniel says: “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks . . .” Daniel 9:25.
      —Sixty nine weeks are 483 days —or 483 years of prophetic time. (69 x 7 = 483.)
          —History records the baptism of Jesus, when He began His public ministry, as A.D. 27. (See the margin by Matthew 4.) At this time Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit. This is exactly 483 years after the decree of Artaxerxes to restore Jerusalem! (456 + 27 = 483.)
      —(“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7.)
      —In the midst of the seventieth week, (half of seven days is 3½ days), Jesus would “cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” Verse 27.
          —Three and a half years after the baptism of Jesus in 27 A.D., our Redeemer was nailed to the cross, and put an end to the sacrificial system. (27 + 3½ = the spring of 31 A.D. —the exact time our Lord was crucified! Study Daniel 9:24-27; GC 325-328; 409, 410, 480; DA 756, 757.)

The Need for Sacrificial Offerings Ceased When Jesus Died:
      —The sacrificial system was established to meet the emergency of sin, at the time Adam and Eve transgressed God’s express command. The guilt of confessed sin could be transferred to an innocent animal, as the sinner looked in faith to the promised Redeemer. For 4000 years these offerings pointed forward to our Saviour’s death. But after Jesus came and shed His blood on the cross, there was no longer the necessity for a substitute.
      —“And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” Mark 15:37, 38.
      —“When the loud cry, ‘It is finished,’ came from the lips of Christ, the priests were officiating in the temple. It was the hour of the evening sacrifice. The lamb representing Christ had been brought to be slain. Clothed in his significant and beautiful dress, the priest stood with lifted knife, as did Abraham when he was about to slay his son. With intense interest the people were looking on. But the earth trembles and quakes; for the Lord Himself draws near. With a rending noise the inner veil of the temple is tom from top to bottom by an unseen, hand, throwing open to the gaze of the multitude a place once filled
Page 142

with the presence of God. In this place the Shekinah had dwelt. Here God had manifested His glory above the mercy seat. No one but the high priest ever lifted the veil separating this apartment from the rest of the temple. He entered in once a year to make an atonement for the sins of the people. But lo, this veil is rent in twain. The most holy place of the earthly sanctuary is no longer sacred.
      —“All is terror and confusion. The priest is about to slay the victim; but the knife drops from his nerveless hand, and the lamb escapes. Type has met antitype in the death of God’s Son. The great sacrifice has been made. The way into the holiest is laid open. A new and living way is prepared for all. No longer need sinful, sorrowing humanity await the coming of the high priest. Henceforth the Saviour was to officiate as Priest and Advocate in the heaven of heavens. It was as if a living voice had spoken to the worshipers: There is now an end to all sacrifices and offerings for sin. The Son of God is come according to His word, ‘Lo, I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will, O God.’ ‘By His own blood’ He entereth ‘in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.’ Heb. 10:7; 9:12.” DA 757. (Emphasis added.)
      —When Jesus ascended to heaven, after His resurrection, He became our High Priest, to make atonement for our sins with His own blood. He officiated in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary.

The Sanctuary Has Two Apartments:
      —This we know, for Moses was directed to build the earthly sanctuary “according to the pattern shewed to” him “in the mount.” Hebrews
      —“The sanctuary in heaven, in which Jesus ministers in our behalf, is the great original, of which the sanctuary built by Moses was a copy.” GC 414. (Emphasis added.)
      —The earthly sanctuary was constructed with two rooms:
          —The first apartment, {the holy place) —contained the altar of incense, the table of shewbread, and the seven golden candlesticks.
          —The second apartment, {the most holy placed —contained the ark of the covenant, which was covered with the mercy seat. Inside the ark was the holy law of God. (Study Exodus 25:8, 9, 16; 26:30-35; 27:1; 37:1-29; Hebrews 9:2-5; PP 343-350.)
      —“The command was communicated to Moses while in the mount with God, ‘Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. [Exodus 25:8]. . . God Himself gave to Moses the plan of that structure, with particular directions as to its size and form, the materials to be employed, and every article of furniture which it was to contain. The holy places made with hands were to be ‘figures of the true,’ ‘patterns of things in the heavens,’ [Hebrews 9:24, 23]. —a miniature representation of the heavenly temple where Christ, our great High Priest, after offering His life as a sacrifice, was to minister in the sinner’s behalf.” PP 343. (Emphasis added.)
Page 143

The Daily and the Yearly Services in the Earthly Sanctuary:
      —“The ministration of the earthly sanctuary consisted of two divisions;
          [1.] the priest ministered daily in the holy place,
          [2.] while once a year the high priest performed a special work of atonement in the most holy, for the cleansing of the sanctuary. GC 418. (Emphasis added.)
      —For the daily service in the first apartment, or holy place:
          1. Atonements were made for confessed sins by the blood of offerings , which pointed to the perfect Sacrifice who was to come. (The Lamb of God was to pay the sinner’s debt to the broken law with His own life blood. Leviticus 4; 6:9-13; Hebrews 9:6; PP 352.)
          2. Intercession was made for the pardoned sinner by the incense which was burned on the sacred altar.
          (This represented the fragrance of Christ’s perfect life —the life He was to live for the sinner— so the sinner could have the perfection required by God’s law for eternal life. Exodus 30:7, 8; PP 353; GC 420, 421; Isaiah 64:6; Matthew 5:48.)
      —For the yearly service in the second apartment, or most holy place:
          1. Atonements were made with the blood of the sin offering for the pardoned sinners, and for the apartments of the sanctuary, and for the altar of incense,
      —while the fragrance of the incense continued to ascend upward. See Leviticus 16:15-20; Exodus 30:8, 10; Hebrews 9:7-9.
          2. The confessed sins, which had been accumulating in the sanctuary during the year, were removed and placed on the scapegoat. See Leviticus 16:20-22; GC 418, 419.
      —At the end of the day of atonement —once each year— the earthly sanctuary was cleansed from the accumulated sins which had been confessed by God’s people during that year.

The Service in the Earthly Sanctuary is a Type of the Heavenly:       —“What is done in type in the ministration of the earthly sanctuary is done in reality in the ministration of the heavenly sanctuary.” GC 420. (Emphasis added.)
      —The work of Jesus in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary,
          —from His ascension, until 1844,
          —is represented by the daily service in the earthly sanctuary.
      —The work of Jesus in the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary,
          —from 1844, until the cleansing is completed,
          —is represented by the day of atonement in the earthly sanctuary.
      —Our confessed sins are pardoned, in the heavenly sanctuary, through faith in the blood of our Saviour, who made a perfect atonement for us on the cross. See 1John 1:9; Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:11, 12, 24-26; QD 663, 664.
      —But these pardoned sins are not erased from the record, until they are removed by our High Priest, during the antitypical day of atonement. See Acts 3:19; GC 421.
Page 144

The “Day of Atonement” Services in the Heavenly Sanctuary:
      —“For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary. The blood of Christ pleaded in behalf of penitent believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins still remained upon the books of record. As in the typical service there was a work of atonement at the close of the year, so before Christ’s work for the redemption of men is completed there is a work of atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary. This is the service which began when the 2300 days ended. At that time, as foretold by Daniel the prophet, our High Priest entered the most holy, to perform the last division of His solemn work —to cleanse the sanctuary.” GC 421. (Emphasis added.)
      —Praise God! The pardoned sins are to be erased from the record!

The Beautiful Setting for the Cleansing Services in the Sanctuary:
      —As the Ancient of days takes His position on the throne, at the opening of the cleansing services, a cloud of glorious light covers Him. This exceeding bright glory radiates the colors of precious stones.
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.
      —This beautiful rainbow, perhaps a complete circle, is a symbol of God’s mercy to repenting sinners.
      —It casts its radiant colors on God’s holy law, which stands as the sentinel of justice in the court room.
      —“When man by his great wickedness invites the divine judgments, the Saviour, interceding with the Father in his behalf, points to the bow in the clouds, to the rainbow around the throne and above His own head, as a token of the mercy of God toward the repentant sinner.” PP 107.
      —Look often, trembling sinner, to this rainbow over God’s throne! He has placed this beautiful symbol of mercy above His own head, so you will not be afraid to approach His presence, and ask for His forgiveness. Even though you have transgressed His holy law, God invites you to seek His pardon. He loves to honor your faith —in the name of His beloved Son, your Redeemer!
AND ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE WERE FOUR AND TWENTY SEATS:
      —for a special group who were to witness the solemn scenes of the cleansing services and the pre-advent judgment.
      —Where did this group come from? Who were they?
AND UPON THE SEATS I SAW FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS SITTING,
      —who had been “redeemed” from this earth.
      —They were men who had been taken “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” Revelation 5:9.
Page 145

      —Where do we have record of people from this earth being translated to heaven —in addition to Enoch, Moses and Elijah?
      —At the time of the earthquake when Jesus died, many graves were opened. “And many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” Matthew 27:51-53.
      —And at Christ’s ascension, “when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive . . .” The margin refers to this group as a “multitude of captives.” Ephesians 4:8.
      —“They were chosen and holy ones of every age, from creation down even to the days of Christ.” “They were those who had been co-laborers with God, and who at the cost of their lives had borne testimony to the truth. Now they were to be witnesses for Him who had raised them from the dead.” EW 184; DA 786.
      —We do not know, but it is possible that John the Baptist was among the multitude of captives that Jesus took to heaven with Him at His ascension. He may also have been chosen to be one of the twenty-four elders.
      —These elders, from our planet, were
CLOTHED IN WHITE RAIMENT;
      —which is the “righteousness of Christ.” 5T 233; See Revelation 19:8; 1Corinthians 1:30; Isaiah 54:17. (All of their earthly righteousness had been as “filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6.)
AND THEY HAD ON THEIR HEADS CROWNS OF GOLD.
      —It was through Jesus they had received their victory as a gift.,
      —“. . . Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1Corinthians 15:57. (Emphasis added.)
AND OUT OF THE THRONE PROCEEDED LIGHTNINGS AND THUNDERINGS AND VOICES:
      —When God came down to Mount Sinai and spoke His holy law, His sacred presence also brought “thunderings” and “lightnings.” Exodus 20:18.
      —Humanity should feel a solemn reverence in the presence of the Divine. Moses was told, “. . . Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” Exodus 3:5.
AND THERE WERE SEVEN LAMPS OF FIRE BURNING BEFORE THE THRONE, WHICH ARE THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD.
      —“The continued communication of the Holy Spirit to the church is represented by the prophet Zechariah under another figure, which contains a wonderful lesson of encouragement for us. The prophet says: ‘The angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, and said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof . . .’” Zechariah 4:1, 2, quoted by TM 509.
      —The seven candlesticks, representing the Holy Spirit, are located in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, but they are easily seen from the throne room, because the door between the two
Page 146

apartments was opened in 1844. Revelation 4:1; 3:7, 8; EW 42; GC 414.
      —The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, is not pictured on a throne in the investigative judgment scene; He is down here on this earth, as the Divine Representative, revealing Christ to the nations. John 15:26; 16:14.
      —“The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ.” DA 805.
      —“Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer.” DA 671. (Emphasis added.)
      —“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me.” John 15:26.
      —“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1John 5:7.
      —“We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a Person as God is a Person, is walking through these grounds.” Ev 626. “By His Spirit He [God] is everywhere present. Through the agency of His Spirit and His angels, He ministers to the children of men . . . Through these messengers He is in active communication with every part of His dominion.” MH 417.
      —“And whenever souls yield to the softening, subduing influence of the Spirit of God under these angel ministrations, there is joy in heaven . . .” 1SM 96; See AA 51-53.
      —“The Spirit works in us by bringing to mind vividly and often, the precious truths of the plan of redemption.” OHC 154.
      —“. . . The Spirit works upon our hearts, drawing out prayers and penitence, praise and thanksgiving. The gratitude which flows from our lips is the result of the Spirit’s striking the cords of the soul in holy memories, awakening the music of the heart.” 1SM 344.
      —This beautiful Person, who is drawing us to our Redeemer and eternal life, does not speak of Himself. (John 16:13.) His nature is a mystery. And “regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden.” (AA 52.) But how grateful heavenward pilgrims should be for the beautiful candlesticks burning before the throne, which are a symbol of the Divine Representative in charge of God’s work upon the earth!
AND BEFORE THE THRONE THERE WAS A SEA OF GLASS LIKE UNTO CRYSTAL;
      —This beautiful glass sea stretches out, as a pavement of splendor! The reflections from God’s glorious throne, and the colorful rainbow, are mirrored on its surface. And coming across the sparkling sea, from the first apartment, are the brilliant lights of the candlestick of gold, adding their beauty to the holy sanctuary.
      —“A sea of glass like unto crystal”! By the grace of God, may we someday stand on that crystal sea with the 144,000!
Page 147

      —The term “before the throne,” is used when speaking of the locations of the sea of glass and the candlesticks. They are farther away from the throne, than those “in the midst,” or “round about.”
AND IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE,
      —the inner circle—
AND ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE,
      —a little farther out—
WERE FOUR BEASTS FULL OF EYES BEFORE AND BEHIND
AND THE FIRST BEAST WAS LIKE A LION,
AND THE SECOND BEAST LIKE A CALF
AND THE THIRD BEAST HAD A FACE AS A MAN
AND THE FOURTH BEAST WAS LIKE A FLYING EAGLE.
      —The word “like” is used in describing three of the living creatures, but the third one had a “face as a man.”
      —In Revelation 5, Jesus is symbolized as a Lamb. Verse 6
      —The word “like” in the description used for three of the living creatures, may be a symbol to represent their individual characteristics, or denote different phases of their work —just as Jesus is symbolized as a Lamb. No doubt they all look similar to the one who had a face as a man.
AND THE FOUR BEASTS HAD EACH OF THEM SIX WINGS ABOUT HIM;
      —Isaiah identifies celestial beings with six wings, as seraphim:
      Above God’s throne “stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.” Isaiah 6:2.
      —(Cherubim have only four wings. See Ezekiel 1:5, 6, 10-20, 21.)
      —In the temple, “filled with the glory of the eternal throne; . . . seraphim, its shining guardians, veil their faces in adoration . . .” GC 414.
      —“Cherubim and seraphim, and angels that excel in strength, stand at God’s right hand, ‘all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.’ Hebrews 1:14.” AA 154.
AND THEY
      —the four living creatures—
WERE FULL OF EYES WITHIN:
      —“The light of the body is the eye . . .” Matthew 6:23.
      —“The eye is the sensitive conscience, the inner light, of the mind.” 7BC 965.
AND THEY REST NOT DAY AND NIGHT, SAYING, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHICH WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME.
      —“On each side of the throne hovered the seraphim, their faces veiled in adoration, as they ministered before their Maker and united in the solemn invocation, ‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory,’ until post and pillar and cedar gate seemed shaken with the sound, and the house was filled with their tribute of praise. Isaiah 6:3. As Isaiah beheld this revelation of the glory and majesty of his Lord, he was overwhelmed with a sense of the purity and holiness of God. ”PK 307. (Emphasis added.)
Page 148

AND WHEN THOSE BEASTS GIVE GLORY AND HONOR AND THANKS TO HIM THAT SAT ON THE THRONE, WHO
LIVETH FOR EVER AND EVER,
      —they strike the glorious note of praise, as choir directors—
THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS FALL DOWN BEFORE HIM THAT SAT ON THE THRONE,
      —their hearts are so full of grateful emotion, that they cannot remain on their seats!
      —They fall down before their Creator,
AND WORSHIP HIM THAT LIVETH FOR EVER AND EVER, AND CAST THEIR CROWNS BEFORE THE THRONE,
      —in devotion and adoration—
SAYING, THOU ART WORTHY, O LORD, TO RECEIVE GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER:
      —What is the beautiful reason?
FOR THOU HAST CREATED ALL THINGS, AND FOR THY PLEASURE THEY ARE AND WERE CREATED.
      —This is the twenty-four elders’ song of thanksgiving to their Creator. He it is who made them
      —He it is who sent His Son to redeem them!
      —Their very presence in heaven is because “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son”
      —for them! John 3:16.
      —The twenty-four elders bow in reverent gratefulness before their Maker, as their song of praise fills the sanctuary at the opening of the special cleansing services. This beautiful song will no doubt be repeated many times throughout the ages of eternity, by all of the redeemed family from earth.
      —This is the first of seven major songs recorded in the book of Revelation.
      —Following the strains of this beautiful anthem, the investigative judgment and the cleansing services begin.
      —Picture in your mind’s eye the beautiful sanctuary setting that John saw when the door opened into the most holy place. Around God’s glorious throne are His ministers —the seraphim, the angels, and the elders. The sea of glass sends back colorful and sparkling reflections from the throne and the rainbow, and from the brilliant candlesticks. The judgment is set! All wait in expectancy!

Revelation 5.

      —“The fifth chapter of Revelation needs to be closely studied. It is of great importance to those who shall act a part in the work of God for these last days. There are some who are deceived. They do not realize what is coming on the earth. Those who have permitted their minds to become beclouded in regard to what constitutes sin are fearfully deceived. Unless they make a decided change they will be found wanting when God pronounces judgment upon the children of men. They have transgressed the law and broken the everlasting covenant, and they will receive according to their works.” 9T 267. (Emphasis added.)
Page 149

The Book in the Father’s Hand —the Book of Life:
AND I
      —John, in vision —SAW
      —at the beginning of the great judgment of the records, in 1844—
IN THE RIGHT HAND OF HIM THAT SAT ON THE THRONE A BOOK WRITTEN WITHIN, AND ON THE BACKSIDE SEALED WITH SEVEN SEALS.
      —When the Jewish leaders rejected Christ, “their decision was registered in the book which John saw in the hand of Him that sat upon the throne . . . This decision will appear before them in the day when this book is unsealed by the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” COL 294. (Emphasis added.)
      —“When we become children of God, our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, and they remain there until the time of the investigative judgment.” 7BC 987.
      —“In the book of God’s providence, the volume of life, we are each given a page. That page contains every particular of our history . . .’ DA 313. (Emphasis added.)
      —“The book of life contains the names of all who have ever entered the service of God . . .
          [1.] “When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life . . .
          [2.] “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.” GC 480, 483. (Emphasis added.)
      —“The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel the sin; it would stand on record in the sanctuary until the final atonement.” PP 357.
      —(The blotting out of sin is referred to in Acts 3:19.)
      —“. . . The actual cleansing of the heavenly [sanctuary] 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.” GC 421, 422. (Emphasis added.)
      —“. . . Either our sins or our names will be blotted out of the book of life.” SD 49. (Emphasis added.)
AND I SAW A STRONG ANGEL PROCLAIMING WITH A LOUD VOICE, WHO IS WORTHY TO OPEN THE BOOK, AND TO OPEN THE SEALS THEREOF?
      —Who is worthy to open the book of life, and blot out the pardoned sins, which are waiting “on record in the sanctuary until the final atonement?” See PP 367.
Page 150

      —Who is worthy to add the righteousness necessary to the accounts of God’s pardoned people, so that they will have perfection credit —equal to the demands of God’s perfect law?

The Sentinel of Justice in the Courtroom —God’s Holy Law:       —“The condition of eternal life is now just what it has always been —just what it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents, —perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect righteousness.” SC 62.
          —To keep God’s law in its minute perfection brings eternal life!
          —To break God’s law in the smallest detail brings eternal death!
      —The law of God is the great standard to which every name in the book of life will be compared —at some time during the investigative judgment.
          —“So speak ye and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” James 2:12.
          —This law of liberty is the ten commandment law of Exodus 20. See James 2:11.
Where is the law of God located in the sanctuary?
          —In the earthly sanctuary, God’s law was placed inside the ark of the covenant. And to give hope to the repentant sinner, it was covered with the mercy seat! See Hebrews 9:2-5; Exodus 31:18; 40:20-22, margin; Deuteronomy 10:4, 5; PP 348, 349.
          —In the heavenly sanctuary, God’s law (or testament) is also inside the ark of the covenant. And God’s throne of mercy is directly over the ark! Compare Revelation 11:19 with EW 32.
      —God’s law stands as the sentinel of justice for His government. In fact, it is the very foundation of His government.
      —“The law of God existed before man was created. It was adapted to the condition of holy beings; even angels were governed by it. After the Fall, the principles of righteousness were unchanged. Nothing was taken from the law; not one of its holy precepts could be improved. And as it has existed from the beginning, so will it continue to exist throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity.” 1SM 220.
      —“The moral law was never a type or a shadow. It existed before man’s creation, and will endure as long as God’s throne remains. God could not change or alter one precept of His law in order to save man; for the law is the foundation of His government It is unchangeable, unalterable, infinite, and eternal. In order for man to be saved, and for the honor of the law to be maintained, it was necessary for the Son of God to offer Himself as a sacrifice for sin. He who knew no sin became sin for us. He died for us on Calvary. His death shows the wonderful love of God for man, and the immutability of His law.” 6BC 1097; See Matthew 5:17, 18. (Emphasis added.)
      —There it stands in the court room —this unchanging law!
      —It stands as the sentinel of justice —under God’s throne. If the sinner saw only God’s law, there would be no hope.
      —As John watches the opening procedures of the investigative judgment, he is in great distress. He hears the strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to lose the seals thereof”?
Page 151

John Faces the Broken Law —and Feels His Need of a Saviour!
      —Was there no one who could blot sin off the record, and add the perfection demanded by the law?
AND NO MAN IN HEAVEN, NOR IN EARTH, NEITHER UNDER THE EARTH, WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE BOOK NEITHER TO LOOK THEREON.
      —John’s name was in this book! His sins were still on record! And he saw no one who could remove the blot of his sin out of the book of life, or who could add the righteousness to his page, which the law demanded of him, before his name could remain permanently in the heavenly registry.
AND I WEPT MUCH,
BECAUSE NO MAN WAS FOUND WORTHY TO OPEN AND TO READ THE BOOK, NEITHER TO LOOK THEREON
      —This matter was of such importance in John’s life, that he could not restrain the tears. He “wept much.” As John compared his ugly record of sin with that great sentinel of justice in the court room, he was broken hearted. John was a sinner —but a repentant one!
      —“It is through the law that men are convicted of sin; and they must feel themselves sinners, exposed to the wrath of God, before they will realize their need of a Saviour.” 1SM 219.
      —“The law reveals the attributes of God’s character, and not a jot or tittle of it could be changed to meet man in his fallen condition.” DA 762.
      —“Only he who sees his own sinfulness can discern the preciousness of the Saviour.” DA 495.
      —“The nearer we come to Jesus, and the more clearly we discern the purity of His character, the more clearly shall we see the exceeding sinfulness of sin . . .” AA 561.
      —When we feel the seriousness of our guilt before God’s broken law, we, too, will weep.
      —But we are to look at the broken law only long enough for it to burn a need indelibly in our memories. If we look too long at the law we have transgressed, and our utter helplessness, it will crush us. We must turn our eyes away from the hopeless strivings and unfulfilled requirements of humanity, and look to Jesus. We must fasten our eyes on the Remedy for sin!
      —John felt himself a lost sinner —in need of a Saviour! And John knew that all in the world would be lost, if a Redeemer were not found who could open the book of life, and apply an atonement to its pages.
AND ONE OF THE ELDERS SAITH UNTO ME, WEEP NOT:
      —It was a member of the human family that comforted John. He also had known, in his own experience, the horror of seeing God’s broken law.
      —“For the wages of sin is death . . .” —eternal! Romans 6:23.
      —And now —we are about to read the most marvelous text in all the book of Revelation! Read it reverently —with awe!
Page 152

Because Jesus Prevailed —He is Able to Open the Book!
      —Listen to this triumphant declaration —made by a member of the human family to all of mankind!
BEHOLD, THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH, THE ROOT OF DAVID, HATH PREVAILED
      —gained the victory—
TO OPEN THE BOOK, AND TO LOOSE THE SEVEN SEALS THEREOF.
      —And because of His victory, He can open the book of life, and make the necessary transactions on our records, so that our names may remain in the Lamb’s book of life through all eternity!
—“O sing unto the Lord a new song; for He hath done marvelous things: His right hand, and His holy arm, hath gotten Him the victory.” Psalm 98:1. (Emphasis added.)
AND I BEHELD,
      —John looks up, through his tears—
AND, LO, IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE AND OF THE FOUR BEASTS, AND IN THE MIDST OF THE ELDERS, STOOD A LAMB AS IT HAD BEEN SLAIN, HAVING SEVEN HORNS
      —perfect and complete power, omnipotence—
AND SEVEN EYES,
      —perfect and complete comprehension, omniscience—
WHICH ARE THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD SENT FORTH INTO ALL THE EARTH.
      —perfect guidance and comfort, omnipresence.
      —The benefits of Christ’s prevailing victory are presented to humanity through the Third Person of the Godhead. “It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer.” DA 671.
      —“By His Spirit He [God] is everywhere present. Through the agency of His Spirit and His angels, He ministers to the children of men . . . Through these messengers He is in active communication with every part of His dominion.” MH 417.

After John Saw the Broken Law —he Saw the Lamb Bleeding for him:
      —Christ “was shown to John as a Lamb that had been slain, as in the very act of pouring out His blood in the sinner’s behalf. When the law of God is set before the sinner, showing him the depth of his sin, he should then be pointed to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.” 4T 395. (Emphasis added.)
      —Weep not, John! Rejoice! Jesus prevailed over sin!
      —And because He prevailed, He can meet the demands of God’s law for every repentant sinner who will believe in Him!
      —Because of His victory, He can take sin away from your page in the book of life, and replace it with His perfection!
      —(If the book in the hand of the Father were any other than the book of life which needed sin removed from its pages, why would it require the death of the worthy Lamb in order to open it?)
Page 153

The Victory of Jesus Answers the Two Demands of God’s Law:
      —The holy law in the courtroom makes two demands of the sinner. The victory Jesus gained on this earth takes care of both of them!
          —The law demands righteousness. Jesus prevailed in His life to care for this first demand.
          —The law demands the death of the sinner. Jesus prevailed in His death to care for the second demand.

      —Jesus prevailed —in His life:
          —“. . . By the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:19.
          —“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” 2Corinthians 5:21.
          —“Jesus lived the law in the sight of heaven, in the sight of unfallen worlds, and in the sight of sinful men.” DA 467, 468.
<           I>—“By His obedience to all the commandments of God, Christ wrought out a redemption for men.” 1SM 250. (Emphasis added.)
          —“Christ perfected a righteous character here upon the earth, not on His own account, for His character was pure and spotless, but for fallen man. His character He offers to man if he will accept it. The sinner, through repentance of his sins, faith in Christ, and obedience to the perfect law of God, has the righteousness of Christ imputed to him; it becomes his righteousness, and his name is recorded in the Lamb’s book of life. He becomes a child of God, a member of the royal family.” 3T 371, 372. (Emphasis added.)
          —“There is an inexhaustible fund of perfect obedience accruing from His obedience. In heaven His merits, His self-denial and self-sacrifice, are treasured as incense to be offered up with the prayers of His people.” SD 22. (Emphasis added.)
      —Jesus prevailed —in His death:
      —“. . . We were reconciled to God by the death of His Son . . .” Romans 5:10.
          —“For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28.
          —“With His own blood He paid the penalty for all wrongdoers. Every sin acknowledged before God with a contrite heart, He will remove. [Isaiah 1:18; Hebrews 9:12, 14 quoted.]” 7BC 970.
          —“. . . The merits of the slain Lamb are accepted by God today as a purifier from the defilement of sin.” 4T 124.
          —“The same merciful Saviour . . . has by the shedding of His blood provided for the transgressors of God’s law a sure retreat, into which they may flee for safety from the second death. No power can take out of His hands the souls that go to Him for pardon.” PP 516, 517. (Emphasis added.)
      —“Henceforward Christ’s followers were to look upon Satan as a conquered foe. Upon the cross, Jesus was to gain the victory for them; that victory He desired them to accept as their own.” DA 490. (Emphasis added.)
Page 154

Because Jesus is Worthy —He Takes the Book From His Father:
      —Jesus prevailed —not only for our daily and hourly needs —but also to apply the benefits of His victory to our pages in the book of life, at the time of the investigative judgment.
          —Sin may be blotted out of the book of life,
because Jesus prevailed in His death!
          —Righteousness may be added to the book of life, because Jesus prevailed in His life.
AND HE
      —Jesus, the worthy One who prevailed, by His perfect life, and His death on the cross
CAME AND TOOK THE BOOK OUT OF THE RIGHT HAND HIM THAT SAT UPON THE THRONE.
      —Picture this thrilling scene —as John saw it —inside the open door of God’s temple:
      —The sanctuary is filled with a glorious light radiating from God’s throne.
      —God, the Father, is seated on His special throne, which was placed in the most sacred portion of the heavenly sanctuary at the beginning of the judgment in 1844. See Revelation 4:2; Daniel 7:9, 10; GC 479, 480.
      —Under God’s throne is the ark, containing His ten commandment law. It is a reflection of His character, and an expression of His mind and will for His children. It is the “foundation” of His government, and the great “standard by which the characters and the dives of men will be tested in the judgment.” James 2:12; See EW 32; 4BC 1153.
      —Above the ark is the mercy seat, which represents “the union of justice and mercy in the plan of human redemption . . . It is a union that fills all heaven with wonder and adoration.” GC 415. And high over the throne, in this spacious temple, the rainbow blends its colors with the glory of the scene. It is the “rainbow of promise,” which also “represents the combined power of mercy and justice . . . It is the mingling of judgment and mercy that makes salvation full and complete.” 6BC 1071, 1072.
      —Jesus, the One who prevailed, draws near to His Father, and reaches up into that brilliant glory, to receive something that is very precious to Him. It is a book! A book wherein are written the names of all of His people —“all who have ever entered the service of God.” It is the family registry! See GC 480.
      —Jesus, having taken the book of life from the hand of the Father, assumes His position
      —in front of the ark containing the ten commandments, which demand justice, and
—in front of the mercy seat, where mercy is available. See EW 32; GC 415; Hebrews 4:16.
      —“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.” Hebrews 9:24.
Page 155

In the Heavenly Investigations —Only One Word is Watched For:
      —Some may think that the time of the investigative judgment is a time of gathering facts about an individual —like investigations are carried’ on in earthly courtrooms. Not at all! The facts are all written down!
      —And the Sovereign of the universe understands all of the intricate thought-patterns of every individual, and has absolute foreknowledge, as well.
          —“. . . Thou understandest my thought afar off.” Psalms 139:2; See 1Chronicles 28:9; Romans 8:29; 11:2; 1Peter 1:2.)
          —(During the judgment of the wicked, of the 1000 year millennium, the degrees of wickedness will be considered, but not during the investigative judgment, before Jesus returns. See Revelation 20:13; GC 480, 660, 661.)
      —Why, then, is it necessary for the book of life to be examined at the time of the pre-advent, investigative judgment?
      —There is only one word the Judge of the heavenly courtroom is longing to see in His investigations —only one word!
      —On this one word hinges the eternal destiny of every person registered in the book of life:
          —a destiny for a life of everlasting joy in the presence of the heavenly Family, or
          —a destiny of a death of eternal separation from the Holy Ones, from earthly friends, and even eternal separation from the hosts of darkness. Death —eternal death!
      —What is this one word all eyes are watching for, as Jesus turns the leaves of this great book, page after page? All whose names are on’ these pages are sinners. They are not looking for their sins.
      —Millions of angels watch; the twenty-four elders watch; the four living creatures watch —as name after name comes up for review. They are looking for that one word —PARDON.
      —When PARDON is found on a page in the book of life, Jesus can make two important transactions for that individual. These two transactions will completely fulfill the requirements of God’s law, so that individual can remain in the family registry for eternal life.

The purpose of the investigative judgment is to satisfy the demands God’s holy law!
      —The law will not permit any one to enter heaven:
          —whose sins are not blotted out, and
          —who does not have absolute righteousness.
      —Let us rejoice that the heavenly Family has made provision for both of humanity’s needs:
          —by the death of Jesus on the cross, and
          —by His perfect life on earth.
      —“Christ saw the helpless condition of the race, and He came to redeem them ;
          —by living the life of obedience the law requires, and
          —by paying in His death the penalty of disobedience.” RH April 29, 1902; See Romans 5:10, 19.
Page 156

      —“Righteousness is obedience to the law. The law demands righteousness, and this the sinner owes to the law; but he is incapable of rendering it. The only way in which he can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and the Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner’s account Christ’s righteousness is accepted in place of man’s failure, and God receives, pardons, justifies, the repentant, believing soul, treats him as though he were righteous, and loves him as He loves His Son. This is how faith is accounted righteousness . . .” 1SM 367; See SC 62. (Emphasis added.)
      —This faith transaction is our blessed privilege now —hour by hour!
      —But at the time of the investigative judgment,
          —as our name is called,
          —and the book of life lies open to our page, it can become a permanent transaction.

Our Page in the Book of Life is our Passport —and it Needs a Visa:
      —Before an individual travels to a foreign country on this earth, the law of that country requires that his passport be stamped with a visa from a representative of that country.
      —And —before an individual travels to heavenly Canaan, the law of that country requires that his passport, (his page in the book of life), be stamped with a visa, (perfection), by the divine Representative, Jesus Christ.
      —Before this visa can be placed in the passport, there must be a blank space large enough for the visa. Those who have traveled in foreign countries may remember a distressing situation, when the consul could not find enough blank space in your passport to add his visa stamp, and you returned to your own embassy to get new pages added.
      —Our passport to heaven has only one page. (See DA 313.) And the visa, (perfection), of the heavenly Consul, is so large that it can only be added to the page if it is empty. All confessed sins and all “filthy rag” righteousnesses must be removed, before there is room for this heavenly visa.
      —This visa, from Jesus, meets the legal requirements of the law of heavenly Canaan, which is perfection equal to that of the Godhead:
          —“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48.
          —(The ten commandments are a transcript of God’s character.)

There are Two Important Steps in the Permanent Transaction For Every Passport With a PARDON:
      —As Jesus turns to a page in the book of life, where the PARDON stands out in beautiful letters, the first step in the permanent transaction begins:
1.  All confessed sins, and all “filthy-rag” righteousnesses, are blotted out of the book of life. See GC 483; 1SM 344; SD 49.
      —“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out . . .” Acts 3:19.
Page 157

          —This blotting out of sin is made possible only through the blood of the Lamb of Calvary, who died to take “away the sin of the world.” John 1:29.
          —How grateful we should be that Jesus died the death we deserve to die! If we accept His sacrifice for us, we do not have to pay our own eternal death penalty —which is our wages as sinners. See Romans 6:23.

(An Empty Page in the Book of Life is not Enough!
      —Something more than forgiveness is demanded by God’s law.
      —The death penalty is removed in the first step, but there must be a second transaction, before the individual is ready for eternal life!)

2.  The perfection credit of Christ’s own righteousness is added:
          —“Jesus does not excuse their sins, but shows their penitence and faith, and claiming for them forgiveness, He lifts His wounded hands before the Father and the holy angels, saying: I know them by name . . . ‘. . . Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?’ Zechariah 3:2. Christ will clothe His faithful ones with His own righteousness . . . Their names stand enrolled in the book of life, and concerning them it is written: ‘They shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.’ Revelation 3:4.” GC 484. (Emphasis added.)
      ——(Oh, that this may be “written” of us, when our passport is examined by the heavenly Advocate!)
          —“. . . The white robe [is] an emblem of the spotless righteousness of Christ . . .” GC 665.
          —“. . . By the obedience of One shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5:19.
          —“Every soul may say: ‘By His perfect obedience He has satisfied the claims of the law, and my only hope is found in looking to Him as my substitute and surety, who obeyed the law perfectly for me. By faith in His merits I am free from the condemnation of the law. He clothes me with His righteousness, which answers all the demands of the law. I am complete in Him who brings in everlasting righteousness. He presents me to God in the spotless garment of which no thread was woven by any human agent.” 1SM 396. (Emphasis added.)
          —“He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ’s character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.” SC 62. (Emphasis added.)
      —These are the legal transactions which take place in the heavenly courtroom, for every pardoned child of God, of every age:
          —a subtraction and an addition.
      —Those with PARDON on their passport will have their sin subtracted.
      —They will receive the VISA of PERFECTION as an addition to their page.
Page 158

      —Ponder again the beauty of this statement:
      “The law demands righteousness, and this the sinner owes to the law; but he is incapable of rendering it. The only way in which he can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and the Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner’s account.” 1SM 367. (Emphasis added.)
      —What a priceless possession is this PERFECTION VISA! How we should praise God for this wonderful provision! And beyond the fathoming of human thought are the following words regarding him who receives this obedience credit:  “. . . God . . . loves him as He loves His Son.” 1SM 367. (Emphasis added.)
      —In humility, we are lead to exclaim with the apostle John:
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God . . .” 1John 3:1.

After the Two Permanent Transactions are Made on a Page In the Book of Life, that Person is Sealed for Eternity:
      —Following the moment these transactions have taken place in the book of life, during the pre-advent judgment, that individual will have legal permission:
          —for his name to remain in the book of life permanently, and
          —for him to remain in God’s universe as a member of His family!
      —With this precious document, he does not have just a tourist visa. He has a resident visa! He is to be a full-fledged citizen of heavenly Canaan through all eternity!
      —This individual is “sealed” with the perfect-commandment keeping seal, of One who kept all ten of God’s commandments in minute detail. (This is the “sealing work” of the investigative judgment. See the chapter in Early Writings regarding the judgment, which is entitled, “The Sealing.” EW 36-38. For further details on the sealing, study the Appendix, and Revelation 7.)
      —The visa of perfection is identical with the seal of perfect commandment-keeping —which seal is found in God’s law. (See Exodus 20:8-11; GC 452; PP 307.)
      —When a person is “sealed,”
          —his page in the book of life has already been examined.
          —The record of confessed sin has been blotted out, and
          —he has the PERFECTION SEAL of his Saviour on his page!
      —If an individual is still alive when this sealing of the investigative judgment takes place on his page in the book of life, he receives an invisible mark on his forehead. Only angels can see the mark. It becomes a mark of protection, as God’s angels preserve him through the seven last plagues, when Satan and his angels are permitted to torment their subjects. The mark does not change his nature. He is the same after the mark is placed there, as he was before —still trusting in the righteousness of Jesus. In fact, he will not even know when it was placed there. See 7BC 968, 969; and the Appendix.
      —“Only those who receive the seal of the living God will have the passport through the gates of the Holy City.” 7BC 970. (Emphasis added.)
Page 159

Those Who Trust in Works of Self-righteousness for Their Salvation Will Have Their Passports Canceled!
      —Their names will be blotted out of the book of life! See GC 483.
      —“Only those who receive the seal of the living God will have the passport through the gates of the Holy City. But there are many who take upon themselves responsibilities in connection with the work of God who are not wholehearted believers, and while they remain thus cannot receive the seal of the living God. They trust in their own righteousness, which the Lord accounts as foolishness.” 7BC 970. (Emphasis added.)
      —“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight . . .” Romans 3:20.
      —Notice again the warning which God has sent to His people, which was quoted at the beginning of Revelation 5:
“The fifth chapter of Revelation needs to be closely studied . . . There are some who are deceived . . . Those who have permitted their minds to become beclouded in regard to what constitutes sin are fearfully deceived. Unless they make a decided change they will be found wanting when God pronounces judgment upon the children of men.” 9T 267. (Emphasis added.)
      —What could be a greater sin than for man to ignore the righteousness which Jesus worked out for him during His walk on earth —and to depend on his own works of self-righteousness?
      —Is not this one way to sin against the Holy Spirit?
          —“The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ.” DA 805.
          —“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, . . . He shall testify of Me.” John 15:26.
What does self-righteousness include?
      —“There are conscientious souls that trust partly to God, and partly to themselves. They do not look to God, to be kept by His power, but depend upon watchfulness against temptation, and the performance of certain duties for acceptance with Him. There are no victories in this kind of faith. Such persons toil to no purpose; their souls are in continual bondage, and they find no rest until their burdens are laid at the feet of Jesus.” 1SM 353. (Emphasis added.)
      —“Let no one take the limited, narrow position that any of the works of man can help in the least possible way to liquidate the debt of his transgression. This is a fatal deception. If you would understand it, you must cease haggling over your pet ideas, and with humble hearts survey the atonement. This matter is so dimly comprehended that thousands upon thousands claiming to be sons of God are children of the wicked one, because they will depend on their own works. God always demanded good works, the law demands it, but because man placed himself in sin where his good works were valueless, Jesus’ righteousness alone can avail. Christ is able to save to the uttermost because He ever liveth to make intercession for us. All that man can possibly do toward his own salvation is to accept the invitation, ‘Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely’ (Rev. 22:17.)” 1SM 343. (Emphasis added.)
Page 160

—Does this do away with works? Ah, no!
      —“If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15.
      —We keep the ten commandments to the best of our ability
          —because we love Jesus.
      —And we look to Him —as the only righteousness we’ll ever have!

Works —and Heaven’s Bookkeeping System:
      —Let us consider, for a moment, heaven’s bookkeeping system, lest some should feel that God does not appreciate our sincere worship, or the acts of love done for others in the name of His Son.
      —We have seen how the only standard of the law is perfection —which is equal to that of the Godhead. Our “best” will never reach the law’s high standard, until we are given Christ’s “best” as a gift.
          —“The religious services, the prayers, the praise, the penitent confession of sin ascend from true believers as incense to the heavenly sanctuary, but passing through the corrupt channels of humanity, they are so defiled that unless purified by blood, they can never be of value with God.” 1SM 344. (Emphasis added.)
      —Compared to God’s law, our very best is only “filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6.
      —But does God appreciate our “best”? Indeed He does!
      —Our “best” is immortalized in the books of God’s remembrance.
      —There are other books in heaven, besides the book of life:
          —“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 20:12.
      —There are at least three kinds of books in heaven’s bookkeeping system:
1. The book of life:
          —Every professed child of God has his name entered on a page in this great book. That page contains “every particular of our history,” —the best we can do and the worst. There is only one book of life. See GC 480; DA 313; SD 49.
2. The books of God’s remembrance:
      —In 7BC 987, these books are referred to in the plural:
      The angels “record in the books of God’s remembrance the words of faith, the acts of love, the humility of spirit . . .”
      —“‘A book of remembrance’ is written before God, in which are recorded the good deeds of ‘them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name.’ Malachi 3:16 . . . In the book of God’s remembrance every deed of righteousness is immortalized. There every temptation resisted, every evil overcome, every word of tender pity expressed, is faithfully chronicled. And every act of sacrifice, every suffering and sorrow endured for Christ’s sake, is recorded.” GC 481. (Emphasis added.)
3. The book of death —the registry of the wicked:
      —for those who never professed to serve God, and
      —for those who once served Him, but whose sins were unpardoned at the time when their pages in the book of life were examined.
Page 161

      —At the time of the pre-advent judgment:
      “When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance . . . And says the prophet Ezekiel: ‘When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, . . . all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned.’” Ezekiel 18:24. GC 483. (Emphasis added.)
      —During the thousand years, following the second coming of Christ:
      “In union with Christ they [the saints] judge the wicked, comparing their acts with the statute book, the Bible, and deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. Then the portion which the wicked must suffer is meted out, according to their works; and it is recorded against their names in the book of death.” GC 661. See Revelation 20:4, 6, 13; 1Corinthians 6:2.
      —“. . . The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished . . . And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire . . . This is the second death.” Revelation 20:5, 15, 14. (Emphasis added.)

Which Book Will Your Name Be In?
      —Child of God, is there PARDON on your page in the book of life right now?
      —Do you have the assurance that if Jesus would turn to your page tonight —or if you should close your eyes in the sleep of death —that it would be well with your soul?
      —Would your heavenly Advocate be able to plead your case before His Father?
      —Or would the sentinel of justice demand that your name be blotted out of the book of life, because you failed to accept the PARDON which Jesus is offering you?

We Need Have No Fear of the Judgment —if We Accept Two Promises:
      —There are two beautiful texts in God’s word, which give us great encouragement —yes, assurance— as we think of the solemn work which is going on at this moment in the heavenly sanctuary. If these two texts become our heart’s desire, and we present them in faith to our heavenly Father, in the name of our Advocate —day by day, and hour by hour— then, we need have no fear of the investigative judgment!
      —We will be safe in His hands!
      —The first of these jewels from God’s treasure chest, is found in 1John l:9
          —“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (Emphasis added.)
          —“He is faithful”!
          —Keep your eyes fastened on His faithfulness, as you confess the defilement of your corrupt human nature, and your specific sins.
          —Notice the continual service necessary in the camp of Israel:
“Before the veil of the most holy place was an altar of perpetual
Page 162

intercession, before the holy, an altar of continual atonement. By blood and by incense God was to be approached —symbols pointing to the great Mediator, through whom alone mercy and salvation can be granted to the repentant, believing soul.” PP 353. (Emphasis added.)
          —The blood represents the death of Jesus —continual atonement. (“The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar [of burnt offerings]; it shall never go out.” Leviticus 6:13.)
          —The incense represents the life of Jesus —perpetual intercession. (“And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning. . . And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord . . .” Exodus 30:7, 8.
      —As the offerings in the camp of Israel were perpetual and continual, so are the offerings of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary also perpetual and continual.
      —Every moment the Christian is covered with eternal safety!
          “Jesus stands before the Father, continually offering a sacrifice for the sins of the world. He is the Minister of the true tabernacle . . . Because of the continual commission of sin, the atoning sacrifice of a heavenly Mediator is essential. Jesus, our great High Priest, officiates for us in the presence of God . . .” QD 683.
          —“And what is He doing? —He is making intercession and atonement for His people who believe in Him.” TM 37. (Emphasis added.)
          —“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.” GC 489.
          —“He has never lost a case that has been committed to Him. We may trust in our Advocate; for He pleads His own merits in our behalf.” QD 690. (Emphasis added.)
          —“We always have a Friend at court.” QD 690. (Emphasis added.)
      —But the connection between the Christian and his Lord must always be in tact! —in order for him to receive the benefit from this precious, continuing service. He must continually recognize his sinfulness —and his need of grace!
      —Think of the electric cord. As long as it is connected to the source of power, there is current.
      —Sin separates from God. But if we have the vital connection, there is continual atonement and perpetual intercession! Praise God!
      —Continually confess!
      “The nearer we come to Jesus, and the more clearly we discern the purity of His character, the more clearly shall we see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the less shall we feel like exalting ourselves. There will be a continual reaching out of the soul after God, a continual, earnest, heartbreaking confession of sin and humbling of the heart before Him. At every advance step in our Christian experience our repentance will deepen.” AA 561. (Emphasis added.)
      —“If we confess our sins, He is faithful . . .” 1John 1:9. (Emphasis added.)
Page 163

      —The very highest position any person can reach in this world is —kneeling before the cross of Jesus.
      —The most noble words in the dictionary, when spoken to either God or to man, are —“forgive me”!
          —This involves forgiving others as we want Jesus to forgive us —and holding no grudges in our hearts toward another traveler on life’s pathway.
          —We are to pray:” Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. . . But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:12, 15.
          —We are to forgive them, even if they don’t want forgiveness. This is what Jesus did for His enemies. See Luke 23:34.
          —“. . . Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44.

The Second Jewel from God’s Treasure Chest is —Hatred for Sin!
      —How can we feel sorry for those pet sins which are so deeply embedded in our affections?
      —How can we part with the sinful practices which we enjoy hanging on to?
      —How can we hate our inward corruption, which appears in such contrast to the perfection of God’s holiness?
      —Here is where the second beautiful gem from God’s word comes in!
God promises:
      —“I will put enmity between thee and the woman . . .” Genesis 3:15. God —will put hatred— between Satan, or sin —and His people! God will do it!
      —“God declares: ‘I will put enmity.’ This enmity is not naturally entertained. When man transgressed the divine law, his nature became evil, and he was in harmony, and not at variance, with Satan. There exists naturally no emnity between sinful man and the originator of sin . . . It is the grace that Christ implants in the soul which creates in man enmity against Satan. Without this converting grace and renewing power, man would continue a captive of Satan, a servant ever ready to do his bidding. But the new principle in the soul creates conflict where hitherto had been peace. The power which Christ imparts enables man to resist the tyrant and usurper. Whoever is seen to abhor sin instead of loving it, whoever resists and conquers those passions that have held sway within, displays the operation of a principle wholly from above.” GC 505, 506. (Emphasis added.)
      —You are powerless to remove these cherished sins from your heart.
In fact, it is an utter impossibility!
          —“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” Jeremiah 13:26.
      —But, if you consent, God will perform the divine surgery, and take away your love for sin.
Page 164

      —God promises:
          —to put hatred in your heart for the sin within you— if you will let Him; Genesis 3:15, and
          —to pardon your sin, when you confess it! 1John 1:9.
      —Wonderful promises! Thank God for these two jewels from His gold mine!
      —No man will be kept out of heaven because of Adam’s sin; neither will he be barred from eternal life merely because of his own sin.
      But he will be excluded, if he does not accept:
          —the hatred for sin God promises him, and
          —the PARDON for sin God offers him.
      —Let us cry out with David, the great sinner, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10. (All who will be privileged to reign on the glorious throne of David, with Jesus and the 144,000, will repent like David did.)

When God takes away the love of sin, does He remove the sinful nature?
      —No!  The corruption of fallen human nature remains. God only takes away the love of it, when man permits.
      —It is at Christ’s second coming that this corruptible puts on “incorruption,” and this mortal puts on “immortality.” 1Corinthians 15:51-53.
          —Perfection in the flesh, as Jesus had on earth, is not possible —for we were born in sin. (See the Appendix for study on the nature of man compared with the divine and human nature of Christ.)
          —“Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned . . . For . . . by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners . . .” Romans 5:12, 19.
          —“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Psalm 51:5.

Words of Relief For Those Who Make Mistakes:
      —Here is a ray of light for our daily pathways, which brings much encouragement to us as Christians —for we all “make mistakes.”
          —“When we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, we shall have no relish for sin; for Christ will be working with us. We may make mistakes, but we will hate the sin that caused the sufferings of the Son of God. 1SM 360. (Emphasis added.)
      —This is the promise of Genesis 3:15!
          “If one who daily communes with God errs from the path, if he turns a moment from looking steadfastly unto Jesus, it is not because he sins willfully; for when he sees his mistake, he turns again, and fastens his eyes upon Jesus, and the fact that he has erred, does not make him less dear to the heart of God. He knows that he has communion with the Saviour; and when reproved for his mistake in some matter of judgment, he does not walk sullenly, and complain of God, but turns the mistake into a victory.” RH May 12, 1896. (Emphasis added.)
      —This is the promise of Genesis 3:15!
Page 165

          —“Jesus is acquainted with every heart that is humble, meek and lowly. These have trials and make mistakes, but they are brokenhearted because they grieve the Saviour who loved them and died for them.” TM 129. (Emphasis added.)
      —Here, again, is the promise of Genesis 3:15!
          —It melts the hearts of God’s children, as they think of the sorrow they have brought
          —to the One who was “wounded” for their “transgressions,”
          —to the One who was “bruised” for their “iniquities.” Isaiah 53:5.
      —“I will put enmity . . .” —God promises! Treasure it!
      —Don’t ever begin a day, without first asking God to give you this hatred for sin —for every hour of the day, and especially for unexpected moments of temptation.
          —“We know not what results a day, an hour, or a moment may determine, and never should we begin the day without committing our ways to our Heavenly Father. His angels are appointed to watch over us, and if we put ourselves under their guardianship, then in every time of danger they will be at our right hand. When unconsciously we are in danger of exerting a wrong influence, the angels will be by our side, prompting us to a better course, choosing our words for us, and influencing our actions.” COL 341, 342. (Emphasis added.)
          —“No man is safe for a day or an hour without prayer.” GC 530.

What happens if we hold on to even one cherished sin?
      —Let’s look a moment at the tragic results of not accepting God’s promise of hatred for sin.
          —“The righteousness of Christ will not cover one cherished sin.” COL 316. (Emphasis added.)
          —“The willful commission of a known sin silences the witnessing voice of the Spirit, and separates the soul from God.” SL 66.
          —“Even one wrong trait of character, one sinful desire cherished, will eventually neutralize all the power of the gospel.” 5T 53. (Emphasis added.)
          —“. . . If the things of this world are cherished, however uncertain and unworthy they may be, they will become all-absorbing.” DA 520.
          —“But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ’s righteousness while practicing known sins, or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place . . .” 1SM 366. (Emphasis added.)
      —Our prayer should be: “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me . . .” Psalm 19:13.

      —Let us keep the promises of Genesis 3:15 and 1John 1:9 continually on our lips. These are the promises, which, if accepted, will enable us to have our names forever retained in the Lamb’s book of life!
—We need not be anxious about the investigative judgment, if these precious promises form a living part of our daily lives!
Page 166

The Search for the Word PARDON —as the Pages Are Turned:
      —Let your mind go back to the vision John saw within the open door of the heavenly sanctuary.
      —The investigative judgment is in session in the court room. Jesus stands in the center, turning the pages of the great book of life, one by one.
      —Watch the expressions on all faces!
      —Jesus has just opened the book of life to a page where NO PARDON was found.
      —The person, whose name was entered on this page, had intended to be ready. But he became occupied with other interests; other things had become “first” in his life, instead of God. They had separated him from his Saviour. He had neglected to ask God for pardon, or for hatred for sin.
      —Sadness, like a funeral pall, hangs over the vast assembly. No doubt there is audible mourning, especially from the voice of the guardian angel who had walked with that person throughout his earthly pilgrimage.
      —And sorrow, worse than a dagger, pierces the heart of Jesus. He had paid an infinite price for that person’s salvation. But —tragic words— he had neglected the pardon offered him.
      —When he had received the life-giving message —“whosoever will”— he had appreciated it to a certain extent. He wanted everlasting life. But he became too busy; other things crowded in. He placed to one side this golden opportunity, which would have resulted in eternal happiness, and —freedom with Jesus beyond the stars!
      —There is a solemn silence in the court room, broken only by the sobs of mourning. Jesus sadly takes his name out of the book of life, and enters it in the book of death. No doubt there are many crowns removed, as the passport to eternal life is canceled for one of God’s professed children —who had intended to be ready. He will be forever separated from His Creator and Redeemer, from family and friends, from angels and the saints of all ages.
      —Jesus turns the page! All eyes are watching!
      —“The deepest interest manifested among men m the decisions of earthly tribunals but faintly represents the interest evinced in the heavenly courts when the names entered in the book of life come up in review before the Judge of all the earth.” GC 483, 484.
      —And then, Jesus comes to a page —a beautiful page— where the word PARDON stands out in glowing letters.
          —Here is a person who reached out and accepted the PARDON purchased for him at Calvary!
          —Here is a person who let God put hatred for sin in his heart!
      —The courts of heaven now ring with joyful shouts of triumph! Happiness! Joy unspeakable fills the hearts of everyone in that vast tribunal —especially the hearts of our heavenly Father and our loving Saviour.
      —The angels and the twenty-four elders raise their voices in praise, giving thanks to the worthy Lamb that was slain, so that this sinner could be redeemed.
Page 167

      —Another lost sheep has found its way to the fold!
      —Another “brand” has been plucked from the burning!
      —Another prodigal son has returned to his heavenly Father!
      —Quickly the legal transactions are made in the book of life:
          —pardoned sins are removed,
          —perfect righteousness is added,
      and this individual is —sealed for eternity!
      —Imagine the rejoicing of the guardian angel who walked with this person through life! His thoughts go forward to the day when he will have the thrilling privilege of introducing his special companion to the beauties of heaven. His heart will quiver with joy, as this individual meets his Saviour face to face, and bows at the feet of Jesus to receive the crown of victory!

The Most Important Moment in Your Life:
      —Wanderer from your Father’s house, eternity stretches out before you. Your eternal destiny hangs in the balance.
      —On one moment’s decision
          —your life may be filled with happiness and love;
          —you may have peace in your inmost soul,
          —and PARDON from Jesus!
          —You may receive a life that measures with the life of God!
      —Jesus, who paid the price for your ransom, is standing with arms outstretched, pleading, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
          If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
          But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Isaiah 1:18-20.
      —Don’t put into the future that quiet moment when you take your Bible, and meet with God —alone:
          —to ask for PARDON,
          —and for hatred for sin.
      —Be honest with your own soul. God aside —now— into a place of quiet communion, and listen to that still small Voice, which is pleading with you to consider your eternal destiny.
      —Let the busy world rush on by! Make first things first!
      —This is a life and death matter eternal life and eternal death!
      —You are playing the game of life —for real.
      —Look again at your Redeemer. He is standing with nail-pierced hands, pleading with you to accept His offer of salvation —to live with Him forever.
      —Listen to His gentle voice speaking to your heart:
          —Dear child, come home!
          —There is no problem too difficult for Me to unravel!
          —There is no wound so deep that I cannot heal!
          —At the end of every black alley, there is light —if you look up!
          —You are very precious to Me. If you had been the only one on earth to receive My PARDON, I would have left heaven for you!
Page 168

      —“In comparison with the worth of one soul, the whole world sinks into insignificance.” 5T 614.
          —Don’t take any chances on something as important as your eternal passport!
          —I will write:
              —PARDON on your passport, and
              —hatred for sin in your heart,
the moment you come to Me, and lay your burden of sin at My feet.
      —“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, [with a load of remorseful sin, ] and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. (Emphasis added.)
      —Come home, dear child, come home! Your Father waits!
      —Throughout eternity, you will be grateful that you made this decision —NOW!

“Want To Live!”
      —Listen to the cry of anguish, that comes from the heart of a desperate soul, as he faces death on this earth: “I want to live! I want to live!”
      —You, who “want to live” —who want the spark of life to keep glowing within your body —have a priceless opportunity before you!
      —You may have eternal life—
          —by reaching out, and accepting it from the hand of Jesus!
      —It is free —to you— as a gift! But Another paid a tremendous price!
          —“. . . The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:13. (Emphasis added.)
      —This very special offer —to live forever— has your name on it!
          —“. . . Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
          —“. . . Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.
      —“None have fallen so low, none are so vile, but that they can find deliverance in Christ. The demoniac, in place of prayer, could utter only the words of Satan; yet the heart’s unspoken appeal was heard. No cry from a soul in need, though it fail of utterance in words, will be unheeded. Those who will consent to enter into covenant relation with the God of heaven are not left to the power of Satan or to the infirmity of their own nature. They are invited by the Saviour, ‘Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me.’ Isa. 27:5. The spirits of darkness will battle for the soul once under their dominion, but angels of God will contend for that soul with prevailing power. The Lord says, ‘Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? . . . Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.’ Isa 49:24, 25. DA 258, 259. (Emphasis added.)
Page 169

      —It is God who speaks! When we utter a cry for help, He takes charge of the battle!
      —Here, in this last moment of time, the investigative judgment still lingers, as eternal destinies are being weighed in the balance. The court is still in session. The list of citizens, for the coming world, are being sealed in the Lamb’s book of life!
      —The door of mercy is still open. But soon it must close.
      —This ugly cancer of sin, which has been allowed to mature for nearly 6000 years, is soon to be exterminated.
      —The clock of time is just about to be silenced. Eternity stretches on beyond.
      —It stretches out beyond time and imagination. What is its value? Mind cannot fathom it.
      —Eternal life? We are lost in trying to comprehend its worth!
      —How much would a wealthy man give to extend his life ten years, ten months, ten days?
      —And how much would he give to live forever? Everything? That is exactly what it takes to have eternal life! He must surrender all of his heart to Jesus —for Him to pardon, to cleanse, to use.
      —And Jesus will give him —in exchange for his sin and his earthly anxieties —the peace and harmony which pervades all heaven!
      —And He will give him eternal life, instead of eternal death!
      —What a transfer!
      —“Redemption is an inexhaustible theme, worthy of our closest contemplation. It passes the comprehension of the deepest thought, the stretch of the most vivid imagination.” RH June 8, 1890.
      —Thank God for our Saviour who “prevailed,” so that we could live forever —with Them!

The Heavenly Temple is Filled with Music of Praise to Jesus:
AND WHEN HE
      —the worthy Lamb that was slain—
HAD TAKEN THE BOOK
      —of life from the Father’s hand—
THE FOUR BEASTS AND FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS FELL DOWN BEFORE THE LAMB, HAVING EVERY ONE OF THEM HARPS,
      —to praise God—
AND GOLDEN VIALS FULL OF ODORS,
      —censers of incense—
WHICH ARE THE PRAYERS OF SAINTS.
      —ascending from other members of the human family.
      —Think how happy the elders must be as additional prayers ascend from God’s people on earth. How they must rejoice to have a part in presenting to God, the petitions and praise from their fellow men!
      —And as the elders present the prayers from earth, they are mingled with the incense from the censer of the covenant, which represents the perfection of Jesus. This holy censer sits on top of the ark during the investigative judgment. As the saints’ prayers come up
Page 170

to Jesus, “the incense in the censer would smoke, and He would offer up their prayers with the smoke of the incense to His Father.” EW 32. See PP 353.
AND THEY
      —the twenty-four elders, who held the golden vials and harps—
SUNG A NEW SONG,
      —of grateful rejoicing, and heartfelt thanksgiving!
      —Jesus had taken the book of life from the Father’s hand —and their names were also inside this book!
      —Their pardoned sins were still on record, at the opening of the investigative judgment in 1844. (See PP 357.)
      —They, like John, needed their pardoned sins removed from the book of life, and an addition of spotless righteousness to their records.
      —Jesus had prevailed for every one of the twenty-four elders —and they fell down before Him,
SAYING, THOU ART WORTHY TO TAKE THE BOOK,
      —because of Thy perfect life, and Thy death on the cross—
AND TO OPEN THE SEALS THEREOF,
      —to apply the benefits of Thy atonement to the pages of every one of God’s pardoned children, whose names are written in the book
FOR THOU WAST SLAIN,
      —to pay the debt of our transgression of God’s law, and thus lift our eternal death penalty—
—AND HAST REDEEMED US TO GOD
      —from the prison house of sin—
BY THY BLOOD
      —a costly price
OUT OF EVERY KINDRED, AND TONGUE, AND PEOPLE,
AND NATION:
      —on earth—
AND HAST MADE US UNTO OUR GOD KINGS AND PRIESTS
      —in the heavenly temple—
AND WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH.
      —after the New Jerusalem descends and the earth is recreated. See Revelation 21:1, 2.
      —This beautiful testimony from the hearts of the twenty-four elders, was set to glorious music. With their harps, they filled heaven with harmony.
      —Redeemed, how they loved to proclaim it!
      —Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!
      —By the grace of God, we too, may someday learn the music to their song, if we will accept the benefits of Christ’s atonement!
      —As the twenty-four elders finish with their song of praise, another anthem commences. Rich music continues to fill heaven, at the opening of the investigative judgment.
AND I
      —John—
BEHELD
Page 171




      —a beautiful sight! —angels, with shining wings, their millions of upturned faces like a sea of happiness—
AND I HEARD THE VOICE OF MANY ANGELS ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE AND THE BEASTS AND THE ELDERS:
      —in triumphant strains of joyful music, filling God’s temple with perfect harmony.
AND THE NUMBER OF THEM WAS TEN THOUSAND TIMES TEN THOUSAND, AND THOUSANDS OF THOUSANDS: SAYING WITH A LOUD VOICE, WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN TO RECEIVE
      —seven things—
POWER, AND RICHES, AND WISDOM, AND STRENGTH, AND HONOR, AND GLORY, AND BLESSING.
      —Why do the angels, who are not redeemed, feel the thrill of this joyful moment, as Jesus receives the precious family registry from the hand of His Father?
      —“All these armies are in the service of the Prince of heaven, exalting the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world. They are working for Christ under His commission, to save to the uttermost all who look to Him and believe . . . They are united in a holy alliance, in a grand and sublime unity of purpose, to show forth the power and compassion and love and glory of the crucified and risen Saviour . . .
      —“All these heavenly beings have one object above all others, in which they are intensely interested —His church in a world of, corruption.” 7BC 968. (Emphasis added.)
      —“It is the greatest joy of the angels of heaven to spread the shield of their tender love over souls who turn to God . . . Their deep and earnest love for the souls for whom Christ died is beyond measurement . . .
      —“Angels are keeping back the destroying agencies; for they have an intense interest for these rebellious sons, and they want to help them return to the fold in safety and peace, that they may finally be overcomers, and be saved, eternally saved with the family of God in heaven.” 7BC 922, 923. (Emphasis added.)
      —“Angels are belting the world . . . We hear not the voices, we see not with the natural sight the work of these angels, but their hands are linked about the world, and with sleepless vigilance they are keeping the armies of Satan at bay till the sealing of God’s people shall be accomplished.” 7BC 967. (Emphasis added.)
      —“A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ. These heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one.” GC 512, 513. (Emphasis added.)
      —“Angels have been guarding his pathway through all his life, and many of the snares he had been delivered from he has not seen. And for this guardianship and watchcare by eyes that never slumber and never sleep, he is to recognize in every prayer the service of God for him.” 2SM 315. (Emphasis added.)
      —“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him . . .” Psalm 34:7.
Page 172

      —John’s ears now catch a distant echo of praise, which is to be sung at the end of the millennium, when the marvelous atonement and the plan of redemption will be more fully understood by all:
AND EVERY CREATURE WHICH IS IN HEAVEN
      —the celestial beings, and unfallen worlds in God’s universe—
AND ON EARTH, AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND SUCH AS ARE IN THE SEA, AND ALL THAT ARE IN THEM, HEARD
I SAYING,
      —in reverent unison—
BLESSING, AND HONOR, AND GLORY, AND POWER, BE UNTO HIM THAT SITTETH UPON THE THRONE.
      —“John, in the Revelation, looking forward to the eternal state, hears a universal anthem of praise undisturbed by one note of discord. Every creature in heaven and earth was heard ascribing glory to God. Revelation 5:13.” GC 545.
      —(When this final, universal song is sung, all sinners, unpardoned, will have been destroyed in the “lake of fire,” which is the second death. See Revelation 20:14; and Chapter 7 on the millennium.)
      —Throughout eternity we will study the marvelous plan of redemption, but we can never fully comprehend the love of God that compelled Him to send His only begotten Son on such an expensive errand —to rescue a race of rebels from the prison house of sin.
      —Let us lift our voices in unison with the heavenly choirs, and praise Him anew for His wonderful love to the children of men!
“AND THE FOUR BEASTS SAID, AMEN.
      —The marvels of the plan of redemption, proclaimed in the celestial choruses, vibrate in the hearts of the seraphim also. They, too, have bent their energies in bringing God’s messages of love to the fallen sons of planet earth. See Isaiah 6:6.
      —After the seraphim worship God, the elders again respond:
AND THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS FELL DOWN AND WORSHIPPED HIM THAT LIVETH FOR EVER AND EVER.
      —Let all humanity bow down and worship the great King of the universe —as do the twenty four elders. On bended knee, with deep humility and adoration, let us approach our Creator!
      —“Where have our brethren obtained the idea that they should stand upon their feet when praying to God? . . . Both in public and private worship it is our duty to bow down upon our knees before God when we offer our petitions to Him. This act shows our dependence upon God . . . Men and women, do not dishonor God by your irreverence and pomposity. Do not stand up in your Pharisaism and offer your prayers to God. Mistrust your own strength . . . Man must come on bended knee, as a subject of grace, a suppliant at the footstool of mercy . . .” 2SM 311-315.
      —There are times of emergency, when we must flash a petition for help to our heavenly Father; there are times when we need to offer up a silent prayer for guidance, when talking to a friend, or making a sudden decision. But what a privilege to kneel before Him!
      —“Your knees are to bow three times a day in heartfelt prayer.” 6T 298. (Emphasis added.)
Page 173

The Search for the Word PARDON Begins
      —After Opening the First Seal:
Revelation 6.

AND I
      —John—
SAW WHEN THE LAMB OPENED ON OF THE SEALS,
      —from the “backside” of the book, which Jesus had taken from the hand of the Father. Revelation 5:1, 7.
AND I HEARD, AS IT WERE THE NOISE OF THUNDER,
      —vibrating the very atmosphere of God’s temple—
ONE OF THE FOUR BEASTS
      —a shining seraphim—
SAYING, COME AND SEE.
      —The eyes of all are riveted on the great book of life.
      —Jesus has just removed the first of seven seals from its cover.
      —The great investigative judgment is underway!
      —It is 1844.
      —Let us pause a moment, and thank our God that there was One who “prevailed” —so that these seals could be removed from this great book! The price heaven paid, so that this book could be unsealed, was expensive! It took the life and the death of our dear Saviour!
      —Which names are the first to be examined, when Jesus opens the book of life? Where does our great Advocate start, as He looks for that indispensable word —PARDON?
      —“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 . . .
      “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. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life . . . 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.” GC 480, 483. (Emphasis added.)
      —The first group of God’s professed children to have their pages examined in 1844, were those who first lived upon the earth —those of the patriarchal age.
Page 174

      —When Jesus opened the first seal on the book of life, He found the pages of Adam and Eve, of Cain and Abel —and of all the others who professed to be worshipers of the true God during those first generations.
      —All eyes are eagerly watching for that precious word —PARDON.
      —Which of earth’s inhabitants would be entitled to receive the benefits of the life and the death of the worthy Lamb, who “hast prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof”? Revelation 5:5. (Emphasis added.)

Animals in Bible Prophecy Carry Church Groups:
      —John sees four colored horses, in successive order. What color is the first?
AND I SAW, AND BEHOLD A WHITE HORSE:
      —How are horses used in Bible symbols?
      —(To understand any Bible symbol, we must look to the Bible for the answer. The Bible is its own interpreter. See GC 320, 521.)
      —God’s angels and God’s people,
      —Satan’s angels and Satan’s people,
          —are symbolized as riding on animals.
          —In Revelation 9:11, 16, 17: Satan’s angels ride horses.
          —In Revelation 17:3: Satan’s church rides a beast.
          —In Revelation 19:11-14: Jesus and His angels ride horses.
          —In Revelation 6:2-8: God’s people are symbolized on four different colored horses.
      —The riders of the horses in Revelation 6, symbolize God’s professed people during the entire span of human history.
      —The color of the horse indicates the condition of God’s church in the different eras.
          —The rider of the white horse represents God’s professed people of the patriarchal age.
          —The one seated on the red horse is symbolic of God’s church from the time of Moses until the first advent of Christ. Many of them were given a sword to kill their brethren who made the golden calf, and to destroy the idolatrous nations. See Exodus 32:27, 28; Deuteronomy 7:1-10.
          —The black horse rider symbolizes God’s people who were alive when Jesus was on earth. “The greater the light bestowed, the greater the darkness of those who pervert and reject it.” GC 572.
          —And he, who sits on the pale horse, is a fitting representative of God’s people who would face great persecution after Jesus ascended to heaven.
      —What are the characteristics of the rider of the white horse?
AND HE THAT SAT ON HIM HAD A BOW,
      —of conquest, for the cause of God—
AND A CROWN WAS GIVEN UNTO HIM,
AND HE WENT FORTH CONQUERING AND TO CONQUER.
      —The hope of the Messiah to come —God’s promise to Adam and
Page 175

Eve in the garden of Eden —caused faith to burn brightly in many hearts. Jesus, the “seed” of the woman (the church), was to haves His heel bruised on this earth. But it would result in a mortal wound to the head of Satan. The blight of sin was to be completely removed! (This is the other part of the beautiful promise in Genesis 3:15.) A way was to be made possible so that man could be restored to Edenic happiness.
      —“Notwithstanding the wickedness of the antediluvian world, that age was not, as has often been supposed, an era of ignorance and barbarism . . . The advantages enjoyed by men of that age to gain a knowledge of God through His works have never been equaled since. And so far from being an era of religious darkness, that was an age of great light. All the world had opportunity to receive instruction from Adam, and those who feared the Lord had also Christ and angels for their teachers. And they had a silent witness to the truth, in the garden of God, which for so many centuries remained among men. At the cherubim-guarded gate of Paradise the glory of God was revealed.
      —“Notwithstanding the prevailing iniquity, there was a line of holy men who, elevated and ennobled by communion with God, lived as in the companionship of heaven. They were men of massive intellect, of wonderful attainments. They had a great and holy mission —to develop a character of righteousness, to teach a lesson of godliness, not only to the men of their time, but for future generations. Only a few of the most prominent are mentioned in the Scriptures . . .” PP 82-84. (Emphasis added.)
      —God’s first group of people —His earliest church on earth— are symbolized as wearing a crown of victory, as they ride forth on a pure white horse, conquering for the cause of righteousness.

The Pages of Two Brothers —Cain and Abel.
As Jesus opens the first section of the book of life in 1844 —the section symbolized by the “white horse” age —He finds the pages of two brothers. Their records are among the first to be considered in the investigative judgment.
          —Cain and Abel both professed to serve God;
              they both built altars and brought offerings.
              Thus, their names were both entered in the book of life. See Genesis 4:3, 4; GC 480; 7BC 987.
          —Both Cain and Abel were sinners —and the best they could do was of “filthy rag” value, when compared to God’s law. Romans 3:10; 5:12, 19; Isaiah 64:6; Psalm 51:5.
          —Their pages in the book of life still contained the record of their deeds, for nothing was to be blotted out of this great book until the time of the investigative judgment, which began in 1844. See PP 357; GC 483; Daniel 8:14.
          —But Cain’s and Abel’s pages did not look alike —there was a difference!
              PARDON was written across Abel’s page in the book of life, but Cain’s record was unpardoned. See PP 72, 73.
Page 176

      —As the work of the heavenly court got underway in 1844, something was removed from each page.
          —“. . . Either our sins or our names will be blotted out of the Book of Life.” SD 49.
          —Cain’s name was blotted out, and Abel’s sins were blotted out.
          —Cain’s name was placed in the book of death, and Abel’s name was retained in the book of life!
      —But the page was blank, underneath Abel’s name —after his pardoned sins were removed. His past was cared for; his eternal death sentence was lifted.
      —Now, in 1844, Abel needed an addition of righteousness added to his account, before the law would permit his name to stay permanently in the book of life. This sentinel of justice demands absolute perfection from all of the citizens of heavenly Canaan —perfection equal to that of the Godhead.
      —Praise be to God! There is righteousness available for Abel!
          —In fact, there is enough righteousness credit, treasured in the vaults of heaven, for every pardoned individual of every age.
          —“There is an inexhaustible fund of perfect obedience accruing from His [Christ’s] obedience.” SD 22.
      —Quickly this visa of perfection —equal to that of the Godhead is stamped on Abel’s blank page.
      —Abel is sealed for eternity in the Lamb’s book of life!
          —This is Abel’s passport to heaven!
          —This is his legal permission to remain in the universe of God, through all eternity —as a resident.
      —Abel will be raised in the first resurrection to receive his everlasting inheritance. See 1Thessalonians 4:16, 17; John 5:28, 29.

Thus the Investigative Judgment Proceeds Name by Name.
      —And thus it continues seal after seal, as God’s professed people of the different generations have their pages examined in the book of life.
      —Thus it will be with your name, as Jesus turns to your page!
          —If you have accepted the PARDON which the heavenly Family have graciously sent to you, (John 3:16), then your sins will be removed from the book of life, and you will be sealed with the righteousness of your Saviour.
          —But if you have refused or neglected the pardon offered to you, then your name will be removed from the book of life forever.

The First Seal on the Book of Life is Cleansed from the Record of Sin!
      —When Jesus finishes examining the records of the “white horse” era —the patriarchal age
          —the first seal section of the book of life is clean.
          —The first step in the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is complete! (Daniel 8:14.)
      —During the patriarchal era, the father was priest of his family.
Page 177

The Opening of the Second Seal:
AND WHEN HE
      —the Lamb of God—
HAD OPENED THE SECOND SEAL
      —on the book of life, where are recorded the names and deeds of His professed children who lived during the next era —the theocracy
I HEARD THE SECOND BEAST SAY, COME AND SEE.
      —All heavenly eyes focus on that great book, as another group of God’s people face investigation.
      —How many will be found with PARDON?
      —“Soon after the encampment at Sinai, Moses was called up into the mountain to meet with God . . . Israel was now to be taken into a close and peculiar relation to the Most High, —to be incorporated as a church and a nation under the government of God . . .
      —“Thus they entered into a solemn covenant with God, pledging themselves to accept Him as their ruler, by which they became, in a special sense, the subjects of His authority.” PP 303.
AND THERE WENT OUT ANOTHER HORSE
      —which carried God’s professed people—
THAT WAS RED:
      —a symbol of bloodshed—
AND POWER WAS GIVEN TO HIM THAT SAT THEREON
      —power was given to the symbolic rider, God’s church—
TO TAKE PEACE FROM THE EARTH.
      —God “would use the Israelites as His instruments to punish” the idolaters, and “destroy their gods.” SR 143.
      —“Those nations that rejected the worship and service of the true God, were to be dispossessed.” COL 290.
      —“The Canaanites had abandoned themselves to the foulest and most debasing heathenism . . . Like the men before the Flood, the Canaanites lived only to blaspheme Heaven and defile the earth. And both love and justice demanded the prompt execution of these rebels against God and foes to man.” PP 492.
AND THAT THEY SHOULD KILL ONE ANOTHER:
      —At God’s command, the Levites killed 3000 of their idolatrous brethren, who made the golden calf at Sinai. See Exodus 32:28.
AND THERE WAS GIVEN UNTO HIM A GREAT SWORD.
      —God told Moses to tell the Levites: “Put every man his sword by his side.” Exodus 32:27.
      —The rider of the red horse —God’s church of the theocracy —was to use the sword to destroy idolatry in their conquest of Canaan:
      “When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hast cast out many nations before thee, . . . seven nations greater and mightier than thou; And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them . . . For they will turn away thy son from
Page 178

following Me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God . . .” Deuteronomy 7:1-5; See verses 22-25; Exodus 23:23-25. (Emphasis added.)
      —God’s chosen people, during the theocracy, used a sword against idolaters, according to God’s command. (The sword was not used against the church in this era of the world’s history.)
      —The church— the symbolic rider of the red horse —held the sword!
      —The priesthood changed at the beginning of the red horse period:
          —“Now, instead of the firstborn of all Israel, the Lord accepted the tribe of Levi for the work of the sanctuary.” PP 350.
      —The kings of Israel, who reigned during the theocracy, were to be as vicegerents of the Most High. “God was to be recognized as the head of the nation . . .” PP 603.
      —During the second seal investigation in the heavenly sanctuary, God’s people, who lived from the time of Moses until the days of Christ, had their pages in the book of life examined. Those who had PARDON written on their pages, were sealed with the righteousness of Jesus; the others were removed from the registry.

The Opening of the Third Seal:
AND WHEN HE
      —our Saviour—
HAD OPENED THE THIRD SEAL
      —on the Lamb’s book of life, to examine the lives of the succeeding generation, and to make the vital transactions necessary for those who had PARDON—
I HEARD THE THIRD BEAST SAY, COME AND SEE.
      —How thankful we should be that John was given this vision, and that we, too, may watch with the heavenly hosts, as the revelation of God’s love is unfolded in the sanctuary service!
          —How marvelous is the plan of redemption!
          —and the sacrifice Jesus made to remove sin from His people, and from the sanctuary, and from the universe.
      —How precious is the robe of righteousness Jesus spun for us by His perfect obedience to God’s law!
AND I BEHELD, AND LO A BLACK HORSE;
      —The condition of the third group of God’s professed people, who lived when Jesus walked on earth, is revealed by the color of the symbolic horse they were riding.
      —“The Light appeared when the world’s darkness was deepest . . . When Christ came to the earth, humanity seemed to be fast reaching its lowest point. The very foundations of society were undermined.” Ed 74.
      —“The deception of sin had reached its height . . . They had chosen a ruler who chained them to his car as captives. Bewildered and
Page 179

deceived, they were moving on in gloomy procession toward eternal ruin, —to death in which is no hope of life, toward night to which comes no morning . . . The very stamp of demons was impressed upon the countenances of men. Human faces reflected the expression of the legions of evil with which they were possessed . . .
      —“With intense interest the unfallen worlds had watched to see Jehovah arise, and sweep away the inhabitants of the earth . . . But instead of destroying the world, God sent His Son to save it. Though corruption and defiance might be seen in every part of the alien province, a way for its recovery was provided. At the very crisis, when Satan seemed about to triumph, the Son of God came with the embassage of divine grace. Through every age, through every hour, the love of God had been exercised toward the fallen race.” DA 36, 37. (Emphasis added.)
AND HE THAT SAT ON HIM
      —God’s church, who lived at the time when the Father sent His only begotten Son to dwell among men—
HAD A PAIR OF BALANCES IN HIS HAND.
      —The people, called by God’s name, had something to decide —something to weigh.
      —The symbolic rider of the black horse held up the balances —and all men made a choice.
          —Caiphas, the highest religious authority of the nation, asked God’s professed people a question: “What think ye?” —of Christ. Matthew 26:66.
AND I
      —John—
HEARD A VOICE IN THE MIDST OF THE FOUR BEASTS SAY,
      —(This announcement comes direct from the throne room!)
A MEASURE OF WHEAT
      —Jesus, the “Bread of life,” (John 6:35)—
FOR A PENNY:
      —a gift! The penny received in the parable of the labourers and the vineyard was given; it was not earned. Matthew 20:9.
          —“They knew that they had not earned the money given them. . . Thus it is with the poor sinner who knows his unworthiness.” RH July 24, 1900.
          —“The reward is not of works, lest any man should boast; but it is all of grace.” COL 401.
AND THREE MEASURES OF BARLEY
      —the bread of the common people—
FOR A PENNY:
      —Even the poorest may have salvation, if they will only accept the Bread of life as a gift to them!
      —“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. (Emphasis added.)
AND SEE THOU HURT NOT
      —do not despise, but cherish—
Page 180

THE OIL
      —which is “the righteousness of Christ,” (TM 234,) imparted to us through the Holy Spirit.
          —“The impartation of the Spirit is the impartation of the life of Christ.” DA 805.
          —In the parable of the ten virgins, the oil was the vital ingredient for entry into the marriage supper. Matthew 25:1-12.
      —The voice from the throne room in heaven continues:
      See thou hurt not the oil
AND THE WINE.
      —The wine is Christ’s blood “of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28, 29.
      —The heavenly voice still pleads with us today, as it did with God’s people in the days of Christ:
      “See thou hurt not the oil and the wine.”
      —Do not despise, but appreciate, the life Jesus lived for you —His lawkeeping—
          —so that He can give you the “oil” —His righteousness —as a gift! See TM 234.
          —Do not despise, but be grateful for the death Jesus died for you, for the remission of your sins,
          —so that He can pay your eternal death penalty by the “wine” —His precious blood! See Matthew 26:27-29.
      —The oil and the wine! —what a blessed legacy for all to treasure!

      —Jesus was the antitypical Lamb in the outer court —this world during the time of the third seal period.
          —“He occupies the double position of Offerer and of Offering. . . Christ . . . took the form of a servant, and offered the sacrifice, Himself the Priest, Himself the Victim.” QD 667.
          —“Type met antitype in the death of Christ, the Lamb slain for the sins of the world . . . Our great High Priest completed the sacrificial offering of Himself when He suffered without the gate. Then a perfect atonement was made for the sins of the people.” QD 663. (Emphasis added.)
      —God’s professed people, who saw in the humble Nazarene their hope of eternal life, and who accepted by faith His sacrifice for them, will have their pages, in the third section of the book of life, sealed with the heavenly visa, when Jesus examines their names.
      —But others said: “‘We have no king but Caesar.’ Thus by choosing a heathen ruler, the Jewish nation had withdrawn from the theocracy. They had rejected God as their king.” DA 738.

The Opening of the Fourth Seal:
AND WHEN HE
      —our great High Priest—
HAD OPENED THE FOURTH SEAL
      —on the book of life, He investigates the lives of His professed followers who live after He ascended to heaven.
Page 181

      —As the fourth seal period begins, the priesthood again changes: Jesus Himself is the High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary!
          —No longer need sinful humanity await the coming of the earthly high priest. The true High Priest has completed the atonement with His perfect life and His death on the cross!
      —At His ascension, Jesus entered upon His work of ministration in the heavenly sanctuary.
          —“So did Christ plead His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners, and present before Him also, with the precious fragrance of His own righteousness, the prayers of penitent believers. ‘ GC 421. (Emphasis added.)
          —“. . . 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 true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Hebrews 8:1, 2.
AND I HEARD THE VOICE OF THE FOURTH BEAST SAY, COME AND SEE.
      —Each of the four seraphim have their turn in calling the attention of the heavenly host to the opening of the first four seals. And these heavenly seraphim are eager for the earthly family, as well as the family above, to behold the marvelous transactions, which are going on for God’s people in the investigative judgment.
AND I LOOKED, AND BEHOLD A PALE HORSE:
—After Jesus ascended to heaven, “Satan again counseled with his angels, and with bitter hatred against God’s government told them that while he retained his power and authority upon earth their efforts must be tenfold stronger against the followers of Jesus. They had prevailed nothing against Christ but must overthrow His followers, if possible. In every generation they must seek to ensnare those who would believe in Jesus. He related to his angels that Jesus had given His disciples power to rebuke them and cast them out, and to heal those whom they should afflict. Then Satan’s angels went forth like roaring lions, seeking to destroy the followers of Jesus.” EW 191, 192. (Emphasis added.)
AND HIS NAME THAT SAT ON HIM WAS DEATH,
      —The rider of the pale horse, God’s church, was named Death.
  —Many of the Christians, who proclaimed a living and ascended Christ, were persecuted, and gave their lives for their faith. But
          —“. . . the blood of Christians is seed.” GC 42. (Emphasis added.)
      —“In vain were Satan’s efforts to destroy the church of Christ by violence. The great controversy in which the disciples of Jesus yielded up their lives did not cease when these faithful standard bearers fell at their post. By defeat they conquered. God’s workmen were slain, but His work went steadily forward. The gospel continued to spread and the number of its adherents to increase.” GC 41. (Emphasis added.)
AND HELL FOLLOWED WITH HIM.
      —Satan’s forces, (Hell ) followed the rider of the horse, (Death,) with bitter hatred. “. . . Millions were slain without mercy.” EW 211.
Page 182

AND POWER WAS GIVEN UNTO THEM
      —The margin says: power was given unto “him”
      —which is Hell, or Satan and his angels.
OVER THE FOURTH PART OF THE EARTH
      —one quarter of the inhabitants—
TO KILL WITH SWORD, AND WITH HUNGER, AND WITH DEATH, AND WITH BEASTS OF THE EARTH.
      —“When Jesus revealed to His disciples the fate of Jerusalem and the scenes of the second advent, He foretold also the experience of His people from the time when He should be taken from them, to His return in power and glory for their deliverance. From Olivet the Saviour beheld the storms about to fall upon the apostolic church; and penetrating deeper into the future, His eye discerned the fierce, wasting tempests that were to beat upon His followers in coming ages of darkness and persecution . . . The followers of Christ must tread the same path of humiliation, reproach, and suffering which their Master trod. The enmity that burst forth against the world’s Redeemer would be manifested against all who should believe on His name.” GC 39. (Emphasis added.)
—When Jesus opens the fourth seal, He examines the records of His professed people who live while He is the great High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.
      —There are two exceptions:
          —The fifth seal group are the martyrs.
          —The sixth seal group include the 144,000.

The Opening of the Fifth Seal:
AND WHEN HE
      —the worthy Lamb—
HAD OPENED THE FIFTH SEAL,
      —on the book of life, He found a special group of His children whose records He was to cleanse —and then seal with the visa of His perfect righteousness.
I SAW UNDER THE ALTAR THE SOULS OF THEM THAT WERE SLAIN FOR THE WORD OF GOD, AND FOR THE TESTIMONY WHICH THEY HELD:
      —These are the martyrs who have actually given their living testimony with their life blood.
—“There was no pulpit like the martyr’s pile. The serene joy that lighted up the faces of these men as they passed along . . . to the place of execution, their heroism as they stood amid the bitter flames, their meek forgiveness of injuries, transformed, in instances not a few, anger into pity, and hate into love, and pleaded with resistless eloquence in behalf of the gospel.” GC 226. (Emphasis added.)
      —History records the triumphant death of one martyr —Berquin: “Amazement, indignation, scorn, and bitter hatred darkened the faces of that surging crowd; but upon one face no shadow rested. The martyr’s thoughts were far from that scene of tumult; he was conscious only of the presence of his Lord.
Page 183

      —“The wretched tumbrel upon which he rode, the frowning faces of his persecutors, the dreadful death to which he was going these he heeded not; He who liveth and was dead, and is alive for evermore, and hath the keys of death and of hell, was beside him. Berquin’s countenance was radiant with the light and peace of heaven. He had attired himself in goodly raiment, wearing ‘a cloak of velvet, a doublet of satin and damask, and golden hose.’ . . . He was about to testify to his faith in the presence of the King of kings and the witnessing universe, and no token of mourning should belie his joy. As the procession moved slowly through the crowded streets, the people marked with wonder the unclouded peace, the joyous triumph, of his look and bearing.” GC 218. (Emphasis added.)
AND THEY
      —the martyrs sealed under the fifth section of the book of life
CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, SAYING, HOW LONG, O LORD HOLY AND TRUE, DOST THOU NOT JUDGE AND AVENGE OUR BLOOD ON THEM THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH?
      —How much longer before the judgment and the punishment of the wicked?
      —“. . .As the blood of Abel cried from the ground, there are voices also crying to God from martyrs’ graves, from the sepulchers of the sea, from mountain caverns, from convent vaults: ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, cost Thou not judge . . .’” 5T 451.
AND WHITE ROBES
      —the robes of Christ’s righteousness, (GC 665)—
WERE GIVEN
      —as a gift —by applying the obedience of Christ to their records in the book of life, (See 1SM 367, 394; GC 484.)—
UNTO EVERY ONE OF THEM:
      —Not one of the martyrs, whose blood is crying to God from the ground, will have their names removed from the book of life when they are investigated. All will have the perfection of Christ applied to their records as their permanent sealing.
AND IT WAS SAID UNTO THEM THAT THEY SHOULD REST YET FOR A LITTLE SEASON,
      —in their graves. It would be but a little time until their sleep of death would end in the glorious resurrection. 1Corinthians 15:52.
      —(Giving white robes to those who are still in their graves awaiting the resurrection morning, is applying the righteousness of Jesus to their pages in the book of life —after their sins are blotted out.)
      —When are the voices to be heard from the graves of the martyrs? “When the defiance of God’s law is almost universal, when His people are pressed in affliction by their fellowmen, God will interpose. Then will the voice be heard from the graves of the martyrs . . .” 6BC 1081. (Emphasis added.)
      —When is the fifth seal opened in relation to the latter rain?
      “When the fifth seal was opened, John the revelator in vision saw beneath the altar the company that were slain for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. After this came the scenes
Page 184

described in the eighteenth of Revelation, when those who are faithful and true are called out from Babylon . . .” 7BC 968.
      —The martyrs were to rest in their graves, during the sealing of the investigative judgment—
UNTIL THEIR FELLOW SERVANTS ALSO AND THEIR BRETHREN, THAT SHOULD BE KILLED AS THEY WERE, SHOULD BE FULFILLED.
      —The number of those who are to be sealed under the fifth seal, is not yet complete.
      —Persecution lies ahead for God’s people. GC 581; Matthew 24:7-9.
      —“The persecutions of Protestants by Romanism, by which the religion of Jesus Christ was almost annihilated, will be more than rivaled when Protestantism and popery are combined.” Mar. 194.
      —John sees “the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God,” who refuse to worship the beast and his image. Revelation 20:4.
          —The image of the beast is yet to be formed. Revelation 13:11-17; GC 445.
          —The martyrs of the fifth seal are yet to be joined by their fellow servants. See 6BC 1081; 7BC 968.
      —At the time of the resurrection, all of the martyrs of the fifth seal will exchange their dusty beds for the peace of the new earth.
      —And because they were credited with the white robe of Christ’s perfection when they were sealed in the fifth section of the book of life, (see Revelation 6:11) they will be given literal white robes to wear in the heavenly courts.
          —This company was seen, in vision, walking in the new earth. They had “red as a border on their garments; their crowns were brilliant; their robes were pure white . . . They were martyrs that had been slain for Him. With them was an innumerable company of little ones; they also had a hem of red on their garments.” EW 18, 19.

The Opening of the Sixth Seal:
AND I BEHELD WHEN HE HAD OPENED THE SIXTH SEAL,
—to examine the pages of another group of God’s professed people—
AND, LO, THERE WAS A GREAT EARTHQUAKE:
      —John watches a series of events, which tell us when those, who are to be judged under the sixth seal, will be living.
      —These events are also signs that the second coming of Jesus is near. See Matthew 24:3, 7, 29-34.
      —In the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, “it has been estimated that ninety thousand persons lost their lives . . .” GC 305.
AND THE SUN BECAME BLACK AS SACKCLOTH OF HAIR,
      —There was a dense blackness at midday, on May 19, 1780 —a sign of Christ’s second coming, that was foretold in Matthew 24:29.
AND THE MOON BECAME AS BLOOD;
      —during the night which followed the dark day. This was another “herald” that the eternal morning was fast approaching. GC 306.
Page 185

AND THE STARS OF HEAVEN FELL UNTO THE EARTH,
      —on November 13, 1833—
EVEN AS A FIG TREE CASTETH HER UNTIMELY FIGS, WHEN SHE IS SHAKEN OF A MIGHTY WIND.
      —“. . . The whole firmament, over all the United States,” was “for hours, in fiery commotion!” GC 333.
AND THE HEAVEN DEPARTED AS A SCROLL WHEN IT IS ROLLED TOGETHER;
      —to make way for the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven. See Revelation 1:7; John 14:1-3; 1Thessalonians 4:16.
      —We are living in the stream of events between the 13th and 14th verses of Revelation 6.
      —(Many Bible prophecies have double fulfillment. It is possible that there will be additional signs in the sun, moon and stars before the heavens depart as a scroll to reveal our Lord in the sky.)
AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND ISLAND WERE MOVED OUT OF THEIR PLACES.
      —The earthquakes, near the time of Christ’s coming, will be so great, that the geography of all mountains and islands will be changed.
AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH, AND THE GREAT MEN,
AND THE RICH MEN, AND THE CHIEF CAPTAINS, AND THE MIGHTY MEN, AND EVERY BONDMAN, AND EVERY FREE MAN
      —all who did not accept the PARDON which heaven offered them
HID THEMSELVES IN THE DENS AND IN THE ROCKS OF THE MOUNTAINS;
      —many of which had been newly formed by the recent earthquakes—
AND SAID TO THE MOUNTAINS AND ROCKS, FALL ON US, AND HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE, AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB:
      —This is the emotional reaction of the group of people who were not sealed in the Lamb’s book of life. The wicked have slighted the world’s Redeemer, and they do not want to look on His face.
FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME;
      —They were warned of “the wrath of God” which was to be “poured out without mixture,” as the third angel’s message sounded around the world. (Revelation 14:10.) But—
          —they chose to wear robes of self-righteousness, instead of the beautiful robe of Christ’s righteousness.
          —They chose to receive the mark of the beast, instead of the seal of God.
          —Now they cry out, to be hidden from the face of the One whose love they have spurned.
AND WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?
      —No one! —except those whose names are left in the book of life.
          —Those who are sealed with the righteousness of Christ, will say, when they see the face of their Lord: “. . . Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us . . .” Isaiah 25:9.
      —There are only two groups on earth when Jesus returns. Which one will you belong to? What will you say when you see the face of the Son of God?
Page 186

The Emotional Reaction of Two Groups Described
      After the Opening of the Sixth Seal on the Book of Life:
      —Following the statement (in 9T 267) urging us
          —to study the fifth chapter of the book of Revelation, and
          —to prepare for them time when God pronounces judgment, is a sobering section.
      —Immediately following this counsel, two passages of Scripture are quoted —both taken from the text of the sixth-seal reference.
      —The first passage of Scripture quoted is Revelation 6:12-17.
          —and refers to those who were not sealed.
          —They are to cry for the rocks and the mountains to hide them from the face of Jesus.
      —The second passage of Scripture quoted is Revelation 7:9-17
          —and refers to those who are sealed.
          —They are to stand in front of God’s throne, with palms in their hands —singing praises to God and His dear Son.
      —“In these scriptures two parties are brought to view. One party permitted themselves to be deceived and took sides with those with whom the Lord has a controversy. They misinterpreted the messages sent them and clothed themselves in robes of self-righteousness. Sin was not sinful in their eyes. They taught falsehood as truth, and by them many souls were led astray.
      —“We need now to take heed to ourselves. Warnings have been given. . . . Probation still lingers, and it is our privilege to lay hold of the hope set before us in the gospel. Let us repent and be converted and
forsake our sins, that they may be blotted out . . .
      —“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord cloth come . . .”Matthew 24:42-51.” 9T 268, 269. (Emphasis added.)

      —Notice the following points regarding the above statement:
          1. One party —some of those who will call for the rocks to hide them— are religious teachers.
          2. They permit themselves to be deceived.
          3. They take sides with God’s opposition.
          4. God sends messages of warning —and love— to them.
          5. They clothe themselves “in robes of self-righteousness.”
          6. “Sin” —apparently the sin of self-righteousness —is not “sinful in their eyes.”
          7. By these self-righteous teachers of God’s professed people, who trust in their own righteousness, instead of the righteousness of the worthy Lamb of Revelation 5, “many souls” are “led astray.”
      —Let us paraphrase a part of Matthew 24:42-51 quoted in this warning:
      But and if
          that professed servant or worker or teacher of God,
      shall say in his heart, my Lord delayeth His coming;
          and shall place his affections on things in this world,
          and shall secure many luxuries for himself;
      And shall begin to smite his fellow servants,
          opposing the testimony of the True Witness to the Laodiceans;
Page 187

      and to eat and drink with the drunken;
          —partaking of the wine from Babylon —the false doctrine of righteousness by works;
          —and shall become drunk with the cares of this life —absorbed in matters that have no bearing on the eternal world;
      The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
          —to examine his page in the book of life, during the investigative judgment
      And shall cut him asunder,
          —blot his name out of the book of life
and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites:
          —all the rest of the professed children of God who are clinging to their robes of self-righteousness.
          —And in the day when he is fully aware of the irrevocable decision which has passed the heavenly tribunal,
          —its consequences, and his losses—
      there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

      —Some professed Christians trust partly in Christ and partly in themselves. They say —He makes up the difference. What we can’t do, He does for us.
      —How much is this difference which Christ makes up —for our daily lives, and for our page in the book of life? The difference is everything! The difference that Christ makes up is the total amount of absolute righteousness needed to answer the demands of the law!
      —Christ’s righteousness may be likened to the electric power coming from a dam high in the mountains. In order to tap this current to have light, we don’t have to build the dam ourselves, nor divert the water, nor construct the power house, nor plant the high-line towers, or string the electric wire. That part has all been done for us by Another. All we have to do to get this light —this perfect righteousness —is to turn the switch! If we believe the power is there, and repent of our sins, we shall reach up by faith, and accept the righteousness of Christ’s power line. Then the flood of light enters the rooms of our heart, and we have perfect righteousness by faith, because of the work of our elder Brother.
      —There is enough perfection coming from Christ’s life of perfect obedience to completely satisfy the demands of the law. The only way we can have that kind of righteousness is to accept it by faith from Jesus, who worked it out for us nineteen hundred years ago. The dam is built; the power is there. Jesus “prevailed” —by His perfect life and His atoning death!
      —And this is the same perfection that will be added to the pages of the book of life —for God’s pardoned children when they are sealed!
      —But let us remember that we cannot turn this powerful switch if we have one cherished sin in our lives. (COL 316; See 1SM 360.) Unless we have permitted God to work the miracle of Genesis 3:15 in our hearts, we cannot receive His power —His perfection. GC 505, 506.
Page 188

The Seal of God Placed on the Foreheads of the 144,000:

Revelation 7.
AND AFTER THESE THINGS
      —the story of the events which mark the period of earth’s history when God’s people will be living, who are to be sealed under the sixth seal—
I SAW FOUR ANGELS STANDING ON THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH, HOLDING THE FOUR WINDS OF THE EARTH,
      —“Winds are a symbol of strife.” GC 440; See Jeremiah 49:36, 37.
      —Picture, with John, these four powerful angels. Imagine which are the four areas on our globe, where these angels might have their four headquarters, as they strive to hold peace among the nations.
      —They are holding the four winds
THAT THE WIND SHOULD NOT BLOW ON THE EARTH,
NOR ON THE SEA,
NOR ON ANY TREE.
      —What do these things symbolize in Bible prophecy?
          —Seas in prophecy, are “crowded and struggling nationalities.” “. . .The waters which thou sawest, . . . are peoples, and multitudes, and nations and tongues.” GC 440; Revelation 17:15.
          —Earth in the prophecy of Revelation 13:11, is a symbol of “territory previously unoccupied” with “other powers,” —or sparsely settled land. See GC 440.
          —Trees in prophecy are individuals —green trees-represent the righteous, and dry trees are a symbol of the wicked, who are spiritually dead. See Luke 23:21; Psalms 1:3; DA 743.
      —There would be unimaginable strife if it were not for these four mighty angels who carry out God’s orders.
      —“Men cannot discern the sentinel angels restraining the four winds that they shall not blow until the servants of God are sealed; but when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture.” 6T 408. (Emphasis added.)
      —How long are they to hold the winds of strife? What are they waiting for?
      —Look with John toward the rising of the sun.
AND I SAW ANOTHER ANGEL ASCENDING FROM THE EAST,
      —the angel Gabriel, coming direct from God’s throne, (TM 444, DA 99, 234; Luke 1:19.)
HAVING THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD.
      —What is a seal? It is the official authority of an individual, a government, or an organization.
      —What does a seal contain? Usually a seal has three parts:
          —the name, telling who the individual, government, or organization is;
          —the title, or position, giving the reason for his or its authority;
          —the dominion, defining the location or area of the official sphere of influence.
Page 189

      —Where is the seal of the living God to be found? His authentic seal would be found in a legal document.

      —Let us examine the Decalogue,
          —which was written by God’s own finger
          —on two tables of stone,
          —and placed inside the ark of the covenant in the sanctuary.
(Exodus 20:3-17; 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:10; Hebrews 9:3, 4.)

God’s Seal in the Fourth Commandment:
      “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

His Name:  —The Lord thy God.
      —But the seventh day is the Sabbath of then Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

His Title:  —Creator.
      —For in six days the Lord made

His Dominion:  Heaven, Earth, and Sea.
      —Heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11.

      —“The seal of God’s law is found in the fourth commandment. This only, of all the ten, brings to view both the name and the title of the Lawgiver. It declares Him to be the Creator of the heavens and the earth, and thus shows His claim to reverence and worship above all others. Aside from this precept, there is nothing in the Decalogue to show by whose authority the law is given.” GC 452. (Emphasis added.)
      —“The Sabbath is not introduced as a new institution but as having been founded at creation. It is to be remembered and observed as the memorial of the Creator’s work. Pointing to God as the Maker of the heavens and the earth, it distinguishes the true God from all false gods. All who keep the seventh day, signify by this act that they are worshipers of Jehovah. Thus the Sabbath is the sign of man’s allegiance to God as long as there are any upon the earth to serve Him. The fourth commandment is the only one of all the ten in which are found both the name and the title of the Lawgiver. It is the only one that shows by whose authority the law is given. Thus it contains the seal of God, affixed to His law as evidence of its authenticity and binding force.” PP 307. (Emphasis added.)
      —The reason for God’s authority in presenting the ten commandment Decalogue to man, is that He is their Creator, as well as the Creator of all things.
Page 190

      —Sabbath observance becomes the official “sign” between God and His people —between the Creator and the created!
          —“Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them . . .
          —“And hallow My Sabbaths; that they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God.” Ezekiel 20:12, 20. (Emphasis added.)
      —The Sabbath is sacred time —to be set aside for communion with our Maker. As we enter into its special blessing, we share God’s covenant promises —and learn to know Him as our God, too!
          —“The Sabbath is a sign of the relationship existing between God and His people, a sign that they honor His law. It distinguishes between His loyal subjects and transgressors.” 6T 349, 350.
      —Every Sabbath is a memorial of the great creation week —the weekly birthday of the world. God places a special blessing on this memorial of creation!
          —“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day . . . And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it . . .” Genesis 2:1-3.
          —God rested on the Sabbath —this first Sabbath of the creation week. Then He blessed this holy day, and sanctified it —and handed it to man as a special treasure.
          —The Sabbath is God’s “Family day”—
          —the day He especially visited with Adam and Eve—
          —the day He longs to visit with us!
          —“And I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord, and they shall be My people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7.
      —When man ignores or neglects his Sabbath communion with his Maker, he is the loser. He is robbing himself of a wonderful friendship —and bringing loneliness to the heart of his Creator.
      —But when man values this time as a special opportunity to know his Creator better, there is a companionship that grows sweeter with every passing Sabbath!
      —Sabbath observance comes to mean much more than just refraining from work; it becomes a vibrant, glowing experience!
      —How thankful humanity should be for this day of God’s appointment —this holy time when He draws near, to commune with His people in a very special way!
      —As Sabbath observance becomes an experience, we sing with David:
          —“Oh how love I Thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97.
          —“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul . . . The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: . . . The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes . . .
          —“More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Psalm 19:7-10. (Emphasis added.)
Page 191

      —John watches, as the angel Gabriel comes from the east, “having the seal of the living God” —the seal which is found in the fourth commandment of His holy law. See Revelation 7:2; GC 640.
AND HE
      —the angel Gabriel—
CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE TO THE FOUR ANGELS, TO WHOM IT WAS GIVEN TO HURT THE EARTH AND THE SEA, SAYING, HURT NOT THE EARTH, NEITHER THE SEA, NOR THE TREES, TILL WE HAVE SEALED THE SERVANTS OF OUR GOD IN THEIR FOREHEADS.
      —“. . . It was God that restrained the powers, and . . . He gave His angels charge over things on the earth . . . While their hands were loosening, and the four winds were about to blow, the merciful eye of Jesus gazed on the remnant that were not sealed, and He raised His hands to the Father and pleaded with Him that He had spilled His blood for them . . . With a voice of deep pity [He] cried, ‘My blood, Father, My blood, My blood, My blood!’ Then I saw an exceeding bright light come from God, who sat upon the great white throne, and was shed all about Jesus. Then I saw an angel with a commission from Jesus, swiftly flying to the four angels who had a work to do on the earth, and waving something up and down in his hand, and crying with a loud voice, ‘Hold! Hold! Hold! Hold! until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads.’” EW 38.
      —Picture Jesus as He stands before the Father, looking down at His remnant people —unprepared, unsealed.
      —See Him stretch forth His pierced hands, as He presents to His Father the sacrifice of Calvary —and pleads for an extension of time!

          —Wait Father! I died for them!
          —Wait— just a little longer before letting the four winds blow!
          —Wait— until Our people have let Us put hatred for sin in their hearts — hatred for all of their cherished idols which separate them from Us!
          —Wait—until they have taken off their robes of self-righteousness, and have accepted Our PARDON and PERFECTION.
          —Wait— yes, wait a moment longer.
          —Wait— until Our seal is placed upon them!

      —A new pact of peace is made between the Father and the Son!
      —Gabriel speeds on his way with the urgent message to the four angels, who are holding the winds of strife:
          —“Saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.”
      —Professed child of God, how much longer are we going to keep Jesus —and the four angels —waiting?
      —Every day that goes by, adds up a terrible account of woe, which pierces to the heart of God. How it must wring His tender heart, as He looks down on this miserable world, and sees His children, of all nationalities, in the agony of sin!
      —How many more days will the anguish of this old world continue, because of God’s people who are unprepared?
Page 192

What is the difference in being sealed with God’s seal in the forehead and being sealed in the book of life?

      —There is no difference in the seal!
      —God’s seal is perfect righteousness —a transcript of His character
          —as revealed in the Decalogue,
          —as exemplified in the earthly life of Jesus, and
          —as identified in the fourth commandment.

      —When God’s seal is stamped on a page in the book of life, that person has received a MARK OF PERFECTION,
          —which becomes his legal permission to enter heaven!
      —When God’s seal is stamped on the forehead of an individual, he has received a MARK OF PROTECTION.
          —which angel eyes can see during the seven last plagues!

      —The MARK OF PROTECTION
          —is not placed on the forehead of an individual, until the mark of perfection has been placed on his page in the book of life.
          —“A mark is placed upon every one of God’s people just as verily as a mark was placed over the doors of the Hebrew dwellings, to preserve the people from the general ruin . . .
          —“All who cherish the Lord as their portion in this life will be under His control, and will receive the sign, the mark of God, which shows them to be God’s special possession.” 7BC 969.
          —“What is the seal of the living God, which is placed in the foreheads of His people? It is a mark which angels, but not human eyes can read; for the destroying angel must see this MARK OF REDEMPTION. The intelligent mind has seen the sign of the cross of Calvary in the Lord’s adopted sons and daughters. The sin of the transgression of the law of God is taken away. They have on the wedding garment, and are obedient and faithful to all God’s commands.” 7BC 968. (Emphasis added.)

      —When this MARK OF REDEMPTION
          —is stamped on the foreheads of God’s living people, they are redeemed from the destruction of the wicked in the seven last plagues.
      —When this MARK OF REDEMPTION
          —is stamped on a page in the book of life, that person is redeemed from the death penalty which God’s law demands of the sinner.

      —The MARK OF PERFECTION
          —contains God’s seal —perfect Sabbath-keeping —along with the perfect observance of the other nine commandments.
          —“The eternal righteousness of Christ is placed to the account of every believing soul.” 1SM 394. (Emphasis added.)
          —This visa of perfect lawkeeping is placed on the passports of all of God’s repentant, believing children —as a gift —the gift of eternal life!
Page 193

The Completeness of the MARK OF PERFECTION:
      —Those who are sealed in the book of life receive credit for keeping the ten commandments, even though they may never have heard of them, or only have a faint shadow of understanding what they really mean. (This includes all of us.)
      —No one but Jesus has ever kept the Sabbath perfectly. No one but Jesus has ever held perfect communion with the Father on this day. Jesus could keep the Sabbath holy, because He was holy. He had both the inward and the outward Sabbath observance required by God’s law, as He dwelt with men on earth.
          —“Christ was a living representative of the law.” DA 287; See John 15:10; DA 283. (Emphasis added.)
          —This is a picture of the completeness of the PERFECTION that Christ places on the pages of the book of life —where PARDON is found!
      —PARDON is granted to those who believe in Jesus and repent of sin, regardless of the extent of their knowledge.
          —And God even takes into consideration how much opportunity each person has had to believe —and the circumstances of his environment: “The Lord shall count, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.” Psalm 87:6.
          —“There are many of whom ministers and churches know nothing. But in lowly, miserable places they are the Lord’s witnesses. They may have had little light, and few opportunities for Christian training; but in the midst of nakedness, hunger, and cold they are seeking to minister to others.” COL 234.
      —PARDON and PERFECTION are also extended to another group of people, who are honest in heart, but who have had no opportunity to hear the story of Jesus:
          —In heaven they will look at the nail-pierced hands of the Master and will ask Him, “. . .What are these wounds in Thine hands’ Then He shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends.” Zechariah 13:6. (Forgiving Saviour!)
          —Then they will hear redemption’s story for the first time from the lips of the Redeemer Himself’
          —This group were sealed with Christ’s perfection in the book of life, sometime during the investigative judgment —praise be to God! But they understood it not.
          —They were credited with the righteousness of One whose righteousness was equal to that of God the Father. But they didn’t even know it!
      —“When we do our best, He becomes our righteousness . . .
      Christ looks at the spirit, and when He sees us carrying our burden with faith, His perfect holiness atones for our shortcomings.” 1SM
368. (Emphasis added.)
      —“. . . The Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner’s account. Christ’s righteousness is accepted in place of man’s failure, and God receives, pardons, justifies, the repentant, believing soul, treats him as though he were righteous, and loves him as He loves His Son.” 1SM 367. (Emphasis added.)
Page 194

All who Receive the Seal in Their Foreheads Must Honor the Sabbath:
      —In the closing days of earth’s history, Sabbath observance will be a national and universal test. (Study Chapter 5.) All of those who are alive, in this last period of time, will be aware of the issues at stake.
      —Only those who honor and love God’s Sabbath, at this time of test, will receive the seal of God in their foreheads, or on their pages in the book of life.
          —They will be willing to stand loyally for God’s law when multitudes despise it.
          —They esteem God’s Sabbath even above life itself.
      —“Those who would have the seal of God in their foreheads must keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. This is what distinguishes them from the disloyal, who have accepted a man-made institution in place of the true Sabbath. The observance of God’s rest day is the MARK OF DISTINCTION between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.” 7BC 970. (Emphasis added.)
      —“. . . The seal of the living God is placed upon those who conscientiously keep the Sabbath of the Lord.” 7BC 980.
      —All who do not have God’s seal impressed on their foreheads, will be bearing another sign for the angels to see. It is the mark of the beast. See Revelation 13:16; 14:9-12; GC 445-450; Chapter 5.
      —Everyone living on earth in the final moment of time, will have one mark or the other on his forehead. 7BC 980 says:
          —“In the issue of the great contest two parties are developed, those who ‘worship the beast and his image,’ and receive his mark, and those who receive ‘the seal of the loving God,’ who have the ‘Father’s name written in their foreheads.’”
          —Suppose our human eyes could be opened to see those marks at that last hour. How terrifying it would be to look out at the mass of the population as they passed by! How we would wish that we had done more to point our neighbors and friends to Jesus!
          —And if the veil were removed from our eyes, so that we could see as the angels, what mark would we see in the mirror?
          —“In every case the great decision is to be made whether we shall receive the mark of the beast or his image, or the seal of the living God.” 6T 130. (Emphasis added.)
      —“The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. While the observance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God’s law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God.” GC 605. (Emphasis added.)
Page 195

The Difference Between the Fourth Seal and the Sixth Seal Candidates:
      —Many of God’s honest children, living in the time of the end, have not seen the light of the Sabbath —and they are true Christians.
          —“. . . There are now true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion, who honestly believe that Sunday is the Sabbath of divine appointment. God accepts their sincerity of purpose and their integrity before Him. But when Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God.” GC 449; See GC 383, 390, 565; EW 258.
      —God’s honest children, living in the time of the end, who pass to their rest before the light is brought to them on the Sabbath, will be sealed with Christ’s perfect lawkeeping in the fourth section of the book of life. ( —the same as their previous companions.)
      —But those of God’s honest children, living since the time of the end began, who honor His holy rest day, and receive the seal of God in their foreheads, will be sealed with Christ’s perfection, in the sixth section of the book of life.
      —(Those of the 144,000, who may be raised in the special resurrection at the beginning of the seventh plague, will no doubt be stamped with the seal of God in their foreheads, also —to be preserved in the great battle of Armageddon. See Chapter 6 on this battle; and Chapter 2 for details of the 144,000 —in the section on Philadelphia; and the Appendix for more on the seals and sealing.)
AND I
      —John—
HEARD THE NUMBER OF THEM THAT WERE SEALED,
      —with God’s seal in their foreheads.
      —God wanted John to know the exact number who receive His special mark. John did not estimate the number; he “heard.”
      —All of the 144,000, and all of the great multitude, “which no man could number,” (of Revelation 7:9) are sealed in the book of life.
      —But the 144,000 have God’s seal in their foreheads, as well. They are all alive during the “final” outpouring of the seven last plagues
          —after the special resurrection. See GC 636-641, 649.
AND THERE WERE SEALED AN HUNDRED AND FORTY AND FOUR THOUSAND.
      —The sixth section of the book of life is sealed just the same as the preceding five sections.
          —These, too, need their pardoned sins blotted out.
          —These, too, need the visa of righteousness from Christ.
      —John listens to the beautiful song the 144,000 sing, up on the sea of glass. (Revelation15:3, 4.) Do they ascribe holiness to themselves?
          —“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, . . .Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy . . .” (Emphasis added.)
Page 196

The 144,000 are God’s “Servants.”
      —“. . . Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Revelation 7:3.
      —They will someday sing the song of Moses and the Lamb —which is a song of intercessors! They are permitted to sing this song, because they learn on earth to pray the prayer of Moses and the Lamb —interceding for lost sinners.
          —Moses went before the Lord to ask for an atonement to be made for the sins of the children of Israel. He pled with God to forgive the iniquity of His people. His intercession was so deep that he was willing to have his own name removed from God’s book. See Exodus 32:30-32.
          —“His intercessions here illustrate Christ’s love and mediation for the sinful race.” 7BC 987.
          —Jesus, the Lamb of God, lived and prayed for His people while He was on earth. His entire thought and life was for their salvation. Meditate on His prayer of intercession, just before His death, as He again poured out His soul in earnest supplication to God for “them which Thou hast given Me.” This prayer is found in John 17:9-26.
          —“This prayer [of John 17] is a lesson regarding the intercession that the Saviour would carry on within the veil, when His great sacrifice in behalf of men, the offering of Himself, should have been completed.” QD 682.
      —God’s “servants,” who will someday sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, will stand between the living and the dead —intercessors between God and His sinful people. (See Numbers 16:48.)
          —“Those who walk even as Christ walked, who are patient, gentle, kind, meek and lowly in heart, those who yoke up with Christ and lift His burdens, who yearn for souls as He yearned for them —these will enter into the joy of their Lord.” COL 373; See COL 49, 50.
          —The 144,000 will be “girded with the whole armor, ready to engage in the work of saving those who are ready to perish.” Revelation 14:1 with 7BC 978.
      —God’s servants will pray —and live— for others during their walk on earth. They will help to repair the breach which sin has made.
          —They will talk to God about their neighbors, and talk to their neighbors about God!
          —The 144,000 will permit God to control their minds, and will not wish to do anything which would break their communion with their Master.
      —“In this world their minds were consecrated to God . . .” AA 591. (Emphasis added.)
      —“Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand.” 7BC 970. (Emphasis added.)
          —It is an experience that makes a person a part of the 144,000.
      —Those who serve God on earth, will also serve God —and the tribe they represent —on Mount Zion someday. (See Chapter 7.)
Page 197

The Representatives of the Twelve Tribes of Israel —the 144,000:
      —And there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand—
OF ALL THE TRIBES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
      —The redeemed of all ages will belong to one of these twelve tribes.
          —“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29.
          —The 144,000, sealed under the sixth seal, are to sit on the throne of David, and represent their tribe in the government of heaven.
          —The 144,000 are identified as the Philadelphians in Chapter 2 (Compare Revelation 3:12 with 14:1, and EW 15.)
          —The Speaker to the Philadelphia church is holding the key of David in His hand. See Revelation 3:7.
          —“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:31-33. (Emphasis added.)
          —Those who stand on Mount Zion, with Jesus, will reign with Him on the throne of David. See Revelation 14:1; 22:4, 5; AA 590, 591; GC 416, 426.
      —The names of the twelve tribes of Israel are written on the gates of the New Jerusalem. See Revelation 21:12, and Chapter 7.
      —All who become residents of the New Jerusalem will belong to one of these twelve tribes. It may be that God will assign each one of the redeemed to the tribe which is nearest in resemblance to his own individual experience or characteristics.
      —Try to imagine which tribe you might be assigned to!
OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH WERE SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND.
      —(They are not the entire tribe; they are only of the tribe of Judah.)
      —As Jacob lay on his death bed, he called his sons to him, and bestowed on them his parting blessing.
      “He saw in his sons evidence of true repentance, he saw his family surrounded by all the conditions needful for the development of a great nation; and his faith grasped the sure promise of their future establishment in Canaan . . .
      —“At the last, all the sons of Jacob were gathered about his dying bed. And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, ‘Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father,’ ‘that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.’ Often and anxiously he had thought of their future, and had endeavored to picture to himself the history of the different tribes Now as his children waited to receive his last blessing, the Spirit of inspiration rested upon him; and before him in prophetic vision the future of his descendants was unfolded. One after another, the names of his sons were mentioned, the character of each was described, and the future history of the tribe was briefly foretold.” PP 233, 235. (Emphasis added.)
      —“Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise . . .
Page 198

      —“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come . . .” Genesis 49:8-10.
      —“The crowning blessings of the birthright were transferred to Judah. The significance of the name —which denotes praise —is unfolded in the prophetic history of this tribe . . .” PP 236. David, who held the scepter, was of the tribe of Judah.
      —“The Messiah was to be of the royal line . . .” AA 223.
          —Jesus was “the Root of David,” —the true “Lion of the tribe of Judah.” Revelation 5:5.
OF THE TRIBE OF REUBEN WERE SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND.
      —Reuben was the firstborn, the “excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power.” But Reuben was “unstable as water.” Genesis 49:3, 4.
      —Some ugly things are recorded of Reuben; but he repented!
      —“Inspiration faithfully records the faults of good men, those who were distinguished by the favor of God; indeed, their faults are more fully presented than their virtues . . .
      —“Men whom God favored, and to whom He entrusted great responsibilities, were sometimes overcome by temptation and committed sin, even as we at the present day strive, waver, and frequently fall into error. Their lives, with all their faults and follies, are open before us, both for our encouragement and warning. If they had been represented as without fault, we, with our sinful nature, might despair at our own mistakes and failures. But seeing where others struggled through discouragements like our own, where they fell under temptation as we have done, and yet took heart again and conquered through the grace of God, we are encouraged in our striving after righteousness. As they, though sometimes beaten back, recovered their ground, and were blessed of God, so we too may tee overcomers in the strength of Jesus. On the other hand, the record of their lives may serve as a warning to us. It shows that God will by no means clear the guilty. He sees sin in His most favored ones, and He deals with it in them even more strictly than in those who have less light and responsibility.” PP 238. (Emphasis added.)
      —Let those who have fallen take hope. Though the past may be ugly, God can make something beautiful out of your life!
      —Though we may have undesirable characteristics, still, if we repent, and accept the provisions of the atonement, we may become “servants” of God, and be included in the sealing of the 144,000!
THE TRIBE OF GAD WERE SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND.
      —“. . . A troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.” Genesis 49:19.
      —Beautiful promise! Those who are caught in the enemy’s trap may escape, and may also become members of the 144,000!
      —With God there are no impossibilities —no power so strong but that l le can command release!
          —“. . . The things which are impossible with men are possible with God . . . If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” Luke 18:27; Mark 9:23.
Page 199

      —As God helps these 12,000 Gadites escape from the enemy’s clutches, they become soul-winners —and help others to escape!
OF THE TRIBE OF ASER WERE SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND.
      —“Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.” Genesis 49:20.
      —Perhaps some of those who deal their bread to the hungry, (Isaiah 58:7), or those who cry unto God at midnight for loaves to feed those who are in need, (Luke 11:5-10; COL 148), will be counted among the tribe of the Asherites.
      —Their bread —either spiritual or literal— is of the very finest available!
OF THE TRIBE OF NEPTHALIM WERE SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND.
      —“Naphtali . . . giveth goodly words.” Genesis 49:21.
      —“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that . . . saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” Isaiah 52:7. See Isaiah 51:16.
      —“Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9.
OF THE TRIBE OF MANASSES WERE SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND.
      —Manasseh and Ephraim were sons of Joseph, and grandsons of the aged Jacob. The “double portion of the inheritance” went to Joseph. See PP 235; Ezekiel 47:13.
          —(During the years of the theocracy, Manasseh and Ephraim were both included in the twelve tribes of Israel. But on the gates of the New Jerusalem, (Revelation 21), and in this list of those sealed among the 144,000, (Revelation 7), the name of Ephraim is missing, and the name of Joseph takes his place. Why is that? Listen to what God says of him: “Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.” Hosea 4:17.)
      —“These youths [Manasseh and Ephraim] were connected, through their mother, with the highest order of the Egyptian priesthood; and the position of their father opened to them the avenues to wealth and distinction, should they choose to connect themselves with the Egyptians.” PP 234.
      —Manasseh turned his back on great riches, and took his place “among the despised shepherd tribes, to whom had been entrusted the oracles of God.” PP 234.
      —Perhaps the name of the apostle Matthew will be underneath Manasseh’s gate on the foundations of the New Jerusalem.
          —“To Matthew in his wealth, and to Andrew and Peter in their poverty, the same test was brought; the same consecration was made by each. At the moment of success, when the nets were filled with fish, and the impulses of the old life were strongest, Jesus asked the disciples at the sea to leave all for the work of the gospel. So every soul is tested as to whether the desire for temporal good or for fellowship with Christ is strongest. DA 273. (Emphasis added.)
Page 200



OF THE TRIBE OF SIMEON WERE SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND.
      —Simeon was an instrument “of cruelty.” Genesis 49:5.
      —He and Levi “had been united in their cruelty toward the Shechemites, and they had also been the most guilty in the selling of Joseph.” (PP 235.) But these cruel men repented!
      —“. . .Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
      —“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:” (Isaiah 1:18, 19), —and may even belong to the special group of the 144,000!
OF THE TRIBE OF LEVI WERE SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND.
      —Levi was cursed with Simeon. “In the case of this tribe, however, their fidelity to Jehovah when the other tribes apostatized, secured their appointment to the sacred service of the sanctuary, and thus the curse was changed into a blessing.” PP 236.
      —“The priesthood was apportioned to Levi . . .” PP 235.
      —The Levites stood alone in defending the honor of the law of God.
      —“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.” Exodus 32:26. (Emphasis added.)
OF THE TRIBE OF ISSACHAR WERE SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND.
      —“Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.” Genesis 49:14, 15.
      —If something really needs to be done, call upon one who is already busy—one who can, by God’s grace, bear two burdens. Call upon a cheerful Issacharite!
      —For him, the reward is pleasant!
OF THE TRIBE OF ZABULON WERE SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND.
      —“Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships . . .” Genesis 49:13.
      —Storm-tossed vessels on the sea of life can find comfort in the havens of the Zebulunites, which point them the way to the eternal harbor.
      —They live in the house by the side of the road to be a friend to man!
OF THE TRIBE OF JOSEPH WERE SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND.
      —“Joseph is a fruitful bough . . .The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob . . .The blessings . . . shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.” Genesis 49:22-26.
      —Joseph went to prison rather than commit a wrong act.
      —He was faithful to God in the smallest details, while living alone in a country where God was not known.
Page 201

      —“. . . Joseph’s character bore the test alike of adversity and prosperity. The same fidelity to God was manifest when he stood in the palace of the Pharaohs as when in a prisoner’s cell. He was still a stranger in a heathen land, separated from his kindred, the worshipers of God; but he fully believed that the divine hand had directed his steps, and in constant reliance upon God he faithfully discharged the duties of his position . . .
      —“There are few who realize the influence of the little things of life upon the development of character. Nothing with which we have to do is really small. The varied circumstances that we meet day by day are designed to test our faithfulness, and to qualify us for greater trusts. By adherence to principle in the transactions of ordinary life, the mind becomes accustomed to hold the claims of duty above those of pleasure and inclination. Minds thus disciplined are not wavering between right and wrong, like the reed trembling in the wind; they are loyal to duty because they have trained themselves to habits of fidelity and truth. By faithfulness in that which is least, they acquire strength to be faithful in greater matters.” PP 222, 223. (Emphasis added.)
      —(Of Jacob’s twelve sons, Dan’s name is excluded from the registry in the Revelation. The birthright, which might have been his, is bestowed on Joseph’s family.
      —What are Dan’s characteristics? Genesis 49:17 says:
          “Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.”
      —There was another, before Dan—“that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan,”—who was also an “accuser of our brethren.” Revelation 12:9, 10.
      —“It pains me to say that there are unruly tongues among church members. There are false tongues that feed on mischief . . . All have defects of character, and it is not hard to find something that jealousy can interpret to their injury . . . They gather up unguarded expressions from another, not considering that words may be uttered hastily and hence may not reflect the real sentiments of the speaker. But those unpremeditated remarks, often so trifling as to be unworthy of notice, are viewed through Satan’s magnifying glass, pondered, and repeated until molehills become mountains. Separated from God, the surmisers of evil become the sport of temptation. They scarcely know the strength of their feelings or the effect of their words. While condemning the errors of others, they indulge far greater errors themselves.” 5T 94, 95. (Emphasis added.)
OF THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN WERE SEALED TWELVE THOUSAND.
      —“Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.” Genesis 49:27.
      —The Benjaminites are aggressive, working at any hour in a cause they believe in. They share with others the results of their labors. Paul was a Benjaminite.
      —To which of these twelve tribes might you be assigned to—some happy day?
Page 202

The Great Multitude Which No Man Could Number:
AFTER THIS
      —after the sealing of the “servants” of God in their foreheads, 144,000 in number
I BEHELD,
      —John sees another group—
AND, LO, A GREAT MULTITUDE,
      —of the redeemed—
WHICH NO MAN COULD NUMBER, OF ALL NATIONS, AND KINDREDS, AND PEOPLE, AND TONGUES, STOOD BEFORE
THE THRONE, AND BEFORE THE LAMB,
      —The great multitude are different from the 144,000. As the redeemed gather around the throne in heaven, notice the location of the various groups:
          —“Nearest the throne are those who were once zealous in the cause of Satan, but who, plucked as brands from the burning, have followed their Saviour with deep, intense devotion. Next are those who perfected Christian characters in the midst of falsehood and infidelity, those who honored the law of God when the Christian world declared it void, and the millions, of all ages, who were martyred for their faith. And beyond is the ‘great multitude, which no man could number . . .’ Revelation 7:9.” GC 665. (Emphasis added.)
      —The great multitude, (as well as the 144,000), were
CLOTHED WITH WHITE ROBES,
      —“an emblem of the spotless righteousness of Christ which now is theirs.” GC 665.
AND PALMS IN THEIR HANDS;
      —“Their warfare is ended, their victory won. They have run the race and reached the prize. The palm branch in their hands is a symbol of their triumph . . .” GC 665.
AND CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE,
      —Think of what millions of voices must have sounded like to John!
SAYING, SALVATION TO OUR GOD WHICH SITTETH UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB.
      —Both the Father who gave, and the Son who was given, receive the love and devotion of the redeemed hosts.
          —“Upon the cross, Jesus was to gain the victory for them; that victory He desired them to accept as their own.” DA 490.
          —“His victory is ours.” DA 123.
      —“The redeemed raise a song of praise that echoes and reechoes through the vaults of heaven, ‘Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.’ And angel and seraph unite their voices in adoration. As the redeemed have beheld the power and malignity of Satan, they have seen, as never before, that no power but that of Christ could have made them conquerors . . . The burden of every song, the keynote of every anthem, is, Salvation to our God, and unto the Lamb.” GC 665. (Emphasis added.)
      —This is one of the seven great anthems recorded in the book of Revelation.
Page 203

As the Investigative Judgment Closes—After Six Seals are Removed—The Angels Sing an Anthem of Thanksgiving!
      —The angels have watched as Jesus has removed six seals from the book of life.
          —They have seen the pardoned sins blotted out of six sections of this family registry.
          —They have seen the visa of PERFECTION stamped on all of the pages where PARDON was found.
      —For six thousand years the angels have been watching the great controversy between Christ and Satan.
          —They have witnessed the hand to hand battle, as their loved Commander “prevailed” over Satan by His victorious life and His death on the cross.
          —They have used their tireless energies to help each of God’s children as they have faced their treacherous foe.
AND ALL THE ANGELS
      —God’s faithful ministers, who are gathered in the heavenly sanctuary as the investigative judgment comes to its close—
STOOD ROUND ABOUT THE THRONE, AND ABOUT THE ELDERS AND THE FOUR BEASTS, AND FELL BEFORE THE THRONE ON THEIR FACES,
      —their gratitude was so deep, they could not remain standing—
AND WORSHIPPED GOD,
      —As the angels survey the atonement, they bow low before God’s throne. They marvel at His love—and the perfect plan of salvation!
      —The angels see, enrolled in the book of life, the names of many who they have guarded and loved, during the six thousand years.
          —Their names are sealed forever in the Lamb’s book of life.
          —Every page in this precious book is clean!
          —These redeemed sons and daughters of God will soon be enjoying the pleasures and companionships which they enjoy!
      —The angels pour out their worship to the Infinite One—
SAYING, AMEN: BLESSING, AND GLORY, AND WISDOM, AND THANKSGIVING, AND HONOR, AND POWER, AND MIGHT, BE UNTO OUR GOD FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN.
      —The angels’ anthem, at the close of the investigative judgment, mentions seven items of tribute to God. This chorus is nearly identical to the song which they sang at the beginning of the investigative judgment—when the Lamb that was slain went before the Father, and took the book of life from His hand. (See Revelation 5:7, 11.) There is only one change.
          —The word “riches” in the first anthem has been replaced.
          —It is changed to “thanksgiving” in the second anthem!
      —The riches of Christ’s righteousness has been applied to the records of His sealed family in the book of life—and thanksgiving follows!
      —How beautiful the sealing work has appeared to the angels, as they have witnessed the addition of Christ’s perfection to God’s pardoned children!
      —And how beautiful it appears to us, as we meditate upon the
Page 204

sanctuary service, and God’s marvelous provision for restoring harmony and peace to those who desire and accept it!
      —“. . . With humble hearts survey the atonement.” 1SM 343. (Emphasis added.)
      —“. . . Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Revelation 5:5. (Emphasis added.)
      —This is the most beautiful verse, of the most amazing section, of the greatest message of love—in the book of Revelation!
          —Jesus prevailed!
          —for you! He prevailed—for me!
          —He prevailed because of His great love for us—and He knew we could not prevail for ourselves!
      —As you listen by faith to the angels’ anthem of thanksgiving, permit a responding chord of praise to ascend from your own heart.
          —“. . . Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 7:12.

The Experience of the 144,000:
AND ONE OF THE ELDERS
      —a member of the human family, (Revelation 5:9)—
ANSWERED, SAYING UNTO ME,
      —John—
WHAT ARE THESE WHICH ARE ARRAYED IN WHITE ROBES? AND WHENCE CAME THEY?
      —He is referring to the 144,000, who are sealed under the sixth seal. See Revelation 7:15; 3:12; EW 15, 19; GC 649.
AND I SAID UNTO HIM, SIR, THOU KNOWEST.
      —John did not know who they were.
AND HE SAID UNTO ME, THESE ARE THEY WHICH CAME OUT OF GREAT TRIBULATION,
      —The 144,000 go through the “final outpouring of God’s judgments.” GC 649. (Notice the word “final.” Shortly before Jesus returns, there is to be a special resurrection. It will include “those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath.” EW 285. This resurrection takes place before the battle of Armageddon. See GC 636, 637; 7BC 983; Chapter 6.)
      —Why do God’s people need to go through the time of Jacob’s trouble? “God’s love for His children during the period of their severest trial is as strong and tender as in the days of their sunniest prosperity; but it is needful for them to be placed in the furnace of fire; their earthliness must be consumed, that the image of Christ may be perfectly reflected.” GC 621. (Emphasis added.)
AND HAVE WASHED THEIR ROBES, AND MADE THEM WHITE IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
      —Even this special group of soul-winners (intercessors) are to be sealed in the same way that all other groups are sealed:
      —through the blood of the atonement, and
      —with the white robe of Christ’s righteousness!
Page 205

      —These “servants” of God prove to the universe that they, too, need to accept Christ’s victory over sin as a gift to them.
      —All other proving was done by Christ!
          —“By His life and His death, Christ proved that. . . the law is righteous, and can be perfectly obeyed. Satan’s charges were refuted.” DA 672.
          —“We cannot answer the charges of Satan against us. Christ alone can make an effectual plea in our behalf.” 5T 472.
          —“Christ’s death proved God’s administration and government to be without a flaw. Satan’s charge in regard to the conflicting attributes of justice and mercy was forever settle beyond question.” QD 674.
          —All who are saved, including the 144,000, will reveal to the universe “the transforming power of redeeming love.” AA 49.
THEREFORE ARE THEY BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD, AND SERVE HIM DAY AND NIGHT IN HIS TEMPLE.
      —The 144,000 are to be “pillars” in the temple of God, and their foreheads will be marked with three inscriptions:
          —“. . . I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, . . . and I will write upon him My new name.” Revelation 3:12. See EW 15, 19.
AND HE THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE SHALL DWELL AMONG THEM.
      —Could anything be more wonderful than to be in the presence of the supreme Ruler of the universe, the Fount of never-ending Love and live there forever as a part of His immediate family!
THEY
      —the 144,000, and all others who are sealed in the book of life—
SHALL HUNGER NO MORE, NEITHER THIRST ANY MORE: NEITHER SHALL THE SUN LIGHT ON THEM, NOR ANY HEAT.
      —The sufferings of the great tribulation will be forgotten.
FOR THE LAMB WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE SHALL FEED THEM,
      —fruit from the tree of life, (Revelation 22:2; See Chapter 7.)—
AND SHALL LEAD THEM UNTO LIVING FOUNTAINS OF WATERS,
      —the river of life! Revelation 22:1.
      —On the banks of this beautiful river, they, with all the redeemed of all ages will listen to the story of redemption from the Master Teacher. This will be one class all will want to enroll in!
AND GOD SHALL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS FROM THEIR EYES.
      —The greatest trials of this earth will seem as nothing, in the light of God’s holy presence. Revelation 21:3-7.
      —“One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. . . From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutes “atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.” GC 678. (Emphasis added.)
Page 206

As the Investigative Judgment Closes—the alleluia Chorus is Sung:
      —For the Marriage of the Lamb is Come!

Revelation 19:4-10.
AND THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS
      —men redeemed from this earth, (Revelation 5:8, 9)—
AND THE FOUR BEASTS
      —shining seraphim around God’s throne—
FELL DOWN AND WORSHIPPED GOD THAT SAT ON THE THRONE,
      —They, along with the angels, who had just sung the triumphant chorus with seven sections, could not remain on their seats. They fall on the sea of glass, and pour out their gratitude to God.
      —They kneel, in reverence,
SAYING, AMEN; ALLELUIA.
      —And as the apostle John sees them prostrate before the throne of the universe, his ear catches the call to a special praise service. No doubt it is heaven’s choir director —the one who took Lucifer’s place—who is calling the heavenly chorus to come to attention.
AND A VOICE CAME OUT OF THE THRONE, SAYING, PRAISE OUR GOD,
      —This was a created being talking. It was his God, too!
ALL YE HIS SERVANTS,
      —those who minister to others—and serve mankind—
AND YE THAT FEAR HIM,
      —“To know God is to love Him . . .” DA 22.
BOTH SMALL AND GREAT.
      —(“The value of man is estimated in heaven according to the capacity of the heart to know God.” COL 354, 355.)
      —And now, as Jesus has finished His work with the pages of the book of life, and the list of the family registry is now complete—what is heaven’s response to the call of the great choir director?
      —It is a call which brought heaven to attention—and which will fill us with reverence, as we catch, by faith, their glorious response.
      —Listen with John!
AND I HEARD AS IT WERE THE VOICE OF A GREAT MULTITUDE,
      —millions of angels, perhaps sons of God from unfallen worlds, and the multitude of captives that Jesus took to heaven with Him at His ascension, (Matthew 27:52, 53; Ephesians 4:8; DA 786.)—
AND AS THE VOICE OF MANY WATERS,
      —stand, with your thoughts, below Niagara Falls—
AND AS THE VOICE OF MIGHTY THUNDERINGS, SAYING, ALLELUIA: FOR THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH.
      —The words are repeated again and again—and echo out through the universe—“Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!”
      —This is the special coronation service! (Emphasis added.)
      —Jesus is “to receive dominion and glory and a kingdom, which will be given Him at the close of His work as a Mediator.” GC 480.
Page 207

      —“Not until His work as a Mediator shall be ended will God ‘give unto Him the throne of His father David,’ a kingdom of which ‘there shall be no end.’ Luke 1:32, 33.” GC 416.
      —Can’t you just hear the hosts of heaven as they bow in adoration before the Son of God, as He is crowned King of kings, and Lord of Lords!
      —There are seven great anthems in the book of Revelation and the Alleluia chorus, first to be sung when our Redeemer is crowned, is one of the most meaningful. It will be echoed and reechoed throughout the ceaseless ages to come, as the redeemed come to know more and more of the marvels of redemption, and gain a deeper understanding of God’s love for the lost race. They will thrill at what is included in “everlasting life.” And over and over, as new joys and new views open before them, they will break out into song again: “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” The Anthem continues:
LET US BE GLAD AND REJOICE,
      —with genuine praise and spontaneous joy—
AND GIVE HONOR TO HIM:
      —There is another special reason.
FOR THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB IS COME,
AND HIS WIFE HATH MADE HERSELF READY.
      —The wife! The 144,000! They are ready!
      —They are all sealed with the righteousness of Jesus!
      —“I saw that while Jesus was in the most holy place He would be married to the New Jerusalem, and after His work should be accomplished in the holiest, He would descend to the earth in kingly power to take to Himself the precious ones who had patiently waited His return.” EW 251. (Emphasis added.)
      —“The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His kingdom. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which is the capital and representative of the kingdom, is called ‘the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ Said the angel to John: ‘Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’ ‘He carried me away in the spirit,’ says the prophet, ‘and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.’ Revelation 21:9, 10. Clearly, then, the bride represents the Holy City, and the virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church. In the Revelation the people of God are said to be the guests at the marriage supper. Revelation 19:9. If guests, they cannot be represented also as the bride. ’GC 426, 427. (Emphasis in the original and added.)
      —The great multitude are guests at the marriage supper.
      —The New Jerusalem (—the 144,000) is the bride.
      (Notice the expression “representative of the kingdom.” Twelve thousand from each tribe, represent their kinsmen on the royal throne of David. See Chapter 7.)
      How may we be present at this wedding ceremony, which is held in the most holy place, as Jesus finishes the investigative judgment?
      —“They were not to be present in person at the marriage; for it
Page 208

takes place in heaven, while they are upon the earth. The followers of Christ are to ‘wait for their Lord, when He will return from the wedding.’ Luke 12:36. But they are to understand His work, and to follow Him by faith as He goes in before God . . .
      —“And all who through the testimony of the Scriptures accept the same truths, following Christ by faith as He enters in before God to perform the last work of mediation, and at its close to receive His kingdom —all these are represented as going in to the marriage.” GC 427, 428. (Emphasis in the original and added.)
AND TO HER WAS GRANTED THAT SHE SHOULD BE ARRAYED IN FINE LINEN, CLEAN AND WHITE:
      —What does the wedding garment represent?
FOR THE FINE LINEN IS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF SAINTS.
      —Where does the bride (—and guests, also) get the wedding garment? “The fine linen, says the Scripture, ‘is the righteousness of saints.’ It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour . . .
      —‘Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided, can make us meet to appear in God’s presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul. ‘I counsel thee,’ He says, ‘to buy of Me. . . white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed . . .’ [Revelation 3:18.]
      —“This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. ‘All our righteousness are as filthy rags.’ [Isaiah 64:6.] Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God ‘was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.’ [1John 1:9.] But Christ was obedient to every requirement of the law . . . When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us, He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah. COL 310-312. (Emphasis added.)
      —This is the wedding garment which is worn by Christ’s bride.
      —What a beautiful covering—wrought out by the world’s Redeemer, during His 33½ years He spent on planet earth!
      —Is there any wonder that all hearts are filled with gratitude that knows no bounds, as they bow before this loving Saviour,
          —in this coronation service—when He receives His kingdom
          —and in this wedding service—when He receives His bride)
      —Listen again—with John:
“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying,
ALLELUIA: FOR THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT REIGNETH.” (Emphasis is added.)
Page 209

The Invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb:
AND HE SAID UNTO ME, WRITE,
      —Put it down in print, John. It is urgently important!
BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE CALLED UNTO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB.
      —The value of this precious invitation is beyond comprehension!
      —All are invited! (John 3:16; Revelation 22:17.)
          —The announcement is for “whosoever believeth in Him.”
          —It is for “whosoever will.”
      —Men and women are not only to be invited but compelled. “Then said He unto him, A certain Man made a great supper, and bade many: and sent His servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready . . . And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.” Luke 14:16-23.
      —The marriage supper of the Lamb is to be served in the Holy City,
          —after the second coming of Christ, and
          —after the bride and the guests have been taken to heaven.
          —Jesus Himself will serve the table! Luke 12:37; EW 19.
      —“To the mind of Jesus the gladness of the wedding festivities pointed forward to the rejoicing of that day when He shall bring home His bride to the Father’s house, and the redeemed with the Redeemer shall sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb. He says, ‘As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. ‘. . . He will joy over thee with singing.’ Isa. 62:5 . . . Zeph. 3:17. When the vision of heavenly things was granted to John the apostle, he wrote: . . . ‘Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.’ ‘Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ Rev. 19:6, 7, 9.
      —“Jesus saw in every soul one to whom must be given the call to His kingdom . . . He sought them in the public streets, in private houses, on the boats, in the synagogue, by the shores of the lake, and at the marriage feast. He met them at their daily vocations, and manifested an interest in their secular affairs . . . He came forth to relieve the sick, to instruct the ignorant, and to break the chains from the captives of Satan.” DA 151. (Emphasis added.)
          —Jesus wants to break the chains that are binding you, too!
          —He wants you to meet Him at that wedding supper.
          —Your wedding garment is ready! What is your answer?
AND HE SAITH UNTO ME, THESE ARE THE TRUE SAYINGS OF GOD.
      —As the angel talks with John, the aged apostle is overwhelmed with the grandeur of the scenes that have been passing before his eyes.
AND I FELL AT HIS FEET TO WORSHIP HIM. AND HE SAID UNTO ME, SEE THOU DO IT NOT: I AM THY FELLOWSERVANT, AND OF THY BRETHREN THAT HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS: WORSHIP GOD: FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY. (See Revelation 12:17 in Chapter 5.)
Page 210

The Opening of the Seventh Seal:

Revelation 8:1-6:
      —Following
          —the coronation of Jesus to the throne of David, and
          —the marriage of the Lamb to His bride, the rich music of the anthems fades away.
      —Heaven becomes silent!
      —Jesus turns again to the book of life, which has one remaining seal. There is yet another phase of His work to be accomplished before He can go to the earth to get His precious family, who are registered on its pages.
      —The book of life is now clean!
      —Not only is it free from sin, when Jesus finished with the first six seals, but it is beautiful! —beautiful with the righteous deeds of the worthy Lamb.
          —“. . . The eternal righteousness of Christ is placed to the account of every believing soul.” 1SM 394.
          —“. . . The Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner’s account.” 1SM 367.
AND WHEN HE
      —our loving Saviour—
HAD OPENED THE SEVENTH SEAL,
      —on the book of life
THERE WAS SILENCE IN HEAVEN.
      —Once before it had been silent in heaven. As Jesus suffered in the garden of Gethsemane, bearing the weight of the sins of the world on His body, He became “sin itself,” as He paid the penalty for our sins. See 2Corinthians 5:21; DA 756, 685, 686.
          —“Angels beheld the Saviour’s agony . . . There was silence in heaven. No harp was touched. Could mortals have viewed the amazement of the angelic host as in silent grief they watched the Father separating His beams of light, love, and glory from His beloved Son, they would better understand how offensive in His sight is sin.” DA 693. (Emphasis added.)
      —As the seventh seal opens in the heavenly sanctuary, the angels again lay down their harps. Silence reigns—for Jesus again takes sin on His body.
      —All of the sins which were confessed by His people —all of the sins which He has blotted out of the first six seals of the book of life—must be removed from the sanctuary.
          —(The typical high priest, in the camp of Israel, “m his character of mediator, . . . took the sins upon himself and bore them from the sanctuary. Placing his hands upon the head of the scapegoat, he confessed over him all these sins, thus in figure transferring them from himself to the goat.” GC 420. See Leviticus 16:21. (Emphasis added.)
      —“Jesus tarried a moment in the outer apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and the sins which had been confessed
Page 211

while He was in the most holy place were placed upon Satan, the originator of sin, who must suffer their punishment.” EW 280, 281. (Satan is the one represented by the scapegoat.) (Emphasis added.)
      —“Christ’s work for the redemption of men and the purification of the universe from sin, will be closed by the removal of sin from the sanctuary and the placing of these sins upon Satan, who will bear the final penalty.” PP 358. (Emphasis added.)
      —Yes, there will be silence—solemn silence
ABOUT THE SPACE OF HALF AN HOUR.
      —In Bible prophecy, a day of time stands for a year. (Ezekiel 4:6.) A half hour of prophetic time would be seven and a half days.
AND I SAW THE SEVEN ANGELS WHICH STOOD BEFORE GOD; the angels with the seven last plagues—
AND TO THEM WERE GIVEN SEVEN TRUMPETS.
      —to announce each plague in its order.
      —The trumpets and the plagues are yet future:
      “Trumpet after trumpet is to be sounded, vial after vial poured out one after another upon the inhabitants of the earth.” 7BC
982. (Emphasis added.)
          —These trumpets are to begin sounding after the golden censer is thrown down, indicating that probation for the human race has ended. See Revelation 8:5, 6; EW 279, 280.
          —They are to begin sounding at the close of the half hour of silence, to proclaim the wrath of God, which is to be poured out in the seven last plagues, against those who have despised His law and refused His pardon.
          —(Notice that at the beginning of the seventh: seal period of time, the seven angels were given seven trumpets, and at the close of this prophetic half hour, the trumpets sounded. Revelation 8:2, 6.)
AND ANOTHER ANGEL
      —Jesus, the Angel of the Covenant, (Exodus 23:20; GC 617; PP 396),
      —the true High Priest, (Hebrews 8:1, 2), and
      —the only One who has prevailed, and who is worthy to hold the golden censer, (Revelation 5:5; 8:3-5),
CAME
      —from the most holy place, where He had been interceding—
AND STOOD AT THE ALTAR
      —of incense, in the holy place.
      —“As in vision the apostle John was granted a view of the temple of God in heaven, he beheld there ‘seven lamps of fire burning before the throne.’ Revelation 4:5. He saw an Angel ‘having a golden censer; and there was given unto Him much incense . . .’ Revelation 8:3. Here the prophet was permitted to behold the first apartment of the sanctuary in heaven . . .” GC 414, 415. (Emphasis added)
      —The high priest, in the earthly sanctuary, also left the most holy place after he had made an atonement for the people.
      —He also returned to the holy place, and stood in front of the
Page 212

altar of incense —just as Jesus does in the heavenly sanctuary after He has applied His atonement to the records of His people in the book of life. Study Leviticus 16:15-18.
      —Why do
          —Jesus, in the heavenly sanctuary,
          —and the high priest in the earthly sanctuary, go out into the holy place, after they have finished making the atonement for the people in the most holy place?
          —“And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it . . .”Leviticus 16:18.
(Emphasis added.)
          —“Upon this altar the priest was to burn incense every morning and evening, its horns were touched with the blood of the sin offering, and it was sprinkled with blood upon the great day of atonement.” PP 348. (Emphasis added.)
          —“And what was done in type in the ministration of the earthly sanctuary is done in reality in the ministration of the heavenly sanctuary.” GC 420. (Emphasis added.)
      —“. . . Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Daniel 8:14; See GC 409, 410.
      —Sin defiles, atonements must be made for everything it comes in contact with.
      —In the earthly sanctuary, five atonements were made on the typical day of atonement:
          —for the high priest and his family;
          —for the people;
          —for the most holy place;
          —for the holy place;
          —for the altar of incense. Study Leviticus 16.
      —In the antitypical service of the heavenly sanctuary:
          —Jesus atoned by Himself, living a holy life, and making the perfect sacrifice in the Garden and on Calvary; (His life and death are represented by the incense and blood.)
          —Jesus atones for His pardoned people, by applying His perfect atonement to their records in the book of life —when He opens the first six seals.
          —Jesus makes an atonement for the most holy place, the holy place, and the altar of incense, during the very solemn time after the seventh seal is opened.
      —As Jesus stands in front of the altar of incense in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary,
HAVING A GOLDEN CENSER,
      —He makes the final atonements necessary to remove the defilement from the sanctuary which our sins have caused.
      —How has the golden censer been used for God’s people through the centuries?
          —Christ holds “before God the censer containing His own spotless merits and the prayers, confessions, and thanksgiving of His people. Perfumed with the fragrance of His righteousness,
Page 213

these ascend to God as a sweet savor. The offering is wholly acceptable, and pardon covers all transgression.” COL 156.
      —“The incense, ascending with the prayers of Israel, represents the merits and intercession of Christ, His perfect righteousness, which through faith is imputed to His people, and which can alone make the worship of sinful beings acceptable to God. PP 353. (Emphasis added.)
          —“Oh, that all may see that everything in obedience, in penitence, in praise and thanksgiving, must be placed upon the glowing fire of the righteousness of Christ. The fragrance of this righteousness ascends like a cloud around the mercy seat. 1SM 344. (Emphasis added.)
      —After the seventh seal was opened on the book of life, Jesus stands with the golden censer in front of the altar of incense.
AND THERE WAS GIVEN UNTO HIM
      —Jesus, the true High Priest—
MUCH INCENSE,
      —Why did Jesus need “much incense?”
THAT HE SHOULD OFFER IT WITH THE PRAYERS OF ALL SAINTS
      —all whose names remain in the beautiful book of life—
UPON THE GOLDEN ALTAR WHICH WAS BEFORE THE THRONE.
      —Much incense was needed
—to blend with the prayers of all of God’s people who have ever lived; and
          —to add fragrance to the heavenly sanctuary, when the defilement of sin is removed by His precious blood.
      —Jesus had interceded for each of His people individually,
          —before their names came up in the investigative judgment, and
          —during the sealing time
              —as their sins were blotted out of the book of life, and
              —they were accredited with the visa of His perfection.
      —Now Jesus presents “the prayers of all saints” collectively to His Father.
AND THE SMOKE OF THE INCENSE, WHICH CAME WITH THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS, ASCENDED UP BEFORE GOD OUT OF THE ANGEL’S HAND.
      —Father, here are Thy sons and daughters.
          —I died for them.
          —They accepted the pardon We sent them, and received My robe of righteousness.
          —Their prayers ascend together as one family.
          —Their names are in the book of life.
          —This is the family You “gave” for; this is the family I died for.
          —Please receive the “prayers of all saints,” which are ascending with “the smoke of the incense.” (Emphasis added.)
      —“As our Intercessor, His office work is to introduce us to God as His sons and daughters. Christ intercedes in behalf of those who
Page 214

have received Him. To them He gives power, by virtue of His own merits, to become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. And the Father demonstrates His infinite love for Christ, who paid our ransom with His blood, by receiving and welcoming Christ’s friends as His friends.” 6T 363, 364. (Emphasis added.)
      —The Lamb’s book of life becomes the official registry of God’s human family!
      —Ponder, for a moment, the high calling and destiny of those who receive the gift of the righteousness of Jesus. God’s children, who accept perfection by faith, are actually credited with all of the wonderful qualities of Jesus, just as though these were their own characteristics. And then—they are taken into the royal family, as children of the heavenly Father.
      —“Our names may be uttered with joy by the Son of God. Honor has been promised us by Him who is King of kings. If we are faithful, the eternal God will claim us as His sons and daughters.” RH July 23, 19O1. (Emphasis added.)
      —“God loves those who are redeemed through Christ, even as He loves His Son. What a thought! . . . Wonderful truth, too difficult for humanity to comprehend!”1SM 300.

The Seventh Section of the Lamb’s Book of Life:
      —During the prophetic half hour of silence, Jesus blends “the prayers of all saints” with “much incense.” See Revelation 8:1-4.
          —“The incense, ascending with the prayers of Israel, represents the merits and intercession of Christ, His perfect righteousness . . .” PP 353. (Emphasis added.)
      —Where did the “much incense” come from, during this time after the seventh seal was opened?
          —“There is an inexhaustible fund of perfect obedience accruing from His obedience. In heaven His merits, His self-denial and self-sacrifice, are treasured as incense to be offered up with the prayers of His people.” SD 22. (Emphasis added.)
      —Somewhere in the vaults of heaven the record of Jesus’ life is “treasured.”
      —Somewhere there is “an inexhaustible fund of perfect obedience accruing from His obedience.”
      —And when the seventh section of the Lamb’s book of life is open, “much incense” is released—
          —like the opening of a box of costly alabaster,
          —full of rich perfume!
      —Surely the record of our Saviour’s earthly pilgrimage is found within!

The Censer is Cast out of Heaven Forever—and Probation Closes:
AND THE ANGEL
      —Jesus, the great High Priest—
TOOK THE CENSER,
      —used in the intercession for sinners through the centuries—
AND FILLED IT WITH FIRE OF THE ALTAR,
Page 215

AND CAST IT INTO THE EARTH:
      —Jesus, who “had been ministering before the ark containing the ten commandments,” threw down the censer. “He raised His hands, and with a loud voice said, ‘It is done.’ And all the angelic host laid off their crowns as Jesus made the solemn declaration, ‘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.’
      —“Every case had been decided for life or death.” EW 279, 280.
      —During the silence of the seventh-seal period,
          —as sin is removed from the heavenly sanctuary, and
          —as probation closes for earth’s teeming millions the angels not only lay down their harps but they remove their crowns, as well.
          —Never again will they plead with sinners to accept Jesus as their Saviour.
          —Never again will grace be extended to the guilty race.
          —There is no second chance!
          —The offer of pardon has been withdrawn!
          —The golden censer has been cast to the earth!
          —(Can’t you envision the anguish of those who cry: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jeremiah 8:20. (Emphasis added.)
          —“. . . And they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.” Matthew 25:l0.(Emphasis added.)
      —The censer, which added the fragrance of the righteousness of Jesus to the confessions of sinners, is forever destroyed. This is one of the strongest evidences in the Bible that no sin will be forgiven during the millennium —or at any time after.
      —When Jesus throws down the censer, He casts it completely out of heaven. Sinners have absolutely no further opportunity —for life!

Voices!
      —The silence of the seventh seal period is now interrupted by voices—sad voices!
AND THERE WERE VOICES, AND THUNDERINGS, AND LIGHTNINGS, AND AN EARTHQUAKE.
      —It is an awesome time for the angels, as they hear their beloved Commander pronounce the doom of the millions who did not accept Jesus as their Saviour. They have labored untiringly for every one of these lost individuals, and have wept at their refusal of mercy’s offer. And now, it is not for just one they weep. It is for millions.
      —Think of what the arches of heaven must sound like, as with folded wings, and crowns removed, the angels mourn for those they loved and guarded.
      —Picture, again, a previous scene on this earth— our Saviour in tears as He wept over one city, the city of Jerusalem: (Luke 19:29-44.) “They are surprised and disappointed to see His eyes fill with tears,
Page 216

and His body rock to and fro like a tree before the tempest, while a wail of anguish bursts from His quivering lips, as if from the depths of a broken heart . . . Israel’s King was in tears; not silent tears of gladness, but tears and groans of insuppressible agony . . .
      —“It was the sight of Jerusalem that pierced the heart of Jesus —Jerusalem that had rejected the Son of God and scorned His love. . . He saw. . . what she might have been had she accepted Him who alone could heal her wound. He had come to save her; how could He give her up? . . . Jerusalem had been the child of His care, and as a tender father mourns over a wayward son, so Jesus wept over the beloved city. How can I give thee up? How can I see thee devoted to destruction.” DA 575-578. (Emphasis added.)
      —As Jesus stands in front of the golden altar,
          —at the close of the investigative judgment,
          —and throws down the censer of intercession, it is not just one city He has to give up!
      —It is the lost world! —the world He died to save!
          —If your name is not in the book of life at this time, Jesus will grieve for you with an infinite sorrow that man cannot fathom!
          —“One soul is of such value that, in comparison with it, worlds sink into insignificance . . .” DA 578.
      —The heart of Jesus will be heavy with agony, as He casts the censer of intercession out of heaven —forever!
      —And nature grieves with its Author!
      —There are thunderings and lightenings and an earthquake.

AND THE SEVEN ANGELS WHICH HAD THE SEVEN TRUMPETS PREPARED THEMSELVES TO SOUND.
      —“When our High Priest has finished His work in the sanctuary, He will stand up, put on the garments of vengeance, and then the seven last plagues will be poured out.” EW 36.
      —They will be poured out
          —on all who refused or neglected their offer of PARDON;
          —on all who wear the mark of the beast on their foreheads, instead of the seal of God.
      —The first trumpet and the first plague
          —fall upon the earth.
      —The second trumpet and the second plague
          —touch the sea.
      —The third trumpet and the third plague
          —reach the rivers and the fountains of waters.
      —The fourth trumpet and the fourth plague
          —make changes in the sun.
      —The fifth trumpet and the fifth plague
          —each cause darkness and pain.
      —The sixth trumpet and the sixth plague
          —affect the river Euphrates.
      —The seventh trumpet and the seventh plague
          —go out into the air —voices and hail.
Page 217

The Earth is “Reaped”—when the Investigative Judgment Closed:

Revelation 14:14-20:
      —In the first part of Revelation 14, we are given a picture of the 144,000 on Mount Zion. Before their beautiful song is recorded, in Revelation 15, there are two insertions:
          —The first is the account of their work on earth—the proclamation of the three angels’ messages.
          —The second is the account of what is transpiring in heaven, during this same period of time—the investigative judgment.
      —Revelation 14:14-20 is a brief outline of the judgment scene—from the time Jesus enters the most holy place, until the plagues are poured out.
AND I
      —John—
LOOKED, AND BEHOLD A WHITE CLOUD,
      —“a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by angels,” (EW 65,)
AND UPON THE CLOUD ONE SAT LIKE UNTO THE SON OF MAN,
“He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat.” EW 55.
HAVING ON HIS HEAD A GOLDEN CROWN,
      —How do we know that Revelation 14:14 is speaking of the entry of Jesus into the most holy place, instead of His second coming to this earth?
      —Jesus wears only one crown at this time. (The throne of David is not given to Jesus until His work as a Mediator is finished. GC 416.)
      —(What are we told about the crowns on Jesus’ head after the pre-advent judgment is completed?
          —“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True . . . His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns.” Revelation 19:11, 12. (Emphasis added.)
          —“It was a crown within a crown, seven in number.” EW 54.)
AND IN HIS HAND A SHARP SICKLE.
      —Jesus is the only One in heaven or earth who is worthy to hold the sickle. He is the Lamb who prevailed —in His life and in His death!
          —“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” John 5:22.
      —“‘I beheld,’ says the prophet Daniel, ‘till thrones were placed, and One that was Ancient of Days did sit . . . The judgment was set and the books were opened.’ Daniel 7:9, 10, R.V.
      —“Thus was presented to the prophet’s vision the great and solemn day when the characters and the lives of men should pass in review before the Judge of all the earth . . .
      —“‘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,
Page 218

and a kingdom . . .’ Daniel 7:13, 14. 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. ‘ GC 479, 480. (Emphasis added.)
AND ANOTHER ANGEL CAME OUT OF THE TEMPLE,
      —at the beginning of the investigative judgment—
CRYING WITH A LOUD VOICE TO HIM THAT SAT ON THE CLOUD,
      —Jesus—
THRUST IN THY SICKLE, AND REAP: FOR THE TIME IS COME FOR THEE TO REAP;
      —the termination of the 2300 days, of Daniel 8:14—
FOR THE HARVEST OF THE EARTH IS RIPE.
      —What is the harvest?
          —“The tares and the wheat are to grow together until the harvest; and the harvest is the end of probationary time.” COL 72. (Emphasis added.)
          —“The time of the judgment is a most solemn period, when the Lord gathers His own from among the tares. Those who have been members of the same family are separated. A mark is placed upon the righteous.” TM 234. (Emphasis added.)
      —The harvest-time began in 1844, when Jesus took the great book of life from the hand of the Father.
          —Some pages are sealed with the permanent visa of Christ’s perfection; others have their names taken out of the book.
          —Probation is closed for all individuals, after Jesus has made the permanent transactions for their accounts.
      —The harvest-time continues as long as the investigative judgment continues. (Jesus is in the most holy place during the harvest.)
          —Probation for the living will close one by one, as Jesus turns the pages of the great book of life. There will be as many closes of probations as there are names of living people listed in the book —after the judgment of the living begins. (See GC 483, 484. When a person dies, his probation is automatically closed —for he can no longer ask for the blood of Jesus to pardon him. See Ecclesiastes 9:5. See also Revelation 22:11.)
      —The general close of probation will come when Jesus has finished His work of intercession and investigation. Then the golden censer will be cast into the Earth. (Revelation 8:5.) Never again will sin be forgiven. Never again will there be opportunity for salvation!
Page 219

      —“. . . The harvest is the end of probationary time.” COL 72. (Emphasis added.)
AND HE THAT SAT ON THE CLOUD
      —Jesus, our great High Priest—
THRUST IN HIS SICKLE ON THE EARTH;
      —investigating the records of all of His professed people—looking for that important word, PARDON, and
      —withdrawing the offer of mercy to all living people who had despised or neglected it.
AND THE EARTH WAS REAPED.
      —Probation for guilty man was forever ended.
      —“The end will come more quickly than men expect.
          The wheat will be gathered and bound in sheaves for the garner of God;
          the tares will be bound as fagots for the fires of destruction.” GC 631. (Emphasis added.)
      —“The last tear for sinners had been shed, the last agonizing prayer offered, the last burden born, the last warning given. The sweet voice of mercy was no more to invite them. When the saints, and all heaven, were interested for their salvation, they had not interest for themselves. Life and death had been set before them. Many desired life, but made no effort to obtain it. They did not choose life, and now there was no atoning blood to cleanse the guilty, no compassionate Saviour to plead for them and cry, ‘Spare, spare the sinner a little longer.’ All heaven had united with Jesus, as they heard the fearful words, ‘It is done. It is finished.’ The plan of salvation had been accomplished, but few had chosen to accept it. And as mercy’s sweet voice died away, fear and horror seized the wicked. With terrible distinctness they heard the words, ‘Too late! too late!’
      —“Those who had not prized God’s Word were hurrying to and fro, wandering from sea to sea, and from the north to the east, to seek the Word of the Lord. Said the angel, ‘They shall not find it. There is a famine in the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the words of the Lord. What would they not give for one word of approval from God ! but no, they must hunger and thirst on. Day after day have they slighted salvation, prizing earthly pleasure higher than any heavenly treasure or inducement. They have rejected Jesus and despised His saints. The filthy must remain filthy forever.’
      —“Many of the wicked were greatly enraged as they suffered the effects of the plagues. It was a scene of fearful agony. Parents were bitterly reproaching their children, and children their parents, brothers their sisters, and sisters their brothers. Loud, wailing cries were heard in every direction, ‘It was you who kept me from receiving the truth which would have saved me from this awful hour.’ The people fumed upon their ministers with bitter hate and reproached them, saying, ‘You have not warned us. You told us that all the world was to be converted, and cried, Peace, peace, to quiet
Page 220

every fear that was aroused. You have not told us of this hour; and those who warned us of it you declared to be fanatics and evil men,who would ruin us.’ But I saw that the ministers did not escape the wrath of God . Their suffering was tenfold greater than that of their people.” SR 404, 405. (Emphasis added.)

The Angel with the Sickle Appears Again—to Gather the Vine of the Earth, and Cast it into the Great Winepress:
      —With John, let us focus our eyes on the sharp sickle in the hand of the Angel. It is not beautiful to look t. But it is no more than fair that we should know what the consequences of a life of separation from God will lead to.
AND ANOTHER ANGEL
      —Jesus, the Angel of the Covenant—
CAME OUT OF THE TEMPLE WHICH IS IN HEAVEN,
      —at the close of the investigative judgment
HE ALSO HAVING A SHARP SICKLE.
      —Jesus is the only One in heaven or earth who can hold this sickle.
          —The first time we see Jesus with the sickle, (verse 14, 17-18)
              —He enters into the most holy place for the investigative judgment of the records of His professed people.
          —The second time we see Jesus with the sickle, (verse 17-18)
              —He leaves the sanctuary.
      —What is He going to do with the sharp sickle now?
AND ANOTHER ANGEL CAME OUT FROM THE ALTAR, WHICH HAD POWER OVER FIRE;
AND CRIED WITH A LOUD CRY TO HIM THAT HAD THE SHARP SICKLE, SAYING, THRUST IN THY SHARP SICKLE, AND GATHER THE CLUSTERS OF THE VINE OF THE EARTH; FOR HER GRAPES ARE FULLY RIPE.
      —Who is the Angel that is giving directions to Jesus, as He leaves the heavenly temple?
      —(And who is the Angel that gave directions to Jesus, when He entered the heavenly temple in 1844, saying, “Thrust in Thy sickle, and reap . . .” Verse 15.)
      —Here is an Angel of sufficient stature, to direct the activities of Jesus, and inform Him of the time schedules. Who is the only Angel who can enter, with Jesus, into the divine counsels of the Father, and share with Them the plans before ordained?
      —It is the Angel of mercy—God, the Holy Spirit—His representative down here on this earth.
          —“The world is soon to be left by the Angel of mercy, and the seven last plagues are to be poured out.” TM 182.
          —“The Spirit of God is being withdrawn. Disasters by sea and by land follow one another in quick succession . . .We are not to be surprised at this time by events both great and decisive; for the Angel of mercy cannot remain much longer to shelter the impenitent.” PK 277, 278. (Emphasis added.)
      —The Angel, who calls to Jesus, also has power over fire.
Page 221

      —Who is the Angel in charge of the heavenly fire?
      “‘. . .What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? . . . Then said he, These are the two anointed Ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.’ Zechariah 4:11-14.
      “These empty themselves into the golden bowls, which represent the hearts of the living messengers of God, who bear the Word of the Lord to the people in warnings and entreaties. The Word itself must be as represented, the golden oil, emptied from the two olive trees that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. This is the baptism of the Holy Spirit with fire. This will open the soul of unbelievers to conviction. The wants of the soul can be met only by the working of the Holy Spirit of God. 4BC 1180. (Emphasis added.)
      —“The prophet Isaiah had declared that the Lord would cleanse His people from their iniquities ‘by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.’ The word of the Lord to Israel was, ‘I will turn My hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin.’ Isa. 4:4; 1:25. To sin, wherever found, ‘our God is a consuming fire.’ Heb. 12:29. In all who submit to His power the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy them.” DA 107. (Emphasis added.)
      —The Angels in Revelation 14:14-19 are all Divine:
          —Jesus, the Angel of the Covenant, holds the sharp sickle.
          —The Holy Spirit, the Angel of mercy, has power over the spiritual fire—which consumes sin.
      —“. . . So long as Jesus remains man’s Intercessor in the sanctuary above, the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit is felt by rulers and people.” GC 610.
      —“When the third angel’s message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth . . . Angels are hastening to and fro in heaven. An angel returning from the earth announces that his work is done; the final test has been brought upon the world, and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received ‘the seal of the living God.’ Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands and with a loud voice says, ‘It is done;’ and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn announcement: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still . . .’ Revelation 22:11. Every case has been decided for life or death.” GC 613. (Emphasis added.)
AND THE ANGEL
      —Jesus, the Angel of the Covenant—
THRUST IN HIS SICKLE INTO THE EARTH, AND GATHERED THE VINE OF THE EARTH, AND CAST IT INTO THE GREAT WINEPRESS OF THE WRATH OF GOD.
      —The seven last plagues begin. See Chapter 6.
AND THE WINEPRESS WAS TRODDEN WITHOUT THE CITY, AND BLOOD CAME OUT OF THE WINEPRESS, EVEN UNTO THE HORSE BRIDLES, BY THE SPACE OF A THOUSAND AND SIX-HUNDRED FURLONGS.
Page 222