CLOSE OF PROBATION

TOO LATE! TOO LATE!

Jesus, seated on the Mount of Olives, gave instruction to His disciples concerning the signs which should precede His coming: "As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the Flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24:3739. The same sins that brought judgments upon the world in the days of Noah exist in our day. Men and women now carry their eating and drinking so far that it ends in gluttony and drunkenness. This prevailing sin, the indulgence of perverted appetite inflamed the passions of men in the days of Noah, and led to widespread corruption. Violence and sin reached to heaven. This moral pollution was finally swept from the earth by means of the Flood. {CH 23.1}

"As it was in the days of Noah," declared Christ, "so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man." And is it not so? Any one who will look into the daily papers may see a long list of crimes--drunkenness, theft, robbery, embezzlement, murder. Sometimes whole families are murdered, that man's desires to possess money or goods that do not belong to him may be gratified. The world is indeed becoming as it was in the days of Noah, because men openly disregard God's commands. Sunday is a child of the papacy. It has been nourished and cradled by the Protestant world as a genuine requirement of Jehovah, but it has no foundation in the word of God. The Christian world is tested by their relation to this matter. God moves upon men to search the Scriptures for evidence to sustain Sunday. Those who search with a desire for truth will see that in the past they have been relying on tradition, and have accepted an institution of the papacy. Those who, with contrite hearts, search the word of God for truth, will receive a blessing from God. {RH, July 13, 1897 par. 8}

"For as in the days that were before the Flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." To just such a pass will the world come in rejecting the law of God. "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name." John was called to behold a people distinct from those who worship the beast or his image by keeping the first day of the week. The observance of this day is the mark of the beast. John declares, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." {TM

THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE MARK OF THE BEAST!

We

are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. . There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each Individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth. Everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Great Controversy, 488:3-490:0.

UNIVERSAL SUNDAY LAW COMES BEFORE GENERAL CLOSE OF PROBATION

God gives nations a certain time of probation. -4 Bible Commentary, 1143. When the accumulated figures in heavens record books shall mark the sum of transgression complete, wrath will come, unmixed with mercy, and then it will be seen what a tremendous thing it is to have worn out the divine patience. This crisis will be reached when the nations shall unite In making void Gods law. -5 Testimonies, 524. This earth has almost reached the place where God will permit the destroyer to work his will upon it. The substitution of the laws of men for the law of God, the exaltation, by merely human authority, of Sunday in place of the Bible Sabbath, is the last act in the drama. When this substitution becomes universal, God will reveal Himself. He will arise in His majesty to shake terrible the earth. He will come out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the world for their iniquity, and the earth shall disclose her blood and shall no more cover her slain.- 7 Testimonies, 141.

THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH MOURN During the pouring out of the seven last plagues, and at the time of the shaking of the powers of the heavens, a large portion of the wicked will doubtless be destroyed. A portion still remain, to view scenes still more terrible, and to endure anguish more dreadful. The sign is soon in heaven. The once slighted, insulted, and crucified Saviour, now King of kings, and Lord of lords, is coming near the earth! His glory blazes everywhere! The saints hope and rejoice with trembling; but what an hour for the wicked! The tribes of the earth mourn. Amid the ruins of shivered creation they hold one general prayer-meeting. Kings and great men, rich men, chief captains and mighty men, free and bond, all, yes, all unite in the general wail. As the Son of Man in the glory of his Father, attended by all the holy angels, draws still nearer, consternation fills every breast. They hide in dens, and in the rocks of the mountains. Their only hope is to be concealed from the glory of that scene. They know it is too late to pray for mercy; that probation for the human family has ended forever. (A BRIEF EXPOSITION OF MATTHEW 24 by JAMES WHITE, p. 14)

When He comes He is not to cleanse us of our sins, to remove from us the defects in our characters, or to cure us of the infirmities of our tempers and dispositions. If wrought for us at all, this work will all be accomplished before that time. When the Lord comes, those who are holy will be holy still. Those who have preserved their bodies and spirits in holiness, in sanctification and honor, will then receive the finishing touch of immortality. But those who are unjust, unsanctified, and filthy will remain so forever. No work will then be done for them to remove their defects and give them holy characters. The Refiner does not then sit to pursue His refining process and remove their sins and their corruption. This is all to be done in these hours of probation. It is now that this work is to be accomplished for us. -2 Testimonies 355:1 It Is a solemn thing to die, but a far more solemn thing to live. Every thought and word and deed of our lives will meet us again. What we make of ourselves in probationary time, that we must remain to all eternity. Death brings dissolution to the body, but makes no change in the character. The coming of Christ does not change our characters; It only fixes them forever beyond all change. -5 Testimonies, 466:2.

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. While Jesus had been ministering in the sanctuary, the judgment had been going on for the righteous dead, and then for the righteous living. Christ had received His kingdom, having made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins. The subjects of the kingdom were made up. The marriage of the Lamb was consummated. And the kingdom, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, was given to Jesus and the heirs of salvation, and Jesus was to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. {EW 280.1}

Then I saw Jesus lay off His priestly attire and clothe Himself with His most kingly robes. Upon His head were many crowns, a crown within a crown. Surrounded by the angelic host, He left heaven. The plagues were falling upon the inhabitants of the earth. Some were denouncing God and cursing Him. Others rushed to the people of God and begged to be taught how they might escape His judgments. But the saints had nothing for them. The last tear for sinners had been shed, the last agonizing prayer offered, the last burden borne, 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 no 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!"

All will be tested and tried according to the light they have had. Those who turn from the truth to fables can look for no second probation. There will be no temporal millennium. If, after the Holy Spirit has brought conviction to their hearts, they resist the truth and use their influence to block the way so that others will not receive it, they will never be convinced. They did not seek for transformation of character in the probation given them, and Christ will not give them opportunity to pass over the ground again. The decision is a final one. -Last Day Events. 237:2. There will be no probation after the coming of the Lord. Those who say that there will be are deceived and misled. Before Christ comes just such a state of things will exist as existed before the Flood. And after the Saviour appears in the clouds of heaven no one will be given another chance to gain salvation. All will have made their decisions. -Last Day Events, 237:1.

What, therefore, is the meaning of the second coming of Christ? It means everything to saints and sinners alike. It is the final line that marks the end of probation for all and settles each man's destiny forever. As death is solemn for the individual and ends, or seals, his hope of salvation, so the coming of the Lord settles the destiny of all. Young and old are crossing the line together, and there is no turning back, no delay. Men may now make light of the doctrine of the coming of the Lord; but not in that day. Then will be fulfilled the Scripture: The heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 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, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains. And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from thenface of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Revelation 6:14-17. Dreadful words and a dreadful fate. How much better to be able to look up and say, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him,

Close Of Probation by S N. Haskell

(Eze. 9:3, 4. The work of placing the mark, or seal, upon Gods children entrusted to one angel. Rev. 7:1-3. The sealing message is the most important work on earth, and nothing is to retard it.) (Eze. 9:11, margin. When the work is completed, the angel returns to God with the words, I have done as thou hast commanded me. G.C. 613. Rev. 22:11. Christ then makes the following solemn announcement: 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. G.C. 622.) (Isa. 4:3, margin. The saved are written to life. G.C. 480, 481. Dan. 12:1; Rev. 3:5. Their names are in the book of life. Dan. 12:1; 11:20, 21. The term stand up, indicates that Michael (Christ) at this time ceases to be high priest, and takes His kingdom and is called King of kings from that time forward.)

(*1 Tim. 2:5. Christ is the only mediator between God and man; and when he ceases to be priest there is no one to plead for guilty man. E.W. 280.) (*Rev. 14:8-10. When there is no mediator in the heavens, there is nothing to prevent the wrath of God from being poured out upon the wicked. Isa. 59:16-18; Lev. 16:23. Christ puts on the garments of vengeance.) (*Rev. 15:1. The work of pouring out the unmixed wrath of God upon the earth is assigned to seven angels, and is called the seven last plagues. Rev. 15:8; 1 Tim. 2:5. The man Christ Jesus can not enter the temple while the seven last plagues are being poured out upon the earth.) (*Ex. 8:20-23, margin. The Lord sent ten plagues upon Egypt; the first three plagues fell upon the Israelites as well as upon the Egyptians, but none of the seven last plagues of Egypt fell upon the children of Israel. Ex. 8:22; 9:4-7, 26; 10:23; G.C. 627, 628.) (*Ps. 91:1-10. Likewise, when the psalmist foretold the effect of the seven last plagues, he said no plague would come nigh the dwelling of the righteous. G.C. 630.)

BIBLE HANDBOOK p. 12 by S N. HASKELL

Death The Day & Hr. Decree Armageddon

"Said the angel, "Deny self; ye must step fast." Some of us have had time to saw get the truth and . to advance stepthe by step, and every step we I"Time also that many do not what they must be in is almost finished Do you realize reflect lovely image of Jesus as CHURCH CHURCH have taken has given us strength to take the next. But now there time is in CHURCH you should?" Then I was pointed to the earth and saw that Trouble Continuing order to live in the sight of the Lord without a high priest TRIUMPHANT VICTORIOUS almost finished, and what we have beenthose years who learning, they will have MILLITANT would have to be a getting ready among have of late the sanctuary through the time of trouble. Those who to learn in a few months. They will also much to unlearn and Little Time ofhave Trouble embraced the third angel's message. Said the angel, "Get ready, get Trouble Coming receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the much to learn again. Those who not receive the of thethan ready, get ready . Ye will have towould die a greater death tomark the world Country Living the beast and his image when the decree goes forth, must have decision time of ever trouble must reflect the image of Jesus ye Upon have yet Earth died." I saw that there was a great work to do for Growing own Food now to say,but Nay, we will not regard to the institution ofWRITINGS the beast.{Early them and little time in which do it. EARLY PAG 64 fully . {Early Writings page 71.1} Writings page 67.2}

While Jesus pleads as our High Priest, there is hope for every repentant sinner; but when He at last comes forth from the sanctuary, mercys door will be forever closed. There will be no intercessor then (Isaiah 59:16). In the type, when the high priest came out of the sanctuary, he had made an end of reconciling. When our High Priest comes forth from the sanctuary, He will proclaim, 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(Revelation22:11). Every case is decided for eternity. Probation is forever ended. All who wait until that time, hoping to be saved, will find no one to plead their case before the Father; they will be eternally lost. {The Cross & Shadow p. 89}