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VITAL QUESTIONS DEMANDING INSPIRED ANSWERS

CHAPTER ONE

At the beginning of the great controversy in heaven, Lucifer began his campaign against God by raising

some doubts and questions regarding the laws that governed heavenly beings. Patriarchs and Prophets p. 37

tells us that “ He began to insinuate doubts concerning the laws that governed heavenly beings, intimating

that though laws might be necessary for the inhabitants of the worlds, angels, being more exalted, needed no such re-

straint, for their own wisdom was a sufficient guide. They were not beings that could bring dishonor to God; all their

thoughts were holy; it was no more possible for them than for God Himself to err. “

He has continued to raise doubts and questions that the inhabitants of earth and the other worlds find diffi-

cult to answer. In this booklet we will search out the answers to some vital questions that we need to under-

stand as we face the climactic events associated with the close of the great controversy. Each chapter in the

booklet will deal with certain questions. We begin here with the first two.

1. What was the purpose of God in creating the human race?

2. How did this new order of beings differ from the rest of created intelligences?

Answers: “ For I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him “ Isaiah 43:7

“ This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise “ Isaiah 43:21.

“ God created man for His own glory, that after test and trial the human family might become one with the heavenly

family. It was God’s plan to repopulate heaven with human family, if they would show themselves obedient to

His every word “ 1 Bible Comments p. 1082

“ God created man a superior being; he alone is formed in the image of God, and is capable of partaking of the divine

nature, of cooperating with his Creator and executing His plans “ SD p. 8.

“ Above all lower orders of being, God designed that man, the crowning work of His creation, should express His

thought and reveal His glory “ MH p. 415.

“ Man was the crowning act of the creation of God, made in the image of God, and designed to be a counterpart of

God. . . . Man is very dear to God, because he was formed in His own image “ MLT p. 126.

“ All heaven took a deep and joyful interest in the creation of the world and of man. Human beings were a new and

distinct order “ 1 BC 1081.

“ Angels on probation had been deceived by Satan, and had been led on by him in the great rebellion in Heaven against

Christ. . . Adam was then created in the image of God and placed upon probation. . . After God had made every provi-

sion for the happiness of man, and had supplied his every want, he tested Adam's loyalty. If the holy pair should be

obedient, the race would after a time be made equal to the angels “ RH, Feb.24, 1874.

The Inspired statements quoted previously clearly show that man was created, not only to glorify his Crea-

tor, but to be a counterpart of God. He was made capable of cooperating with his Creator in executing His

plans. The question is why did God need a new order of beings to work in cooperation with Him as a coun-

terpart of God to execute His plans? What was different between this new order of intelligences and the be-

ings in the unfallen worlds? And what was the pressing urgency of the plans which God intended to exe-

cute that needed a new and distinct order of intelligent beings through which to be accomplished?

We are told that man was created a little lower than the angels. Yet we are also told that he was created with

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such a built-in capacity that through obedience, he would become elevated to the sphere of an angel. God

intended to repopulate heaven after Lucifer and one third of the angels were cast out. The capacity to be-

come elevated to a higher sphere was unique to the human race. We do not read of angels who have been

loyal and true, becoming elevated to a higher sphere than an angel. Nor do we read of the unfallen beings of

other worlds becoming elevated to the sphere of an angel. Why did God create man that way? If mankind

would cooperate with their Creator in executing His plans, their experience would prove the falsity of Lu-

cifer’s allegations that obedience to the law brings slavery and restricts the possibility of elevation of exist-

ence. Following is a picture of what God was contending with as a result of Lucifer’s rebellion.

“ When it was announced that with all his sympathizers he must be expelled from the abodes of bliss, then the rebel

leader boldly avowed his contempt for the Creator's law. He reiterated his claim that angels needed no control, but

should be left to follow their own will, which would ever guide them right. He denounced the divine statutes as a

restriction of their liberty and declared that it was his purpose to secure the abolition of law; that, freed

from this restraint, the hosts of heaven might enter upon a more exalted, more glorious state of existence “

GC p. 499.

Lucifer, who had occupied the highest position in heaven next to Christ, carried a lot of influence in the

whole universe. To disprove his falsehoods was a very difficult matter. Yet God had a plan that would for-

ever settle the doubts raised regarding the goodness of His law. He created a new order of beings through

whom He would show that obedience to His law was not restrictive, that it doesn’t prevent intelligent beings

from attaining to a higher sphere of existence. “ After God had made every provision for the happiness of man, and

had supplied his every want, he tested Adam's loyalty. If the holy pair should be obedient, the race would after a

time be made equal to the angels “ RH, Feb.24, 1874.

Had things worked out as God had planned, the great controversy would have ended long ago. The allega-

tions against God’s law would have been nullified by a whole order of intelligent beings who would demon-

strate in their elevated existence that God’s law is not restrictive. Lucifer would have been so completely ex-

posed in his diabolical schemes that the last link of sympathy between him and the loyal universe would be

forever broken. And in mercy to the rebels, God would end their existence, the continuance of which would

only bring them increasing misery.

But we know the past history of what happened on planet earth. Because of man’s terrible failure, the great

controversy has had to go on for much longer than God intended. Yet God has promised that “ Afflic-

tion shall not rise up again the second time “ Nahum 1:9. And He is still depending on the human race to

cooperate with Him in executing His plan to secure the universe against another defection. As we continue

to search out answers to the Vital Questions, we will see how God’s original purpose involving the human

race in answering the doubts raised against His law has not changed. But it has become infinitely more diffi-

cult to do that with fallen, sinful beings than with unfallen beings. And the glory and magnitude of the final

demonstration will even be greater and more convincing than it would have been had it happened with un-

fallen beings.

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CHAPTER TWO

3. What relation did the creation of this world have to the rebellion of Lucifer in heaven?

4. Why did God create Adam and Eve a little lower than the angels, and with less enlightenment than the

angels had?

Why did God create another order of intelligent beings at the very time that a major rebellion had broken out

in heaven? The answer to that is found in ST April 22, 1903 which says, “ We were brought into existence be-

cause we were needed. How sad the thought that if we stand on the wrong side, in the ranks of the enemy, we are lost to

the design of our creation.”

God needed someone to help Him counter the allegations of Lucifer that His law was restrictive and was

preventing the intelligences of the universe from rising to a “more exalted, more glorious state of existence.” See

GC p.499. Man was created to disprove the claims of Lucifer. God made man, a new and distinct order of

beings with a capacity of cooperating with his Creator and executing His plans. Man was made of the dust

of the ground, and lower than the angels. But “If the holy pair should be obedient, the race would, after a time, be

made equal to the angels “ RH Feb.24, 1874. That would prove the falseness of Lucifer’s claims that God’s laws

were restrictive and were preventing intelligent beings from rising to a higher state of existence.

The security and stability of the universe is dependent on a visible demonstration that God’s character and

His laws are holy and just and good, and conducive to the highest elevation of being. The universe will not

be secure from another defection until every intelligent being is convinced of the goodness and righteousness

of God’s character and laws.

As we look at the sequence of events when rebellion broke out in heaven, we discover the very close timing

between Lucifer being cast out of heaven and the creation of this world and Adam and Eve. It almost seems

that Lucifer and his angels did not have a completed planet earth to come to when they were cast out of

heaven. The following passage is from Story of Redemption, p. 19.

“ Then there was war in heaven. The Son of God, the Prince of heaven, and His loyal angels engaged in conflict with the

archrebel and those who united with him. The Son of God and true, loyal angels prevailed; and Satan and his sympa-

thizers were expelled from heaven. All the heavenly host acknowledged and adored the God of justice. Not a taint of re-

bellion was left in heaven. All was again peaceful and harmonious as before. Angels in heaven mourned the fate of those

who had been their companions in happiness and bliss. Their loss was felt in heaven. The Father consulted His Son

in regard to at once carrying out their purpose to make man to inhabit the earth. He would place man upon pro-

bation to test his loyalty before he could be rendered eternally secure. If he endured the test wherewith God saw fit to

prove him, he should eventually be equal with the angels. “

From what we have just read, there was a close timing between Satan being cast out of heaven and the crea-

tion of this world and Adam and Eve. But why were they created a little lower than the angels in capacity

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and comprehension of spiritual concepts? It seems that God wanted an order of beings that were originally

lower than the angels, but who could become equal to the angels. God needed an order of beings who were

redeemable if they should fall into sin. We know that none of the angels who imbibed the spirit of rebellion

from Lucifer ever repented, even though the loyal angels tried to persuade them to return to their loyalty to

God. But they had sinned against great light and superior knowledge. The greater the light, the more hard-

ened the heart becomes if it walks contrary to it.

We are told in Upward Look p. 262, “ For fallen angels there has been no atonement; but for fallen man a full

and ample offering has been made to save to the uttermost all who shall come unto God by Him.. “

Also in Story of Redemption p. 18 we read, “ God declared that the rebellious should remain in heaven no longer.

Their high and happy state had been held upon condition of obedience to the law which God had given to govern the high

order of intelligences. But no provision had been made to save those who should venture to transgress His

law. “

The difference between fallen mankind and fallen angels and the possibility of experiencing redemption is

explained in the following: “ But even as a sinner, man was in a different position from that of Satan. Lu-

cifer in heaven had sinned in the light of God's glory. To him as to no other created being was given a revelation of

God's love. Understanding the character of God, knowing His goodness, Satan chose to follow his own selfish, inde-

pendent will. This choice was final. There was no more that God could do to save him. But man was deceived; his

mind was darkened by Satan's sophistry. The height and depth of the love of God he did not know. For him

there was hope in a knowledge of God's love. By beholding His character he might be drawn back to God “ Desire of

Ages p. 761-762.

God created Adam and Eve with all noble traits of character, but they did not have the full revelation of the

love and character of God as did Lucifer and the angels in heaven. If they were to transgress against that

light, there was no more God could do. He had no reserve revelation of truth to subdue their rebellious feel-

ings or to lead to a greater appreciation of God’s goodness. They were unredeemable. Thus when God cre-

ated the human race, He made them as a lower order of beings with less of the enlightenment that the angels

in heaven had. They could be brought to repentance through a fuller revelation of God’s love. And when

Christ has completed His work of redeeming man, He will have an order of intelligent beings who will

demonstrate to the “ principalities and powers in heavenly places. . . The manifold wisdom of God “ Ephesians 3:10.

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CHAPTER THREE

The questions to be answered in this part are:

5. What became the big issues in the universe when sin entered?

6. Were all the issues raised by Lucifer resolved by Christ coming in Humanity?

7. Did Christ in His humanity prove that fully redeemed sinners can be secured from ever falling back in-

to sin?

We know from Inspiration that in the beginning of his rebellion, Lucifer aspired to become like the Most High

and to replace God on the throne of the universe. But Lucifer was too wise to openly express his ambitious

desires. He did not openly demand the highest position to which he was aspiring. To accomplish his ambi-

tions, he very subtly began to question the integrity of God’s law, which is a transcript of His character. He

raised some questions in the minds of the angels which were intended to create doubts in their minds regard-

ing the need for a law to govern the inhabitants of heaven. “Working with mysterious secrecy, and for a time con-

cealing his real purpose under an appearance of reverence for God, he endeavored to excite dissatisfaction concerning the

laws that governed heavenly beings, intimating that they imposed an unnecessary restraint “ GC p.495. He also

made the allegation that the law of God, combining justice and mercy, was an impossible arrangement. In DA

p.761 it tells us that “In the opening of the great controversy, Satan had declared that the law of God could not be

obeyed, that justice was inconsistent with mercy, and that, should the law be broken, it would be impossible for the sin-

ner to be pardoned. Every sin must meet its punishment, urged Satan; and if God should remit the punishment of sin,

He would not be a God of truth and justice.”

Lucifer’s solution to the problems he had raised was to do away with the law. “He reiterated his claim that an-

gels needed no control, but should be left to follow their own will, which would ever guide them right. He denounced the

divine statutes as a restriction of their liberty, and declared that it was his purpose to secure the abolition of law; that,

freed from this restraint, the hosts of Heaven might enter upon a more exalted, more glorious state of existence “ GC p.

499. His claim that the divine statutes were a restriction of liberty and that if they could be freed from this

restraint, they would enter upon a more exalted state of existence is similar to what he told Eve in Eden.

It also followed that if the law was faulty, God’s character must be faulty, because the law is a transcript of

God’s character. And if Lucifer would replace Christ in His high position, what would he do with Christ?

There was a terrible, deep-seated evil growing in the mind of Lucifer. In John 8:44 Jesus revealed what was in

his heart from the beginning. “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no

truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” And Desire of Ages

p. 57 states, “Christ had lived only to comfort and bless, and in putting Him to death, Satan manifested the malignity

of his hatred against God. He made it evident that the real purpose of his rebellion was to dethrone God, and to

destroy Him through whom the love of God was shown. “

Christ came to earth to reveal the true character of the Godhead and the goodness of His law. Christ came to

magnify the law and make it honorable. He answered the charges made by Lucifer that the law of God could

not be obeyed, and therefore should be changed or done away. Christ declared, “Think not that I am come to

destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. Here Jesus refutes the charge of the Pharisees.

His mission to the world is to vindicate the sacred claims of that law which they charge Him with breaking. If the law of

God could have been changed or abrogated, then Christ need not have suffered the consequences of our transgression. He

came to explain the relation of the law to man, and to illustrate its precepts by His own life of obedience. . . Since ‘the

law of the Lord is perfect,’ every variation from it must be evil. Those who disobey the commandments of God, and teach

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others to do so, are condemned by Christ. The Saviour's life of obedience maintained the claims of the law; it proved that

the law could be kept in humanity, and showed the excellence of character that obedience would develop “ Desire of

Ages pp. 307-309.

“ By His life and His death, Christ proved that God's justice did not destroy His mercy, but that sin could be forgiven,

and that the law is righteous, and can be perfectly obeyed. Satan's charges were refuted. God had given man unmistaka-

ble evidence of His love “ Desire of Ages, p. 762.

The life and death of Christ refuted Satan’s charges against God and His law, but there were more things that

had to be revealed. The questions raised by Lucifer in the great controversy were not yet fully answered. It

would take more time to make clear what the great controversy was all about, and how the redemption

which Christ provided would become the eternal anti-dote to the recurrence of sin.

Desire of Ages p. 761 tells us why Satan was not destroyed and the great controversy brought to an end at

the death of Christ. “ Satan saw that his disguise was torn away. His administration was laid open before the unfall-

en angels and before the heavenly universe. He had revealed himself as a murderer. By shedding the blood of the Son of

God, he had uprooted himself from the sympathies of the heavenly beings. . . Yet Satan was not then destroyed. The an-

gels did not even then understand all that was involved in the great controversy. The principles at stake were to be more

fully revealed. And for the sake of man, Satan's existence must be continued. Man as well as angels must see the con-

trast between the Prince of light and the prince of darkness. He must choose whom he will serve. “

One of the great issues in the universe since sin entered is the establishment of eternal security against the

recurrence of sin. Does the redemption which Christ has so abundantly provided secure redeemed sinners

from ever falling back into sin again? We know that Christ came in fallen human nature to prove that those

living in fallen human natures could, through the power and grace supplied by the Holy Spirit, perfectly

keep the commandments of God. But what about those who have once sinned? Can sinners who have re-

pented and forsaken their sins ever keep the law of God as perfectly as Jesus did in His humanity? The an-

swer is, not until Christ has completed His work of atonement in the most holy place. Once man sinned, his

spiritual nature became so depraved that it could no longer present a perfect offering of obedience. He now

had become a corrupt human channel which defiled even the good things that he did. He was clothed with a

filthy garment, the scars of a wounded conscience, the remembrance of past sins which are written with a

pen of iron and with point of a diamond upon the tables of their hearts. See Jeremiah 17:1. & SAF p.39-41

Jesus never had this spiritual disability when He lived in His humanity. Indeed, Jesus could not demon-

strate whether a fully redeemed sinner could be secure from ever falling back into sin. He would have had

to become a sinner, and that would disqualify Him from being a spotless Lamb to pay the penalty for mans’

transgression. So the question whether the eternal security of the universe is possible with fully redeemed

sinners occupying positions of honor in the kingdom of heaven has not yet been answered. The most illustri-

ous of the heroes of faith like Abraham, Moses and Elijah and others have not shown a security against fall-

ing. They all needed an intercessor during their earthly sojourn. Because of that reality, the heavenly uni-

verse is most concerned about whether redeemed sinners can be safe in heaven from ever falling back into

sin, as happened in their experience on earth.

Furthermore, Christ has made some exceeding great promises to redeemed sinners that could worry the loy-

al universe. In the judgment, we are told that “ The divine Intercessor presents the plea that all who have

overcome through faith in His blood be forgiven their transgressions, that they be restored to their Eden

home, and crowned as joint heirs with Himself to “the first dominion.” He asks for His people “ not only

pardon and justification, full and complete, but a share in His glory and a seat upon His throne “ Great

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Controversy p. 484.

To place redeemed sinners who once were rebels against God and the laws of His government in such high

positions of power and authority as to become joint heirs with Christ and occupy a seat with Him on His

throne would seem a dangerous proposition. That was the high position which Lucifer aspired to attain, but

was denied that honor. How safe would former rebels be who had at one time imbibed the spirit of Lucifer,

from becoming rebels again?

This is a monumental issue which concerns the future security of the universe. God has promised that afflic-

tion will not rise up again the second time. The unfallen beings are trusting that Christ will makes sure that

will never happen. At the same time, Christ will not take away the freedom of choice from any intelligent

being.

The remnant church has been raised up to answer all the questions that are in the minds of unfallen beings.

The Third Angel’s message is going to produce the 144,000 through whom Christ will demonstrate that fully

redeemed sinners will be eternally secure from infecting the universe again with the virus of sin. We will

learn the ‘when’ and the ’how’ in the succeeding chapters..

CHAPTER FOUR

8. Why was it that for man’s sake, Satan’s existence was continued after the death of Christ?

9. After Adam and Eve repented and were pardoned by the atoning blood, why were they not allowed to

remain in the Garden of Eden?

10. The depravity of nature that Adam and Eve gained through sinning, was it possible to become free of it

through a lifetime of sanctified obedience?

We touched briefly in the last chapter on why Satan’s existence was continued after the death of Christ. We

read from Desire of Ages this explanation. “ Yet Satan was not then destroyed. The angels did not even then un-

derstand all that was involved in the great controversy. The principles at stake were to be more fully revealed. And for

the sake of man, Satan's existence must be continued. Man as well as angels must see the contrast between the Prince of

light and the prince of darkness. He must choose whom he will serve “ DA p. 761.

In order to secure the universe from another defection, God had to give Satan time to more fully develop his

principles so they could be plainly seen in contrast to God’s principles. Desire of Ages p. 759 tells us that “

It was God's purpose to place things on an eternal basis of security, and in the councils of heaven it was decided

that time must be given for Satan to develop the principles which were the foundation of his system of government. He

had claimed that these were superior to God's principles. Time was given for the working of Satan's principles, that they

might be seen by the heavenly universe. “

The great controversy has become the great lesson book for all the intelligences of the universe to see the re-

sults of doing away with the law of God, which is holy and just and good. The pernicious and long-lasting

effect of sinning was explained to Adam and Eve after they sinned and repented. After they sinned, they felt

a sense of terror and guilt at what they had done. When they heard the voice of God in the garden calling to

them, they hid themselves in the farthest recesses of the garden, rather than joyously welcoming their Crea-

tor as they had always done before. But when they sorrowfully repented for their disobedience, God gra-

ciously pardoned them. Their guilt was borne by the “Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world.” Yet

they were not permitted to remain in the garden, even though they pledged never to disobey again. Why

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couldn’t they remain in the beautiful garden that they had enjoyed so much? God condescended to explain

to them the problem that sin had caused.

“After their sin Adam and Eve were no longer to dwell in Eden. They earnestly entreated that they might remain in the

home of their innocence and joy. They confessed that they had forfeited all right to that happy abode, but pledged them-

selves for the future to yield strict obedience to God. But they were told that their nature had become depraved by sin;

they had lessened their strength to resist evil and had opened the way for Satan to gain more ready access to them. In

their innocence they had yielded to temptation; and now, in a state of conscious guilt, they would have less power to

maintain their integrity.” Patriarchs and Prophets p.61.

We see from the foregoing passage some specific damage that an experience in sinning causes. It depraves

the nature and lessens spiritual strength to resist evil. It also opens a door for Satan to gain more ready ac-

cess to the heart and mind. Pardon for sin did not undo the deleterious effects that sin had brought upon

Adam and Eve. Because of these things, they could not remain in the Garden of Eden or hold open com-

munion with God. Yet when the work of the atonement is finished, the Bible tells us “And they shall see His

face; and His name shall be in their forehead” Revelation 22:4.

This depravity of nature gained through sinning will not be eliminated from the spiritual life by a lifetime of

sanctified obedience. God told Adam and Eve that the knowledge of evil that they gained by eating of the

tree of knowledge of good and evil would be with them all the days of their life. The knowledge of evil

that God did not want our first parents to have was not merely a knowledge about evil. God and the holy

angels all knew about evil through the defection of Lucifer. The ‘knowledge of evil’ that has caused such

depredations upon the human race is not merely knowing about evil, but an experience in evil that can only

come through personal sinning. Note the following from Inspiration.

“ Adam and Eve were permitted to partake of every tree in the Garden save one. There was only a single prohibition.

The forbidden tree was as attractive and lovely as any of the trees in the Garden. It was called the tree of knowledge,

because in partaking of that tree, of which God had said, ‘Thou shalt not eat of it,’ (Gen. 2:17) they would have a

knowledge of sin, an experience in disobedience.” KH p.14.

It took only a moment for Adam and Eve to obtain a ‘knowledge of evil,’ but they discovered that they

would not be free of it all the days of their life. Inspiration tells us, “It was not the will of God that the sinless

pair should know aught of evil. He had freely given them the good, and had withheld the evil. But, contrary to His

command, they had eaten of the forbidden tree, and now they would continue to eat of it - they would have the

knowledge of evil - all the days of their life ” Patriarchs and Prophets p.59.

The knowledge of evil places the sinner at a distinct disadvantage which handicaps his best efforts to serve

the Lord. This was dramatically evident in the experience of Adam and Eve, who had fallen from a sinless

state into a state of sin. “Adam and Eve had chosen the knowledge of evil, and if they ever regained the position they

had lost they must regain it under the unfavorable conditions they had brought upon themselves.” Education p.25.

When Adam and Eve first transgressed, they thought it was really a small matter, something which God in

His great love would be willing to overlook. But after seeing what fearful consequences sin had brought,

they realized as never before the malignancy of sin. Then they also were able to appreciate the value of the

sacrifice and grace that had been provided to save them from sin’s enslavement and guilt. The deleterious

effect of sinning is evident in what Inspiration calls the corrupt channel of humanity which defiles even the

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good things that the believers do. This is one aspect of sin which Christ did not take upon Himself. He never

gained a knowledge of evil, an “ experience in disobedience.” And we find that Inspiration is clear that no

one becomes free of this spiritual handicap during probationary time. 4T 367 sheds more light on this prob-

lem when it states, “ When I was shown the present condition of man in physical, mental, and moral power, and what

he might become through the merits of Christ, I was astonished that he should preserve such a low level. Man may grow

up into Christ, his living head. It is not the work of a moment, but that of a lifetime. By growing daily in the divine life,

he will not attain to the full stature of a perfect man in Christ until his probation ceases. “

The Bible tells us that “ For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not “ Eccl.7:20. Also in

Proverbs 20:9 it asks this rhetorical question, “ Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? “

And the answer is obvious. Even when we look at the 144,000 immediately before they are sealed, we find

them clothed with a filthy garment, pleading for purity of heart. They are not pleading for victory over some

besetting sin. They are pleading to be free from the corrupt channel of humanity, the knowledge of evil

which has been with them all the days of their life.

We are given a graphic picture of the 144,000 and their experience in the investigative judgment and the clos-

ing up of the great day of atonement. Zechariah 3:1-5 and the inspired commentary on that passage is very

enlightening on this point.

“ Zechariah's vision of Joshua and the Angel applies with peculiar force to the experience of God's people in the closing

up of the great day of atonement. . . Their only hope is in the mercy of God; their only defense will be prayer. As Josh-

ua was pleading before the Angel, so the remnant church, with brokenness of heart and earnest faith, will plead for par-

don and deliverance through Jesus their Advocate. They are fully conscious of the sinfulness of their lives, they see their

weakness and unworthiness, and as they look upon themselves they are ready to despair. . . But while the followers of

Christ have sinned, they have not given themselves to the control of evil. They have put away their sins, and have sought

the Lord in humility and contrition, and the divine Advocate pleads in their behalf.

As the people of God afflict their souls before Him, pleading for purity of heart, the command is given, “Take away the

filthy garments” from them, and the encouraging words are spoken, “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass

from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” The spotless robe of Christ's righteousness is placed upon the

tried, tempted, yet faithful children of God. The despised remnant are clothed in glorious apparel, nevermore to be de-

filed by the corruptions of the world. Their names are retained in the Lamb's book of life, enrolled among the faithful

of all ages. They have resisted the wiles of the deceiver; they have not been turned from their loyalty by the dragon's roar.

Now they are eternally secure from the tempter's devices “ 5 T 472-475.

We can see by these passages when it is that God’s people become free from the depravity of nature, the cor-

rupt channel, which they gained through sinning. This point becomes of supreme importance because it is to

solve this great problem that Christ entered the most holy place in 1844. This is what the Third Angel’s mes-

sage is all about.

CHAPTER FIVE

11. How does the depravity of nature gained through sinning differ from the fallen nature which Christ

took, degraded and defiled by sin?

12. What are the two facets of sin, one of which is removed when sin is pardoned but the other is not?

13. How was the dual nature of sin demonstrated in the ancient sanctuary service?

There is a big difference between the depravity of nature that we receive through heredity and that which is

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received through sinning. We are told in Mind, Character and Personality Vol. 1, p. 236 that “ The lower pas-

sions have their seat in the body and work through it. The words flesh or fleshly or carnal lusts embrace the lower, cor-

rupt nature; the flesh of itself cannot act contrary to the will of God. We are commanded to crucify the flesh, with

the affections and lusts. How shall we do it? Shall we inflict pain on the body? No; but put to death the temptation to

sin. “

We should also realize that temptation is not sin, unless we yield to its influence. “ Temptation is not sin.

Jesus was holy and pure; yet He was tempted in all points as we are, but with a strength and power that man will never

be called upon to endure “ 5T p. 426. Satan works through the lower nature to allure into indulgence of appe-

tite and passion. The mind will feel the pull of the flesh, but through the grace provided, the child of God

does not have to yield to that drawing. However, once an individual has sinned, there is an automatic re-

sponse in his mind to sin which has to be firmly resisted, or it will over-power the mind and will. “ Sin has

degraded the faculties of the soul. Temptations from without find an answering chord within the heart, and the

feet turn imperceptibly toward evil “ MH p. 451.

There is a strong tendency to fall into the same sins that were committed previously. “ He who has once yielded

to temptation will yield more readily the second time. Every repetition of the sin lessens his power of resistance, blinds

his eyes, and stifles conviction “ PP p. 268. “ It is true that some may see their folly and repent. God may pardon them.

But they have wounded their own souls, and brought upon themselves a lifelong peril “ COL p. 55.

Sin is like a two-sided coin. On one side is the guilt and condemnation facet. The sense of guilt and condem-

nation that Adam and Eve felt created an estrangement from God and an aversion to His presence. However,

when the sin is pardoned and the guilt removed, the communication between the soul and God is restored

and the healing process can begin. On the other side of the coin is the ‘knowledge of evil’ facet, the experi-

ence in disobedience which is not removed when sin is pardoned. This aspect of sin is often ignored or not

understood. It took only a moment for Adam and Eve to obtain a ‘knowledge of evil,’ but they discovered

that they would not be free of it all the days of their life.

In the sanctuary services, we find that the daily sin offerings brought to the door of the tabernacle provided

reprieve from the burden of guilt. This is explained in GC p. 418. “ The broken law of God demanded the life of

the transgressor. The blood, representing the forfeited life of the sinner, whose guilt the victim bore, was carried by

the priest into the holy place and sprinkled before the veil, behind which was the ark containing the law that the sinner

had transgressed. By this ceremony the sin was, through the blood, transferred in figure to the sanctuary. “ Also in DA

p. 321 we read, “ Whatever the sin, if the soul repents and believes, the guilt is washed away in the blood of

Christ. “ The cleansing away of the guilt by the daily sin offerings presented at the tabernacle was their expe-

rience of 1 John 1:9. In Leviticus 4 & 5, it is represented as receiving an atonement. “The priest shall make an

atonement for him and he shall be forgiven. “ However, on the 10th day of the 7th month, all Israel were called to

gather to the sanctuary to receive another atonement. This was the most solemn day of the year. Anyone

who ignored that day would be cut off from the congregation. It was their typical day of judgment. They

were to be in an attitude of deep repentance and affliction of soul, “ For on that day shall the priest make atone-

ment for you to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord “ Leviticus 16:30.

The sins of the people which had been transferred to the sanctuary, were blotted out on the day of atonement

and placed on the head of the scapegoat, who would bear them away into the wilderness, forever separated

from the people. Likewise, in the reality, the day of atonement is to blot out the record of sins, the knowledge

of evil, which is recorded in the sanctuary and also on the tables of the heart and mind. It will be the complete

11

fulfillment of the new covenant promise as noted in GC p. 485. “ Thus will be realized the complete fulfillment, of

the new covenant promise, ‘ I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’ ‘In those days, and

in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and

they shall not be found. ‘ “

One important lesson to be learned from the ancient sanctuary service is the fact that forgiveness and over-

coming sins is not all there is to the work of redemption. The following passage from PP p. 355 gives us a

deeper insight into this crucial point which needs to be remembered in these end times.

“ Important truths concerning the atonement were taught the people by this yearly service. In the sin offerings presented

during the year, a substitute had been accepted in the sinner's stead; but the blood of the victim had not made full

atonement for the sin. It had only provided a means by which the sin was transferred to the sanctuary. By the offering

of blood, the sinner acknowledged the authority of the law, confessed the guilt of his transgression, and expressed his

faith in Him who was to take away the sin of the world; but he was not entirely released from the condemnation of

the law. On the Day of Atonement the high priest, having taken an offering for the congregation, went into the most

holy place with the blood and sprinkled it upon the mercy seat, above the tables of the law. Thus the claims of the law,

which demanded the life of the sinner, were satisfied. Then in his character of mediator the priest took the sins upon him-

self, and, leaving the sanctuary, he bore with him the burden of Israel's guilt. At the door of the tabernacle he laid his

hands upon the head of the scapegoat and confessed over him ‘all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their

transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat.’ And as the goat bearing these sins was sent

away, they were, with him, regarded as forever separated from the people. “

The daily service of the sanctuary provided forgiveness and overcoming power to live sanctified lives. Those

blessings and benefits were all available to God’s people before 1844. Christ did not have to go to the most

holy place to provide His people with power to overcome all their besetting sins. The Third Angel’s message

is to do a work beyond that of forgiveness and overcoming. It is to blot out the sins that were recorded on the

tables of the heart and in the books in heaven. That will be the completion of the new covenant promise.

CHAPTER SIX

14. In the type, how important was it for Israel to be symbolically cleansed from both aspects of sin?

15. Has anyone since the fall ever become entirely free from the depravity of spiritual nature caused by sin-

ning?

16. Will Christ remove this problem without first showing to His people the corrupt channel which defiles

even their good deeds?

The day of atonement in Israel was the most solemn day of the year. In the sin offerings brought to the taber-

nacle day by day, the suppliant was pardoned and cleansed from his guilt. The sentence of death for the

transgression of the law was lifted from the sinner and the responsibility was born by the priests. They were

to symbolically bear the iniquity of the congregation. Note this passage from Leviticus 10: 16-17. “ And Mo-

ses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar,

the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying, Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is

most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before

the LORD? “

Even though the sinner was cleansed from his guilt in the daily sin offerings, he was still required to gather to

the sanctuary for another cleansing on the 10th day of the 7th month. “ For on that day shall the priest make an

atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD “ Leviticus 16:30. Anyone

12

who ignored that day would be cut off from the congregation. It was their day of judgment. So the removal

of the record of past sins in the life was a matter of life and death. The cleansing of the sanctuary involved

the cleansing of the people on the day of atonement because, not only was the sin recorded in the sanctuary,

but it was also written on the tables of the heart. Jeremiah 17:1 tells us that “ The sin of Judah is written with a

pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your al-

tars. “

The importance of the day of judgment and atonement is urged upon us in many passages of Inspiration. In

Great Controversy p. 488 it tells us: “ The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly

understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High

Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the posi-

tion which God designs them to fill. . . It is of the utmost importance that all should thoroughly investigate

these subjects and be able to give an answer to everyone that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them. “

“ This is the great day of preparation, and the solemn work going on in the sanctuary above should be kept constantly

before the minds of those employed in our various institutions. Business cares should not be allowed to absorb the mind

to such a degree that the work in heaven, which concerns every individual, will be lightly regarded. The solemn scenes

of the judgment, the great day of atonement, should be kept before the people, and urged upon their consciences with

earnestness and power. The subject of the sanctuary will give us correct views of the importance of the work for this

time “ 5 Testimonies p. 420.

No one since the fall has become entirely free from the deleterious effect of the record of past sins in the

mind and heart. The filthy garment, the corrupt human channel will be a fact of life until sins are blotted

out. That is why the Bible tells us that “ There is none righteous, no, not one “ Romans 3:10. God told Adam

and Eve after they sinned that they would have the ‘knowledge of evil’ all the days of their life. That is why

we are told that “ None of the apostles and prophets ever claimed to be without sin. Men who have lived the nearest to

God, men who would sacrifice life itself rather than knowingly commit a wrong act, men whom God has honored with

divine light and power, have confessed the sinfulness of their nature. They have put no confidence in the flesh, have

claimed no righteousness of their own, but have trusted wholly in the righteousness of Christ “ Acts of The Apostles

p. 561.

A life of sanctification is to get rid of all sinful habits. Overcoming power is supplied by the impartation of

the Holy Spirit. But the kind of perfection required to stand without a mediator will not be attained through

sanctification alone. Inspiration tells us that “ When I was shown the present condition of man in physical, men-

tal, and moral power, and what he might become through the merits of Christ, I was astonished that he should preserve

such a low level. Man may grow up into Christ, his living head. It is not the work of a moment, but that of a

lifetime. By growing daily in the divine life, he will not attain to the full stature of a perfect man in Christ

until his probation ceases “ 4 Testimonies p. 367.

The question remains whether Christ will show to His people what causes the filthy garment, the corrupt

human channel before He takes it away? We know that Christ does nothing for man without his coopera-

tion. He will not forgive our sins unless we desire Him to. The Holy Spirit always reveals to us the sins that

we need to confess. But the blotting out of the life record of sins recorded in the mind is a greater work of

grace than is the forgiveness of sins. Would Christ remove it without the Holy Spirit showing us this plague

spot in our character? The Bible tells us that on the day of atonement “ There is a remembrance again made of

sins every year “ Hebrews 10:3. This is further explained in detail in the following:

“ Each one in the day of investigative Judgment will stand in character as he really is; he will render an individual ac-

13

count to God. Every word uttered, every departure from integrity, every action that sullies the soul, will be weighed in

the balances of the sanctuary. Memory will be true and vivid in condemnation of the guilty one, who in that day is

found wanting. The mind will recall all the thoughts and acts of the past; the whole life will come in review

like the scenes in a panorama. Thus every one will be condemned or acquitted out of his own mouth, and the right-

eousness of God will be vindicated “ RH Nov. 4, 1884.

“ The life He has given us is a sacred responsibility, and no moment of it is to be trifled with; for we shall have to

meet it again in the record of the judgment. In the books of heaven our lives are as accurately traced as in the picture

on the plate of the photographer. Not only are we held accountable for what we have done, but for what we have left un-

done. We are held to account for our undeveloped characters, our unimproved opportunities “ 7BC p. 987.

To remove the record of sins recorded in the soul and in the books of the sanctuary is the reason why Christ

entered the most holy place in 1844. The blotting out of sins has been going on for the dead, as their cases

have been coming up in judgment. But as we shall see in the next chapter, the judgment of the living has not

yet begun. There is another end-time event which is connected with the judgment of the living indicated in

Inspiration. It will begin a chain reaction to the closing events connected with the close of probation and the

time of trouble.

CHAPTER SEVEN

17. What other dramatic end-time event will coincide with the revealing of this problem ( the corrupt hu-

man channel) to God’s people?

18. What is the connection between the mark of the beast, the judgment of the living and the sealing?

The great end-time event that lights the fuse triggering the chain of final events is the enforcement of the

mark of the beast. That is the great, final test which will purify the church and bring the seal and the latter

rain to God’s people. Following is an important inspired passage that needs to be considered first when

studying last day events. This is taken from 7 Bible Comments p. 976.

“ The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great

test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided.... [Revelation 13:11-17 quoted.] … This is the

test that the people of God must have before they are sealed. All who proved their loyalty to God by observing His

law, and refusing to accept a spurious sabbath, will rank under the banner of the Lord God Jehovah, and will receive the

seal of the living God. Those who yield the truth of heavenly origin and accept the Sunday sabbath, will receive the mark

of the beast. “

When discussing the sealing of the 144,000, there seems to be a limited perception generally of all that is in-

volved. We often hear the quote from Ellen White which speaks of the sealing as a settling into the truth so

that we cannot be moved. But that is one aspect to the sealing. There are many other aspects to the sealing

that are often omitted. For instance, the sealing which is frequently mentioned in Inspiration as a mark

placed upon the forehead, as depicted in Ezekiel nine and numerous places in the Spirit of Prophecy is sel-

dom mentioned. And the enforcement of the mark of the beast and the judgment of the living that are con-

nected with the sealing are also usually omitted.

Inspiration frequently describes the sealing as a mark or stamp placed upon the foreheads of those who have

remained steadfast when the great final test is applied. “ Those who are uniting with the world are receiving the

worldly mold and preparing for the mark of the beast. Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves

before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth—these are receiving the heavenly mold and preparing for the

seal of God in their foreheads. When the decree goes forth and the stamp is impressed, their character will re-

14

main pure and spotless for eternity “ 5 Testimonies p. 216.

Perhaps the most definitive passage in Inspiration which shows that the mark of the beast, the judgment of

the living and the sealing are simultaneous events is found in 5 Testimonies pp. 472-476. This is describing

the experience of God’s people in the closing up of the day of atonement. The day of atonement began for

the dead in 1844, therefore the closing up of the day of atonement must be the judgment of the living. That

becomes obvious when we read the passage.

“ Zechariah's vision of Joshua and the Angel applies with peculiar force to the experience of God's people in the closing

up of the great day of atonement. The remnant church will be brought into great trial and distress. Those who keep

the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will feel the ire of the dragon and his hosts. Satan numbers the world as

his subjects, he has gained control of the apostate churches; but here is a little company that are resisting his supremacy.

If he could blot them from the earth, his triumph would be complete. As he influenced the heathen nations to destroy

Israel, so in the near future he will stir up the wicked powers of earth to destroy the people of God. All will be required

to render obedience to human edicts in violation of the divine law. Those who will be true to God and to duty

will be menaced, denounced, and proscribed. They will ‘be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and

friends.’

Their only hope is in the mercy of God; their only defense will be prayer. As Joshua was pleading before the Angel, so the

remnant church, with brokenness of heart and earnest faith, will plead for pardon and deliverance through Jesus their

Advocate. They are fully conscious of the sinfulness of their lives, they see their weakness and unworthiness,

and as they look upon themselves they are ready to despair. The tempter stands by to accuse them, as he stood by

to resist Joshua. He points to their filthy garments, their defective characters. He presents their weakness and folly, their

sins of ingratitude, their unlikeness to Christ, which has dishonored their Redeemer. He endeavors to affright the soul

with the thought that their case is hopeless, that the stain of their defilement will never be washed away. He hopes to

so destroy their faith that they will yield to his temptations, turn from their allegiance to God, and receive

the mark of the beast. “ 5T p. 472-473

We should note that the people of God “are fully conscious of the sinfulness of their lives.” That is due to the

panoramic view that they experience when all the thoughts and deeds of their past life come into view at the

time of the investigative judgment. The timing is the closing up of the great day of atonement, the judgment

of the living. And those who remain faithful during this ordeal will have the seal of God placed upon their

foreheads. We find this depicted on page 475 of the passage quoted above.

“ As the people of God afflict their souls before Him, pleading for purity of heart, the command is given, ‘Take away the

filthy garments’ from them, and the encouraging words are spoken, ‘Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from

thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.’ The spotless robe of Christ's righteousness is placed upon the tried,

tempted, yet faithful children of God. The despised remnant are clothed in glorious apparel, nevermore to be defiled

by the corruptions of the world. Their names are retained in the Lamb's book of life, enrolled among the faithful of all

ages. They have resisted the wiles of the deceiver; they have not been turned from their loyalty by the dragon's roar.

Now they are eternally secure from the tempter's devices. Their sins are transferred to the originator of sin. And

the remnant are not only pardoned and accepted, but honored. ‘A fair miter’ is set upon their heads. They are to be as

kings and priests unto God. While Satan was urging his accusations and seeking to destroy this company, holy

angels, unseen, were passing to and fro, placing upon them the seal of the living God. These are they that stand

upon Mount Zion with the Lamb, having the Father's name written in their foreheads. They sing the new song before

the throne, that song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from

the earth. “

15

The sequence of these major last day events is clearly shown in the preceding passage. First is the test of

the image to the beast. Then the judgment decides the destiny of God’ professed people by how they re-

spond to the test. Those who yield their loyalty to God and accept the mark of the beast will have their

names blotted out of the book of life. Those who remain steadfast through the fiery trial will receive the

seal of the living God. They are depicted in Revelation 15. “ I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire;

and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his

name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the

song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou

King of saints.”

The remnant are sealed by the outpouring of the latter rain which enables them to sound the loud cry to the

whole world to gather in all the honest in heart. Then probation will close for all.

In Early Writings we have a wonderful description of the experience of the 144,000 sealed saints as they

bear a mighty witness before the whole world.

“ I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power. It had effect. Many had been bound;

some wives by their husbands, and some children by their parents. The honest who had been prevented from hearing

the truth now eagerly laid hold upon it. All fear of their relatives was gone, and the truth alone was exalted to them.

They had been hungering and thirsting for truth; it was dearer and more precious than life. I asked what had made this

great change. An angel answered, “It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the

third angel.” EW p. 271

CHAPTER EIGHT

19. What is the difference between the church militant and the church triumphant?

20. Which one will proclaim the loud cry?

We need to realize that Inspiration refers to the church in two different ways. Most of the references refer to

the church militant. Before the test of the mark of the beast and the judgment of the living take place, God’s

church on earth will be the church militant. It may be a relatively pure church as in the days of the apostles

which was represented in the book of Revelation as the church of Ephesus. It includes the churches of

Smyrna and Philadelphia who received from Christ only commendation and no reproof. But it also in-

cludes the other churches like the church of Sardis which only had a few faithful in its midst who were not

reproved for their spiritual apathy. And the most destitute of all the churches is the Laodicean church

which receives some serious rebukes but no commendation.

In all of these cases, the corporate church is addressed as representative of the majority of its members and

its leadership. There always have been faithful members in these churches whom Christ has recognized as

His faithful followers. In a definitive sense, they have sometimes been identified as the true church in In-

spiration. In Acts of The Apostles p. 11 we read that “ From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted

the church on earth. In every age the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful testimony to

the generation in which they lived. These sentinels gave the message of warning; and when they were called to lay

off their armor, others took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant relation with Himself, uniting the

church on earth with the church in heaven. He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the

gates of hell have not been able to prevail against His people. “

16

In all of these cases, the corporate church is addressed as representative of the majority of its members and its

leadership. There always have been faithful members in these churches whom Christ has recognized as His

faithful followers. In a definitive sense, they have sometimes been identified as the true church in Inspira-

tion. In Acts of The Apostles p. 11 we read that “ From the beginning, faithful souls have constituted the

church on earth. In every age the Lord has had His watchmen, who have borne a faithful testimony to the

generation in which they lived. These sentinels gave the message of warning; and when they were called to lay off

their armor, others took up the work. God brought these witnesses into covenant relation with Himself, uniting the

church on earth with the church in heaven. He has sent forth His angels to minister to His church, and the gates

of hell have not been able to prevail against His people. “

Christ told His disciples that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church. But we know that this

has not been the case with the corporate church through the ages. In the messages to the seven churches, we

find that Satan has often prevailed against the majority and the leadership of the churches. It is the faithful in

these churches against which the gates of hell have not prevailed who are at times defined as constituting the

church. Another reference is found in 7 Bible Comments p 931. “ The church on earth, composed of those

who are faithful and loyal to God, is the ‘true tabernacle,’ whereof the Redeemer is the minister. God, and not

man, pitched this tabernacle on a high, elevated platform. This tabernacle is Christ's body, and from north, south,

east, and west He gathers those who shall help to compose it.... A holy tabernacle is built up of those who receive

Christ as their personal Saviour.... Christ is the minister of the true tabernacle, the high priest of all who believe in Him

as a personal Saviour. “

So it is evident that the church militant is composed of both faithful and unfaithful souls. When the faithful

are in control, Christ can work through them to accomplish His work on earth. Through them He has

worked to fulfill the great commission to preach the gospel to all the world.

We have often heard it said by faithful believers that the church is going through to the end. And we know

that is true because Christ has promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. But what

will the church look like when it appears to fall? Will it retain the same organized structure with its educa-

tional and medical institutions, its various levels of Conferences and local churches? Will faithful men and

women be in charge of the world-wide organization and its facilities? We have some disturbing statements

in Inspiration that speak to these points. Note the following: “ Organizations, institutions, unless kept by the

power of God, will work under Satan's dictation to bring men under the control of men; and fraud and guile will bear

the semblance of zeal for truth and for the advancement of the kingdom of God “ Testimonies To Ministers p. 363.

“ The Lord will work to purify His church. I tell you in truth, the Lord is about to turn and overturn in the institutions

called by His name. Just how soon this refining process will begin I cannot say, but it will not be long deferred. He

whose fan is in His hand will cleanse His temple of its moral defilement. He will thoroughly purge His floor “ Testimo-

nies To Ministers p. 373.

In the days of Jesus and the Apostles, there was a mighty shaking in the corporate Jewish church. For many

centuries the Jewish church had been God’s chosen vehicle to advance His truth in the earth. It was the object

of His supreme regard. But it wasn’t infallible. When Jesus was crucified, the corporate church was rejected

as God’s recognized vehicle to carry on His work on the earth. We have this interesting statement by Ellen

White in 5BC p.1109. “When Christ cried out, ‘It is finished,’ the Holy Watcher that was an unseen guest at Belshaz-

zar's feast pronounced the Jewish nation to be a nation unchurched.”

The question is, at what point will the corporate, militant SDA church become a church unchurched like the

Jewish church? Some people believe that will never happen. But we need to remember that our beloved

17

church is soon going to be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. Judgment begins at the house of God

and if the church militant has proven unfaithful to its high and holy calling, on her will be pronounced the

sentence, found wanting. The church militant will reap the same consequences as the Jewish church if it

proves unfaithful to the truth which Christ has committed into her hands. We are told in 8T 67 that

“Jerusalem is a representation of what the church will be if it refuses to walk in the light that God has given.”

Christ had only a few faithful followers from the Jewish church remaining after the shaking. But they made

up the nucleus of the Christian church. They were the continuation of the Jewish church. But they never in-

herited the facilities of the apostate church. The temple and synagogues and schools continued to be operat-

ed by those who had been rejected as Christ’s chosen people. Yet the faithful few whom Christ recognized as

His church on earth had something far superior to all the facilities that remained with the corporate church.

They had the all inclusive facility of the Holy Spirit which was poured out in mighty power and which gave

them mighty influence and efficiency to carry out Christ’s commission to preach the gospel to the whole

world. Indeed, Colossians 1:23 tells us that it “was preached to every creature which is under heaven.”

In similar manner, the faithful remnant in the end-time who remain after the shaking has separated the

wheat and tares will have even a more abundant outpouring of spiritual power in the latter rain. With that

facility they will be enabled to enlighten the whole world with the glory of God in a very short time. There

will not be time to build and operate schools and hospitals and other institutions that were necessary for the

church militant. The work will go like fire in the stubble without these facilities.

We need to realize that as we near the judgment, both separation and unity will be seen in the ranks of Sab-

bath keepers. It is becoming increasingly difficult for the wheat to commingle with the tares. When the two

sides are going in the opposite directions, the bonds of unity are becoming more and more strained. The sep-

aration between Christ’s true followers and the world enjoined in the Scriptures has in the past applied to

association with unbelievers outside of the church. But now it is becoming more and more applicable to the

church itself. There are many unbelievers in the church who profess the same faith and have their names on

the church rolls. But they are worldlings or apostates in heart and as dangerous to closely associate with as

are those outside of the church.

The faithful in the church militant in these end times will merge into the church triumphant. It will be a

continuation of the Seventh-day Adventist church. Evangelism p. 707 says, “ The work is soon to close. The

members of the church militant who have proved faithful will become the church triumphant. “ In that sense, the

church will go through to the end. It appears to fall when the mark of the beast is enforced because so many

are shaken out. In 2 Selected Messages p. 380 we read, “ Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his

power as supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will

be sifted out—the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. “

What remains after the sifting is the church triumphant.

One final evidence of what the church triumphant will look like is found in a special vision given to Ellen

White as she saw the church during the time of persecution. In the Spalding-Magan Collection of EG White

statements page one, we read the following:

“I saw the nominal church and nominal Adventists, like Judas, would betray us to the Catholics to obtain their influ-

ence to come against the truth. The saints then will be an obscure people, little known to the Catholics; but the

churches and nominal Adventists who know of our faith and customs (for they hated us on account of the Sabbath, for

they could not refute it) will betray the saints and report them to the Catholics as those who disregard the institutions of

18

the people; that is, that they keep the Sabbath and disregard Sunday.”

The corporate Seventh-day Adventist church today is well known to the Catholics. Some of our medical insti-

tutions are being run in partnership with the Catholic Health System. There is much association and linking

up with the fallen churches in the church militant today and much borrowing of ideas and programs from

the other churches. So the corporate, militant church could not be designated as those who were little

known to the Catholics.

The above statement refers to the nominal Adventists who, along with the fallen churches, betrayed the true

people of God to the Catholics. These nominal Adventists must be former Seventh-day Adventists who had

given up the Sabbath when the great, final test came. They may very well still be carrying on the forms of re-

ligion and continue to operate the institutions and facilities of the church, but the power and presence of God

were lacking. “ But the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel; although many still continued the forms of religion,

His power and presence were lacking “ 5 Testimonies p. 210.

We should be encouraged that Christ is in charge of His work and His people. He will purify His church as

He purified the temple when He was on earth. The wheat and tares will be separated by Him who makes no

mistake. The numbers of those who were shaken out of the church will be made up by the multitudes com-

ing into the church at this time. The church triumphant will prepare the way for Christ to return to earth in

power and glory and make a final end to the great controversy.

CHAPTER NINE

We have come to the last two vital questions which deal with the end-time scenario when the scape goat is

being led away to his ultimate doom. The questions are as follows:

21. At the end of the loud cry, the angel of Revelation 20 comes down to bind Satan for 1000 years. Who is

represented by this angel?

22. How was this final event depicted in the ancient sanctuary service and how critical is it to the eternal

security of the universe?

The Bible depicts what happens at the end of the day of atonement when the scape goat and the fit man come

on the scene to carry out the last act of the drama in the great controversy.

“And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he

shall bring the live goat:

And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children

of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away

by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilder-

ness “ Leviticus 16: 20-22.

This episode with the fit man and the scape goat has usually been considered as of little significance. But In-

spiration does not so regard it. We find other passages in the Bible which deal with the fit man. The book of

Revelation, in numerous places, uses angels to symbolize God’s people and the work that they are doing for

Him. In Revelation 14 we see three angels proclaiming the everlasting gospel to every nation, tongue and

people. 5 Testimonies p. 456 tells us “ The three angels of Revelation 14 represent the people who accept the light of

God's messages and go forth as His agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth. “

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In Revelation 18 we see another angel coming down from heaven and enlightening the whole earth with His

glory. This angel represents the remnant people of God who give the loud cry of the Third Angel and call the

faithful out of Babylon. But in Revelation 20 we find yet another angel who comes down from heaven and

binds Satan for a thousand years. Have we ever wondered who this angel might represent? We know that

the dragon represents Satan, and the bottomless pit represents this desolate earth. But who does the angel

who binds him represent?

The binding of Satan was prefigured in the ancient sanctuary service. It was indicated in Leviticus 16:20-22

which we quoted at the beginning of this narrative. This passage shows the scapegoat, which represented

Satan, being brought forward at the end of the day of atonement and the high priest transferring all the sins

which were confessed at the sanctuary upon his head. Then the scapegoat was led away by a ‘fit man’ to his

ultimate banishment in the wilderness.

Who might this ‘fit man’ be, and what is the significance of him leading away the scapegoat to his ultimate

destruction? We know from the scriptural account that he wasn't the high priest, nor is there any mention of

him being a priest at all. He apparently was a man of the congregation who had just participated in the sol-

emn service of the day of atonement and received its benefits. Other Bible translations render the fit man as “

a man in readiness” or “timely.” Then who might this ‘fit man’ represent in the anti-type? The most logical

interpretation is that the fit man is the last community of saints, the 144,000, rather than just one individual.

It is important to understand the timing of when the scapegoat is being led away. We have this very enlight-

ening passage found in Spalding Magan p. 2. “ Then I saw that Jesus' work in the sanctuary will soon be finished.

And after His work there is finished, He will come to the door of the first apartment, and confess the sins of Israel upon

the head of the Scape Goat. Then He will put on the garments of vengeance. Then the plagues will come upon the wicked,

and they do not come till Jesus puts on that garment, and takes His place upon the great white cloud. Then while the

plagues are falling, the Scape Goat is being led away. He makes a mighty struggle to escape, but he is held

fast by the hand that leads him. If he should effect his escape, Israel would lose their lives. I saw that it would take

time to lead away the Scape Goat into the land of forgetfulness after the sins were put on his head. “

In this Inspired passage we can see that the scapegoat is being led away during the time of the plagues, the

time of Jacob's trouble. Satan tries his utmost to cause the sealed saints to turn from their loyalty to God.

Great Controversy p. 619 tells us that “ As Satan accuses the people of God on account of their sins, the Lord permits

him to try them to the uttermost. Their confidence in God, their faith and firmness, will be severely tested. . . He hopes to

so destroy their faith that they will yield to his temptations, and turn from their allegiance to God. “

If he could get even one of them to sin, he would win a great victory in his opposition to God's government.

He would escape, and Israel would lose their lives. But he is held fast by the hand that leads him. The fit man

does not turn from his faith in God and thus is enabled to maintain his hold on the scapegoat and bind him

for a thousand years. There are some mighty issues at stake in this dramatic episode with the scapegoat. Sa-

tan has, from the beginning, charged God with giving a law which no one can keep. He claimed that his

principle of freedom from law was superior to God's principles. And this argument has to be fully and final-

ly laid to rest in the minds of the intelligences of the universe. This is the argument echoed by many theologi-

ans today. But God has enlisted the help of man to refute Satan's claim.

Through Isaiah God has revealed His purpose to enlist the help of His people to vindicate Him. “This people

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have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise” Isaiah 43:21. Also in 5 Testimonies 746 we read, “Just

before us is the closing struggle of the great controversy when, with ‘all power and signs and lying wonders, and with

all deceivableness of unrighteousness,’ Satan is to work to misrepresent the character of God, that he may ’seduce, if it

were possible, even the elect.’ If there was ever a people in need of constantly increasing light from heaven, it is the peo-

ple that, in this time of peril, God has called to be the depositaries of His holy law and to vindicate His character before

the world.”

Through the 144,000 God is going to disprove Satan's allegations against His law. In fact, He will disprove it

144,000 times. Not one of them will yield to Satan's devices, even under the most discouraging circumstanc-

es during the time of trouble. They will be His prime exhibit before the on-looking universe that fallen hu-

manity can, through the atonement provided, perfectly obey God's law. The final vindication of God’s char-

acter and law will be doubly convincing because it will be accomplished, not by a superior generation of hu-

man beings like the ones who lived before the flood. It will be the weakest specimen of humanity who have

the accumulated weaknesses of humanity after 6000 years of sin and its depraving effects.

It would have been a wonderful vindication of God’s law had Adam remained loyal and obedient to the

point where he became elevated to the sphere of an angel. That was what God had purposed for the human

race. It would have been even a greater vindication if the children or grandchildren of Adam and Eve had

become perfected in character like the final generation. But it will the most glorious, convincing demonstra-

tion of the righteousness and goodness of God’s law to see the weakest generation of humanity manifest

such steadfast loyalty that they would rather die than transgress God’s law even in the smallest point.

The ‘fit man’ is like the final runner in an Olympic relay team race. He is expected to be the fastest runner on

the team. ( In EW p. 67, the last day remnant are urged to “step fast “ and to learn in a few months what

others have taken years to learn.) He is responsible for making up lost ground or preserving the lead at-

tained by the previous runners. The whole team is depending on him to execute the last leg of the run with-

out stumbling or dropping the baton. If he failed in his run, the whole team will have lost the race. Like-

wise, if the ’fit man’ fails to hold the scape goat firmly in his grip, “ Israel would lose their lives. “ Everyone

since Adam’s fall would be lost.

It will be a great humiliation for the prince of this world who “ made the earth to tremble, that did shake king-

doms“ (Isaiah 14:16) to find himself being bound and led away to his doom by the weakest generation living

at the end of time. God has made some mighty promises to His people which will be fully realized in these

last days. Through Isaiah He has declared, “And they shall take them captives, whose captives they were;

and they shall rule over their oppressors. . . He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the

nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth “ Isaiah 14:2 & 6.

For 6000 years, Satan and his angels have taken God’s people captive by tempting them to sin, thus bringing

them under bondage to sin and his kingdom of darkness. And Satan determined from the beginning that it

should always be that way. But now, through the completion of the mighty redemption which Christ pro-

vided at Calvary and fully implemented in His ministry in the most holy place, the syndrome of sin has been

broken. The tables are reversed. Satan now finds himself in bondage to the fit man who is leading him to his

ultimate destruction. Satan “stands viewing them as a fortress impregnable to his sophistries and delusions. They are

to him an incomprehensible mystery “ Testimonies to Ministers p. 18.

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The promise made to Adam and Eve after the fall recorded in Genesis 3:15 that the seed of the woman

would bruise the head of Satan was not referencing only what Christ would do ultimately to Satan. It also

will be something that the fit man, the 144,000, will do to Satan when they lead him away to his doom. Man-

kind would be given power over Satan. Note this from the book, That I may Know Him, p. 16: “ The lofty

usurper, having succeeded in seducing our first parents as he had seduced angels, counted on securing their allegiance

and cooperation in all his enterprises against the government of Heaven.... But when Satan heard that the seed of the

woman should bruise the serpent's head, he knew that though he had succeeded in depraving human nature ... , yet by

some mysterious process God would restore to man his lost power, and enable him to resist and overcome his con-

queror. “ In this end time we will see the promise of God perfectly fulfilled, “ And the God of peace shall bruise

Satan under your feet shortly “ Romans 16:20