THE PSYCHOLOGY OF REDEMPTION

Transcription

1 say that they choose not to bring them to remembrance, but they cannot. They cannot bring to mind any particular sins; but in their whole life they can see but little good. Their sins had gone beforehand to judgment, and pardon had been written. Their sins had been borne away into the land of forgetfulness, and they could not bring them to remembrance 3 Spiritual Gifts p.135. The forgiveness of sin and the justification of the repentant sinner was a mighty work of God s grace. And the victory gained over sinful habits was also a mighty work of grace. But the blotting out of sins will be the greatest of all the redemptive experiences we can have. Then the latter rain will fill the purified temple and the glory of God will enlighten the whole earth. The whole purpose of Christ coming down to this earth was that He might restore to man the original mind which he lost in Eden through Satan's alluring temptation. 7BC p.926. That is the true psychology of redemption. That is present truth which needs to go to our churches first before the loud cry can enlighten the world. Christ told His disciples, Go not into the way of the Gentiles...but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 10:5&6. We have at the present time about 16,000,000 Seventh-day Adventists, but how many understand present truth and what Christ s ministry in the holy of holies is all about. But before Christ can come, the minds of believers have to be directed to the most holy place (see Rev.14:7, 1SM 67-68, EW ) in order to understand the spiritual surgery that our Great Physician wants to perform, so that His people might be clean from all your sins before the Lord Leviticus 16:30. Then God s people will be complete in Christ, and the recording angel will declare, It is finished. 6BC p THE PSYCHOLOGY OF REDEMPTION This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise. Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made Him. Isaiah 43:7 & 21. It was a wonderful thing for God to create man, to make mind. The glory of God is to be revealed in the creation of man in God's image and in his redemption. One soul is of more value than a world. God created man that every faculty might be the faculty of the divine mind. 6 BC p We are living at the time when the work of redemption is to restore man to his condition before the fall. Ellen White tells us in COL p.266 that It is the purpose of redemption, not only to blot out sin, but to give back to man those spiritual gifts lost because of sin's dwarfing power. That restoration involves the restoration of both body and mind, both the physical and the spiritual. However, we know that, even with the best of health programs, utilizing all the counsels God has given us, we can never attain to holy flesh in this life. We will never have a physical body like Adam and Eve had before the fall. But we are told that spiritually, Everyone who by faith obeys God's commandments will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression. IHP 146. Christ is going to redeem the heart and mind so completely from all sin that His people will be without spot or wrinkle, and without fault before the throne of God. And that will happen before probation closes. This concept may go contrary to the established opinions of many theologians and lay people in our 28 1

2 church. But those who are students of the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy know that it will become a reality at the time of the sealing. It is not the purpose of this monograph to present the evidence from Inspiration to prove the perfection of the final generation. That is an established point that has already been proven. What we want to find out is how and when it will be accomplished. Unless we can show how perfection will be attained, the teaching of sinless perfection can become a very discouraging doctrine. God has given us a paradigm to show us the way that will be accomplished. Psalm 77:13 tells us, Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary. Speaking of that paradigm which God gave to Israel, we read, In all, God desired His people to read His purpose for the human soul. It was the same purpose long afterward set forth by the apostle Paul, speaking by the Holy Spirit: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Education p.36 In the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, a human being is likened to a temple or sanctuary. As there was an outer court and an inner sanctuary in the tabernacle built by Moses, so in the human composite, there is an outer man and an inner man. Paul referred to this when he wrote - But though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16. Also in Ephesians he speaks of being strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man. The same analogy is used in the Spirit of Prophecy. Review and Herald Jan. 7, 1902 states, We need to reach a higher standard. The truth must not be kept in the outer 2 the plea that all who have overcome through faith in His blood be forgiven their transgressions, that they be restored to their Eden home, and crowned as joint heirs with Himself to the first dominion. Micah 4:8. Satan in his efforts to deceive and tempt our race had thought to frustrate the divine plan in man's creation; but Christ now asks that this plan be carried into effect as if man had never fallen. He asks for His people not only pardon and justification, full and complete, but a share in His glory and a seat upon His throne. G.C. p When the sins of God s faithful people are blotted out, they will have no more knowledge of them. Even though they are fully aware that they are redeemed sinners, yet they will not be able to bring their past sins to remembrance. So completely will God cleanse the hearts and minds of His people from the very remembrance of their former sins that even though the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found Jeremiah 50:20. God has promised Thou shalt not be ashamed.for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more Isaiah 54:4. In the full realization of the new covenant, God has promised that He will remember our sins no more, and it will be a blessed thing for His people to remember them no more. We read of the saints searching their hearts during the time of Jacob s trouble to see if there is any sin that hasn't been taken care of. But Great Controversy p.620 tells us that while they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they have no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins have gone beforehand to judgment and have been blotted out, and they cannot bring them to remembrance. They have had their subconscious mind so thoroughly cleansed from the last vestiges of sin that they cannot bring them to remembrance. Note that it does not 27

3 people in the last days. They are privileged to see by faith the work that is going forward in the heavenly sanctuary... As they look by faith into the holy of holies, and see the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, they perceive that they are a people of unclean lips Well may they despair as they contrast their own weakness and unworthiness with the purity and loveliness of the glorious character of Christ. But if they, like Isaiah, will receive the impression the Lord designs shall be made upon the heart, if they will humble their souls before God, there is hope for them. The bow of promise is above the throne, and the work done for Isaiah will be performed in them. God will respond to the petitions coming from the contrite heart. 4 Bible Commentary p The great work of the atonement centers around the people, rather than the sanctuary itself. As mentioned before, the whole sanctuary service was an object lesson to teach us that From eternal ages it was God's purpose that every created being, from the bright and holy seraph to man, should be a temple for the indwelling of the Creator. DA p.161. As we look at the whole sanctuary service, we can see that it is by grace (undeserved favor) that we are pardoned and justified; it is by imparted grace that we are sanctified (made righteous); and it is by grace that we will have our sins blotted out and receive a full pardon and justification. The final work of grace, which bestows pardon and justification, full and complete, will not be by our attainment, but by Christ s special atonement. Note the following comment. The deepest interest manifested among men in the decisions of earthly tribunals but faintly represents the interest evinced in the heavenly courts when the names entered in the book of life come up in review before the Judge of all the earth. The divine Intercessor presents 26 court. Bring its principles into the inner sanctuary of the soul. We know that the main focus of redemption is on restoring the mind, the inner man, to its Edenic condition before the fall. God does not intend to restore this body to its pre-fall condition. Even though we are to do all we can to improve our physical organism, yet God will not take this body to heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:50 tells us that Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. But when Christ comes, He will change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body. Philippians 3:21. In the mean time, it is important to maintain our physical bodies in the best of condition? But why is there so much counsel given in Inspiration on this point if this body is going to return to the dust from which it was taken? Inspiration gives the answer. Since the mind and the soul find expression through the body, both mental and spiritual vigor are in great degree dependent upon physical strength and activity; whatever promotes physical health, promotes the development of a strong mind and a well-balanced character. Education p.195. The mind finds expression through the body. If the main focus of the closing work of redemption is on restoring the mind and developing a perfect character to its prefall condition, and if that redemption requires the cooperation of the human with the divine, it becomes important that we understand what is involved in that process. We can clearly see by the prevalence of diseases afflicting the human race how sin affects the body. That should be obvious. But we need to understand more fully what Inspiration tells us about how sin affects the mind. This was evident in the dramatic change that took place in Adam and Eve when they sinned. The following statement ex- 3

4 plains what had happened to their spiritual nature, which made it necessary for them to be barred from Eden and access to the tree of life. 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 themselves 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. Even though Adam and Eve repented and confessed their sin, the damage had been done to their nature. They had lessened their strength to resist evil and opened a door for Satan to gain more ready access to them. And Inspiration tells us that in order to understand the work of redemption, we need to consider the nature of man and what effects sin has upon the mind and heart. In order to understand what is comprehended in the work of education (redemption), we need to consider both the nature of man and the purpose of God in creating him. We need to consider also the change in man's condition through the coming in of a knowledge of evil, and God's plan for still fulfilling His glorious purpose in the education of the human race Education We should be eternally grateful that God has a plan for the restoration of the human race to its condition before the fall. That will be accomplished in two stages. First, God will restore the mind to the perfection it had in Eden. That will be accomplished fully in these 4 and defiles even their obedience and prayers and best service for Him. Christ longs to end His work as sinbearer and come back as King of kings and Lord of lords to take His people to the mansions He has prepared for them. But His people seem to be content to have Him continue to bear their sins and to pick them up when they fall. So He continues to stand at the door and knock, trying to get the cooperation of His people in order to finish the at-one-ment, and make an end to sin. To accomplish that, He needs to blot out their sins. But He can t do that until His people will desire that to be done. And His people will not desire to have that done until they see the necessity for it. And they will not see the necessity for it until they see themselves, still clothed in filthy garments, needing the constant intercession of a mediator to cover their imperfection of character. As stated in Christ Object Lessons, p.158, We must know our real condition, or we shall not feel our need of Christ s help. We must understand our danger, or we shall not flee to the refuge. We must feel the pain of our wounds, or we should not desire healing. In order to see our spiritual condition, we need to look at the work going on in the most holy place. Then, like Isaiah, we will exclaim, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips...for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts. Isaiah 6:5 Commenting on Isaiah s experience, Ellen White wrote; Isaiah had denounced the sin of others; but now he sees himself exposed to the same condemnation he had pronounced upon them... His view of himself might be expressed in the language of the apostle Paul, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?... The vision given to Isaiah represents the condition of God's 25

5 nounce them forever and plead for the blotting out of the shameful record. When those sins were initially confessed, they did not appear as sinful as they will on the day of atonement. At every advance step, we are told that our repentance will deepen. Now the final step is being made, and the repentance will be the deepest it has ever been. Those who do not sense the exceeding sinfulness of sin and who do not experience the deep repentance and affliction of soul will not have their sins blotted out. Instead, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and they will be rewarded as their works have been at the end of the 1000 years. Through this trying experience, Christ is purifying His people so that they will nevermore be defiled by sin. When the process has done its intended purpose, Christ stands up and removes the filthy garment, and clothes them with another garment of everlasting righteousness. This will make them eternally secure against the tempters devices. This will be the final cleansing of the soul temple, the real cleansing depicted in Daniel 8:14. The greatest challenge facing our great High Priest since 1844 is to get His people to understand His work in the most holy place and cooperate with Him in His effort to cleanse, not only the sanctuary in heaven, but the temple of the soul. Firstly, He wants to save His people from continuing to sin knowingly. This is His work in the first apartment, to cleanse the conscious mind. Then He wants to convince His people that they also need to have their subconscious mind cleansed from the record of confessed sins still residing there. He desires to show them the peril that their past experience in sin causes, and how it mars last days while God s people are still on the earth. And when Christ comes again, He will give them a new body like unto His glorious body. The change effected by the knowledge of evil in the experience of Adam and Eve has already been described. The fall from a perfectly sinless state to a sinful state was a dramatic, tragic experience which is difficult for fallen human beings to fully comprehend. As fallen human beings, we all have repeated the sin of Adam and Eve by partaking, as it were, of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The result of the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is manifest in every man's experience. There is in his nature a bent to evil, a force which, unaided, he cannot resist. This bent to evil does not only refer to the physical nature where the lower nature clamors to gain ascendancy over the higher nature. According to Hebrews 2:14-18, Christ also partook of our weakened, degraded physical nature when He came to live in humanity, yet He never had a bent to evil or a sinful propensity in His mind or spiritual nature. But, as Adam and Eve discovered to their sorrow, the committing of that one sin depraved their spiritual nature and created in them a bent to evil, a propensity to sin which they never had before. The next statement from Inspiration describes in more detail the deleterious effects that sin has upon the mind. The infinite value of the sacrifice required for our redemption reveals the fact that sin is a tremendous evil. Through sin the whole human organism is deranged, the mind is perverted, the imagination corrupted. 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. Ministry of Healing, p.451. The reason that temptations from without find an answering chord within 24 5

6 the heart is because 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 altars. Jeremiah 17:1. That is why sin will resonate within the heart at the suggestions of evil. And the next verse tells us how long this problem will exist. It is Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills. Jeremiah 17:2 When we sin, there is a record of that sin entered in the books of heaven. But more importantly, there is also a record written upon the tables of the heart or mind, which remains there as long as the sin is remembered. When the sin is forgiven, pardon is written in the books of heaven and the sin is covered by the blood of Christ. But it is not blotted out. Likewise, when we repent and receive a pardon, we are covered by the blood and righteousness of Christ. But the sin is not blotted out. It still has an effect upon the soul. This is very important to understand, as we search out God s way of fully redeeming us from the fall. Following are a few statements of Inspiration that elaborate on the effects of sin on the one who has sinned. We need to pay close attention to what Inspiration says about this point, because, as Laodiceans, we are told that The only hope for the Laodiceans is a clear view of their standing before God, a knowledge of the nature of their disease. 4T p.87. Christ says thou knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. Rev.3:17. We need to let our divine Physician diagnose our problem and then pray for Him to apply the permanent cure. 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. The power of discernment, which 6 ledger, and His eyes rested for a moment upon individuals, His glance seemed to burn into their very souls, and at the same moment every word and action of their lives passed before their minds as clearly as though traced before their vision in letters of fire. Trembling seized them, and their faces turned pale. Their first appearance when around the throne was that of careless indifference. But how changed their appearance now! The feeling of security is gone, and in its place is a nameless terror. A dread is upon every soul, lest he shall be found among those who are wanting. Every eye is riveted upon the face of the One upon the throne; and as His solemn, searching eye sweeps over that company, there is a quaking of heart; for they are self-condemned without one word being uttered. In anguish of soul each declares his own guilt and with terrible vividness sees that by sinning he has thrown away the precious boon of eternal life. 4 Testimonies p The preceding references explain the meaning of such scenes as EW p.269 where Ellen White saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God. Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle and also the scene from 5T p.475: 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. On the day of atonement, the Holy Spirit will probe to the very depths of the subconscious mind and expose the hidden evil, the corrupt channel, buried there. As the Spirit brings before the mind the sins of the past, the one being judged will have one last opportunity to either choose to retain his sins, or to re- 23

7 educate themselves while in this world, that they may be fitted to stand the grand review which must shortly take place. ST Feb.14, The last reference that will be quoted is Ellen White s account of a vision of the judgment that she received which was so vivid and traumatic, that she felt she didn t have adequate language to describe what she saw. On the morning of October 23, 1879, about two o'clock, the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I beheld scenes in the coming judgment. Language fails me in which to give an adequate description of the things which passed before me and of the effect they had upon my mind. The great day of the execution of God's judgment seemed to have come. Ten thousand times ten thousand were assembled before a large throne, upon which was seated a person of majestic appearance. Several books were before Him, and upon the covers of each was written in letters of gold, which seemed like a burning flame of fire: "Ledger of Heaven." One of these books, containing the names of those who claim to believe the truth, was then opened. Immediately I lost sight of the countless millions about the throne, and only those who were professedly children of the light and of the truth engaged my attention. As these persons were named, one by one, and their good deeds mentioned, their countenances would light up with a holy joy that was reflected in every direction. But this did not seem to rest upon my mind with the greatest force. Another book was opened, wherein were recorded the sins of those who profess the truth. Under the general heading of selfishness came every other sin. There were also headings over every column, and underneath these, opposite each name, were recorded, in their respective columns, the lesser sins. As the Holy One upon the throne slowly turned the leaves of the 22 ought ever to be kept keen and sensitive to distinguish between right and wrong, is in a great measure destroyed. They are not quick to recognize the guiding voice of the Holy Spirit, or to discern the devices of Satan. Christ Object Lessons, p.55. He who has once yielded to temptation has become spiritually weak, and he will yield more readily the second time. Every repetition of the sin weakens his power of resistance, blinds his eyes, and stifles conviction. Patriarchs and Prophets p.268. We should note from the above statements and from the following, that pardon does not wholly undo the deleterious effects that sinning has upon the soul....one impure thought makes a deep impression on the soul. An evil thought leaves an evil impress on the mind. Messages to Young People, p.144 Any low gratification, any self-indulgence, is a scar left upon the soul, and the noble powers of mind are corrupted. There may be repentance, but the soul is crippled, and will wear its scars through all time. Jesus can wash away the sin but the soul has sustained a loss. Letter To Young Lovers, p.43 He may be converted; he may see the wickedness of his injustice to his fellowmen--and, as far as possible, make restitution; but the scars of a wounded conscience will ever remain. 1MPC p.326 We noted previously from Ministry of Healing, p.451 how Temptations from without find an answering chord within the heart, and the feet turn imperceptibly toward evil. This inward, automatic response to past experiences stored in the mind has been demonstrated in an interesting technology that was developed in the 1990 s at the University of Iowa. A documentary of this was aired on the TV program, 60 Minutes on December 10,

8 This technology caught the attention of both the FBI and the CIA because of its ability to detect whether certain information relative to a crime is stored in an individual s mind. When pictures or scenes relative to a crime are flashed on a computer screen along with irrelevant words or pictures, the brain will emit a specific brain-wave as it recognizes certain information that is flashed on the screen. A headband, worn by the individual being tested, will pick up the brain signal. What makes it more interesting is that the signal will be emitted whether the individual wants it to or not. The response is too quick for the individual to stop it. Likewise, Satan will utilize the knowledge of evil to stimulate our past experiences in sin, and the mind will incline imperceptibly toward the doing of it again. That isn t sin: it is temptation. But if the soul is not fortified by prayer and Bible study, he will be overcome by the suggestion of evil. The Bible tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All have gained a knowledge of evil, an experience in sin. So without the covering with Christ s righteousness there is none righteous, no, not one. Romans 3:10. That is why John wrote, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1 John 1:8 And that is why 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. The knowledge of our experience in sin resides in the 8 what is to happen on the antitypical day of atonement. At every advance step in Christian experience our repentance will deepen. It is to those whom the Lord has forgiven, to those whom He acknowledges as His people, that He says, "Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight." (Ezekiel. 36:31) COL 160. Each one in the day of investigative Judgment will stand in character as he really is; he will render an individual account 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 righteousness of God will be vindicated. RH Nov.4, The next reference is a talk that Ellen White gave to the students of Battle Creek College. Notice how she draws an analogy between the examinations at college and the examination at the investigative judgment. You are to continue to be instructed in the school of Christ, having the heart open to receive the heavenly knowledge that will be imparted unto you; and thus you will grow in grace and the knowledge of the truth. There is a final examination that is to take place in reference to your probationary time in this world which is of vital interest to every one of us. There will in that day be no indifferent spectators. Every one will have a part to act, and will have intense interest to pass that ordeal with heavenly honors. All will have an opportunity to 21

9 pentance and humiliation of soul. And that experience is to come to God s people in greater depth on the antitypical day of atonement. We should teach our children what the typical Day of Atonement signified and that it was a special season of great humiliation and confession of sins before God. The antitypical day of atonement is to be of the same character. Everyone who teaches the truth by precept and example will give the trumpet a certain sound. 5T 520. The Israelites were warned that whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. Leviticus 23:29. Likewise, we also have been warned that We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be put away. GC We should now be entering into a time of faithful searching of heart, to see if there is any cherished sin that we may be unconsciously still clinging to. However, not until the mark of the beast is enforced and the judgment begins for the living, will we experience the full reality of the day of atonement. The remembrance of sins will not then be by our own effort. It will be something which Christ will do by the Holy Spirit, whose work it is to reprove of sin before He comes to us as the mighty Comforter. Following are a number of passages from Inspiration that reveal 20 mind. And since the mind is like a personal library containing many books that make up our whole life experiences, we can appreciate the fact that as long as there is a mixture of both good and evil books, the library could not be considered a perfect, faultless library. There may be many books of high spiritual value and morals, yet if there are also any immoral or pornographic books, or things unwholesome, the library could not meet the high standard of purity demanded by God s holy law until all the unwholesome books were removed. And that is what the Third Angel s message is all about. The Third Angel s message points the minds of all to the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. See EW The work that Christ does in the most holy place is what will prepare His people for translation without seeing death. The reason Christ hasn t come before this is due to the failure of His people to become intelligent regarding what He is waiting to do for them before He leaves the sanctuary. 1SM p tells us, God had committed to His people a work to be accomplished on earth. The third angel's message was to be given, the minds of believers were to be directed to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ had entered to make atonement of His people. The Sabbath reform was to be carried forward. The breach in the law of God must be made up. The message must be proclaimed with a loud voice, that all the inhabitants of earth might receive the warning. The people of God must purify their souls through obedience to the truth, and be prepared to stand without fault before Him at His coming. And then it tells us what would have happened if our forefathers had followed Christ by faith into the sanctuary.... the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts, the work would have been completed, and Christ would have come ere this to receive His people to their reward. 9

10 God s people were to continue to advance in their understanding of the momentous significance of this message. It is destined to lead them into a complete at-one-ment with Christ through His closing work in the most holy place. That should have happened over a century ago. But something has gone terribly wrong. Because so many of God s professed followers have not cherished a love for this truth, they have gone into strong delusion to believe a lie. Instead of being brought into a oneness with Christ through the atonement made in the most holy place, many have been led into a oneness with the Prince of darkness through the mysticism of spiritual formation and its hybrids. They have been led captive by Satan s clever counterfeit. But Christ has told us, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32. What we need now is present truth from the most holy place where Jesus is right now. Christ hasn t gone to the most holy place to dispense the blessing of forgiveness. He has done that ever since the fall. He hasn t gone to the most holy place to enable His people to be victorious over every sin and besetment and live consistent, sanctified lives. He has done that ever since the fall. He hasn t gone to the most holy place to enable His people to preach the gospel to the whole world. The apostles preached the gospel to every creature under heaven in the first century while Christ was still ministering in the first apartment. See Colossians 1:5,6,23. So what is the difference between the message that was preached in the past and that which is to be understood and preached in these end times? We are told that the Third Angel s message contains the most solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals. Evangelism p.120 a seeking for the blessing of the blotting out of sins as a condition to receiving the latter rain. They must go together. We cannot have one without the other. Space does not permit us to dwell on the great joy and exhilaration that will be experienced by God s people who have passed the judgment and received the blotting out of sins and the latter rain. Early Writings p.270 says that it called forth from them the deepest gratitude and holy, sacred joy Isaiah also describes the wonderful experience that God s people will have at that time. But before that happens, there is a trying experience they must pass through before their sins will be blotted out and the filthy garment removed. We would prefer not to mention this ordeal through which we all must pass, but unless we know what to expect, we may be overwhelmed with consternation when this experience comes to us. It is needful for the 144,000 to pass through this experience in order to completely cure them of the last vestiges of Laodiceanism, which tends to make the believers think they are rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing. This ordeal will empty them of all spiritual pride and self-sufficiency, before Christ will bestow upon them the greatest spiritual power and authority ever given to mortals. The Third Angel s message is designated as the most important, the most solemn and the most glorious message ever committed to men. Speaking of the day of judgment and final atonement in Israel, Hebrews 10:3 tells us that on that day there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. In 5MR p.5 we read, In the type, the sins of the people were, on the atonement day, to be called to mind and repented of. It was a time of humiliation and affliction of soul. This remembrance of sins is what was to effect deep re

11 stumble while trying to conform their lives to the great standard of righteousness, they still have an Advocate who will pardon their sin and lift them up again to walk the way of sanctification. Sinless perfection is not possible during the first apartment ministry. And it should also be noted that, even though Christ entered the second apartment in 1844 to begin judging the dead, He still continues to provide the benefits of the first apartment for the living. There is no forgiveness for sins on the day of atonement when the judgment has passed to the cases of the living. If the judgment is now reviewing the cases of the living, we would no longer have the benefits provided in 1 John 1:9. See MH p , GC 429 & 430. Christ s special work of investigative judgment in the most holy place is to blot out the sins of His people, something that was never done for any generation previous to The timing for that is when the refreshing comes. Acts 3:`19 says, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. The investigation is not to show who is already saved and who is not. Rather, it tells us in GC p.480 that it decides who will receive the special atonement (blotting out of sins) that will be made at that time. Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the holy of holies and there appears in the presence of God to engage in the last acts of His ministration in behalf of man--to perform the work of investigative judgment and to make an atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits. That is the greatest, the most glorious experience that will ever come to God s people. With it comes the refreshing latter rain as indicated in Acts 3:19. It is unfortunate that in all the praying for the latter rain, this writer does not know of any case where there was 18 All the gospel truths that have been revealed since the fall have dealt with the purification and transformation of the conscious mind. The criteria for salvation has been, not practicing any known sin or neglecting any known duty. There are many Inspired statements that could be quoted to prove that point. Ellen White wrote in 1SM p.396, No one can believe with the heart unto righteousness, and obtain justification by faith, while continuing the practice of those things which the Word of God forbids, or while neglecting any known duty. At the times of ignorance, God winked at. We know there will be people in heaven who, like Martin Luther, didn t keep the Sabbath, and who ate pork and drank a little beer. But Light makes manifest and reproves the errors that were concealed in darkness; and as light comes, the life and character of men must change correspondingly, to be in harmony with it. Sins that were once sins of ignorance, because of the blindness of the mind, can no more be indulged in without incurring guilt. As increased light is given, men must be reformed, elevated, and refined by it, or they will be more perverse and stubborn than before the light came. GW p.162 So as light increases, the spiritual experience needs to advance, or it will retrograde. All through time, and right up until the time of the sealing, Christ has been working to purify the conscious mind from all the besetments and habits of sin by giving His people increased light revealing hidden defects of character. And before the sealing, God s people will be given the abundance of grace to enable them to get the victory over every sinful habit. That is the kind of perfection that is held out to the believers. That is what sanctification of the Spirit is to accomplish in each heart. But that is not sinless perfection. That will not en- 11

12 able the believer to reflect the image of Jesus perfectly and stand without a mediator after probation has closed. They will not be secure from falling, or succumbing to the tempters devices. Sinless perfection will not be accomplished through the daily process of sanctification, as important as that is. Note the following: 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. 4T p.367 There is a deeper work to be accomplished for God s people before Christ leaves the sanctuary that will make them eternally secure from the tempters devices. Going back to the sanctuary, we can see more clearly how Christ will fully redeem the mind and heart of His people, so that they will nevermore be defiled by sin, even under the great duress and trials that they will experience during the time of Jacob s trouble. The analogy of the human mind to the two apartments of the sanctuary is very remarkable. As the first apartment was a place of daily activity by the priests, so our daily activities involve our conscious mind, as we consciously think and plan our daily routines. In the second apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, the record is kept containing all the thoughts and deeds of every individual just like the subconscious mind stores all of life s experiences. All the good deeds and all the sins are accurately delineated in those books of record. Likewise, all our thoughts, both good and bad, with their accompanying feelings and emotions 12 guilt, and the forsaking of every darling sin, is also recorded. When the judgment shall sit and the books are opened, every case will have to stand the test of the law of God. ST May 16, 1895 We can rejoice in the positive aspects that are recorded in those books. The faithful followers of Christ will have many good things recorded opposite their names, and these deeds will be kept forever in imperishable remembrance. GC p.481 describes the positive things that are recorded there. There every temptation resisted, every evil overcome, every word of tender pity expressed, is faithfully chronicled. And every act of sacrifice, every suffering and sorrow endured for Christ's sake, is recorded. Also...every deed of faith and love, however humble, will be held in everlasting remembrance.. CS p.176. However, all the good things done, all the kind and loving deeds cannot cancel out or make up for one sin. The judgment doesn t investigate to see if there are more good deeds than bad to determine the soul s destiny. Every sin is a capitol crime, and no amount of good deeds can make up for the debt we owe. It took just one sin in Eden to plunge the whole world into a state of woe, even though the sin was repented of and forgiven. This aspect of sin has been covered previously in this dissertation. However, before God s people are sealed, all the traces and scars of sin made upon the mind and conscience will have to be blotted out. God will not seal the knowledge of evil in the mind. It will have to be purified from both the conscious and subconscious mind. While Christ ministers the benefits of the first apartment to His people, they are to work in cooperation with Him to purify their thoughts and deeds, and cease practicing any sin. If they 17

13 fession of sin ascend from true believers as incense to the heavenly sanctuary, but passing through the corrupt channels of humanity, they are so defiled that unless purified by blood, they can never be of value with God. They ascend not in spotless purity, and unless the Intercessor, who is at God's right hand, presents and purifies all by His righteousness, it is not acceptable to God. All incense from earthly tabernacles must be moist with the cleansing drops of the blood of Christ He holds before the Father the censer of His own merits, in which there is no taint of earthly corruption. He gathers into this censer the prayers, the praise, and the confessions of His people, and with these He puts His own spotless righteousness. Then, perfumed with the merits of Christ's propitiation, the incense comes up before God wholly and entirely acceptable. Then gracious answers are returned. 1 Selected Messages p.344 It s important to notice that the religious services and prayers of true believers do not ascend in spotless purity. It is as they come up before God, that Christ, who is at God s right hand, presents and purifies them all by His righteousness. These people have had their conscious minds cleansed from guilt. They were not living in the practice of any sin. Yet they still are an impure channel. They still are clothed with filthy garments, until, in the judgment, Christ gives the command to take away the filthy garments from them. The record books of heaven are actually a reflection of the character of each individual on earth. 7 BC p.987 says, In the books of heaven our lives are as accurately traced as in the picture on the plate of the photographer. We are given some of the specifics regarding what is recorded there. The record of every life is written in the books of heaven. Every sin that has been committed is there registered. Every regret for sin, every tear of repentance, every confession of 16 are recorded in the inner sanctuary of the soul. We may not be consciously thinking of these things, but they are in our memory bank and influence our behavior. This is the sub-conscious mind, the great library of the individual, all the books of which he has written himself. His character is revealed by what is stored in his personal library, because character is the sum total of an individual s thoughts and feelings. (See 5 Testimonies p.310.) The work Christ does in the outer court and first apartment represents the experience of pardon and justification, and sanctification through prayer, Bible study and receiving the Holy Spirit, represented by the altar of incense, the table of showbread, and the seven-branched candlestick. That is to be the daily experience of the believer which is to perfect the conscious mind. But the work that Christ does in the second apartment represents a deeper cleansing that is to perfect the subconscious mind. This was prefigured in the yearly service of the sanctuary in Israel. Ten days before the day of atonement, the trumpet was blown throughout the camp of Israel, reminding them that the day of atonement was just ten days away. They were to make sure that all their sins had been confessed at the sanctuary. Thus they were to be cleansed from all their guilt. Yet on the day of atonement, in the yearly service performed in the second apartment, the people were told, 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. And there seems to be a disconnect regarding what was cleansed on that day. Many sincere believers do not see what remains to be cleansed after they have confessed their sins and been cleansed from all unrighteousness. Consequently, the cleans- 13

14 ing on the day of atonement has been regarded as a judicial cleansing of the record of sins written in heaven. But the overwhelming testimony of Inspiration indicates that there is a real spiritual cleansing of the heart and mind from an uncleanness that remained after the cleansing of 1 John 1:9. If we look at the references to this special cleansing, it becomes obvious that it was more than a cleansing of the record books in heaven. It was for you. Malachi 3:2-4 is a typical passage of scripture that Ellen White points to as referring to the cleansing of the sanctuary. See GC 425&426. It describes the purification of the sons of Levi that they may offer an offering to the Lord in righteousness. Another passage that Ellen White quotes in connection with the work of the investigative judgment and atonement in the most holy place is Zechariah 3:1-5. See 5T There we see the 144,000 just before they receive this final cleansing and are sealed with the seal of the living God. 5T p.475 says, 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. The question might arise regarding what the filthy garments are with which the 144,000 are clothed just before they are sealed? Why are they pleading for purity of heart? Again, we can turn to Inspiration for the answer. The following is from 14 21MR, p.384. Joshua here represents the people of God; and Satan pointing to their filthy garments claims them as his property over which he has a right to exercise his cruel power. But these very ones have improved the hours of probation to confess their sins with contrition of soul and put them away, and Jesus has written pardon against their names. Those who have not ceased to sin and who have not repented and sought pardon for their transgressions are not represented in this company; for this company vex their souls over the corruptions and iniquity abounding around them, and God will recognize those who are sighing and crying because of the abominations done in the land. They were not mixed up in these abominations. They had not corrupted their ways before God, but had washed their robes of character and had made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Satan pointed to their sins which had not yet been blotted out, and which he had tempted them to commit, and then reviled them as being sinners clad with filthy garments. But Jesus changes their appearance. He says, Take away the filthy garments from him. Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. Here we have an identification of the filthy garments which make for a defective character, even though these people had washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. It is their past sins which, though forgiven, had not yet been blotted out. Those sins were still written upon the tables of their heart. This is what makes them a corrupt channel which defiles even their prayers and good deeds. Note the following: The religious services, the prayers, the praise, the penitent con- 15