A PERTINENT QUESTION

Transcription

1 A PERTINENT QUESTION IF A PERSON IS READY FOR DEATH AND THE RESURRECTION, WOULD HE ALSO BE READY FOR TRANSLATION? WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DYING IN THE LORD OR BEING TRANSLATED WITHOUT SEEING DEATH Ever since Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844, a new focus of spiritual understanding is needed for God s people who are living in these end times. Ever since the fall, God s people have lived in a state of preparedness for death and the grave. But since 1844, and with the new light that has been shining from the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, there is a great need to understand the difference between dying in the Lord and being ready for translation without seeing death. Elder James White recognized this need when he wrote: The mass of people think that if a person is prepared to die, he is prepared for the coming of the Lord. But they do not consider the difference between dying, and standing alive to meet the Lord at His appearing. It is one thing to die in Christ, to yield our spirits to Him while He is pleading for us before His Father s throne, and quite a different thing to stand in the time of trouble, after Jesus has ceased to plead in man s behalf; after His priesthood is closed, and He is preparing to come to redeem His own, and to take vengeance on His foes. They who realize these things will bless Heaven that means has been devised in the mercy of God for the perfecting of the saints, and that we are not left without direct help from on high to carry on such a work as that which lies before us. Life Sketches by James & Ellen White, p.431. It is very important that we understand what is involved in the preparation for death and the grave and what is involved in preparing for translation. One thing that the experience of the early Advent believers who expected to be translated at Christ s coming teaches us, is the fact that a preparation for that event is not attained by a life of sanctification only. Genuine sanctification is a necessary prerequisite to it, but more is needed. That is illustrated by the experience of those who in 1844 were living sanctified lives, expecting the Lord to come and take them away. The following is from Early Writings, 239. God's people were then accepted of Him. Jesus looked upon them with pleasure, for His image was reflected in them. They had made a full sacrifice, an entire consecration, and expected to be changed to immortality. But they were destined again to be sadly disappointed. And the reason for their disappointment is explained. Said my accompanying angel, They are again disappointed in their expectations. Jesus cannot yet come to earth. They must endure greater trials for His sake. They must give up errors and traditions received from men and turn wholly to God and His Word. They must be purified, made white, and tried. Those who endure that bitter trial will obtain an eternal victory. Ibid These believers had experienced genuine sanctification, they had made a full and complete sacrifice, and an entire consecration. Had they died, they would certainly have been prepared for death and the resurrection. A.

2 There seems to be a lot of uncertainty about this matter. Is the standard the same for death and the resurrection as it is for those who will live upon the earth after the close of probation. What is the preparation for death and the resurrection? What is the preparation for translation at the second coming? Before 1844, God s people did not have to concern themselves with understanding the difference. They only needed to know how to be prepared for the eventuality of death and the grave. But since Christ changed His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary preparatory to His coming in power and glory, God s people need to be clear on how to be prepared to see Him at His coming and be translated without seeing death. First, let us consider what is required to be ready for death. Without going into great detail, we can lay out at least four points regarding the preparation for death. 1. Pardon, justification and the new birth. 2. Opening the heart to advancing truth. 3. Yielding to the working of the Holy Spirit and receiving the former rain seal. 4. Not practicing any known sin or neglecting any known duty. The above points should be obvious to the informed Bible student. They represent the basic steps to be taken at the beginning. Repentance and the new birth is the first step to an entrance into Christ s kingdom. It is when the sinner is pardoned and justified that he is given a title to the immortal inheritance. He must be born again of the Spirit and of water. This is what Jesus told Nicodemus in the night interview with him. It is also important that the born again Christian will open his heart to the working of the Holy Spirit and receive the seal of adoption into the family of God. Romans 8:14 tells us For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. And he must be open to receive the advancing light of truth as the Holy Spirit will guide him into all truth. Here is where many people fail in their Christian walk. Having begun on the path to life, they cease to grow in grace and knowledge, and their spiritual experience begins to stagnate. In Hosea 4:6 God says, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. It is through the impartation of increased light that Christ conforms the character of His people to His own likeness. In Gospel Workers p. 162 we read, We must receive every ray of light, and walk in it, that it may not be our condemnation in the judgment. Our duties and obligations become more important as we obtain more distinct views of truth. 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. If the child of God wants to maintain a relationship with Him, he cannot continue practicing any known sin or neglecting any known duty. Isaiah 59:2 tells us that sin will separate us from God. And Psalms 66:18 says If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. Also, Proverbs 28:9 says He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. Those who are born again and justified will be sealed by the Holy Spirit with the former rain seal. See Ephesians 1:13. This is a mark seen only by God and holy angels and is a sign that we belong to God as His purchased possession. This is not a permanent seal like the seal of Rev.14. There have been many people who once were sealed as Christ s followers who later separated from Him and lost the seal. When we consider the needed preparation for death, there are some seldom-asked questions that need to be 1.

3 addressed. For instance, Have all who died in a saving relationship with Christ come up to the same level of sanctification? Will some who die saved still retain some ignorant sins and faults in their character? Will there be Sunday keepers and Sabbath breakers who will come up in the resurrection of the just? Will there be people who were pork eaters and beer drinkers and who had not fully developed the patience of the saints who will be in the company of the saved? If we compare the man Moses, the meekest man on earth in old testament times, with the thief on the cross, do we see a wide contrast in spiritual development of these men who died saved? If the thief on the cross would have lived out the rest of his life after his conversion, wouldn t he have discovered many hidden faults which he needed to overcome? Another question that presents itself is the matter of perfection. Can anyone be admitted to heaven who is not perfect and sinless in character? Will God purge sin from His resurrected ones after they get to heaven or must they be purified first? If they must be purified from all sin before going to heaven, how will it be with those who died with hidden sins and defects of character like the thief on the cross? The Roman Catholic religion teaches that those who still have venial sins upon them when they die will be purged from their venial sins in purgatory, after which they will be admitted to heaven. That is their solution to this problem? But it is a counterfeit to the truth. They make no difference between unconfessed, unforsaken sins, and ignorant sins. In Christ s solution, there is no atonement made for willful sins. Willful sins cannot be atoned for, either in this world or in the next world. Only confessed and ignorant sins can be atoned for by the blood of the cross. But we need to understand why it is that a believer in Christ can die with ignorant sins and defects of character, yet be raised in perfection and fit to dwell in a pure and holy heaven. Something must happen between the point of death and the resurrection of the just. Some theologians might suggest that it is the change of body that makes the difference. Because they believe that the sinful body makes the individual a sinner, therefore they think that a change of body will free him from his sinfulness. But we know that is erroneous because those who are alive when Christ comes, see Him coming in power and glory before they receive their new bodies. See EW 287. The glory of Christ that destroys the wicked does not destroy those who have been waiting for Him. But if it isn t the change of body that changes the character of Christ s followers after death, then what could it be? To add to this dilemma, we have this statement from Inspiration that seems to indicate that there is no change in the spiritual man after death. The following is taken from Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, p.466. It tells us that Death brings dissolution to the body, but makes no change in the character. The coming of Christ does not change our characters; it only fixes them forever beyond all change. What this is telling us is that the Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory is all wrong. No one who has been living a life of sin can go to the grave as a sinner, pass through the fires of purgatory and then come up as a saint on the other side. That can never happen. But those who have accepted Christ into their life and have conformed their will to His will to the best of their knowledge, will die as a righteous saint, covered with the robe of Christ s righteousness. Their heart and mind is in harmony with the mind of Christ to the best of their knowledge. Their character has been transformed and even though that work may have only begun, yet through the righteousness which has been imputed and imparted to them during their sanctification experience, be it longer or shorter, their characters are accounted as perfectly righteous. They died as saints of God, accepted in the beloved, and they will be raised as saints of God, but minus any vestige of sin. What has happened while they were in the grave that made this change? Hebrews 9:27 tells us that it is ap- 2.

4 pointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. And EW 254 shows that in the investigative judgment, Christ makes an atonement for the ignorant sins of those who died, trusting in Him. Note the following: The third angel closes his message thus: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." As he repeated these words, he pointed to the heavenly sanctuary. The minds of all who embrace this message are directed to the most holy place, where Jesus stands before the ark, making His final intercession for all those for whom mercy still lingers and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of God. This atonement is made for the righteous dead as well as for the righteous living. It includes all who died trusting in Christ but who, not having received the light upon God's commandments, had sinned ignorantly in transgressing its precepts. From this we can see what happens to those who died trusting in Christ, but who had sinned ignorantly in their walk with the Lord. All their sins, their confessed and pardoned sins, as well as their ignorant sins, will be blotted out through the atoning blood of Christ and be remembered no more against them. G.C. 483 says, All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life. The Lord declares,... "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. It isn t merely the change of body at the resurrection that makes it such a glorious event for the resurrected ones. It is the blotting out of sins that makes a great change in the righteous between the moment of death and the resurrection. The Bible has numerous references to the special grace to be revealed in the saints at the resurrection of the righteous. We note in the following references how those who die in Christ, while yet imperfect, come up in the resurrection wholly like Christ, without spot and blameless. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is 1 John 3:2. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless 2 Peter 3:14. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 1 Peter 1:13. To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints 1 Thessalonians 3:13. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness Psalm 17:15. Those who lived upon the earth before the judgment of the living began will not be held accountable for the sins they committed in ignorance. Romans 4:15 tells us that where no law is, there is no transgression. those who are alive when the judgment of the living is about to begin will have all their ignorant faults and sins revealed to them and will be given the grace to confess and put them away. And this brings us back again to our original question. IF A PERSON IS READY TO DIE, IS HE ALSO READY TO BE TRANSLATED? It should be obvious from what we have covered so far that no one can be admitted to heaven with any sin in his life, be it willful or ignorant. Those who will be translated will be in the same spiritual condition as those But 3.

5 who come up in the resurrection, without spot and blameless. See Ephesians 5:27. That means that they will have no sin or imperfection left in their characters. But how will that come about? Note the following. When our earthly labors are ended, and Christ shall come for His faithful children, we shall then shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of our Father. But before that time shall come, everything that is imperfect in us will have been seen and put away. All envy and jealousy and evil surmising and every selfish plan will have been banished from the life 3SM 427. This revelation of the hidden sins in the life is accomplished through the Laodicean message. The Laodicean message is given to those living at the time of the judgment. The word Laodicea means judging of the people. This message is to discover to God s professed people their hidden faults so that they might be overcome and put away before the judgment decides their eternal destiny. In the chapter entitled The Laodicean Message found in 1T 187, we read, God leads His people on, step by step. He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer. If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to this straight work, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, if they would not be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation. Besides the victory over every sin, there are some other things that those who will be translated will experience. Victory over all sin in the life has also been experienced by God s people in past generations. 3 SM 146 tells us, Some few in every generation from Adam resisted his (Satan s) every artifice and stood forth as noble representatives of what it was in the power of man to do and to be--christ working with human efforts, helping man in overcoming the power of Satan. There are other things that the translated ones will experience that no one else will have experienced while in this world. That is why they sing a song that no man can learn, except the translated ones. We are now dealing with the present truth of the Third Angel s message. Those who sing that song which no man can learn will have experienced some things peculiar to the last generation. They will experience what was foretold by Peter in Acts 3:19. The glorious promise is unto us who live in the last days: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19) ST Nov.16, This is a unique experience not experienced by any previous generation. The forgiveness of sins and justification through the righteousness of Christ imputed has been a wonderful experience realized by God s people since sin began. And victory over sin and Satan has also been a wonderful experience of the faithful in past generations. But only since Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary will anyone experience the most glorious work of Christ s redemption the utter blotting out of sins by a mighty infilling of the Latter Rain. But what does that entail? It is unfortunate that many sincere believers think only in terms of the records in heaven when they read about the blotting out of sins. But the books in heaven are just a reflection of the character of each individual. They accurately mirror what is in the mind and heart. Any change in the books indicates that the reflection in God s great mirror has been changed. We know that those books contain a record of all the sins that were ever committed by the individual. They also contain all the good deeds done through the grace that Christ has provided. Those who have repented of their sins and been pardoned will have their sins blotted out but their good deeds will be retained in the book of life for eternity. See GC 483. The blotting out of sins at the judgment effects a decided change in the spiritual experience of the one receiving it. Inspiration shows that all sins committed are not only written in the heavenly records, but they are also written in the mind and heart. 4.

6 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars Jeremiah 17:1. That is why when the books are opened in the judgment of the living, every mind will recall all the thoughts and deeds of the past. Hebrews 10:3 tells us that on the day of atonement there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. COL 160 tells us 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. This revelation of the past life is necessary to bring God s people to that deep repentance needed on the day of atonement. On the day of atonement in ancient Israel, they were warned that whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in the same day, he shall be cut off from among his people Leviticus 23:29. Inspiration is replete with passages that speak of the revelation of the past life at the judgment of the living. In 5T 466 we read, It is a solemn thing to die, but a far more solemn thing to live. Every thought and word and deed of our lives will meet us again. And in 7 BC 987 we read, 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. The judgment of the living is a time of deep repentance and humiliation on the part of God s people as they see the many times they have dishonored God and crucified the Son of God afresh. Zechariah 12:10 describes how the Holy Spirit will bring God s people to such deep repentance. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications, and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. And Micah 7:9 states, I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. RH, Nov.4, 1884 tells us, 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. The accumulation of the past experiences in sin have a weakening, depraving effect upon the spiritual nature, even after the sins have been confessed and forsaken. The angels warned Adam and Eve before their fall that should they once yield to temptation, their nature would become so depraved that in themselves they would have no power, and no disposition, to resist Satan PP 53. And God s pardon didn t undo the results of their sin. Their guilt was taken away, and communication with their Creator was restored, yet they could not be allowed to remain in Eden and have access to the tree of life. The knowledge of evil their experience in sin would be with them all the days of their life. Now we are told that 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 Education 29. This bent to evil is not inherited from Adam. Christ also inherited what the rest of humanity inherits from Adam, yet he never had a bent to evil in His spiritual nature. The bent to evil comes through personal sinning, and because all have sinned, all have developed a bent to evil in their spiritual nature. The lingering effects of past sins are pinpointed in the following. Every impure thought defiles the soul, impairs the moral sense, and tends to obliterate the impressions of the Holy Spir- 5.

7 it. It dims the spiritual vision, so that men cannot behold God. The Lord may and does forgive the repenting sinner; but though forgiven, the soul is marred DA 302. 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 55. Every mistake, every error, unimportant though it may be regarded, leaves a scar in this life and a blot on the heavenly records OHC 227. This depraving effect of past sins, even though they have been confessed and forsaken, makes the repentant sinner what Inspiration calls a corrupt channel. That is why they need the constant intercession of Christ, not only when they fall into sin, but also when they pray and worship and render to God heartfelt obedience. When we understand this, we will see our need of Christ s special atonement in the heavenly sanctuary to free us from this spiritual condition. The prayer and praise and confession of God's people ascend as sacrifices to the heavenly sanctuary. But they ascend not in spotless purity. Passing through the corrupt channels of humanity, they are so defiled that unless purified by the righteousness of the great High Priest, they are not acceptable by God. Christ gathers into the censer the prayers, the praise, and the sacrifices of his people, and with these he puts the merits of his spotless righteousness. Then, perfumed with the incense of Christ's propitiation, our prayers, wholly and entirely acceptable, rise before God, and gracious answers are returned. 1SM p.344 In view of the malignant character of sin and its lifelong effects, we can begin to appreciate the greatness of Christ s closing work in the heavenly sanctuary when He will blot out forever the sins of His followers. Christ will do something that He has not done for any previous generation. In Zechariah 3 we see God s people, represented by Joshua, standing before God on the great day of atonement, still clothed in filthy garments. Inspiration tells us what these filthy garments are. They are the accumulated past sins that have been confessed and put away. 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 his filthy garments from him." "Behold I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment 21 MR 384. The taking away of the filthy garment will transform the saints wholly into the likeness of Christ. They will be as though they had never sinned. It will be Christ s final work of grace which transcends anything He has done for His people since His dying on the cross. It will bring the deepest gratitude and joy to the saints who have had this work done in them. EW 271 describes their experience. Said the angel, "List ye!" Soon I heard a voice like many musical instruments all sounding in perfect strains, sweet and harmonious. It surpassed any music I had ever heard, seeming to be full of mercy, compassion, and elevating, holy joy. It thrilled through my whole being. Said the angel, "Look ye!" My attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were mightily shaken. I was shown those whom I had before seen weeping and praying in agony of spirit. The company of guardian angels around them had been doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from their head to their feet. They moved in exact order, like a company of soldiers. Their countenances expressed the severe conflict which they had endured, the agonizing struggle they had passed through. Yet their features, marked with severe internal anguish, now shone with the light and glory of heaven. They had obtained the victory, and it called forth from them the deepest gratitude and holy, sacred joy. As there was no record of any past sin in Christ to respond to the temptations of Satan, so those whose sins have been blotted out will also have no past sins to respond to his temptations. The blotting out of the record of sins in heaven is an indication of what has been done in the heart and mind of Christ s followers. The sins 6.

8 that were once written with a pen of iron and with the point of a diamond will no longer be found. Christ s followers will realize the full implementation of the new covenant. The following is from the chapter on the investigative judgment in GC Christ will clothe His faithful ones with His own righteousness, that He may present them to His Father "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." Ephesians 5:27. Their names stand enrolled in the book of life, and concerning them it is written: "They shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy." Revelation 3:4. 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." Jeremiah 31:34; 50:20 When the sins of God s people are blotted out, neither God nor the saints will remember them any more. God has promised,... for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shall not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall He be called Isaiah 54:4. And speaking of the saints after the close of probation, Inspiration shows a complete annihilation of the shameful memory of past sins. For those of God s people who feel a deepening repentance as we near the judgment, the following Inspired passages will provide a comfort and an assurance that where sin has abounded, grace does much more abound. But while they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they have no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins have gone beforehand to judgment and have been blotted out, and they cannot bring them to remembrance GC 620. 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 3SG 134. When that has happened, the saints will be ready for translation. 5T 475 tells us that Now they are eternally secure from the tempters devices. When God s people are filled with the Spirit and sealed in their foreheads, the recording angel will declare, It is done. Now they will accomplish the work of the angel of Revelation 18 to enlighten the earth with the truth of the Third Angel s message and to call all the honest souls out of Babylon. Not only will the saints rejoice when these things have been accomplished, but Christ himself will rejoice and will call upon the whole universe to shout, sing, and rejoice. Isaiah 44:22 says, I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing,, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified Himself in Israel. 7.