| The Gospel Herald, August 1, 1910
When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all
will have been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time
before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. Christ in the
Revelation, looking forward to that time, declares: " He that is unjust,
let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still,
and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy,
let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with
me, to give every man according as his work shall be."
Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, August 28, 1883 When our enemies try to place upon us the black robes of unrighteousness,
let us not become exasperated at their injustice. When your efforts are
falsified, when your motives and your works are painted in colors black
a sink, remember those who were treated the same before you. How have the
saints of God in ages past been maligned, traduced, and persecuted! For
centuries their names were covered with infamy. All that the hosts of hell
could do was done to heap reproach upon them as the vilest of men. But
John in holy vision beholds the faithful souls that come up out of great
tribulation, surrounding the throne of God, clad in white robes, and crowned
with immortal glory. What though they have been counted the offscouring
of the earth? In the investigative Judgment their lives and characters
are brought in review before God, and that solemn tribunal reverses the
decision of their enemies. Their faithfulness to God and to his word stands
revealed, and Heaven's high honors are awarded them as conquerors in the
strife with sin and Satan.
Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, November 4, 1884 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.
Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, March 22, 1887 In 1844 our great High Priest entered the most holy place of the heavenly
Sanctuary, to begin the work of the investigative Judgment. The cases of
the righteous dead have been passing in review before God. When that work
shall be completed, judgment is to be pronounced upon the living. How precious,
how important are these solemn moments! Each of us has a case pending in
the court of heaven. We are individually to be judged according to the
deeds done in the body. In the typical service, when the work of atonement
was performed by the high priest in the most holy place of the earthly
sanctuary, the people were required to afflict their souls before God,
and confess their sins, that they might be atoned for and blotted out.
Will any less be required of us in this antitypical day of atonement, when
Christ in the Sanctuary above is pleading in behalf of his people, and
the final, irrevocable decision is to be pronounced upon every case?
Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, May 9, 1893 Those who flatter themselves that they can be Christians, and yet not
be sharers of Christ's labor and sacrifice, are under a deception that
if not broken, will prove fatal to the soul. The Lord has given many warnings
to arouse them to see their danger. The words of the prophet Malachi concerning
the matter of giving, have a special reference to our own time: "The Lord,
whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of
the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord
of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand
when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap."
The coming of Christ which is here referred to is not his second advent
to this earth, but his coming to the investigative judgment in the most
holy place of the sanctuary in heaven. Thus the message is especially to
us, who are living in the time of the judgment.
Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, December 29, 1896 We are in the investigative judgment; and the work for the time is solemn
heart-searching. The duty devolves upon every one to consider, to watch,
and to pray. You are not bidden by the Lord to examine your neighbor's
heart. Let your investigative powers be put to work to discover what evil
is lurking in your own heart, what defects are in your character; what
work needs to be done in your own home. Parents are responsible for the
souls of their children; they are accountable for the mold of character
they give them. They will, if they realize their duty, work most earnestly
for their own salvation and for the salvation of their children. When parents
are careless in their own ways, and in regard to the character and deportment
of their children, they lose the favor of God. But every family that will
seek God with humiliation and prayer will be doing the work that is essential
for eternal salvation.
Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, January 17, 1907 Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ
shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy
God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters
must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace
of God and their own diligent efforts, they must be conquerors in the battle
with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven,
while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary,
there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away sin, among
God's people on earth.
The Signs of the Times, August 6, 1885 When we become children of God, our names are written in the Lamb's
book of life, and they remain there until the time of the investigative
Judgment. Then the name of every individual will be called, and his record
examined by Him who declares, "I know thy works." If in that day it shall
appear that all our wicked deeds have not been fully repented of, our names
will be blotted from the book of life, and our sins will stand against
us. If the professed believer becomes self-confident, if in word or spirit
he breaks the least precept of God's holy law, he misrepresents Jesus,
and in the Judgment the awful words will be spoken, "Blot out his name
from the book of life; he is a worker of iniquity." But the Father pities
the self-distrustful, God-fearing soul, harassed though he may be with
doubts and temptations. Jesus pleads for him, and confesses his name before
the Father and his holy angels.
The Signs of the Times, May 16, 1895 But, according to the unerring word of God, every man will be judged
and rewarded according as his works have been, and we are admonished to
so speak and to so do as "they that shall be judged by the law of liberty."
When sin has been repented of, confessed, and forsaken, then pardon is
written against the sinner's name; but his sins are not blotted out until
after the investigative judgment. No finite being can tell how his case
stands in the sight of Him whose eyes are like a flame of fire, who says:
"I know thy works. . . . I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the
fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be
clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint
thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke
and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent."
The Southern Watchman, January 24, 1905 Says the prophet: "Who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall
stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers'
soap; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall
purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may
offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." Those who are living
upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary
above, are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their
robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the
blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort,
they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative
judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers
are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of
purification, of putting away of sin, among God's people upon earth. This
work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.
The Watchman, February 5, 1907 These things will bear thoughtful consideration, close, critical examination.
We are in the investigative judgment, and the work for the time is solemn
heart-searching. The duty devolves upon every one to consider, to watch,
and to pray. You are not bidden by the Lord to examine your neighbor's
heart. Let your investigative powers be put to work to discover what is
in your own heart, the defects in your own character, the work to be done
in your own home.
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