Luke 21:8
Christian, Be Not Deceived!
THE 144,000 SEALED! 2
PROLOGUE
When are the remnant people sealed with the seal of the living God? The answer to this question may be found in the answer to the other question: “Why does God seal His people?”
The sealing message of Revelation 7 is a most important theme which ought to engross the attention of the people of God at this time. So much is involved in its study. The Lord gave the revelation of Revelation 7 and its parallel passage in Revelation 14 as messages of love for His remnant church. These passages contain vital messages of warning and encouragement to those who will live on earth during the most tempestuous period of human history, a time of trouble that is shortly to plunge God’s people into unprecedented situations and perplexities. “None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict” (Great Controversy, Page 593).
There must not be any doubt or uncertainty in the mind of those who will endure the trying days ahead. Any part of the Bible, particularly the books of Daniel and Revelation, that is not understood influences our judgment and understanding of other parts. The Bible is one unit -the Holy Spirit inspired and superintended the writing of the whole Bible, and each part must be read in its relation to every other part. Anything contrary to this is a “private interpretation” against which we are warned. Our understanding of Revelation 7 and 14 will influence our understanding of other portions of Holy Writ.
Requests have come from overseas as well as from Australia for me to publish something on the sealing of the 144,000. “The Shepherd’s Rod” teaches that the 144,000 as “first fruits” are sealed and then go out to win the “great multitude” the “second fruits”, that these two companies live through the time of trouble and are translated. This idea suggests that those who are sealed become preachers and go out to win others. These thoughts have been presented also by some loyal (SDA) members. In examining these ideas I do not desire to cast doubt on the integrity of those who have advanced them. In Revelation 7 two companies are brought to view. Do both these companies pass through the time of trouble, one company - the 144,000 - sealed and the other – the great multitude - not sealed? Why is one company sealed and the other not sealed? Why are the 144,000 said to be “first fruits”?
A variation of the idea first advanced by the “Shepherd’s Rod” is at present being advocated in Australia by some people who declare that the seal of God must be received before the Loud Cry. These are earnest folk, seeking to exalt the standard in the church, and are endeavoring to present some precious truths to the people, urging all to make thorough preparation of heart during the Savior’s closing ministry in the heavenly sanctuary.
But, through an insufficient study of the sealing as given in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, they have confused the seal of the Spirit with the seal given by angels just before probation closes. Through a lack of knowledge of these different sealings, these folk have brought in confusion on some important truths. Therefore in the following pages the writer has sought to clear up some erroneous conceptions concerning Christ’s sealing message for His remnant church.
Friends of mine have requested that I print something on the 144,000 and the sealing, stating my views on these subjects. In order to do this in answer to inquiries, it is advisable to give consideration to certain views being presented today both verbally and in writing. This I do, not in a spirit of criticism, but in order to arrive at a correct conclusion. Consider the following statements, which are today being publicized:
“Only those who have the seal of God can have a part in giving the Loud Cry”(1). “The seal and the latter rain are one.” “The remnant will be sealed with the name of their God, and the abundant outpouring of the Spirit will witness to that sealing”(2). “When the people of God receive, believe and appropriate the benefits of the everlasting gospel of Revelation 14, they will have the seal of God. Thus the angel of Revelation 18 will unite his voice with the third angel to swell his message to a loud cry. So then, let us observe again, that the people who give the loud cry have entered into the judgmental ministry of Christ, passed through the final cleansing of this Day of Atonement, and received the seal of God. The latter rain and the loud cry is required to carry the everlasting gospel to all the world. But this efficiency can only be received by those who pass through the final cleansing of this Day of Atonement, and receive the seal of God. Then in the power of the Holy Ghost, they will witness and demonstrate to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, the glory of the ministry of Jesus in the most holy place”(3).
“Major premise: The loud cry can only be given by a people who have the seal of God. Minor premise: The 1888 message was to usher in the loud cry. Conclusion: Therefore the 1888 message was to bring to God’s people the seal of God.” (4)
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- “The Vision by the Hiddekel” (pages 112, 113. 116).
- “The Seal of the Holy Spirit” (pages 4, 8).
- “God’s Eternal Purpose” (pages 173-175).
- “God’s Eternal Purpose”, page 184.
It is certainly true that there must be a thorough preparation to receive the latter rain and to proclaim the loud cry, but the teaching that the seal of God must be received before the giving of the loud cry has incongruities. There is nothing in the Old Testament typical service that showed that the ancient Israelites on the Day of Atonement were cleansed and received the seal of God, then went out that day to preach to the nations about them. The Scriptures say nothing concerning Israel receiving the seal of God before the closing services of that day.
That the seal is received after the loud cry is obvious from the following extracts:
“While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God.” (Great Controversy, Page 605). The context shows that the receiving of the mark of the beast or the seal of God is after the loud cry, or the latter rain which gives power to give the loud cry, has come. “And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people that those who continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast” (Great Controversy, Page 449). “No one has yet received the mark of the beast. But when the decree shall go forth enforcing the counterfeit Sabbath, and the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast (Evangelism, pages 234, 235).
“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- (Letter 11, 1890, quoted in SDA Bible Commentary, Volume 4, page 976).
One class receives the mark of the beast, the other class receives the seal of God but, observe, not until after the loud cry has warned men. Therefore the seal is not given before the loud cry, but after it has sounded the warning message. This is in harmony with such extracts as this one: “Urged on by Satan, the rulers of this world are seeking to destroy them." "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.... 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” (5 Testimonies, page 475; Prophets and Kings, Page 587).
It is also said that the Loud Cry is still future, and will not occur until after the judgment of the Living. Yet the Lord’s servant wrote in November 22, 1892 (Review & Herald): “The loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth.”
If, as asserted, the judgment of the Living, and the giving of the seal, precede the Loud Cry, then a simple deduction is that the judgment of the Living began before 1892 when the Lord’s servant said that the Loud Cry had already commenced. Then again, about the year 1890, Sister White, correcting a false report concerning the judgment of the Living, wrote: "Several times during the past winter (1888-1889) I have met the report.... I made a remark substantially as follows: ‘The judgment has been over forty years in progress on the cases of the dead, and we know not how soon it will pass to the cases of the living’ " (5 Testimonies, page 692). That is, at about the time she stated that “The Loud Cry of the third angel has already begun” she denied that she or anyone else had any knowledge that the judgment of the Living had commenced; she did not know when it would commence in the future. So from this we clearly see that the judgment of the Living and the giving of the seal, as is claimed, do not precede the giving of the Loud Cry. But, as we shall show, there are greater reasons for rejecting the teaching that the seal of the living God must be received before the Loud Cry.
The fallacy of the claim that the seal of God must be given before the latter rain, the loud cry, is further seen in the experience of Brother A. T. Jones, who was one of the leading protagonists in preaching righteousness by faith about 1888. His standing, then before God was clearly stated: “The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones.... the messengers of God’s righteousness.... whom the Lord recognized as His servants” (Testimonies to Ministers, page 91, 96, 97).
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Mrs. E. G. White, writing of the experience of those times, stated “The loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ” (Review and Herald, 22 November, 1892).
Brother A. T. Jones declared: “We know by every evidence that now we are in the time of refreshing—the time of the latter rain” (The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection, p. 124). According to the belief that the seal of God must be given before the latter rain (the loud cry) and that the character of those sealed is perfect and fixed “Their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity” (5 Testimonies, page 216). A. T. Jones should never have apostatized, as Mrs. E. G. White stated he had when she wrote to him in 1906. [Also again, on November 19, 1911, Sister White, writing to A. T. Jones, stated very clearly that he had departed from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits. God’s Eternal Purpose (pages 198-200).]
The fact that, afterwards, he did apostatize, though having been in that loud cry experience, clearly exposes the erroneous teaching that those who proclaim the loud cry must first be judged in the judgment of the living and receive the seal of God, thus fixing their characters for eternity before the latter rain.
The futile attempt to prove that the seal is given before the Loud Cry leads to the misinterpretation of the Holy Scriptures. This is further shown by the interpretation presented of the parable of the virgins who are invited to be present at the marriage (Matthew 25:1-13). An author, who employs this parable to bolster up the belief that the seal is given before the Loud Cry plainly (probably unwittingly) contradicts the Spirit of Prophecy and confuses two weddings. (1) believers being married to Christ and (2) Christ being married to the New Jerusalem, the capital of His kingdom (Great Controversy, Page 426, 427) - the latter occurring at the close of probation after the former has been accomplished. The Lord’s servant plainly states that our Lord is married to the New Jerusalem, His kingdom, after “the last work of mediation” “at its close to receive His kingdom” (Great Controversy, Page 428). To confuse that event with something supposed to occur before the Loud Cry is an unfortunate misinterpretation of the sacred Scriptures.
When Christ is married to the New Jerusalem the work of saving human beings is then finished. This fact is again stated in the summary of events presented in Early Writings, page 280: “Every case had been decided for life or death. While Jesus had been ministering in the sanctuary, the judgment had been going on for the righteous dead, and then for the righteous living. Christ had received His kingdom, having made the atonement for His people, and blotted out their sins. The subjects of the kingdom were made up. The marriage of the Lamb was consummated.”
The reader will see readily the confused ideas presented when an event that occurs after salvation is completed is presented as occurring before the Loud Cry! This confusion is rendered all the more noticeable when we observe the statement so emphatically made by God’s servant in Great Controversy, Page 427: “The coming of the Bridegroom, here brought to view, takes place before the marriage. The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His kingdom. The Holy City, the New Jerusalem, which is the capital and representative of the kingdom, is called the ‘bride, the Lamb’s wife’ (Revelation 21:9, 10). Clearly, then, the bride represents the Holy City, and the virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church. In the Revelation the people of God are said to be the guests at the marriage supper (Revelation 19:9). If guests, they cannot he represented also as the bride.”
The application made by the Lord’s servant of the parable of the virgins is that the virgins are not the bride. The virgins are those who have professed already to be married to Christ and who have accepted the invitation to be present at the marriage supper to celebrate the marriage of Christ to His eternal kingdom. In Christ Object Lessons, pages 405, 406, 412, 413, 414, 421, the Lord servant shows that the virgins in this parable are separate from the bride. As the virgins are guests and cannot be made the bride presented in these Scriptures, it is unscriptural to apply these passages in such a contradictory way. The application of these Scriptures concerning the marriage of Christ to His kingdom, which is done at the close of His heavenly ministry, in reference to the supposed reception of the seal before the Loud Cry, reveals the confusion that results from this erroneous conception.
The confusion resident in the teaching which declares that “the seal and the latter rain are one”, that “only those who have the seal of God can have a part in giving the Loud Cry”, is made manifest also by the consideration that the latter rain is the out pouring of the Holy Spirit, “the third person of the Godhead (Desire of Ages, page 671). Whereas the seal of the living God is placed upon God’s remnant people by the angels – 5 Testimonies, page 475; Prophets and Kings, Page 587. “The Lord lives, and His Holy Spirit presides everywhere” (Fundamentals of Christian Education, page 365).
“And more than angels are in the ranks. The Holy Spirit, the Representative of the Captain of the Lord’s host, comes down to direct the battle” (Desire of Ages, page 352). If, as claimed by the erroneous
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teaching, “the seal and the latter rain are one”, that would mean that the angels give the latter rain to God’s people, for the angels “place upon them the seal of the living God”. This makes strange, new doctrine, for angels, mighty as they are, cannot give God’s people the power of the Holy Spirit. The Omnipotent Holy Spirit alone can give His power to God’s people. Obviously the assertion that “the seal and the latter rain are one” is false teaching, and once again the theory that the seal is given before the Loud Cry is proven to be a very confusing and erroneous doctrine.
Instead of the seal being given before the Loud Cry, the facts we present reveal that the latter rain, the Loud Cry, precedes the giving of the seal. This logical sequence may he discerned even in the argument employed in a book already referred to [God’s Eternal Purpose, page 184] where the author endeavors to present the sequence in reverse order. After quoting: “The loud cry of the third angel has already begun” (Review and Herald 22 November, 1892) in reference to “the 1888 message”, we read on the same page: “Major premise: The loud cry can only be given by a people who have the seal of God. Minor premise: The 1888 message was to usher in the loud cry. Conclusion: therefore the 1888 message was to bring to God’s people the seal of God.”
This is a confused line of reasoning, for as the author rightly says (only intending it to be understood in reverse): “the 1888 message was to bring to God’s people the seal of God.” As the Lord’s servant has stated clearly that “the loud cry of the third angel has already begun” (in the 1888 message) and that message “was to bring to God’s people the seal of God”, then the seal is given after the loud cry, for they must hear the message - which the Lord’s servant said was “the loud cry” - before it could bring the seal to them.
Those who teach that the seal of God is given before the latter rain must have reached this conclusion very hastily, without studying the vast amount of evidence to the contrary. Though they profess to have a clear line up of the closing events, they have actually, through their endeavor to prove that the seal precedes the latter rain, confused events which Inspiration has already made plain. We will not weary the reader with pointing out each item where confusion has been created. They teach, and rightly so, that God’s people must attain unto a holy state before they can receive the latter rain (1 Testimonies, page 619, etc.), that the preaching of the straight testimony will bring about a shaking among God’s people (Early Writings, page 270), that those who endure this test and obtain victory will then receive the seal. Perhaps the simplest way to untangle the confusion resultant from this superficial conclusion is to state that great as this test will be, a far greater test “the final test” (Great Controversy, Page 605, 613) - will then await those who will eventually receive the seal. And this is the clear teaching of the Spirit of Prophecy. We will present the sequence of events as briefly as possible.
We have already quoted Great Controversy, Page 605, 449; Evangelism 234, 235; SDA Bible Commentary, Volume 4, page 976, to the effect that the test concerning the image to the beast enforcing the false Sabbath must test the people of God “before they are sealed”, that no one receives the mark of the beast until after “the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast”. This shows that time will elapse during which people are given the opportunity of accepting God’s last message, or of rejecting it. It is not true, as an author states: “By events transpiring upon the earth they [God’s people] will know that the time has come for them to be judged in the courts above. The test on the mark of the beast will be concurrent with the judgment of the living. When the image is set up and the mark is enforced, God’s people will know that the time of sealing has come.” [God’s Eternal Purpose, page 200] However, the facts reveal that the judgment of the living occurs after the testing -not during the test, and certainly not before “the final test”, which follows the Loud Cry. The judgment of the Living will not be prophetic of something yet future, but a judgment of decisions arrived at and actions already done. “The books of record in heaven, in which the names and the deeds of men are registered, are to determine the decisions of the judgment” (Great Controversy, Page 480). Everything God does is fit and proper, and the time when He judges the living righteous is when they have completed all the tests which He sees fit to test them by, and facts show clearly that that full fruition is obtained after the latter rain. The test on the straight testimony is to be followed by other tests before God’s people will be ready for the seal. Their final test will be whether they are prepared to die rather than disobey God.
It will help the reader to grasp the increasing severity of the test when we draw attention to the fact that laws enforcing the false Sabbath will become progressively more exacting and harsh until the penalty for their violation will be death - see Revelation 13:15-17. 5 Testimonies, page 81, 212, 213, 450, 451, 464, 472-475, 752. Prophets and Kings, Page 188, 189. Early Writings, page 85. Great Controversy, Page 604, etc.
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At the end of this “final test”, the Judgment of the living occurs when all those to be saved have matured under the latter’ rain and thus are prepared to endure through the seven last plagues, receiving the seal of God’s approval when the High Priest proclaims: “He that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still” (Revelation 22:11).
God’s people must stand “the final test”, standing loyally for God in face of death, before they will be judged. Their loyalty under this terrible threat will be registered in the books of heaven and on that record they will be judged worthy to receive the seal, at which time probation closes. This is the plain teaching of the Spirit of Prophecy.
That “the final test” is to be true to God while facing death for such loyalty may be seen by the following statement from Testimonies to Ministers 473, where Satan is represented as speaking to his angels, saying: “When death shall be made the penalty of violating our Sabbath, then many who are now ranked with Sabbath-keepers will come over to our side”. Here is evidence that this refers to the time when God’s people are making decisions before probation closes. “The decree will go forth that they must disregard the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and honor the first day, or lose their lives; but they will not yield” (1 Testimonies, pages 353, 354). Writing of the events immediately before probation closes, the Lord’s servant says: “When this time of trouble comes. The seal of the living God is upon His people [intimating that this was the last event before probation closed]. This small remnant, unable to defend themselves in the deadly conflict with the powers of earth that are marshaled by the dragon host, make God their defense. The decree has been passed by the highest earthly authority that they shall worship the beast and receive his mark under pain of persecution and death” (5 Testimonies, page 213). “It will finally be decreed that they shall be put to death” (Desire of Ages, page 122).
“As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, join the ranks of the opposition. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. In this time of persecution the faith of the Lord’s servant will be tried” (Great Controversy, Page 608). The persecution becomes worse as time continues until “they are threatened with destruction” (page 609). These statements are made in the chapter “The Final Warning”. The event that brings the greatest test - “the final test” - is the outpouring of the latter rain; it is then that the time comes for it [the message] to be given with greatest power”. “The popular ministry stir up the sin-loving multitude to revile and persecute those who proclaim it. The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The church appeals to the strong arm of civil power. As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the laws will be invoked against Sabbath-keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment” (Great Controversy, Page 607). “The last great warning had sounded everywhere, and it had stirred up and enraged the inhabitants of the earth who would not receive the message” (Early Writings, page 279).
“An angel answered, ‘It is the latter rain ... the loud cry of the third angel’. Great power was with these chosen ones. Said the angel, ‘Look you!’ My attention was turned to the wicked, or unbelievers. They were astir. The zeal and power with the people of God had aroused and enraged them ... I saw measures taken against the company who had the light and power of God. Darkness thickened around them [the test more severe], yet they stood firm, approved of God [judged and sealed]” (Early Writings, page 271, 272). Having stood “the final test”, they are then judged and sealed “approved of God”. Thus they have been “purified, and fitted through suffering to receive the seal of the living God, [to] pass through the time of trouble” (Early Writings, page 67).
That God’s people are not sealed when the enforcement of Sunday laws has commenced but receive the seal after the loud cry has aroused the enemies of God’s message to take more drastic action toward them, is the consistent teaching of the Spirit of Prophecy. “This message [third angel’s message] was designed to put the children of God on their guard, by showing them the hour of temptation and anguish that was before them. Said the angel, ‘They will be brought into close combat with the beast and his image’. Their only hope of eternal life is to remain steadfast. Although their lives are at stake, they must hold fast the truth” (Early Writings, page 254).
Observe that they have not yet been sealed, even though they have been in “close combat with the beast and his image”: “Their only hope of eternal life is to remain steadfast. Although their lives are at stake they must hold fast the truth.” That is, they are not sealed until after being tested with “the final test” obedience to God though “their lives are at stake”. This is their only hope of eternal life” - which shows that they have not been sealed until after this test, and this test follows the loud cry. Thus the seal is not given before the loud cry. The Lord’s servant, in the chapter “The Final Warning” writes concerning the decree (Revelation 13:16) enforcing the false Sabbath, and says: “All who refuse compliance will be visited with civil
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penalties, and it will finally be declared that they are deserving of death. On the other hand, the law of God enjoining the Creator’s rest day demands obedience and threatens wrath against all who transgress its precepts. With the issue thus clearly brought before him, whoever shall trample upon God’s law to obey a human enactment receives the mark of the beast. The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty. When the final test [the loyal-to-death test] shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God” (Great Controversy, Page 604, 605).
It will also be observed that the world will then be divided into two classes - those who have the mark of the beast and thus are marked for the destroyers, and those who have the seal of God and are marked to be protected from the destroyers - see Ezekiel 9:1-6; Revelation 6:14-17; 7:14; Testimonies, vol. 5, page 212. Thus while individuals make up each class, yet God judges them as two classes: one class to be destroyed. The other class to be sealed and protected. It will be observed that when the Lord’s servant writes concerning the sealing just before probation closes, she writes of God’s people as a whole - see such passages as 5 Testimonies, page 472-475; Great Controversy, Page 483, 484. The Lord’s servant never writes of some of God’s people being judged in the judgment of the living before others. The loud cry wins many people, and concerning the results of the Loud Cry, the Lord’s servant says: -Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord’s side” (Great Controversy, Page 612). These, after standing loyal to God despite the death penalty hanging over them, are also judged and sealed with the others as probation is about to close.
That the sealing occurs after the loud cry and after “the final test”, just as probation is about to close, is stated also in 5 Testimonies, page 472-476. 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” (p. 472). “Urged on by Satan, the rulers of this world are seeking to destroy them. Their names are retained in the Lamb’s book of life they have not been turned from their loyalty by the dragon’s roar. Now they are eternally secure. 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.”
Yes, sealed after they have withstood the threat of death; sealed “in the closing up of the great day of atonement”.
The Lord’s servant, giving a resume of the events connected with the close of probation, shows that the sealing of God’s people is the last event before probation closes: “They have received ‘the latter rain’ and they are prepared for the trying hour before them [the latter rain prepares them to face the threat of death].
An angel returning from the earth announces that his work is done; the final test [the loyal-to-death test] has been brought upon the world, and all who have proved themselves [by remaining steadfast although their lives were at stake, Early Writings, page 254] loyal to the divine precepts have received ‘the seal of the living God’. THEN Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. He makes the solemn announcement: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still’ “ (Great Controversy, Page 613). The statement is then made significantly [in contrast to the false teaching that the sins of the remnant are blotted out before the loud cry]: “Every case has been decided for life and death, Christ has made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins.” Thus the sins are blotted out at the conclusion of the judgment. “Jesus will pardon all the transgressions of Israel, that they may be blotted out before He leaves the sanctuary. When Jesus leaves the sanctuary, then they who are holy and righteous will be holy and righteous still; for all their sins will then be blotted out, and they will be sealed with the seal of the living God” (Early Writings, page 48).
In the type, the people of Israel were commanded by God to maintain a repentant attitude until the High Priest came out of the Most Holy Place, and this is stated to be the type of the last days (Great Controversy, Page 485). In the type there is nothing to indicate that the High Priest completed His ministry in behalf of some of the people before He completed His ministry there. The sins of all were blotted out or removed from the sanctuary at the conclusion of the priestly ministry (Great Controversy, Page 420-422; Prophets and Kings, Page 356-358). It is contrary to the type to declare that “the remnant will be sealed” (because they have reached a state of fixed perfection) before the Loud Cry, for that would mean that the atoning ministry of Jesus would cease for them before the Loud Cry, for atonement has reference only to sin. As this teaching is at such variance with the type, so it is out of harmony with other revealed truths.
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Truth sanctifies. Misunderstanding of Bible teaching nullifies its sanctifying effect. The writer feels that it is an error to teach that the seal of God is received before the Loud Cry, because this misapplication helps diminish the reason why the Lord has so graciously given His people the message concerning the sealing of His remnant church. By confusing the time when the seal is given, the very important revelation of the love of God for His people is hidden. Whatever reveals the love of God sanctifies; whatever hides that love prevents that sanctifying effect.
The reader is earnestly invited to consider the following facts which are presented to show when and why God seals His people. Instead of teaching that the seal of God is given before the Loud Cry, the writer believes that the facts reveal that the latter rain is poured out upon the church to prepare the precious harvest for the reception of the seal of God, that the giving of the seal is the last thing in the Lord’s program for His people before the close of probation.
Some are misled into believing that when Jesus takes the name of each believer in the judgment of the Living, He then completes the perfecting of the character. This erroneous teaching is a precious thought to those who have not paused to remember that, as our High Priest, Jesus now bears the names of all His people “upon His heart continually” (Exodus 28:29, 30) He is daily our “Advocate with the Father” (1 John 2:1), our “Mediator” (1 Timothy 2:5). “He does not forget us for one brief moment” (Ministry of Healing, page 488). He often mentions our name, taking our prayers and presenting them to the Father with His merits. “Our Savior is in the sanctuary pleading in our behalf. He is our interceding High Priest, making an atoning sacrifice for us, pleading in our behalf the efficacy of His blood” (Fundamentals Christian Education, page 370).
“At the Father’s right hand He is interceding for us as our High Priest His atonement is effectual for everyone who will humble himself. It is through His intercession that we, through faith, repentance, and conversion, are enabled to become partakers of the divine nature” (Manuscript 29, 1906).
The judgment is not a time for the perfecting of the character that must be done now.
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