PART SIXTEEN
THE ASCENSION AND MILLENNIUM
POST-ASCENSION EVENTS ON EARTH
In the previous study, we viewed events at the time of the Second Advent, as they relate primarily to the redeemed-but also to the wicked. Those are the pre-ascension events, which occur at the time of Christ's second coming, before Jesus and the redeemed begin their journey to heaven.
In the present study, we will view (1) the post-ascension events on earth, which is the death of the living wicked, and the binding of Satan to this planet for a thousand years; and (2) the post-ascension events of the redeemed; which Includes their journey to heaven, their coronation and entrance into the Holy City, and the sentencing judgment.
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ALL THE WICKED HAVE MADE THEIR DECISIONS IN THE GREAT CONTROVERSY
1 - Now the controversy is with man, as well as with angels.
“ 'A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, He will plead with all flesh; He will give them that are wicked to the sword.' Jeremiah 25:31. For six thousand years the great controversy has been In progress; the Son of God and His heavenly messengers have been in conflict with the power of the evil one, to warn, enlighten, and save the children of men. Now all have made their decisions; the wicked have fully united with Satan in his warfare against God. The time has come for God to vindicate the authority at His downtrodden law. Now the controversy is not alone with Satan, but with men. 'The Lord hath a controversy with the nations"; He will give them that are wicked to the sword.' " Great Controversy, 656:1.
-2 - THOSE WITH THE SLAUGHTERING WEAPONS GO FORTH
1 - The work of destruction begins with the spiritual guardians.
"The mark of deliverance has been set upon those 'that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done.' Now the angel of death goes forth, represented in Ezekiel’s vision by the men with the slaughtering weapons, to whom the command is given: 'Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary,' Says the prophet: 'They began at the ancient men which were before the house.' Ezekiel 9:1-6, The work of destruction begins among those who have professed to be the spiritual guardians of the people. The false watchmen are the first to fall. There are none to pity or to spare, Men, women, maidens, and little children perish together." Great Controversy. 656:2.
Note: Contrary to errors being taught, the fulfillment of the Ezekiel 9 slaughter occurs not at the sealing—but here at the second coming of Christ.
- 3 -
STRIFE BY MEN AND WRATH FROM GOD WILL SLAY THE WICKED
1 - All the wicked are slain.
" 'The Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants at the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.' Isaiah 26:21. 'And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor.' Zechariah 14:12-13. In the mad strife of their own fierce passions, and by the awful outpouring of God's unmingled wrath, fall the wicked Inhabitants of the earth -priests, rulers, and people, rich and poor, high and low. 'And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried.' Jeremiah 25:33.
"At the coming of Christ the wicked are blotted from the face of the whole earth consumed with the spirit of His mouth and destroyed by the brightness of His glory." Great Controversy, 657:1.
2 - Identified with sin, the wicked die with it.
"To sin, wherever found, 'our God is a consuming fire' (Hebrews 12:29), in all who submit to His power the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy them." Desire of Ages, 107:4.
3 - Slain by His glory.
"The glory of His countenance, which to the righteous is life, will be to the wicked a consuming fire." Desire of Ages, 600:2.
4 - Their death is an act of mercy.
"Could those whose hearts are filled with hatred of God, of truth and holiness, mingle with the heavenly throng and Join their songs of praise? Could they endure the glory of God and the Lamb? No, no; years of probation were granted them, that they might form characters for heaven; but they have never trained the mind to love purity; they have never learned the language of heaven, and now it is too late. A life of rebellion against God has unfitted them for heaven. Its purity, holiness, and peace would be torture to them; the glory of God would be a consuming fire. They would long to flee from that holy place. They would welcome destruction, that they might be hidden from the face of Him who died to redeem them. The destiny of the wicked is fixed by their own choice. Their exclusion from heaven is voluntary with themselves, and just and merciful on the part of God." Great Controversy, 542:2-543:0.
5 - They are responsible for their own deaths.
"God destroys no one. The sinner destroys himself by his own impenitence." 5 Testimonies, 120:1. Also see The Great Controversy, 25-97.
- 4 -
AN INCREDIBLY IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OCCURS
Several years ago, the present writer compiled a large number of quotations dealing with the terrible storm of wrath predicted by the third angel's message (Revelation 14:9-11). As wickedness Increased, this wrath would gradually increase. It would greatly intensify when human probation closed, fall on men again at the Second Advent, and, again, in the final judgment after the third advent. At the second advent, for example, fire will fall from heaven and erupt from the earth, destroying the wicked.
For more Information on this, see our 10 part tract set, The Terrible Storm, now In section 2 of our Offshoots Tractbook. The objective of the lengthy study was to establish from the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy that God will slay the incorrigibly wicked, and has at times done so in the past.
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THE EARTH IS LEFT UNINHABITED AND DESOLATE
1 - The earth is a desolate wilderness.
"Christ takes His people to the City of God, and the earth Is emptied of Its Inhabitants. . The whole earth appears like a desolate wilderness. The ruins of cities and villages destroyed by the earthquake, uprooted trees, ragged rocks thrown out by the sea or torn out of the earth itself, are scattered over its surface, while vast caverns mark the spot where the mountains have been rent from their foundations." Great Controversy, 657:1-2.
"The earth looked like a desolate wilderness. Cities and villages, shaken down by the earthquake, lay in heaps. Mountains had been moved out of their places, leaving large caverns. Ragged rocks, thrown out by the sea, or torn out of the earth itself, were scattered all over its surface. Large trees had been uprooted and were strewn over the land. Here is to be the home of Satan with his evil angels for a thousand years.” Early Writings, 290:1.
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SINS ARE ROLLED BACK ON SATAN
1 - The scapegoat transaction occurs.
“Now the event takes place foreshadowed in the last solemn service of the Day of Atonement. When the ministration in the holy of holies had been completed, and the sins of Israel had been removed from the sanctuary by virtue of the blood of the sin offering, then the scapegoat was presented alive before the Lord; and in the presence of the congregation the high priest confessed over him 'all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat.' Leviticus 16:21. In like manner when the work of atonement in the heavenly sanctuary has been completed, then in the presence of God and heavenly angels and the host of the redeemed the sins of God's people will be placed upon Satan; he will be declared guilty of all the evil which he has caused them to commit. And as the scapegoat was sent away into a land not inhabited, so Satan will be banished to the desolate earth, an uninhabited and dreary wilderness." Great Controversy, 658:1.
2 - Satan bears the final penalty.
"When Christ, by virtue of His own blood, removes the sins of His people from the heavenly sanctuary at the close of His ministration, He will place them upon Satan, who, in the execution of the judgment, must bear the final penalty." Great Controversy, 422:2.
3 - Bearing the guilt of the sin.
"Satan, bearing the guilt of all the sins which he has caused God's people to commit, will be for a thousand years confined to the earth, which will then be desolate, without inhabitant, and he will at last suffer the full penalty of sin in the fires that shall destroy all the wicked." Great Controversy. 485:9-486:0.
-7 - SATAN IS RESTRICTED TO PLANET EARTH FOR 1,000 YEARS
1 - For the first time since sin began, Satan is limited to this planet.
"The revelator foretells the banishment of Satan and the condition of chaos and desolation to which the earth Is to be reduced, and he declares that this condition will exist for a thousand years. After presenting the scenes of the Lord's second coming and the destruction of the wicked, the prophecy continues: 'I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thou sand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.' " Great Controversy, 658:2.
2 . Angels and saints rejoice at his confinement.
"I heard shouts of triumph from the angels and from the redeemed saints, which sounded like ten thousand musical instruments, because they were to be no more annoyed and tempted by Satan and because the inhabitants of other worlds were delivered from his presence and his temptations." Early Writings, 290:2.
3 - Satan will not be able to travel to other worlds.
"Here he (Satan) will be confined, to wander up and down over the broken surface of the earth and see the effects of his rebellion against God's law. For a thousand years he can enjoy the fruit of the curse which he has caused. Limited alone to the earth, he will not have the privilege of ranging to other planets, to tempt and annoy those who have not fallen." Early Writings, 290:1.
Note: Several passages clarify that, although Satan was cast out of the highest heaven at the time of that first war (GC 500:1; PP 42:2), and out of the last sympathies of the angels at the death of Christ (DA 758:1-761:3), he was able to visit other planets until the beginning of the millennium (above quotations). So, in a very special sense, he is finally "bound" to the earth.
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UNABLE TO TEMPT SATAN WILL ONLY HAVE TIME TO THINK
1 - He is limited to the earth.
"Here is to be the home of Satan with his evil angels for a thousand years. Limited to the earth, he will not have access to other worlds to tempt and annoy those who have never fallen. It Is In this sense that he Is bound: there are none remaining. upon whom he can exercise his power. He is wholly cut off from the work of deception and ruin which for so many centuries has been his sole delight." Great Controversy, 659:1.
2 - Even the wicked are beyond his reach.
"Even the wicked are now placed beyond the power of Satan, and alone with his evil angels he remains to realize the effect of the curse which sin has brought." Great Controversy, 660:1.
3 - He fears the future.
"During this time, Satan suffers extremely. Since his fall his evil traits have been in constant exercise. But he is then to be deprived of his power, and left to reflect upon the part which he has acted since his fall, and to look forward with trembling and terror to the dreadful future, when he must suffer for all the evil that he has done and be punished for all the sins that he has caused to be committed." Early Writings, 290:1.
4 . His sufferings are intense.
"For a thousand years, Satan will wander to and fro in the desolate earth to behold the results of his rebellion against the law of God, during this time his sufferings are Intense. Since his fall his life of unceasing activity has banished reflection; but he is now deprived of his power and left to contemplate the part which he has acted since first he rebelled against the government of heaven, and to look forward with trembling and terror to the dreadful future when he must suffer for all the evil that he has done and be punished for the sins that he has caused to be committed." Great Controversy, 660:2.
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POST-ASCENSION EVENTS IN HEAVEN
- 1 -
THE JOURNEY TO THE CITY OF GOD
1 - The meeting in the sky.
"There stands the risen host. The last thought was of death and its pangs. The last thoughts they had were of the grave and the tomb, but now they proclaim, '0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave, where is thy victory?' . . Here they stand and the finishing touch of immortality is put upon them and they go up to meet their Lord in the air. , There are the columns of angels on either side; . . then the angelic choir strike the note of victory and the angels in the two columns take up the song and the redeemed host join as though they had been singing the song on the earth, and they have been. Oh, what music! There is not an inharmonious note. Every voice proclaims, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.' He sees the travail of His soul, and is satisfied." Sons and Daughters of God, 359:4.
2 - They ascend to the Holy City.
“Friends long separated by death are united, nevermore to part, and with songs of gladness ascend together to the City of God.
"On each side of the cloudy chariot are wings, and beneath it are living wheels; and as the chariot rolls upward, the wheels cry, 'Holy: and the wings, as they move, cry, 'Holy,' and the retinue of angels cry, 'Holy, holy, holy, lord God Almighty.' And the redeemed shout, 'Alleluia" as the chariot moves onward toward the New Jerusalem.” Great Controversy, 645:1-2.
3 - "Homeward Bound!"
"Oh, how glorious it will be to see Him and be welcomed as His redeemed ones! Long have we waited, but our hope is not to grow dim. If we can but see the King In His beauty we shall be forever blessed. I feel as if I must cry aloud, 'Homeward bound!' " 8 Testimonies, 253:1.
4 - The journey takes seven days.
"We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the sea of glass." Early Writings, 16:2.
Brother G.B. Starr (1854-1944) worked for many years as an evangelist and church administrator. He worked for a time in Australia, and later reported statements which, he said, Ellen White made to him. But some of his statements do not ring right, when compared with her writings. For that reason, we cannot accept the most startling of them as factual. Perhaps the story about the stop-over planet is true (it would be nice if it were), but we cannot know this with certainty.
(However, it is of Interest that, later in this present section, we will quote a passage which says angels are now preparing crowns for the saints (5T 96). If they are now preparing crowns, they could also be preparing a stopover planet for the seven-day trip to heaven.)
The following quotation by the E.G. White Estate discusses this particular statement by G.B. Starr:
"The report, based on the memory of one individual [Starr], that Ellen G. White stated in a dinner-table conversation that the inhabitants of other worlds are gathering fruit for the Sabbath-day entertainment of the translated saints en route to heaven, is without support, and fanciful. The assertion that the words were stenographically reported is without foundation. Ellen G. White makes only the simple statement in Early Writings, page 16, that 'We were seven days ascending to the sea of glass,' No mention is made by Ellen G. White of the Sabbath spent en route." Apocryphal quotations of E.G. White, statement by E. G. White Estate, E.G. White Index, Vol. 3, p. 3189.
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THE SAINTS' CORONATION ON THE SEA OF GLASS OUTSIDE THE CITY
1 - Sequence: (1) Clothed in glorious white robes, all the saints are standing on the sea of glass outside the City. (2) They are standing in a hollow square, with Jesus in the center, (3) The angels bring crowns from the city, and Jesus personally places a crown on the head of each saint. (4) Each one is satisfied with his crown. (5) The angels bring harps from the city, and Jesus personally hands one to each of His redeemed ones. (6) Then the commanding angel strikes the first note, and other leading angels with him; and all sweep the strings and sing praises to Christ.
"Before entering the City of God, the Saviour bestows upon His followers the emblems of victory and invests them with the insignia of their royal state. The glittering ranks are drawn up in the form of a hollow square about their King, whose form rises in majesty high above saint and angel, whose countenance beams upon them full of benignant love, Throughout the unnumbered host of the redeemed every glance is fixed upon Him, every eye beholds His glory whose 'visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men,' Upon the heads of the overcomers, Jesus with His own right hand places the crown of glory. For each there is a crown, bearing his own 'new name' (Revelation 2: 17), and the inscription, 'Holiness to the Lord.' In every hand are placed the victor's palm and the shining harp. Then, as the commanding angels strike the note, every hand sweeps the harp strings with skillful touch, awaking sweet music in rich, melodious strains. Rapture unutterable thrills every heart, and each voice Is raised In grateful praise: 'Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.' Revelation 1:5, 6," Great Controversy. 645:3-646:0.
“Jesus brought the crowns, and with His own right hand placed them on our heads. He gave us harps of gold and palms of victory. Here on the sea of glass the 144,000 stood in a perfect square. Some of them had very bright crowns, others not so bright. Some crowns appeared heavy with stars, while others had but few. All were perfectly satisfied with their crowns, And they were all clothed with a glorious white mantle from their shoulders to their feet." Early Writings, 16:2-17:0.
"Then I saw a very great number of angels bring from the city glorious crowns -a crown for every saint, with his name written thereon. As Jesus called for the crowns, angels presented them to Him, and with His own right hand, the lovely Jesus placed the crowns on the heads of the saints. In the same manner the angels brought the harps, and Jesus presented them also to the saints. The commanding angel first struck the note, and then every voice was raised in grateful, happy praise, and every hand skillfully swept over the strings of the harp, sending forth melodious music in rich and perfect strains." Early Writings, 288:1.
Note: According to the above statements, all the redeemed-including the 144,000 -are in the hollow square. This agrees with GC 665:2; in which several different groups surround Jesus. Thus the 144,000 can be said to be in the square, and also all the saints can be said to be in that square.
2 - The angels welcome them with singing, "In that day the redeemed will shine forth in the glory of the Father and the Son. The angels, touching their golden harps, will welcome the King and His trophies of victory-those who have been washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb, A song of triumph will peal forth, filling all heaven. Christ has conquered. He enters the heavenly courts, accompanied by His redeemed ones, the witnesses that His mission of suffering and sacrifice has not been in vain." 9 Testimonies, 285:2-286:0.
3 - Angels are now making those crowns. "When the Lord makes up His jewels. the true, the frank, the honest, will be looked upon with pleasure, Angels are employed In making crowns for such ones, and upon these star-gemmed crowns will be reflected, with splendor, the light which radiates from the throne of God." 5 Testimonies, 96:2,
4 - A crown of glory is waiting for us, individually, in heaven.
“A crown of glory. . is laid up for us who wait, and love, and long for the appearing of the Saviour.
" It is the waiting ones who are to be crowned with glory, honor, and immortality. You need not talk to me of the honors of the world, or the praise of its great ones. They are all vanity. Let but the finger of God touch them, and they would soon go back to dust again. I want honor that is lasting, honor that is immortal, honor that will never perish; a crown that is richer than any crown that that ever decked the brow of a monarch. Maranatha 309:3-4.
5 - Soon we will receive those crowns.
"Talk of heavenly things, Talk of Jesus, His loveliness and glory, and of His undying love for you, and let your heart flow out in love and gratitude to Him, who died to save you. Oh, get ready to meet your Lord in peace. Those who are ready will soon receive an unfading crown of life, and will dwell forever in the kingdom of God,' with Christ, with angels, and with those who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ." Sons and Daughters of God, 362:2.
6 - Receiving their crowns, many will thank their mothers.
“The day of God will reveal how much the world owes to godly mothers. . When the judgment shall sit, and the books shall be opened; when the 'well done' of the great Judge is pronounced, and the crown of immortal glory is placed upon the brow of the victor, many will raise their crowns in sight of the assembled universe, and pointing to their mother say: 'She made me all am through the grace of God. Her instruction, her prayers, have been blessed to my eternal salvation." Maranatha, 308:2-3.
7 - Parents will see their children crowned.
"With joy unutterable, parents see the crown, the robe, the harp, given to their children. The days of hope and fear are ended. The seed sown with tears and prayers may have seemed to be sown in vain, but their harvest is reaped with joy at last. Their children have been redeemed." Maranatha, 308:1.
8 - Christ will rejoice as He beholds the redeemed.
"In the results of His work Christ will behold its recompense. In that great multitude which no man could number, presented 'faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.' He whose blood has redeemed and whose life has taught us 'shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied.' " Education, 309:3.
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JESUS OPENS THE GATES AND LEADS HIS FAITHFUL ONES INTO THE CITY
1. Sequence: (1) The entire company march across the sea of glass to the City. (2) Jesus opens the gates and tells them, "You have washed your robes in My blood, stood stiffly for My truth; enter in." (3) Jesus leads them into the City, and they feel they have a perfect right to be there. (4) Within the City, they behold Adam's original home-the Garden of Eden. (5) Then Jesus says, "Your conflict is ended; come, ye blessed of My Father. . "
"Angels were all about us as we marched over the sea of glass to the gate of the city. Jesus raised His mighty, glorious arm, laid hold of the pearly gate, swung it back on its glittering hinges, and said to us, 'You have washed your robes in My blood, stood stiffly for My truth, enter in.' We all marched in and felt that we had a perfect right in the city." Early Writings, 17:0.
"Jesus threw open the gates of the golden city and led us in. Here we were made welcome, for we had kept the 'commandments of God,' and had a 'right to the tree of life.' “ Early Writings, 35:1.
“Before the ransomed throng Is the Holy City. Jesus opens wide the pearly gates, and the nations that have kept the truth enter in. There they behold the Paradise of God, the home of Adam in his innocency. Then that voice, richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, is heard, saying: 'Your conflict is ended.' 'Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' " Great Controversy, 646:1.
"A voice, richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, will be heard saying, 'Come, ye blessed of My Father, Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'” Counsels on Stewardship, 950:2.
Note: As quoted above, In EW 35 it is called "a gate," but "gates" In the other (later) passages. This was either an initial memory lapse (In recounting her first vision) or a typographical error. But it is also an evidence of how exactly her writings were later printed and reprinted.
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A VIEW OF THE CITY
1 - Jesus enters the city triumphally with His followers. Everything within the city is beautiful and lovely, and, In thankfulness, the redeemed cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus and sing praises to Him.
"Within the city there was everything to feast the eye. Rich glory they beheld everywhere. Then Jesus looked upon His redeemed saints; their countenances were radiant with glory; and as He fixed His loving eyes upon them, He said with His rich, musical voice, ‘I behold the travail of My soul, and am satisfied. This rich glory is yours to enjoy eternally. Your sorrows are ended. There shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.' I saw the redeemed host bow and cast their glittering crowns at the feet of Jesus, and then, as His lovely hand raised them up. they touched their golden harps and filled all heaven with their rich music and songs to the Lamb." Early Writings, 288:1-289:0.
Here is another view of the city; this one 2,000 years earlier, when Christ previously entered it triumphally just after His ascension:
"Then the portals of the city of God are opened wide, and the angelic throng sweep through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music.
"There is the throne, and around it the rainbow of promise. There are cherubim and seraphim. The commanders of the angel hosts, the sons of God, the representatives of the unfallen worlds, are assembled. The heavenly council before which Lucifer had accused God and His Son.. the representatives of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought to establish his dominion, -all are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to celebrate His triumph and to glorify their King." Desire of Ages, 833: 11-834:1.
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THE TWO ADAMS MEET
1 - Adam falls at the feet of Christ.
"As the ransomed ones are welcomed to the City of God, there rings out upon the air an exultant cry of adoration. The two Adams are about to meet. The Son of God is standing with outstretched arms to receive the father of our race -the being whom He created, who sinned against his Maker, and for whose sin the marks of the crucifixion are borne upon the Saviour's form. As Adam discerns the prints of the cruel nails, he does not fall upon the bosom of his Lord, but in humiliation casts himself at His feet, crying: 'Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain!'
Tenderly the Saviour lifts him up and bids him look once more upon the Eden home from which he has so long been exiled." Great Controversy, 647:2.
- 6 - ADAM VIEWS THE GARDEN OF EDEN
1 - In Eden, Adam and his family worship and praise Christ.
"Transported with joy, he [Adam} beholds the trees that were once his delight—the very trees whose fruit he himself had gathered in the days of his innocence and joy. He sees the vines that his own hands have trained, the very flowers that he once loved to care for. His mind grasps the reality of the scene; he comprehends that this is indeed Eden restored, more lovely now than when he was banished from it. The Saviour leads him to the tree of life and plucks the glorious fruit and bids him eat. He looks about him and beholds a multitude of his family redeemed, standing in the Paradise of God. Then he casts his glittering crown at the feet of Jesus and, falling upon His breast, embraces the Redeemer. He touches the golden harp, and the vaults of heaven echo the triumphant song: "Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and lives again!" The family of Adam take up the strain and cast their crowns at the Saviour's feet as they bow before Him in adoration." Great Controversy, 648:1.
-7- THE REDEEMED SEE THE TREE AND THE THRONE
1 - A view of the tree of life.
"Here we saw the tree of life and the throne of God. Out of the throne came a pure river of water, and on either side of the river was the tree of life. On one side of the river was a trunk of a tree, and a trunk on the other side of the river, both of pure, transparent gold. At first I thought I saw two trees. I looked again, and saw that they were united at the top in one tree. So it was the tree of life on either side of the river of life. Its branches bowed to the place where we stood, and the fruit was glorious; it looked like gold mixed with silver." Early Writings, 17:1.
2 - Partaking of the tree, and viewing the throne.
"I then saw Jesus leading His people to the tree of life, and again we heard His lovely voice, richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, saying, . The leaves of this tree are for the healing of the nations. Eat ye all of it.' Upon the tree of life was most beautiful fruit, of which the saints could partake freely. In the city was a most glorious throne, from which proceeded a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal. On each side of this river was the tree of life, and on the banks of the river were other beautiful trees bearing fruit which was good for food.
"Language is altogether too feeble to attempt a description of heaven. As the scene rises before me, I am lost in amazement. Carried away with the surpassing splendor and excellent glory, I lay down the pen, and exclaim, 'Oh, what love! what wondrous love!' The most exalted language fails to describe the glory of heaven or the matchless depths of a Saviour's love." Early Writings, 289: 1-2,
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THE 144,000 SING A NEW SONG ON THE CRYSTAL SEA BEFORE THE THRONE
1 - The 144,000 are frequently mentioned in Early Writings, and less often in Great Controversy. But in one paragraph we are given several identifying features of this group: (1) They had gotten the victory over the beast, his image, and his name (2) They were translated from among the living at the second advent, and therefore are first fruits. (3) They came out of great tribulation, for they passed through the time of trouble. (4) They went through Jacob's trouble. (5) They stood without an intercessor after the close of probation. (6) They were without fault before God.
"Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it were mingled with fire,—so resplendent is it with the glory of God,—are gathered the company that have 'gotten the victory over the beast, and over his Image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.' With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, 'having the harps of God,' they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, 'the voice of harpers harping with their harps.' And they sing 'a new song' before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb-a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience an experience such as no other company have ever had. 'These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.' These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as 'the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.' Revelation 15:2,3; 14:1-5. 'These are they which came out of great tribulation;' they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob's trouble; they have stood without an Intercessor through the final outpouring of God's judgments. But they have been delivered, for they have 'washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.' 'In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault' before God." Great Controversy, 648:3-649:0.
- 9 - THE REDEEMED MEET THEIR GUARDIAN ANGELS
1 - Each person's guardian angel will meet him in the resurrection, and will later tell him about God's guidance and care in his life.
"Not until the providences of God are seen in the light of eternity shall we understand what we owe to the care and interposition of His angels. Celestial beings have taken an active part in the affairs of men. They have appeared in garments that shone as the lightning; they have come as men, in the garb of wayfarers. They have accepted the hospitalities of human homes; they have acted as guides to benighted travelers. They have thwarted the spoiler's purpose, and turned aside the stroke of the destroyer. .
"Every redeemed one will understand the ministry of angels in his own life. The angel who was his guardian from his earliest moment; the angel who watched his steps, and covered his head in the day of peril; the angel who was with him in the valley of the shadow of death, who marked his resting place, who was the first to greet him in the resurrection morning, -what will it be to hold converse with him, and to learn the history of divine interposition in the individual life, of heavenly cooperation in every work for humanity!" Education 304:4-305:2.
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THE DAYS OF PAIN AND WEEPING ARE FOREVER ENDED
1 - Every cause of grief has been removed.
“Henceforth they are to be ever with the Lord. They stand before the throne clad in richer robes than the most honored of the earth have ever worn. They are crowned with diadems more glorious than were ever placed upon the brow of earthly monarchs. The days of pain and weeping are forever ended. The King of glory has wiped the tears from all faces; every cause of grief has been removed. Amid the waving of palm branches they pour forth a song of praise, clear, sweet, and harmonious; every voice takes up the strain, until the anthem swells through the vaults of heaven: 'Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.' And all the inhabitants of heaven respond in the ascription: 'Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.' Revelation 7:10, 12." Great Controversy, 650:1-651:0.
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THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLAN OF SALVATION WILL ENLARGE FOREVER
1 - Throughout eternal ages the redeemed will ever be learning more about what it cost to save them.
"In this life we can only begin to understand the wonderful theme of redemption. With our finite comprehension we may consider most earnestly the shame and the glory, the life and the death, the justice and the mercy, that meet in the cross; yet with the utmost stretch of our mental powers we fail to grasp its full significance. The length and the breadth, the depth and the height, of redeeming love are but dimly comprehended. The plan of redemption will not be fully understood, even when the ransomed see as they are seen and know as they are known: but through the eternal ages new truth will continually unfold to the wondering and delighted mind. Though the griefs and pains and temptations of earth are ended and the cause removed, the people of God will ever have a distinct, intelligent knowledge of what their salvation has cost.
"The cross of Christ will be the science and the song of the redeemed through all eternity. In Christ glorified they will behold Christ crucified. Never will it be forgotten that He whose power created and upheld the unnumbered worlds through the vast realms of space, the Beloved of God, the Majesty of heaven, He whom cherub and shining seraph delighted to adore -humbled Himself to uplift fallen man; that He bore the guilt and shame of sin, and the hiding of His Father's face, till the woes of a lost world broke His heart and crushed out His life on Calvary's cross. That the Maker of all worlds, the Arbiter of all destinies, should lay aside His glory and humiliate Himself from love to man will ever excite the wonder and adoration of the universe. As the nations of the saved look upon their Redeemer and behold the eternal glory of the Father shining in His countenance; as they behold His throne, which is from everlasting to everlasting, and know that His kingdom is to have no end, they break forth in rapturous song: 'Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His own most precious blood!'
"The mystery of the cross explains all other mysteries. In the light that streams from Calvary the attributes of God which had filled us with fear and awe appear beautiful and attractive. Mercy, tenderness, and parental love are seen to blend with holiness, justice, and power. While we behold the majesty of His throne, high and lifted up, we see His character in its gracious manifestations, and comprehend, as never before, the significance of that endearing title, 'Our Father,'
"It will be seen that He who is infinite in wisdom could devise no plan for our salvation except the sacrifice of His Son. The compensation for this sacrifice Is the joy of peopling the earth with ransomed beings, holy, happy, and immortal. The result of the Saviour's conflict with the powers of darkness is joy to the redeemed, redounding to the glory of God throughout eternity. And such is the value of the soul that the Father is satisfied with the price paid; and Christ Himself, beholding the fruits of His great sacrifice, is satisfied." Great Controversy, 651:1652:2,
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THE SENTENCING JUDGMENT
The antitypical day of atonement was the Investigative judgment; It examined the records to see who, among those professedly accepting Christ as their Saviour, should be redeemed. The millennium judgment is the sentencing judgment; It determines how much punishment should be allotted to each person who has been lost. The post-millennial judgment will be the executive judgment; at that time the decisions of the earlier judgments against the wicked will be put into effect.
1 - The sentencing judgment takes place.
"Then I saw thrones, and Jesus and the redeemed saints sat upon them; and the saints reigned as kings and priests unto God. Christ, in union with His people, judged the wicked dead, comparing their acts with the statute book, the Word of God, and deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. Then they meted out to the wicked the portion, which they must suffer, according to their works; and it was written against their names in the book of death. Satan also and his angels were judged by Jesus and the saints. Satan's punishment was to be far greater than that of those whom he had deceived." Early Writings, 290:3-291 :0.
2 - The judgment of the wicked.
"During the thousand years between the first and the second resurrection the judgment of the wicked takes place. . It is at this time that, as foretold by Paul, 'the saints shall judge the world.' 1 Corinthians 6:2. In union with Christ they judge the wicked, comparing their acts with the statute book, the Bible, and deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. Then the portion which the wicked must suffer is meted out, according to their works; and it is recorded against their names in the book of death. Satan also and evil angels are judged by Christ and His people." Great Controversy, 660:4-661:1.
3 - Raised for the executive judgment,
"At the close of the thousand years the second resurrection will take place. Then the wicked will be raised from the dead and appear before God for the execution of 'the judgment written. 'Thus the revelator, after describing the resurrection of the righteous, says: 'The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished,' Revelation 20:5. And Isaiah declares, concerning the wicked: 'They shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut .up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.' Isaiah 24:22." Great Controversy, 661:2.
LAST DAYS APPENDIX
The following material was gleaned from our book of unpublished manuscripts, entitled The Last Days, and Is some of the best material from that volume on topics given in this section.
SECOND COMING
The Special Resurrection. "The sound of music is heard, and as it nears, the graves are opened, and the dead are raised, and there are thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand of angels that compose that glory and encircle the Son of man. Those who have acted the most prominent part in the rejection of Christ come forth to see Him as He is, and those who have rejected Christ come up to see the saints glorified, and it is at that time that the saints are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and are caught up to meet their Lord in the air. The very ones who placed upon Him the purple robe and put the crown of thorns upon His brow, and those who put the nails through His hands and feet, look upon Him and wail. .
"When Christ comes to gather to Himself those who have been faithful, the last trump will sound, and the whole earth, from the summits of the loftiest mountains to the lowest recesses of the deepest mines will hear. The righteous dead will hear the sound of the trump, and will come forth from their graves to be clothed with immortality and to meet their Lord." Special Testimonies B, 24:02.
RESURRECTION
The Work does Not Cease In this Life. "Your work, my work, will not cease with this life. For a little while we may rest in the grave, but when the call comes, we shall take up our work in the kingdom of God to advance the glory of Christ. But this holy work must be begun upon earth." Manuscript 48, 1899, p. 7. ("Work in Christ's Lines, "March 29, 1899). [See also: OHC 107.]
TRANSLATlON
Then Gifted with a Higher Nature. "When Christ comes, He takes those who have purified their souls by obeying the truth. . This mortal shall put on immortality, and these corruptible bodies, subject to disease, will be changed from mortal to immortal. We shall then be gifted with a higher nature. The bodies of all who purify their souls by obeying the truth shall be glorified. They have fully received and believed in Jesus Christ. "Manuscript 96, March 24, 1906, p. 9.
ON THE SEA OF GLASS
Precious Souls Will Respond. "When the redeemed stand before the throne of God to answer to their names, there will be precious souls there who will respond because of the faithful, patient efforts made in their behalf, the entreaties and urgent persuasions to flee to the stronghold. Thus those who are laborers together with God will receive their reward." Letter 74, 1900, pp. 8.9. (To J.H. Kellogg, May 20, 1900).
THE ASCENSION AND MILLENNIUM
POST-ASCENSION EVENTS ON EARTH
In the previous study, we viewed events at the time of the Second Advent, as they relate primarily to the redeemed-but also to the wicked. Those are the pre-ascension events, which occur at the time of Christ's second coming, before Jesus and the redeemed begin their journey to heaven.
In the present study, we will view (1) the post-ascension events on earth, which is the death of the living wicked, and the binding of Satan to this planet for a thousand years; and (2) the post-ascension events of the redeemed; which Includes their journey to heaven, their coronation and entrance into the Holy City, and the sentencing judgment.
- 1 -
ALL THE WICKED HAVE MADE THEIR DECISIONS IN THE GREAT CONTROVERSY
1 - Now the controversy is with man, as well as with angels.
“ 'A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, He will plead with all flesh; He will give them that are wicked to the sword.' Jeremiah 25:31. For six thousand years the great controversy has been In progress; the Son of God and His heavenly messengers have been in conflict with the power of the evil one, to warn, enlighten, and save the children of men. Now all have made their decisions; the wicked have fully united with Satan in his warfare against God. The time has come for God to vindicate the authority at His downtrodden law. Now the controversy is not alone with Satan, but with men. 'The Lord hath a controversy with the nations"; He will give them that are wicked to the sword.' " Great Controversy, 656:1.
-2 - THOSE WITH THE SLAUGHTERING WEAPONS GO FORTH
1 - The work of destruction begins with the spiritual guardians.
"The mark of deliverance has been set upon those 'that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done.' Now the angel of death goes forth, represented in Ezekiel’s vision by the men with the slaughtering weapons, to whom the command is given: 'Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary,' Says the prophet: 'They began at the ancient men which were before the house.' Ezekiel 9:1-6, The work of destruction begins among those who have professed to be the spiritual guardians of the people. The false watchmen are the first to fall. There are none to pity or to spare, Men, women, maidens, and little children perish together." Great Controversy. 656:2.
Note: Contrary to errors being taught, the fulfillment of the Ezekiel 9 slaughter occurs not at the sealing—but here at the second coming of Christ.
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STRIFE BY MEN AND WRATH FROM GOD WILL SLAY THE WICKED
1 - All the wicked are slain.
" 'The Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants at the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.' Isaiah 26:21. 'And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor.' Zechariah 14:12-13. In the mad strife of their own fierce passions, and by the awful outpouring of God's unmingled wrath, fall the wicked Inhabitants of the earth -priests, rulers, and people, rich and poor, high and low. 'And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried.' Jeremiah 25:33.
"At the coming of Christ the wicked are blotted from the face of the whole earth consumed with the spirit of His mouth and destroyed by the brightness of His glory." Great Controversy, 657:1.
2 - Identified with sin, the wicked die with it.
"To sin, wherever found, 'our God is a consuming fire' (Hebrews 12:29), in all who submit to His power the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men cling to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy them." Desire of Ages, 107:4.
3 - Slain by His glory.
"The glory of His countenance, which to the righteous is life, will be to the wicked a consuming fire." Desire of Ages, 600:2.
4 - Their death is an act of mercy.
"Could those whose hearts are filled with hatred of God, of truth and holiness, mingle with the heavenly throng and Join their songs of praise? Could they endure the glory of God and the Lamb? No, no; years of probation were granted them, that they might form characters for heaven; but they have never trained the mind to love purity; they have never learned the language of heaven, and now it is too late. A life of rebellion against God has unfitted them for heaven. Its purity, holiness, and peace would be torture to them; the glory of God would be a consuming fire. They would long to flee from that holy place. They would welcome destruction, that they might be hidden from the face of Him who died to redeem them. The destiny of the wicked is fixed by their own choice. Their exclusion from heaven is voluntary with themselves, and just and merciful on the part of God." Great Controversy, 542:2-543:0.
5 - They are responsible for their own deaths.
"God destroys no one. The sinner destroys himself by his own impenitence." 5 Testimonies, 120:1. Also see The Great Controversy, 25-97.
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AN INCREDIBLY IMMENSE DESTRUCTION OCCURS
Several years ago, the present writer compiled a large number of quotations dealing with the terrible storm of wrath predicted by the third angel's message (Revelation 14:9-11). As wickedness Increased, this wrath would gradually increase. It would greatly intensify when human probation closed, fall on men again at the Second Advent, and, again, in the final judgment after the third advent. At the second advent, for example, fire will fall from heaven and erupt from the earth, destroying the wicked.
For more Information on this, see our 10 part tract set, The Terrible Storm, now In section 2 of our Offshoots Tractbook. The objective of the lengthy study was to establish from the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy that God will slay the incorrigibly wicked, and has at times done so in the past.
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THE EARTH IS LEFT UNINHABITED AND DESOLATE
1 - The earth is a desolate wilderness.
"Christ takes His people to the City of God, and the earth Is emptied of Its Inhabitants. . The whole earth appears like a desolate wilderness. The ruins of cities and villages destroyed by the earthquake, uprooted trees, ragged rocks thrown out by the sea or torn out of the earth itself, are scattered over its surface, while vast caverns mark the spot where the mountains have been rent from their foundations." Great Controversy, 657:1-2.
"The earth looked like a desolate wilderness. Cities and villages, shaken down by the earthquake, lay in heaps. Mountains had been moved out of their places, leaving large caverns. Ragged rocks, thrown out by the sea, or torn out of the earth itself, were scattered all over its surface. Large trees had been uprooted and were strewn over the land. Here is to be the home of Satan with his evil angels for a thousand years.” Early Writings, 290:1.
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SINS ARE ROLLED BACK ON SATAN
1 - The scapegoat transaction occurs.
“Now the event takes place foreshadowed in the last solemn service of the Day of Atonement. When the ministration in the holy of holies had been completed, and the sins of Israel had been removed from the sanctuary by virtue of the blood of the sin offering, then the scapegoat was presented alive before the Lord; and in the presence of the congregation the high priest confessed over him 'all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat.' Leviticus 16:21. In like manner when the work of atonement in the heavenly sanctuary has been completed, then in the presence of God and heavenly angels and the host of the redeemed the sins of God's people will be placed upon Satan; he will be declared guilty of all the evil which he has caused them to commit. And as the scapegoat was sent away into a land not inhabited, so Satan will be banished to the desolate earth, an uninhabited and dreary wilderness." Great Controversy, 658:1.
2 - Satan bears the final penalty.
"When Christ, by virtue of His own blood, removes the sins of His people from the heavenly sanctuary at the close of His ministration, He will place them upon Satan, who, in the execution of the judgment, must bear the final penalty." Great Controversy, 422:2.
3 - Bearing the guilt of the sin.
"Satan, bearing the guilt of all the sins which he has caused God's people to commit, will be for a thousand years confined to the earth, which will then be desolate, without inhabitant, and he will at last suffer the full penalty of sin in the fires that shall destroy all the wicked." Great Controversy. 485:9-486:0.
-7 - SATAN IS RESTRICTED TO PLANET EARTH FOR 1,000 YEARS
1 - For the first time since sin began, Satan is limited to this planet.
"The revelator foretells the banishment of Satan and the condition of chaos and desolation to which the earth Is to be reduced, and he declares that this condition will exist for a thousand years. After presenting the scenes of the Lord's second coming and the destruction of the wicked, the prophecy continues: 'I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thou sand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.' " Great Controversy, 658:2.
2 . Angels and saints rejoice at his confinement.
"I heard shouts of triumph from the angels and from the redeemed saints, which sounded like ten thousand musical instruments, because they were to be no more annoyed and tempted by Satan and because the inhabitants of other worlds were delivered from his presence and his temptations." Early Writings, 290:2.
3 - Satan will not be able to travel to other worlds.
"Here he (Satan) will be confined, to wander up and down over the broken surface of the earth and see the effects of his rebellion against God's law. For a thousand years he can enjoy the fruit of the curse which he has caused. Limited alone to the earth, he will not have the privilege of ranging to other planets, to tempt and annoy those who have not fallen." Early Writings, 290:1.
Note: Several passages clarify that, although Satan was cast out of the highest heaven at the time of that first war (GC 500:1; PP 42:2), and out of the last sympathies of the angels at the death of Christ (DA 758:1-761:3), he was able to visit other planets until the beginning of the millennium (above quotations). So, in a very special sense, he is finally "bound" to the earth.
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UNABLE TO TEMPT SATAN WILL ONLY HAVE TIME TO THINK
1 - He is limited to the earth.
"Here is to be the home of Satan with his evil angels for a thousand years. Limited to the earth, he will not have access to other worlds to tempt and annoy those who have never fallen. It Is In this sense that he Is bound: there are none remaining. upon whom he can exercise his power. He is wholly cut off from the work of deception and ruin which for so many centuries has been his sole delight." Great Controversy, 659:1.
2 - Even the wicked are beyond his reach.
"Even the wicked are now placed beyond the power of Satan, and alone with his evil angels he remains to realize the effect of the curse which sin has brought." Great Controversy, 660:1.
3 - He fears the future.
"During this time, Satan suffers extremely. Since his fall his evil traits have been in constant exercise. But he is then to be deprived of his power, and left to reflect upon the part which he has acted since his fall, and to look forward with trembling and terror to the dreadful future, when he must suffer for all the evil that he has done and be punished for all the sins that he has caused to be committed." Early Writings, 290:1.
4 . His sufferings are intense.
"For a thousand years, Satan will wander to and fro in the desolate earth to behold the results of his rebellion against the law of God, during this time his sufferings are Intense. Since his fall his life of unceasing activity has banished reflection; but he is now deprived of his power and left to contemplate the part which he has acted since first he rebelled against the government of heaven, and to look forward with trembling and terror to the dreadful future when he must suffer for all the evil that he has done and be punished for the sins that he has caused to be committed." Great Controversy, 660:2.
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POST-ASCENSION EVENTS IN HEAVEN
- 1 -
THE JOURNEY TO THE CITY OF GOD
1 - The meeting in the sky.
"There stands the risen host. The last thought was of death and its pangs. The last thoughts they had were of the grave and the tomb, but now they proclaim, '0 death, where is thy sting? 0 grave, where is thy victory?' . . Here they stand and the finishing touch of immortality is put upon them and they go up to meet their Lord in the air. , There are the columns of angels on either side; . . then the angelic choir strike the note of victory and the angels in the two columns take up the song and the redeemed host join as though they had been singing the song on the earth, and they have been. Oh, what music! There is not an inharmonious note. Every voice proclaims, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.' He sees the travail of His soul, and is satisfied." Sons and Daughters of God, 359:4.
2 - They ascend to the Holy City.
“Friends long separated by death are united, nevermore to part, and with songs of gladness ascend together to the City of God.
"On each side of the cloudy chariot are wings, and beneath it are living wheels; and as the chariot rolls upward, the wheels cry, 'Holy: and the wings, as they move, cry, 'Holy,' and the retinue of angels cry, 'Holy, holy, holy, lord God Almighty.' And the redeemed shout, 'Alleluia" as the chariot moves onward toward the New Jerusalem.” Great Controversy, 645:1-2.
3 - "Homeward Bound!"
"Oh, how glorious it will be to see Him and be welcomed as His redeemed ones! Long have we waited, but our hope is not to grow dim. If we can but see the King In His beauty we shall be forever blessed. I feel as if I must cry aloud, 'Homeward bound!' " 8 Testimonies, 253:1.
4 - The journey takes seven days.
"We all entered the cloud together, and were seven days ascending to the sea of glass." Early Writings, 16:2.
Brother G.B. Starr (1854-1944) worked for many years as an evangelist and church administrator. He worked for a time in Australia, and later reported statements which, he said, Ellen White made to him. But some of his statements do not ring right, when compared with her writings. For that reason, we cannot accept the most startling of them as factual. Perhaps the story about the stop-over planet is true (it would be nice if it were), but we cannot know this with certainty.
(However, it is of Interest that, later in this present section, we will quote a passage which says angels are now preparing crowns for the saints (5T 96). If they are now preparing crowns, they could also be preparing a stopover planet for the seven-day trip to heaven.)
The following quotation by the E.G. White Estate discusses this particular statement by G.B. Starr:
"The report, based on the memory of one individual [Starr], that Ellen G. White stated in a dinner-table conversation that the inhabitants of other worlds are gathering fruit for the Sabbath-day entertainment of the translated saints en route to heaven, is without support, and fanciful. The assertion that the words were stenographically reported is without foundation. Ellen G. White makes only the simple statement in Early Writings, page 16, that 'We were seven days ascending to the sea of glass,' No mention is made by Ellen G. White of the Sabbath spent en route." Apocryphal quotations of E.G. White, statement by E. G. White Estate, E.G. White Index, Vol. 3, p. 3189.
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THE SAINTS' CORONATION ON THE SEA OF GLASS OUTSIDE THE CITY
1 - Sequence: (1) Clothed in glorious white robes, all the saints are standing on the sea of glass outside the City. (2) They are standing in a hollow square, with Jesus in the center, (3) The angels bring crowns from the city, and Jesus personally places a crown on the head of each saint. (4) Each one is satisfied with his crown. (5) The angels bring harps from the city, and Jesus personally hands one to each of His redeemed ones. (6) Then the commanding angel strikes the first note, and other leading angels with him; and all sweep the strings and sing praises to Christ.
"Before entering the City of God, the Saviour bestows upon His followers the emblems of victory and invests them with the insignia of their royal state. The glittering ranks are drawn up in the form of a hollow square about their King, whose form rises in majesty high above saint and angel, whose countenance beams upon them full of benignant love, Throughout the unnumbered host of the redeemed every glance is fixed upon Him, every eye beholds His glory whose 'visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men,' Upon the heads of the overcomers, Jesus with His own right hand places the crown of glory. For each there is a crown, bearing his own 'new name' (Revelation 2: 17), and the inscription, 'Holiness to the Lord.' In every hand are placed the victor's palm and the shining harp. Then, as the commanding angels strike the note, every hand sweeps the harp strings with skillful touch, awaking sweet music in rich, melodious strains. Rapture unutterable thrills every heart, and each voice Is raised In grateful praise: 'Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.' Revelation 1:5, 6," Great Controversy. 645:3-646:0.
“Jesus brought the crowns, and with His own right hand placed them on our heads. He gave us harps of gold and palms of victory. Here on the sea of glass the 144,000 stood in a perfect square. Some of them had very bright crowns, others not so bright. Some crowns appeared heavy with stars, while others had but few. All were perfectly satisfied with their crowns, And they were all clothed with a glorious white mantle from their shoulders to their feet." Early Writings, 16:2-17:0.
"Then I saw a very great number of angels bring from the city glorious crowns -a crown for every saint, with his name written thereon. As Jesus called for the crowns, angels presented them to Him, and with His own right hand, the lovely Jesus placed the crowns on the heads of the saints. In the same manner the angels brought the harps, and Jesus presented them also to the saints. The commanding angel first struck the note, and then every voice was raised in grateful, happy praise, and every hand skillfully swept over the strings of the harp, sending forth melodious music in rich and perfect strains." Early Writings, 288:1.
Note: According to the above statements, all the redeemed-including the 144,000 -are in the hollow square. This agrees with GC 665:2; in which several different groups surround Jesus. Thus the 144,000 can be said to be in the square, and also all the saints can be said to be in that square.
2 - The angels welcome them with singing, "In that day the redeemed will shine forth in the glory of the Father and the Son. The angels, touching their golden harps, will welcome the King and His trophies of victory-those who have been washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb, A song of triumph will peal forth, filling all heaven. Christ has conquered. He enters the heavenly courts, accompanied by His redeemed ones, the witnesses that His mission of suffering and sacrifice has not been in vain." 9 Testimonies, 285:2-286:0.
3 - Angels are now making those crowns. "When the Lord makes up His jewels. the true, the frank, the honest, will be looked upon with pleasure, Angels are employed In making crowns for such ones, and upon these star-gemmed crowns will be reflected, with splendor, the light which radiates from the throne of God." 5 Testimonies, 96:2,
4 - A crown of glory is waiting for us, individually, in heaven.
“A crown of glory. . is laid up for us who wait, and love, and long for the appearing of the Saviour.
" It is the waiting ones who are to be crowned with glory, honor, and immortality. You need not talk to me of the honors of the world, or the praise of its great ones. They are all vanity. Let but the finger of God touch them, and they would soon go back to dust again. I want honor that is lasting, honor that is immortal, honor that will never perish; a crown that is richer than any crown that that ever decked the brow of a monarch. Maranatha 309:3-4.
5 - Soon we will receive those crowns.
"Talk of heavenly things, Talk of Jesus, His loveliness and glory, and of His undying love for you, and let your heart flow out in love and gratitude to Him, who died to save you. Oh, get ready to meet your Lord in peace. Those who are ready will soon receive an unfading crown of life, and will dwell forever in the kingdom of God,' with Christ, with angels, and with those who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ." Sons and Daughters of God, 362:2.
6 - Receiving their crowns, many will thank their mothers.
“The day of God will reveal how much the world owes to godly mothers. . When the judgment shall sit, and the books shall be opened; when the 'well done' of the great Judge is pronounced, and the crown of immortal glory is placed upon the brow of the victor, many will raise their crowns in sight of the assembled universe, and pointing to their mother say: 'She made me all am through the grace of God. Her instruction, her prayers, have been blessed to my eternal salvation." Maranatha, 308:2-3.
7 - Parents will see their children crowned.
"With joy unutterable, parents see the crown, the robe, the harp, given to their children. The days of hope and fear are ended. The seed sown with tears and prayers may have seemed to be sown in vain, but their harvest is reaped with joy at last. Their children have been redeemed." Maranatha, 308:1.
8 - Christ will rejoice as He beholds the redeemed.
"In the results of His work Christ will behold its recompense. In that great multitude which no man could number, presented 'faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.' He whose blood has redeemed and whose life has taught us 'shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied.' " Education, 309:3.
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JESUS OPENS THE GATES AND LEADS HIS FAITHFUL ONES INTO THE CITY
1. Sequence: (1) The entire company march across the sea of glass to the City. (2) Jesus opens the gates and tells them, "You have washed your robes in My blood, stood stiffly for My truth; enter in." (3) Jesus leads them into the City, and they feel they have a perfect right to be there. (4) Within the City, they behold Adam's original home-the Garden of Eden. (5) Then Jesus says, "Your conflict is ended; come, ye blessed of My Father. . "
"Angels were all about us as we marched over the sea of glass to the gate of the city. Jesus raised His mighty, glorious arm, laid hold of the pearly gate, swung it back on its glittering hinges, and said to us, 'You have washed your robes in My blood, stood stiffly for My truth, enter in.' We all marched in and felt that we had a perfect right in the city." Early Writings, 17:0.
"Jesus threw open the gates of the golden city and led us in. Here we were made welcome, for we had kept the 'commandments of God,' and had a 'right to the tree of life.' “ Early Writings, 35:1.
“Before the ransomed throng Is the Holy City. Jesus opens wide the pearly gates, and the nations that have kept the truth enter in. There they behold the Paradise of God, the home of Adam in his innocency. Then that voice, richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, is heard, saying: 'Your conflict is ended.' 'Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.' " Great Controversy, 646:1.
"A voice, richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, will be heard saying, 'Come, ye blessed of My Father, Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'” Counsels on Stewardship, 950:2.
Note: As quoted above, In EW 35 it is called "a gate," but "gates" In the other (later) passages. This was either an initial memory lapse (In recounting her first vision) or a typographical error. But it is also an evidence of how exactly her writings were later printed and reprinted.
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A VIEW OF THE CITY
1 - Jesus enters the city triumphally with His followers. Everything within the city is beautiful and lovely, and, In thankfulness, the redeemed cast their crowns at the feet of Jesus and sing praises to Him.
"Within the city there was everything to feast the eye. Rich glory they beheld everywhere. Then Jesus looked upon His redeemed saints; their countenances were radiant with glory; and as He fixed His loving eyes upon them, He said with His rich, musical voice, ‘I behold the travail of My soul, and am satisfied. This rich glory is yours to enjoy eternally. Your sorrows are ended. There shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.' I saw the redeemed host bow and cast their glittering crowns at the feet of Jesus, and then, as His lovely hand raised them up. they touched their golden harps and filled all heaven with their rich music and songs to the Lamb." Early Writings, 288:1-289:0.
Here is another view of the city; this one 2,000 years earlier, when Christ previously entered it triumphally just after His ascension:
"Then the portals of the city of God are opened wide, and the angelic throng sweep through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music.
"There is the throne, and around it the rainbow of promise. There are cherubim and seraphim. The commanders of the angel hosts, the sons of God, the representatives of the unfallen worlds, are assembled. The heavenly council before which Lucifer had accused God and His Son.. the representatives of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought to establish his dominion, -all are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to celebrate His triumph and to glorify their King." Desire of Ages, 833: 11-834:1.
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THE TWO ADAMS MEET
1 - Adam falls at the feet of Christ.
"As the ransomed ones are welcomed to the City of God, there rings out upon the air an exultant cry of adoration. The two Adams are about to meet. The Son of God is standing with outstretched arms to receive the father of our race -the being whom He created, who sinned against his Maker, and for whose sin the marks of the crucifixion are borne upon the Saviour's form. As Adam discerns the prints of the cruel nails, he does not fall upon the bosom of his Lord, but in humiliation casts himself at His feet, crying: 'Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain!'
Tenderly the Saviour lifts him up and bids him look once more upon the Eden home from which he has so long been exiled." Great Controversy, 647:2.
- 6 - ADAM VIEWS THE GARDEN OF EDEN
1 - In Eden, Adam and his family worship and praise Christ.
"Transported with joy, he [Adam} beholds the trees that were once his delight—the very trees whose fruit he himself had gathered in the days of his innocence and joy. He sees the vines that his own hands have trained, the very flowers that he once loved to care for. His mind grasps the reality of the scene; he comprehends that this is indeed Eden restored, more lovely now than when he was banished from it. The Saviour leads him to the tree of life and plucks the glorious fruit and bids him eat. He looks about him and beholds a multitude of his family redeemed, standing in the Paradise of God. Then he casts his glittering crown at the feet of Jesus and, falling upon His breast, embraces the Redeemer. He touches the golden harp, and the vaults of heaven echo the triumphant song: "Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and lives again!" The family of Adam take up the strain and cast their crowns at the Saviour's feet as they bow before Him in adoration." Great Controversy, 648:1.
-7- THE REDEEMED SEE THE TREE AND THE THRONE
1 - A view of the tree of life.
"Here we saw the tree of life and the throne of God. Out of the throne came a pure river of water, and on either side of the river was the tree of life. On one side of the river was a trunk of a tree, and a trunk on the other side of the river, both of pure, transparent gold. At first I thought I saw two trees. I looked again, and saw that they were united at the top in one tree. So it was the tree of life on either side of the river of life. Its branches bowed to the place where we stood, and the fruit was glorious; it looked like gold mixed with silver." Early Writings, 17:1.
2 - Partaking of the tree, and viewing the throne.
"I then saw Jesus leading His people to the tree of life, and again we heard His lovely voice, richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, saying, . The leaves of this tree are for the healing of the nations. Eat ye all of it.' Upon the tree of life was most beautiful fruit, of which the saints could partake freely. In the city was a most glorious throne, from which proceeded a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal. On each side of this river was the tree of life, and on the banks of the river were other beautiful trees bearing fruit which was good for food.
"Language is altogether too feeble to attempt a description of heaven. As the scene rises before me, I am lost in amazement. Carried away with the surpassing splendor and excellent glory, I lay down the pen, and exclaim, 'Oh, what love! what wondrous love!' The most exalted language fails to describe the glory of heaven or the matchless depths of a Saviour's love." Early Writings, 289: 1-2,
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THE 144,000 SING A NEW SONG ON THE CRYSTAL SEA BEFORE THE THRONE
1 - The 144,000 are frequently mentioned in Early Writings, and less often in Great Controversy. But in one paragraph we are given several identifying features of this group: (1) They had gotten the victory over the beast, his image, and his name (2) They were translated from among the living at the second advent, and therefore are first fruits. (3) They came out of great tribulation, for they passed through the time of trouble. (4) They went through Jacob's trouble. (5) They stood without an intercessor after the close of probation. (6) They were without fault before God.
"Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it were mingled with fire,—so resplendent is it with the glory of God,—are gathered the company that have 'gotten the victory over the beast, and over his Image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.' With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, 'having the harps of God,' they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, 'the voice of harpers harping with their harps.' And they sing 'a new song' before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb-a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience an experience such as no other company have ever had. 'These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.' These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as 'the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.' Revelation 15:2,3; 14:1-5. 'These are they which came out of great tribulation;' they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob's trouble; they have stood without an Intercessor through the final outpouring of God's judgments. But they have been delivered, for they have 'washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.' 'In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault' before God." Great Controversy, 648:3-649:0.
- 9 - THE REDEEMED MEET THEIR GUARDIAN ANGELS
1 - Each person's guardian angel will meet him in the resurrection, and will later tell him about God's guidance and care in his life.
"Not until the providences of God are seen in the light of eternity shall we understand what we owe to the care and interposition of His angels. Celestial beings have taken an active part in the affairs of men. They have appeared in garments that shone as the lightning; they have come as men, in the garb of wayfarers. They have accepted the hospitalities of human homes; they have acted as guides to benighted travelers. They have thwarted the spoiler's purpose, and turned aside the stroke of the destroyer. .
"Every redeemed one will understand the ministry of angels in his own life. The angel who was his guardian from his earliest moment; the angel who watched his steps, and covered his head in the day of peril; the angel who was with him in the valley of the shadow of death, who marked his resting place, who was the first to greet him in the resurrection morning, -what will it be to hold converse with him, and to learn the history of divine interposition in the individual life, of heavenly cooperation in every work for humanity!" Education 304:4-305:2.
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THE DAYS OF PAIN AND WEEPING ARE FOREVER ENDED
1 - Every cause of grief has been removed.
“Henceforth they are to be ever with the Lord. They stand before the throne clad in richer robes than the most honored of the earth have ever worn. They are crowned with diadems more glorious than were ever placed upon the brow of earthly monarchs. The days of pain and weeping are forever ended. The King of glory has wiped the tears from all faces; every cause of grief has been removed. Amid the waving of palm branches they pour forth a song of praise, clear, sweet, and harmonious; every voice takes up the strain, until the anthem swells through the vaults of heaven: 'Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.' And all the inhabitants of heaven respond in the ascription: 'Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.' Revelation 7:10, 12." Great Controversy, 650:1-651:0.
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THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLAN OF SALVATION WILL ENLARGE FOREVER
1 - Throughout eternal ages the redeemed will ever be learning more about what it cost to save them.
"In this life we can only begin to understand the wonderful theme of redemption. With our finite comprehension we may consider most earnestly the shame and the glory, the life and the death, the justice and the mercy, that meet in the cross; yet with the utmost stretch of our mental powers we fail to grasp its full significance. The length and the breadth, the depth and the height, of redeeming love are but dimly comprehended. The plan of redemption will not be fully understood, even when the ransomed see as they are seen and know as they are known: but through the eternal ages new truth will continually unfold to the wondering and delighted mind. Though the griefs and pains and temptations of earth are ended and the cause removed, the people of God will ever have a distinct, intelligent knowledge of what their salvation has cost.
"The cross of Christ will be the science and the song of the redeemed through all eternity. In Christ glorified they will behold Christ crucified. Never will it be forgotten that He whose power created and upheld the unnumbered worlds through the vast realms of space, the Beloved of God, the Majesty of heaven, He whom cherub and shining seraph delighted to adore -humbled Himself to uplift fallen man; that He bore the guilt and shame of sin, and the hiding of His Father's face, till the woes of a lost world broke His heart and crushed out His life on Calvary's cross. That the Maker of all worlds, the Arbiter of all destinies, should lay aside His glory and humiliate Himself from love to man will ever excite the wonder and adoration of the universe. As the nations of the saved look upon their Redeemer and behold the eternal glory of the Father shining in His countenance; as they behold His throne, which is from everlasting to everlasting, and know that His kingdom is to have no end, they break forth in rapturous song: 'Worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by His own most precious blood!'
"The mystery of the cross explains all other mysteries. In the light that streams from Calvary the attributes of God which had filled us with fear and awe appear beautiful and attractive. Mercy, tenderness, and parental love are seen to blend with holiness, justice, and power. While we behold the majesty of His throne, high and lifted up, we see His character in its gracious manifestations, and comprehend, as never before, the significance of that endearing title, 'Our Father,'
"It will be seen that He who is infinite in wisdom could devise no plan for our salvation except the sacrifice of His Son. The compensation for this sacrifice Is the joy of peopling the earth with ransomed beings, holy, happy, and immortal. The result of the Saviour's conflict with the powers of darkness is joy to the redeemed, redounding to the glory of God throughout eternity. And such is the value of the soul that the Father is satisfied with the price paid; and Christ Himself, beholding the fruits of His great sacrifice, is satisfied." Great Controversy, 651:1652:2,
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THE SENTENCING JUDGMENT
The antitypical day of atonement was the Investigative judgment; It examined the records to see who, among those professedly accepting Christ as their Saviour, should be redeemed. The millennium judgment is the sentencing judgment; It determines how much punishment should be allotted to each person who has been lost. The post-millennial judgment will be the executive judgment; at that time the decisions of the earlier judgments against the wicked will be put into effect.
1 - The sentencing judgment takes place.
"Then I saw thrones, and Jesus and the redeemed saints sat upon them; and the saints reigned as kings and priests unto God. Christ, in union with His people, judged the wicked dead, comparing their acts with the statute book, the Word of God, and deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. Then they meted out to the wicked the portion, which they must suffer, according to their works; and it was written against their names in the book of death. Satan also and his angels were judged by Jesus and the saints. Satan's punishment was to be far greater than that of those whom he had deceived." Early Writings, 290:3-291 :0.
2 - The judgment of the wicked.
"During the thousand years between the first and the second resurrection the judgment of the wicked takes place. . It is at this time that, as foretold by Paul, 'the saints shall judge the world.' 1 Corinthians 6:2. In union with Christ they judge the wicked, comparing their acts with the statute book, the Bible, and deciding every case according to the deeds done in the body. Then the portion which the wicked must suffer is meted out, according to their works; and it is recorded against their names in the book of death. Satan also and evil angels are judged by Christ and His people." Great Controversy, 660:4-661:1.
3 - Raised for the executive judgment,
"At the close of the thousand years the second resurrection will take place. Then the wicked will be raised from the dead and appear before God for the execution of 'the judgment written. 'Thus the revelator, after describing the resurrection of the righteous, says: 'The rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished,' Revelation 20:5. And Isaiah declares, concerning the wicked: 'They shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut .up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.' Isaiah 24:22." Great Controversy, 661:2.
LAST DAYS APPENDIX
The following material was gleaned from our book of unpublished manuscripts, entitled The Last Days, and Is some of the best material from that volume on topics given in this section.
SECOND COMING
The Special Resurrection. "The sound of music is heard, and as it nears, the graves are opened, and the dead are raised, and there are thousands of thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand of angels that compose that glory and encircle the Son of man. Those who have acted the most prominent part in the rejection of Christ come forth to see Him as He is, and those who have rejected Christ come up to see the saints glorified, and it is at that time that the saints are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and are caught up to meet their Lord in the air. The very ones who placed upon Him the purple robe and put the crown of thorns upon His brow, and those who put the nails through His hands and feet, look upon Him and wail. .
"When Christ comes to gather to Himself those who have been faithful, the last trump will sound, and the whole earth, from the summits of the loftiest mountains to the lowest recesses of the deepest mines will hear. The righteous dead will hear the sound of the trump, and will come forth from their graves to be clothed with immortality and to meet their Lord." Special Testimonies B, 24:02.
RESURRECTION
The Work does Not Cease In this Life. "Your work, my work, will not cease with this life. For a little while we may rest in the grave, but when the call comes, we shall take up our work in the kingdom of God to advance the glory of Christ. But this holy work must be begun upon earth." Manuscript 48, 1899, p. 7. ("Work in Christ's Lines, "March 29, 1899). [See also: OHC 107.]
TRANSLATlON
Then Gifted with a Higher Nature. "When Christ comes, He takes those who have purified their souls by obeying the truth. . This mortal shall put on immortality, and these corruptible bodies, subject to disease, will be changed from mortal to immortal. We shall then be gifted with a higher nature. The bodies of all who purify their souls by obeying the truth shall be glorified. They have fully received and believed in Jesus Christ. "Manuscript 96, March 24, 1906, p. 9.
ON THE SEA OF GLASS
Precious Souls Will Respond. "When the redeemed stand before the throne of God to answer to their names, there will be precious souls there who will respond because of the faithful, patient efforts made in their behalf, the entreaties and urgent persuasions to flee to the stronghold. Thus those who are laborers together with God will receive their reward." Letter 74, 1900, pp. 8.9. (To J.H. Kellogg, May 20, 1900).
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