Today marks a very solemn day in the events of Christian's calender.In 22 October 1844,Christ entered into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to begin His work as a High Priest.The Old Testatement gives an overview of the work of the High Priest.In the earthy sanctuary,the High Priest,on the day of atonement (Leviticus 16) would cleanse the sanctuary,that is,cleanse it from sin by offering a sacrifice for his sins and that of his family,and then confess the sins of the church on a goat (I think) and would then have to kill it.All this was pointing to what Jesus was going to do.He became the sacrificial lamb,carrying our sins that we may be free from its bondage.
Jesus,after his resurrection went to the heavenly sanctuary into the first compartment.But when the 2300 days ended (457 B.C-1844),he entered into the 2nd compartment.His work which involves being a judge.When we confess our sins,our sins are blotted out from the books of heaven.Because of his death and his righteous life,we're forgiven.Daniel 7:9-10 gives a picture.
So,in heaven right now,since 1844,Investigative judgement started.That is,everything we do undergoes judgement and it decides whether we'll receive eternal life or not.We are saved by faith in Christ BUT we are judged by our works and they are a deciding factor of whether we receive eternal or not.That is a subject for another day-investigative judgement.In Scripture,we're often told that Jesus is coming and he will reward all according to all they've done and in other parts of the Scriptures we're reminded that "every word,act,thought" is judged and we are to give account for it.So,judgement is NOT something of the future BUT it is happening right now.How can Christ come to reward everyone according to their deeds (Revelation 22:12),when judgement hasn't even begun?
For a further study on the issue of investigative judgement,do read here.
"We are now living in
the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making
the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by
repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from
among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in
the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation,
afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There
must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged
by so many professed Christians must be put away. There is earnest warfare
before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery.
The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The
purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in
another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will
examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if
there were not another being upon the earth. Everyone must be tested and found
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.
Solemn are the scenes
connected with the closing work of the atonement. Momentous are the interests
involved therein. The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. For many
years this work has been in progress. Soon--none know how soon--it will pass to
the cases of the living. In the awful presence of God our lives are to come up
in review. At this time above all others it behooves every soul to heed the
Saviour's admonition: "Watch and pray: for ye know not when the time
is." Mark 13:33. "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on
thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee."
Revelation 3:3.
When the work of the
investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life
or death. Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in
the clouds of heaven. Christ in the Revelation, looking forward to that time,
declares: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is
filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous let him be righteous
still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly;
and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall
be." Revelation 22:11, 12.
The righteous and the
wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state--men will be
planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final,
irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above. Before the
Flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in and shut the ungodly out;
but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued
their careless, pleasure-loving life and mocked the warnings of impending
judgment. "So," says the Saviour, "shall also the coming of the
Son of man be." Matthew 24:39. Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief,
will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man's destiny, the
final withdrawal of mercy's offer to guilty men.
"Watch ye
therefore: . . . lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping." Mark 13:35,
36. Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn
to the attractions of the world. While the man of business is absorbed in the
pursuit of gain, while the pleasure lover is seeking indulgence, while the
daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments--it may be in that hour the
Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence: "Thou art weighed in
the balances, and art found wanting." Daniel 5:27. “~GC,p486-491
We have no time to lose.We need to make right with God:
“Sins that have not
been repented of and forsaken will not be pardoned and blotted out of the books
of record, but will stand to witness against the sinner in the day of God. He
may have committed his evil deeds in the light of day or in the darkness of night;
but they were open and manifest before Him with whom we have to do. Angels of
God witnessed each sin and registered it in the unerring records. Sin may be
concealed, denied, covered up from father, mother, wife, children, and
associates; no one but the guilty actors may cherish the least suspicion of the
wrong; but it is laid bare before the intelligences of heaven. The darkness of
the darkest night, the secrecy of all deceptive arts, is not sufficient to veil
one thought from the knowledge of the Eternal. God has an exact record of every
unjust account and every unfair dealing. He is not deceived by appearances of
piety. He makes no mistakes in His estimation of character. Men may be deceived
by those who are corrupt in heart, but God pierces all disguises and reads the
inner life.
How solemn is the
thought! Day after day, passing into eternity, bears its burden of records for
the books of heaven. Words once spoken, deeds once done, can never be recalled.
Angels have registered both the good and the evil. The mightiest conqueror upon
the earth cannot call back the record of even a single day. Our acts, our
words, even our most secret motives, all have their weight in deciding our
destiny for weal or woe. Though they may be forgotten by us, they will bear
their testimony to justify or condemn."-GC,P486-487
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