Preparation for the End by Arthur G. Daniells

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 12, 1914

Preparation for the End

By Arthur G. Daniells

(Reading for Sabbath, December 12)

Preparation for the End

A. G. DANIELLS

“REPENT ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matt. 3: 2. This is the statement with which John the Baptist began his message, as the herald and forerunner of Christ at his first advent. It is also the message proclaimed by Jesus as he entered upon his public ministry among men. Matt. 4: 17.

That message was full of meaning to the generation then living. An important prophetic period had terminated, a great event had transpired, a new era had begun. Compared with former events in the history of the church, such as the announcement of the gospel of the kingdom to Adam, the destruction of the world by a flood in Noah’s day, the Exodus of Israel from Egypt under Moses, and the Babylonian captivity in Daniel’s time, the kingdom of God was, as John declared, truly at hand. Hence the call to repentance and amendment of life necessary to enter that kingdom. It will be helpful to review, briefly, the time and

events upon which John the Baptist based his message, and compare them with our time and the events now taking place.

The Time

John began the proclamation of the message, “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” at the close of the prophetic period of 483 years. That was the first part of that long line of prophecy covering 2,300 years as recorded and explained in the prophecy of the eighth and ninth chapters of Daniel. The beginning of this prophetic time was to date from the “going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem.” Dan. 9: 25. This commandment consisted of three decrees, issued by Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, respectively. Ezra 6: 14. The last decree was given by Artaxerxes 457 B. C. Ezra 7: 12-28. In 483 years from that date Christ, the Messiah, was to be baptized and enter upon his ministry. Four hundred and eighty-three years from 457 B. C. reach to A. D. 27. In that year Jesus came from “Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.” Matt. 3: 13. As John saw him coming, he said to the people, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1: 29. The “fulness of time” had come, Jesus was in their midst, the kingdom of heaven was at hand.

A Great Event

The presence of the Son of God as a man among men in this world, was a great event—the greatest since creation. It was that event of which patriarchs and prophets had prophesied with joyful hearts, and to which they had all looked with longing eyes. He had come to live and die for the world. By his death salvation would be made possible for every sinner. “Upon him who had laid off his glory, and accepted the weakness of humanity, the redemption of the world must rest. He saw and felt it all, but his purpose remained steadfast. Upon his arm depended the salvation of the fallen race, and he reached out his hand to grasp the hand of the Omnipotent.” He was victorious. At the close of his triumphant life he said to his Father, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” And at the last, when expiring on the cross, Jesus cried, “It is finished.” He knew that the “destruction of sin and Satan was forever made certain, that the redemption of man was assured, and that the universe was made eternally secure.” Truly this was the greatest event that had ever taken place among men.

A New Era

It was the beginning of a new era to both the church and the world. The advent of Christ brought a fuller revelation of God’s purpose as set forth in the gospel. It gave the church a larger vision and a wider field of service. It was then that the church of Christ received the command, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” The impetus given the church at that time has resulted in the world-wide missionary movement of today.

When the gospel was first revealed to man, it was made plain that the Son of God must come to this world and give his life a sacrifice for sinners. His coming, after four thousand years of looking and waiting by his people, was, indeed, the beginning of a new era. It brought the kingdom of heaven nearer to his people than it had ever seemed to them before. Now they felt that they could almost see the end.

Our Time

The first advent of Christ, which took place at the close of the 483 years, was but one of a number of events set forth and connected together by that long prophetic period covering two thousand three hundred years. The last event of that period is given as follows: “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” The prophecy began, as already shown, 457 B. C. The first 483 years of the time ended in A. D. 27, when Christ was baptized. Taking 483 years from 2,300, we have left 1,817. Adding these to A. D. 27, we are brought to A. D. 1844. “Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Thus we are brought by this long line of prophecy to our day and generation for the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary.

Just what the cleansing of the sanctuary signifies may be learned by a careful study of the earthly sanctuary and its services, as set forth in the books of Exodus and Leviticus. The sixteenth chapter of Leviticus contains the instruction given to the priests for the cleansing of the sanctuary. This service was to be performed on the tenth day of the seventh month. Lev. 16: 29. That day was named the day of atonement. Lev. 23: 27, 28. The atonement was made because of the “uncleanness of the children of Israel.” Lev. 16: 19. It was also to cleanse the people: “For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.” Verse 30. This was done by the act of the priest in laying his hands on the head of the scapegoat and confessing “over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins,” and taking this goat, laden with the sins of the people, “unto a land not inhabited.” Verses 21, 22. Thus the sanctuary was cleansed from the sins of the people that had been transferred, or borne, into it by the daily ministry of the priest.

But the earthly sanctuary with all its service was typical of the heavenly sanctuary and its service. There Christ, our High Priest, ministers his life for the world. There he bears the sins of all who come to him seeking forgiveness and cleansing. That sanctuary will be cleansed in the antitypical day of atonement. Then the great High Priest of the heavenly sanctuary, who bears the sins of all who accept him as their Saviour and remain steadfast to the end, will lay these sins on Satan, the antitype of the scapegoat. Satan’s destruction will be the end of those sins.

Thus the sanctuary will be cleansed. It is evident that the cleansing of the sanctuary involves a work of judgment. Only the sins of those who accept Christ are transferred to him in the sanctuary. Therefore only those sins can be removed from the sanctuary. For this reason complete and final atonement can be made for those only who yield themselves wholly to the Saviour, giving to him their sins, and receiving in their place his perfect righteousness.

This is where the work of judgment so definitely set forth in the Scriptures comes in. Whose sins shall be removed from the sanctuary and blotted out, must be determined by the record found in the books. The investigation and decision and execution constitute the judgment. Hence the atonement, the cleansing of the sanctuary, and the judgment are inseparably connected, if not practically one. They begin at the same time, namely, at the close of the 2,300 years in 1844, but the exact time when this judgment work ceases in heaven is not made known. This time when Jesus

is to receive the kingdom, the Father keeps in his own power. See Acts 1: 6, 7. When this work is finished, Christ will close his work as priest and begin his glorious reign as king. His death on the cross at his first advent laid the foundation for the establishment of his kingdom. This made salvation possible to all men. The cleansing of the sanctuary closes the ministry of Christ for the salvation of men. It is then that he receives the kingdom from his Father and begins his eternal reign. The judgment and the giving of the kingdom to Christ are inseparably connected, as will be seen by the following statement:—

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”

“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Dan. 7: 9, 10, 13, 14.

This is the kingdom promised by the angel Gabriel when he said to Mary:—

“Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1: 30-33.

When this promise is fulfilled, then will be fulfilled also the following: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.” Rev. 11: 15.

The two events surpassing all others foretold in the prophecies are the first advent of Christ and his return as king to establish his everlasting kingdom. At the first advent the message was given, “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The time that has elapsed and the events that have transpired since the first advent have brought the kingdom of heaven much nearer than it was when John proclaimed it near. That message must, therefore, be correspondingly more applicable and full of meaning today than in John’s day. If men needed the message of John and Jesus then, how much more do we need it today!

Repentance implies sin, for it is sin that the Word of God everywhere commands men to repent of. In his last interview with his disciples Jesus told them that after his departure “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24: 47. In the first public meeting held by the disciples after their Lord had left them, they called the people to repentance. Said Peter, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2: 38. Repent of sin, that there may be forgiveness of sin. Again: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3: 19. Repent of sin, that sin may be blotted out.

In exhorting the people to repent, John the Baptist explained the nature of true repentance and its results. Said he, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance.” To the publicans, or tax-gatherers, he said, “Exact no more than that which is appointed you.” To the soldiers, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” Luke 3: 8, 13, 14.

From all these statements it is plain that repentance lies at the very beginning of true Christian experience. It is genuine sorrow for the sins of our lives, which have injured us and others, and grieved and dishonored our Lord. It is sorrow that leads to the confession and renunciation of sin. And more still, it is sorrow that leads to amendment of life, to the bearing of the fruits of righteousness. It leads to honesty in all the relationships of life toward both God and man.

Writing to the Corinthians the apostle Paul says: “Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” 2 Cor. 7: 10, 11.

This kind of sorrow for sin is greatly lacking in the church today just at the time when it is most essential. We are living in the very last days of the great day of atonement. Our High Priest is about to leave the most holy apartment of the sanctuary, where he has ministered for so many years, a full generation, or seventy years, for the cleansing away of sin. Only those sins, it must be remembered, that are repented of, confessed, and renounced can be transferred to Satan to forever perish with him. Thus these days of lingering probation are very precious indeed.

Of all the people in the world, Seventh-day Adventists should have a full realization of the terrible character of sin, and experience that true repentance and godly sorrow that mean complete separation from it forever. When we think how Jesus, our great High Priest, sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemane for us, striving against sin, it should cause us to abhor it in all its hideousness, and pray most earnestly to be forever delivered from it.

The end is upon us. Soon Jesus will lay off his priestly robes and be clothed in kingly garments. Then the choices we have made must stand forever. If all our sins have been put away and our robes made white in the blood of the Lamb, we shall be able to endure through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, and to stand before the Son of man as he comes in all his glory.

Scenes taking place in heaven down at the close of time when the third angel’s message is closing are described by the servant of God: “I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven. An angel with a writer’s inkhorn by his side returned from the earth, and reported to Jesus that his work was done, and the saints were numbered and sealed.” Then I saw Jesus, who had been ministering before the ark containing the ten commandments, throw down the censer. He raised his hands, and with a loud voice said, “It is done.” And all the angelic host laid off their crowns as Jesus made the solemn declaration, “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.”

“Every case had been decided for life or death. While Jesus had been ministering in the sanctuary, the judgment had been going on for the righteous dead, and then for the righteous living. Christ had received his kingdom, having made the atonement for his people, and blotted out their sins. The subjects of the kingdom were made up. The marriage of the Lamb was consummated. And the kingdom, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, was given to Jesus and the heirs of salvation, and Jesus was to reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords.”—Early Writings, pages 279, 280.

This day is just before us. Brother, sister, are you ready for it? “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”