A SOLEMN FACT by G. B. Thompson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 8, 1901

A SOLEMN FACT.

By G. B. Thompson

ELDER G. B. THOMPSON. (Rome, N. Y.)

On the tenth day of the seventh month, Oct. 22, 1844, the long prophetic period of twenty-three hundred days ended, and the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, or work of the investigative judgment, began. This date is as fixed and certain as the nativity of Christ. It is marked by well-known events, rendering a mistake impossible. Unbelievers of every kind have sought for half a century to overthrow this mighty fact, but the pillars remain; the temple of truth is unmoved.

Fifty-seven years have passed by with stately and measured tread since this solemn, searching work began at the tribunal of the universal Judge. “The judgment was set, and the books were opened.” “And the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” With nations and with individuals the Lord has kept a faithful and impartial account. Our record is on high. The deeds, the thoughts, the motives of the heart, are all faithfully written down.

The judgment begins at the house of God. 1 Peter 4: 17. “Another book was opened, which is the book of life.” Ponderous volume! In it are recorded the names of all who have had life by believing on the Son. When the judgment was set, this book was opened, and an investigation of the character of those composing the “house of God” was begun. For nearly three-score years this solemn work has been in progress, and name after name and page after page passed by. What a court is this! The Ancient of days is there; the Redeemer, your Advocate and mine, is there; ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of angels are there; there is no appeal from its decisions; the verdict in each case is just and final.

How far has this judgment work progressed? What generation is now passing in review before the scrutiny of Him who sits upon the throne? Have the generations of long ago been judged, and the verdict recorded? Are those who lived when Christ was on earth being examined? Or has the work of judgment passed down through the world’s midnight—the Dark Ages—and numbered the true Israel of the Most High? Or during the nearly six decades, has that work come down into the century just closed, and have the records of this momentous cycle of time been investigated? Are the events of the century just born, the lives of men now living,— your record and mine,—being reviewed? Just how far this work has progressed no man knows; but in the typical work the allotted time was comparatively brief, and we know that the last pages in the great church roll—the book of life—will soon be reached, and the fiat of Rev. 22: 11 go forth, fixing irrevocably the destiny of every soul.

How sober this fact should make us! What searching of heart it should create in us! We know not when our name will come up. Who is ready to have his case called up and the final verdict rendered? Is everything just as we should desire to have it if we knew that our names were the next in order?

Some are carrying strife, hatred, and envy in their hearts, even against their brethren, expecting sometime to fix matters up. Well, now is the time. You haven’t a moment to lose. Delay is dangerous. You must gain the victory on this point or lose heaven. Some are sure the Lord has a work for them to do in His vineyard, and sometime they hope to get their secular business so arranged that they can do it. Now is the time to “cut loose,” and labor for perishing souls.

Others are robbing God in tithes and offerings, promising their darkened soul that when they get out of debt, they will give the Lord His own. It is time we took our hands out of the Lord’s treasury, and ceased to rob the One who is on the throne, who is our Judge, and who is about to pass final sentence upon us. Can we afford to rob Him under such conditions as these? To the writer it seems terrible that, at this advanced stage of the message, the Judge at the door, the judgment almost over, it is still necessary to plead with those who know these things to cease robbing the Lord! When will the power of this wicked covetousness be broken in every heart?

Others are clinging to secret sins, some darling indulgence, hoping sometime to get the victory. Delay no longer. To-day is the time. The judgment hour hastens to its close. Men born since the Saviour entered the holiest of all are whitening with age; the last generation is hoary. If ever there was a time when men should be seeking the Lord with all the heart, that time is now.

“When the Judge shall weigh our motives For eternal gain or loss, Shall we stand as gold before Him? Or as vile and worthless dross”?