Formation of Character in the Second Probation
By E. HILLIARD
THOSE who advocate a second probation during the one thousand years, teach that while Satan is chained, people are living on earth, but out of his reach. According to this, the subjects of this probationary period have no tempter. Now temptation is the very thing needed in the development of Christian character. The apostle James tells us to “count it all joy when ye fall into [among] divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” James 1: 2, 3. It is evident to all that where there is no tempter, there can be no temptation. In such a case, the power of Christ would not be needed. It would be salvation without a Saviour, or any temptation to be saved from. At the close of such a probationary period, every soul would be in the same sinful condition as when he entered it. Again: the Scriptures teach that “there is no respect of persons with God.” Rom. 2: 11. Now if God subjects a portion of the people to the tempter in the first probation, and through trial and great tribulation they are to enter triumphantly into His kingdom, and then chains the tempter from another class, and they without trial enter His kingdom, He certainly is a respecter of persons, and very partial in His plan of redemption. There is no such thing as any one, heathen or otherwise, being placed on a second probation, with the tempter chained, with no opportunity to form character through cooperation with Christ, and then at its close the Saviour to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; . . . enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” How could He say it when not one had had the privilege of rejoicing over a single victory in the conflict with the chained foe? Men who advocate a second probation do not understand the Bible method of character building. A probation without a tempter leaves no opportunity for a triumphant conflict through Christ, and is an easy, selfish, man-made way of being saved. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”