Light from the Sanctuary.—No. 2.
By R. F. Cottrell
In the former article, it was shown that under the sounding of the seventh trumpet the ark of God’s ten commandments is discovered to be in the temple in Heaven—this being the real sanctuary of which the earthly was a figure or pattern—and that this fact, foretold in the prophecy, is a most convincing proof of the perpetuity of the entire code of moral precepts written by the finger of God and deposited in the ark belonging to the “first covenant.” Heb. 9:1. The ark of God’s testimony or covenant is in Heaven; and it is there as late as the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Consequently, that law is not yet abolished. But the opening of the temple in Heaven discloses other light—light on the subject of the Judgment. The moral law, contained in the ark, is the rule of the Judgment; and, under the sounding of the seventh trumpet, events in consecutive order are to transpire as follows: 1. The nations are angry. 2. The wrath of God, contained in the seven last plagues, comes. 3. The time of the dead that they should be judged. 4. The giving of reward to all the righteous. 5. The destruction of the wicked. “And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them that destroy the earth.” Rev. 11:18. It will be noticed that the dead are judged before rewards are given. But the saints are rewarded “at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:14. Therefore the dead are judged, not after they are raised, but while they are dead. The investigative Judgment takes place before the advent and resurrection. Then the Judgment is executed, in regard to the saints, by the resurrection to eternal life. On the ending of the 2300 days in 1844, it was proclaimed, in fulfillment of prophecy, “The hour of his Judgment is come.” Rev. 14:7. With the end of the days came the great disappointment. And why? Because it was believed, as many believe now, that the Judgment takes place wholly after the coming of Christ and the resurrection; and so the first message of a series of three was made the last message of probation. But the disappointment led to the investigation of the sanctuary and its cleansing; and it was seen that the work of the cleansing of the sanctuary was the final disposal of the sins of the saved; as in the type the sins of all Israel were borne from the sanctuary and sent away upon the head of the scapegoat. The antitype of this work is performed by Christ as High Priest: and hence before his second advent, as his priesthood and probation close before he is revealed from Heaven in flaming fire, or as King of kings, and Lord of lords. As this light was being seen by our leading brethren, the subject was approached cautiously, and in speaking of the judgment-hour message as fulfilled, it was sometimes explained as a proclamation of the coming of the period of time when the judgment might be expected. But the message was one of definite time for the commencement of the Judgment. It could not be made so indefinite; and the result of the investigation was the true understanding of the Judgment in the sanctuary, namely, the blotting out of all the sins of the righteous, and consequently their acquittal in the Judgment, before the advent and first resurrection. Reason would say, First, the investigation and decision of the Judgment, then, the execution of the Judgment by giving rewards. With this the Scriptures agree. “They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead.” Luke 20:35. This implies that before the resurrection from the dead, the righteous are judged worthy to have part in the first resurrection and in the world to come. But this resurrection, and the change to immortality, takes place “in a moment in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” Those thus rewarded have previously been accounted worthy of this reward. “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:12. The psalmist had a view of the Judgment in the sanctuary of God, recorded in Ps. 73. The prosperity of the wicked in the world, while the waters of a full cup were wrung out to the righteous, stumbled him in regard to the justice of God. His steps had well-nigh slipped. He began to reason that he had cleansed his heart in vain; for he had been plagued and chastened, while the wicked prospered and had more than heart could wish. These thoughts were too painful for him until he went into the sanctuary of God. “Then,” said he, “understood I their end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places! thou castedst them down to destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment; they are utterly consumed with terrors.” He now saw that, though the wicked might prosper at present, there was a future Judgment, which would vindicate the justice of God. That in the sanctuary of God decisions would be made to reward the suffering saints and cast the wicked down to destruction. This explained the inequalities of the present life. The wicked are not to be envied for their prosperity. The Judgment is coming. These things will all be set right; and the throne of Him who sitteth between the cherubim, above the ark and mercy-seat, will be guiltless. Reader, the decision of your case and mine, yes, of all living on the earth, will soon be given in the sanctuary of God in Heaven. The 2300 days have ended, and the sanctuary is being cleansed. The last part of the ministry of our High Priest is taking place. Soon the sins of all the saved will be borne from the presence of God or blotted out. When this work is ended, the cases of all will be decided for life or death. Each has an interest in this closing work of probation, and in the closing message of probation. Rev. 14:9–12. Each has a cause soon to be decided for eternity. Now we can find pardon. Soon it will be too late. Let us choose life, that we may live. Let us keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. Then we shall have right to the tree of life. R. F. Cottrell.