THE CLOSE OF CHRIST'S INTERCESSION.
By E. G. Farnsworth
THE most important and interesting theme that can engage the attention of the child of God is the time when our High Priest shall lay off his priestly robes and put on the garments of vengeance and take to himself his great power and reign. Now he presents to all men the merits of his own precious life, that whosoever will accept the righteousness that he has worked out may have a spotless garment in which to present themselves at the coronation banquet of Prince Immanuel. Now he is beseeching them by his mercies to present themselves to God. Rom. 12: 1. But ungrateful man, regardless of God's mercies, is often blinded because of God's goodness to him. But he whose love is infinite does not leave man in darkness unless he, after having a chance to come to the light, prefers darkness. So God sends his judgments that the inhabitants of the world may learn righteousness. This always has been God's method of dealing with sinful man, and it always will be until the awful sentence sounds forth from the throne above, “It is done.” God's mercy is now causing the last message of mercy to be carried to earth's remotest bounds. Soon his judgments will be abroad in the land, pleading for his people, revealing to all that there is a difference between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. The prophet Isaiah, speaking of the time of the coming of the Lord, says: “For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh.” Isa. 66: 16; also Jer. 25: 31. The prophet Joel, speaking of the same time, says: “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel.” “Let the heathen be awakened and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.” “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3: 2, 12, 14. The time of this gathering is clearly indicated in Rev. 16: 12-15, as will be clearly seen by referring to other texts. Daniel 12: 1 says that “at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble.” At what time?—The time spoken of in the last verse of the eleventh chapter, when the Ottoman Empire comes to its end, not when he plants the tabernacle of his palace between the seas, as some have thought. For this is not his end; he still exists, and is brought to his end under the pouring out of the sixth plague. Rev. 16: 12-15: “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. Then comes the wonder-working power of Satan, that gathers the nations to the battle of the great day. It is then, and not until then, that the voice coming from the sanctuary on high proclaims, with awful majesty, “It is done.” God has been pleading by his judgments, causing them to fall upon those that have received the mark of the beast and those that have worshiped his image, but not suffering any of them to touch one of his people that put their trust in him (Ps. 91: 10), thus giving to the world an object lesson of his wrath against sin, and his care for those that are obedient unto his truth. But an angel returning from the earth announces that his work is done, that the seal of God has been placed upon his people. Then Jesus ceases his intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts his hands, and with a loud voice says, “It is done.” And all the angelic host lay off their crowns as he makes the solemn announcement, “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 has been decided for life or death. Thus the mystery of God is finished. And there still remains only the work of giving to each company their final rewards. Great Babylon comes in remembrance before God to give unto her the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. He brings forth the weapons of his wrath, that sweeps away the refuge of lies. The redeemed throng are caught up to meet their descending Lord in the air and with him ascend to the city of God. Oh, may it be the happy lot of us all to have a mansion in that beautiful home!