Basic HTML Version
The Third Message Closed
I was pointed down to the time when the third angel’s message
was closing. The power of God had rested upon His people; they
had accomplished their work and were prepared for the trying hour
before them. They had received the latter rain, or refreshing from
the presence of the Lord, and the living testimony had been revived.
The last great warning had sounded everywhere, and it had stirred
up and enraged the inhabitants of the earth who would not receive
the message.
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
[280]
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.
As Jesus moved out of the most holy place, I heard the tinkling
of the bells upon His garment; and as He left, a cloud of darkness
covered the inhabitants of the earth. There was then no mediator
between guilty man and an offended God. While Jesus had been
standing between God and guilty man, a restraint was upon the
266