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Living in the Great Day of Atonement, November 12
On the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it
shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and
offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.
Leviticus 23:27
.
We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the
high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls
by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among
the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of
life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before
God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of
heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be
put away. There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies
that strive for the mastery. The work of preparation is an individual work. We are
not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these
qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He
will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if
there were not another being upon the earth. Everyone must be tested and found
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.
Solemn are the scenes connected with the closing work of the atonement. Mo-
mentous are the interests involved therein. The judgment is now passing in the
sanctuary above. For many years this work has been in progress. Soon—none know
how soon—it will pass to the cases of the living. In the awful presence of God our
lives are to come up in review. At this time above all others it behooves every soul
to heed the Saviour’s admonition: “Watch and pray: for ye know not when the time
is” (
Mark 13:33
). “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief,
and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee” (
Revelation 3:3
).
When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have
been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time before the appearing
of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. Christ in the Revelation, looking forward to
that time, declares: “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. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with
me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (
Revelation 22:11, 12
) (
The
Great Controversy, 489-491
).
In the typical service the high priest, having made the atonement for Israel, came
forth and blessed the congregation. So Christ, at the close of His work as mediator,
will appear, “without sin unto salvation” (
Hebrews 9:28
), to bless His waiting people
with eternal life (
The Great Controversy, 485
).
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