Basic HTML Version
340
The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
shut and the other was opened. With earnest zeal and new hope they
preached these truths, and urged their fellowmen to seek an entrance
by faith into the most holy place within the second vail, where our
great High Priest is gone to blot out the sins of all his faithful ones,
from Abel to the present time. Their faith was in an open door
which no man can shut until the work therein is fully done. In the
work of inviting sinners to come to this open door, they continue
until the present time; and this will be their work until Jesus himself
shall proclaim, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still;”
Revelation
22:11
; that is, until probation is closed and the ministry of the gospel
is ended.
Among the first who taught the third message and the open door,
was the author of this book. By her untiring zeal, her earnest appeals,
and the clear light of the testimony which she bore, she did much to
advance the cause, to correct the errors of fanaticism, to renew the
hopes of the desponding, and to cheer the hearts of the “little flock”
who loved the appearing of their soon-coming Saviour.
Note 7. Page 275.—For a brief examination of important points
in the third angel’s message of
Revelation 14:9-12
, see note 8. This
message contains the last warning that men on probation will ever
receive, as it is followed by the coming of the Son of man to reap
the harvest of the earth,—to “gather the wheat into his garner,” and
to cast the clusters of the vine of the earth into the winepress of
the wrath of God. See
verses 14-20
. It is for this reason that it is
given in such strong, such terrible language of threatening. The
wrath which it denounces upon the worshipers of the beast and his
image is contained in “the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up
the wrath of God.”
Revelation 15:1
. Compare
chap. 16:1, 2
. That
wrath “is poured out without mixture;” for then judgment falls upon
the incorrigible without mercy, because our Saviour will then have
finished his priestly work, and he will come, not to offer salvation,
but to take vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not
the gospel.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
.
[501]
But the throne of God will be clear, and sinners will be without
excuse; for the warnings of the scriptures are given in no uncertain
language. To the impious the Lord says: “Because I have called, and
ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but
ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I