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The Great Controversy 1888
an open door, and no man can shut it.” [
Revelation 3:7, 8
.] Christ had
opened the door, or ministration, of the most holy place, light was
shining from that open door of the sanctuary in Heaven, and the fourth
commandment was shown to be included in the law which is there
enshrined; what God had established, no man could overthrow.
Those who had accepted the light concerning the mediation of
Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God, found that these were
the truths presented in
Revelation 14
. The messages of this chapter
constitute a threefold warning, [
See Appendix, Note 8.
] which is to
prepare the inhabitants of the earth for the Lord’s second coming. The
announcement, “The hour of his Judgment is come,” points to the clos-
ing work of Christ’s ministration for the salvation of men. It heralds a
truth which must be proclaimed until the Saviour’s intercession shall
cease, and he shall return to the earth to take his people to himself.
[436]
The work of judgment which began in 1844, must continue until the
cases of all are decided, both of the living and the dead; hence it will
extend to the close of human probation. That men may be prepared
to stand in the Judgment, the message commands them to “fear God,
and give glory to him,” “and worship him that made heaven, and earth,
and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” The result of an acceptance
of these messages is given in the words, “Here are they that keep the
commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” In order to be prepared
for the Judgment, it is necessary that men should keep the law of God.
That law will be the standard of character in the Judgment. The apostle
Paul declares, “As many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by
the law; ... in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by
Jesus Christ.” And he says that “the doers of the law shall be justified.”
[
Romans 2:12-16
.] Faith is essential in order to the keeping of the
law of God; for “without faith it is impossible to please him.” And
“whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” [
Hebrews 11:6
;
Romans 14:23
.]
By the first angel, men are called upon to “fear God, and give glory
to him,” and to worship him as the Creator of the heavens and the
earth. In order to do this, they must obey his law. Says the wise man,
“Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of
man.” [
Ecclesiastes 12:13
.] Without obedience to his commandments,
no worship can be pleasing to God. “This is the love of God, that we
keep his commandments.” “He that turneth away his ear from hearing