the great controversy-第122章
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Thus will be realized the complete fulfillment of the new…covenant promise：
〃I will forgive their iniquity； and I will remember their sin no more。〃 〃In
those days； and in that time； saith the Lord； the iniquity of Israel shall
be sought for； and there shall be none； and the sins of Judah； and they
shall not be found。〃 Jeremiah 31：34； 50：20。 〃In that day shall the branch of
the Lord be beautiful and glorious； and the fruit of the earth shall be
excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel。 And it shall come
to pass； that he that is left in Zion； and he that remaineth in Jerusalem；
shall be called holy； even everyone that is written among the living in
Jerusalem。〃 Isaiah 4：2； 3。
The work of the investigative judgment and the blotting out of sins is to be
accomplished before the second advent of the Lord。 Since the dead are to be
judged out of the things written in the books； it is impossible that the
sins of men should be blotted out until after the judgment at which their
cases are to be investigated。 But the apostle Peter distinctly states that
the sins of believers will be blotted out 〃when the times of refreshing
shall come from the presence of the Lord； and He shall send Jesus Christ。〃
Acts 3：19； 20。 When the investigative judgment closes； Christ will come； and
His reward will be with Him to give to every man as his work shall be。
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。 As the priest； in
removing the sins from the sanctuary； confessed them upon the head of the
scapegoat； so Christ will place all these sins upon Satan； the originator
and instigator of sin。 The scapegoat； bearing the sins of Israel； was sent
away 〃unto a land not inhabited〃 （Leviticus 16：22）； so Satan； bearing the
guilt of all the sins which he has caused God's people to commit； will be
for a thousand years confined to the earth； which will then be desolate；
without inhabitant； and he will at last suffer the
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full penalty of sin in the fires that shall destroy all the wicked。 Thus the
great plan of redemption will reach its accomplishment in the final
eradication of sin and the deliverance of all who have been willing to
renounce evil。
At the time appointed for the judgmentthe close of the
2300 days； in 1844began the work of investigation and blotting
out of sins。 All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must
pass its searching scrutiny。 Both the living and the dead are to be judged
〃out of those things which were written in the books； according to their
works。〃
Sins that have not been repented of and forsaken will not be pardoned and
blotted out of the books of record； but will stand to witness against the
sinner in the day of God。 He may have committed his evil deeds in the light
of day or in the darkness of night； but they were open and manifest before
Him with whom we have to do。 Angels of God witnessed each sin and registered
it in the unerring records。 Sin may be concealed； denied； covered up from
father； mother； wife； children； and associates； no one but the guilty actors
may cherish the least suspicion of the wrong； but it is laid bare before the
intelligences of heaven。 The darkness of the darkest night； the secrecy of
all deceptive arts； is not sufficient to veil one thought from the knowledge
of the Eternal。 God has an exact record of every unjust account and every
unfair dealing。 He is not deceived by appearances of piety。 He makes no
mistakes in His estimation of character。 Men may be deceived by those who
are corrupt in heart； but God pierces all disguises and reads the inner
life。
How solemn is the thought！ Day after day； passing into eternity； bears its
burden of records for the books of heaven。 Words once spoken； deeds once
done； can never be recalled。 Angels have registered both the good and the
evil。 The mightiest conqueror upon the earth cannot call back the record of
even a single day。 Our acts； our words； even our most secret motives； all
have their weight in deciding our destiny for weal or woe。 Though they may
be forgotten by
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us； they will bear their testimony to justify or condemn。
As the features of the countenance are reproduced with unerring accuracy on
the polished plate of the artist； so the character is faithfully delineated
in the books above。 Yet how little solicitude is felt concerning that record
which is to meet the gaze of heavenly beings。 Could the veil which separates
the visible from the invisible world be swept back； and the children of men
behold an angel recording every word and deed； which they must meet again in
the judgment； how many words that are daily uttered would remain unspoken；
how many deeds would remain undone。
In the judgment the use made of every talent will be scrutinized。 How have
we employed the capital lent us of Heaven？ Will the Lord at His coming
receive His own with usury？ Have we improved the powers entrusted us； in
hand and heart and brain； to the glory of God and the blessing of the world？
How have we used our time； our pen； our voice； our money； our influence？
What have we done for Christ； in the person of the poor； the afflicted； the
orphan； or the widow？ God has made us the depositaries of His holy word；
what have we done with the light and truth given us to make men wise unto
salvation？ No value is attached to a mere profession of faith in Christ；
only the love which is shown by works is counted genuine。 Yet it is love
alone which in the sight of Heaven makes any act of value。 Whatever is done
from love； however small it may appear in the estimation of men； is accepted
and rewarded of God。
The hidden selfishness of men stands revealed in the books of heaven。 There
is the record of unfulfilled duties to their fellow men； of forgetfulness of
the Saviour's claims。 There they will see how often were given to Satan the
time； thought； and strength that belonged to Christ。 Sad is the record which
angels bear to heaven。 Intelligent beings； professed followers of Christ；
are absorbed in the acquirement of worldly possessions or the enjoyment of
earthly pleasures。 Money； time； and strength are sacrificed for display and
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self…indulgence； but few are the moments devoted to prayer； to the searching
of the Scriptures； to humiliation of soul and confession of sin。
Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds； that they may not
dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted。 The
archdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice
and an all…powerful mediator。 He knows that with him everything depends on
his diverting minds from Jesus and His truth。
Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour's mediation should permit
nothing to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God。
The precious hours； instead of being given to pleasure； to display； or to
gain seeking； should be devoted to an earnest； prayerful study of the word
of truth。 The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should
be clearly understood by the people of God。 All need a knowledge for
themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest。 Otherwise it
will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this
time or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill。 Every
individual has a soul to save or to lose。 Each has a case pending at the bar
of God。 Each must meet the great Judge face to face。 How important； then；
that every mind contemplate often the solemn scene when the judgment shall
sit and the books shall be opened； when； with Daniel； every individual must
stand in his lot； at the end of the days。
All who have received the light upon these subjects are to bear testimony of
the great truths which God has committed to them。 The sanctuary in heaven is
the very center of Christ's work in behalf of men。 It concerns every soul
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