• "I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you...how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures: and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

 

• “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God's curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” Galatians 1:7-9

 

• "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;  and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book." Revelation 22:18-19

 

Justification 

 

Scripture:

Sinners are given Jesus' righteousness through their repentance and faith, not through their good deeds which are "filthy rags". 

• “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” Romans 3:21-28

 

• If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1John 1:9

 

• “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out” Acts 3:19

 

• “But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:3

 

• “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15

 

• “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.” John 5:24-25

 

• “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:4-9

 

• “...but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Hebrews 9:26

 

• “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the world.” 1 John: 1-2

 

Ellen G. White:

Although scripture clearly reveals that God calls us to obey him out of trust and as a sign of our faith, Ellen takes obedience beyond this in stating that salvation itself is obtained with a combination of Christ’s righteousness and ours.

• "Will man take hold of divine power, and with determination and perseverance resist Satan, as Christ has given him example in his conflict with the foe in the wilderness of temptation? God cannot save man against his will from the power of Satan’s artifices. Man must work with his human power, aided by the divine power of Christ, to resist and conquer at any cost to himself. In short, man must overcome as Christ overcame. And then, through the victory that it is his privilege to gain by the all-powerful name of Jesus, he may become an heir of God and joint-heir with Jesus Christ. This could not be the case if Christ alone did all the overcoming. Man must do his part; he must be victor on his own account, through the strength and grace that Christ gives him. Man must be a co-worker with Christ in the labor of overcoming, and then he will be partaker with Christ in His glory.” Sons and Daughters of God, p. 156 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/102.1057#1060 

 

God's Judgement of The Righteous

 

Scripture: 

• “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them; and they were judged, each one of them according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15
  • The "books” containing each person’s deeds will be opened alongside “the book of life”. Anyone who is not written in the book of life will be judged by their deeds, which condemn them before God because even one's good deeds they still "filthy rags" before God. Anyone whose name is found written in the book of life will be saved because they are not being judged by their own deeds, but by the deeds of Jesus who walked a perfect life and took the death penalty for unrighteousness.

 

• “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6

 

• “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8

 

• “But Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.” Mark 10:18

 

• “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrong doings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

 

Ellen G. White:

Ellen claims that it is possible and expected for people to obtain a sinless life with perfect obedience. 

• “At the general conference of believers in the present truth, held at Sutton, Vermont, September, 1850, I was shown that the seven last plagues will be poured out after Jesus leaves the sanctuary. Said the angel, “It is the wrath of God and the Lamb that causes the destruction or death of the wicked. At the voice of God the saints will be mighty and terrible as an army with banners, but they will not then execute the judgment written. The execution of the judgment will be at the close of the one thousand years.”  After the saints are changed to immortality and caught up together with Jesus, after they receive their harps, their robes, and their crowns, and enter the city, Jesus and the saints sit in judgment. The books are opened—the book of life and the book of death. The book of life contains the good deeds of the saints; and the book of death contains the evil deeds of the wicked. These books are compared with the statute book, the Bible, and according to that men are judged. The saints, in unison with Jesus, pass their judgment upon the wicked dead. “Behold ye,” said the angel, “the saints, in unison with Jesus, sit in judgment, and mete out to the wicked according to the deeds done in the body, and that which they must receive at the execution of the judgment is set off against their names.” This, I saw, was the work of the saints with Jesus through the one thousand years in the Holy City before it descends to the earth.” Early Writings, p. 52 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/28.379#380 
  • As seen in the above verses, Revelation 22 gives a severe warning against anyone adding anything to the words within it. However, Ellen directly contradicted and added to the words of Revelation by making these statements, claiming them to be divine visions from God. Revelation 20 does not say that the book of life contains the deeds of the righteous. It also does not name a "book of death" containing evil deeds. It only names the "books" and the "book of life." It only says "deeds" (with no distinction between good or bad) are written in the "books." It says that all the dead will be judged by the deeds written in the "books" only if their name is not found written in the "book of life"; which scripture does not say contains any deeds of man. Scripture does say that even our righteous deeds are as filthy rags before God, showing that even if the book of life did contained our righteous deeds, they are still filthy and could not make us righteous enough to stand before God. No one except the Messiah can stand before Him. The only way for humanity to do so is for Messiah's deeds to stand in place of our deeds, covering both our good and bad; all filthy rags.

 

• “Not to see the marked contrast between Christ and ourselves is not to know ourselves. He who does not abhor himself cannot understand the meaning of redemption. To be redeemed means to cease from sin. No heart that is stirred to rebellion against the law of God has any union with Christ, who died to vindicate the law and exalt it before all nations, tongues, and peoples.” The Watchman, April 23, 1907 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/496.529#534 

 

• “Many accept the theory of Christ, but they make it manifest by their works that they do not know him as the Savior who died for the sins of men, who bore the penalty of their transgression, in order that they might be brought back to their loyalty to God, and through the merits of a crucified and risen Savior, might find acceptance with God in their obedience to his law. Christ died to make it possible for you to cease to sin, and sin is transgression of the law.” Review and Herald, Aug 28, 1894 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/821.13738#13745 

 

• “‘If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword.’ These words are true. Exact obedience is required, and those who say that it is not possible to live a perfect life throw upon God the imputation of injustice and untruth.” The Review and Herald, Feb 7, 1957 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/821.2035448#35470 

 

• “The Lord requires no less of man now than he required of Adam in Paradise before he fell,— perfect obedience, unblemished righteousness. The requirement under the covenant of grace is just as broad as that made in paradise,—harmony with his law, which is holy, and just, and good. The gospel does not weaken the claims of the law; it exalts the law and makes it honorable. Under the New Testament no less is required than was required under the Old Testament. Let no one take up with the delusion, so pleasant to the human heart, that God will accept of sincerity, no matter what may be the faith or how imperfect the life. God requires of his children perfect obedience.” The Review and Herald, November 1, 1892 / Selected Messages, Book 1, ch. 59 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/821.12271#12276 

 

• “That which God required of Adam before his fall was perfect obedience to His law. God requires now what He required of Adam, perfect obedience, righteousness without a flaw, without shortcoming in His sight. God help us to render to Him all His law requires. We cannot do this without that faith that brings Christ’s righteousness into daily practice.” Selected Messages, Book 2, p. 380–381 (1958) https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/99.2301#2329 

 

• Ellen also claims the righteous will undergo an investigative judgment where God, starting in 1844, is now looking at the deeds and works of those who claim Jesus as their savior, and he will judge the righteous based on their deeds (not Christ’s deeds) to see if they will actually be permitted salvation. She claims that believers must meet a certain standard of righteousness on their own merit in order to enter eternal life, meaning that Jesus’ sacrifice does not actually cover all of humanity’s sin. If Jesus’ life does not completely take the place of sinners, then everyone is condemned because no one is without sin. Even if someone was eventually perfected in character as she expects them to be in the time of Jacob’s trouble, their past sin still condemns them and separates them from God’s presence. If the investigative judgment is true, and the righteous are judged by any of their deeds, not one person can obtain eternal life because their righteousness is still filthy rags before God. Below is an excerpt from chapter 28 of The Great Controversy (1888 ed.), where Ellen explains her vision of the investigative judgment:

 

“I Beheld,” says the prophet Daniel, “till thrones were placed, and One that was ancient of days did sit. His raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him; thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the Judgment was set, and the books were opened.” [Daniel 7:9-10] Thus was presented to the prophet’s vision the great and solemn day when the characters and the lives of men should pass in review before the Judge of all the earth, and to every man should be rendered “according to his works.” 

…“And, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away.” [Daniel 7:13, 14.] The coming of Christ here described is not his second coming to the earth. He comes to the Ancient of days in Heaven to receive dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, which will be given him at the close of his work as a mediator. It is this coming, and not his second advent to the earth, that was foretold in prophecy to take place at the termination of the 2300 days, in 1844. Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the holy of holies, and there appears in the presence of God, to engage in the last acts of his ministration in behalf of man,—to perform the work of investigative Judgment, and to make an atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits. In the typical service, only those who had come before God with confession and repentance, and whose sins, through the blood of the sin-offering, were transferred to the sanctuary, had a part in the service of the day of atonement. So in the great day of final atonement and investigative Judgment, the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. The judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work, and takes place at a later period. “Judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel?” [1 Peter 4:17.] The books of record in Heaven, in which the names and the deeds of men are registered, are to determine the decisions of the Judgment. Says the prophet Daniel, “The Judgment was set, and the books were opened.” The Revelator, describing the same scene, adds, “Another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” [Revelation 20:12.] The book of life contains the names of all who have ever entered the service of God. Jesus bade his disciples, “Rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven.” [Luke 10:20.] Paul speaks of his faithful fellow-workers, “whose names are in the book of life.” [Philippians 4:3.] Daniel, looking down to “a time of trouble, such as never was,” declares that God’s people shall be delivered, “everyone that shall be found written in the book.” [Daniel 12:1.] And the Revelator says that those only shall enter the city of God whose names “are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” [Revelation 21:27.] “A book of remembrance” is written before God, in which are recorded the good deeds of “them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” [Malachi 3:16.] (In Malachi 3:16, the book of remembrance contains the names of those who remained faithful to Him in the midst of a rebellious nation. “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name.” Ellen’s use of this text is taken severely out of context). Their words of faith, their acts of love, are registered in Heaven. Nehemiah refers to this when he says, “Remember me, O my God, ... and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God.” [Nehemiah 13:14.] In the book of God’s remembrance every deed of righteousness is immortalized. There every temptation resisted, every evil overcome, every word of tender pity expressed, is faithfully chronicled. And every act of sacrifice, every suffering and sorrow endured for Christ’s sake, is recorded. Says the psalmist. “Thou tellest my wanderings. Put thou my tears into thy bottle; are they not in thy book?” [Psalm 56:8.] There is a record also of the sins of men. “For God shall bring every work into Judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” [Ecclesiastes 12:14.] “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment.” Said the Saviour, “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” [Matthew 13:36, 37.] The secret purposes and motives appears in the unerring register; for God “will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.” [1 Corinthians 4:5.] “Behold, it is written before me, ... your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord.” [Isaiah 65:6, 7.] Every man’s work passes in review before God, and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the books of Heaven is entered, with terrible exactness, every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling. Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel. The law of God is the standard by which the characters and the lives of men will be tested in the Judgment. Says the wise man: “Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into Judgment.” [Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14.] The apostle James admonishes his brethren, “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” [James 2:12.] Those who in the Judgment are “accounted worthy,” will have a part in the resurrection of the just. Jesus said, “They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, ... are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.” [Luke 20:35, 36.] And again he declares that “they that have done good” shall come forth “unto the resurrection of life.” [John 5:29.] The righteous dead will not be raised until after the Judgment at which they are accounted worthy of “the resurrection of life.” Hence they will not be present in person at the tribunal when their records are examined, and their cases decided. Jesus will appear as their advocate, to plead in their behalf before God. “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” [1 John 2:1.] “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” [Hebrews 9:24; 7:25.] As the books of record are opened in the Judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance. The Lord declared to Moses, “Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” [Exodus 32:33.] (In Exodus 32:33, Moses was pleading with God to forgive the Israelites for worship of the golden calf; he then offered himself as an atonement, and asked God to blot his name out of the book of life if God would not forgive Israel. God replied to Moses in the text above, expressing that Moses could not make atonement, but that God would punish the individuals for their sin. God then struck the people with a plague because of their worship of the golden calf. This example reinforces that only Christ would be an acceptable atonement sacrifice at His coming, and Moses would never be able to fulfill that purpose. Ellen took this verse out of context, and applied it to the Investigative Judgement). And says the prophet Ezekiel, “When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, ... all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned.” [Ezekiel 18:24.] All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of Heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life. The Lord declares, by the prophet Isaiah, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” [Isaiah 43:25.] Said Jesus, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven.” [Revelation 3:5; Matthew 10:32, 33.]  The deepest interest manifested among men in the decisions of earthly tribunals but faintly represents the interest evinced in the heavenly courts when the names entered in the book of life come up in review before the Judge of all the earth. The divine Intercessor presents the plea that all who have overcome through faith in his blood be forgiven their transgressions, that they be restored to their Eden home, and crowned as joint-heirs with himself to the “first dominion.” [Micah 4:8.] 

…Jesus does not excuse their sins, but shows their penitence and faith, and, claiming for them forgiveness, he lifts his wounded hands before the Father and the holy angels, saying, “I know them by name. I have graven them on the palms of my hands. ‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” [Psalm 51:17.] And to the accuser of his people he declares, “The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee. Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?’ [Zechariah 3:2.] Christ will clothe his faithful ones with his own righteousness, that he may present them to his Father “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” [Ephesians 5:27.] Their names stand enrolled in the book of life, and concerning them it is written, “They shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.” [Revelation 3:4.] 

…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 is with him to give to every man as his work shall be. 

…At the time appointed for the Judgment—the close of the 2300 days, in 1844—began 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. 

…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 us, they will bear their testimony to justify or to condemn. 

…In the Judgment, the use made of every talent will be scrutinized. How have we employed the capital lent us of Heaven? …God has made us the depositary 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. 

…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. 

…Through defects in the character, Satan works to gain control of the whole mind, and he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed. Therefore he is constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it is impossible for them to overcome. But Jesus pleads in their behalf his wounded hands, his bruised body; and he declares to all who would follow him, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” [2 Corinthians 12:9.] “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:29, 30.] Let none, then, regard their defects as incurable. God will give faith and grace to overcome them. 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 of 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. Every one 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. Momentous are the interests involved therein. The Judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. For more than forty 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 righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state—men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above. Before the flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in, and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life, and mocked the warnings of impending judgment. “So,” says the Saviour, “shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” [Matthew 24:39.] Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man’s destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy’s offer to guilty men. “Watch ye therefore; ... lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping.” [Mark 13:35, 36.] Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world. While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure-lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments,—it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.” [Daniel 5:27]. The Great Controversy (1888 ed), ch. 28 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/133.2175#2175 

 

 

Mediation and Intercession of Jesus

 

Scripture:

Jesus is mediating for mankind continuously and forever, as a permanent high priest. We can never stand before God without a mediator.

Within the tabernacle, God made his presence dwell directly over the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant in the most holy place. The ark is God’s throne. Within his throne God placed his law which he calls his "Testimony" as a revelation of his character and righteousness. When humanity desecrated his law, they became unrighteous and were separated from His presence. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter the most holy place, and could only do so with sacrificial atonement blood. The high priest would sprinkle the blood directly onto the ark of the covenant containing the righteous law which the people had broken, and the blood atoned for all the sins of the people. Scripture teaches that the tabernacle with the earthly animal sacrifices and human high priests were only a shadow and tutor to teach humanity God's plan of how He was going to do the work of reconciling man to Himself. God made atonement for us by coming into the flesh to become both the atonement sacrifice and the high priest, offering the innocent Messiah's blood onto His mercy seat, over His law and Testimony which humanity has broken. By the time the book of Hebrews was written (long before 1844), Jesus was said to have already entered into the direct presence of God upon his ascension. As high priest, he had already carried with him his own blood. As the levitical high priest would sprinkle the blood onto the mercy seat of God’s throne, Jesus had already carried in his own blood into God's presence as the high priest carried it on the Day of Atonement; into the most holy place to make atonement for all sin for all people for all time; final atonement. Then he sat down at the right hand of God, who sits on the throne (the ark of the covenant in the most holy place) where he is now the permanent intercessor and mediator between God and humanity. 

• “And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. And it came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand), that Moses did not know that the skin on his face shone because of his speaking with Him.” Exodus 34: 27-29

 

• “At that time the Lord said to me, ‘Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the former ones, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood for yourself. I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you shattered, and you shall put them in the ark.’ So I made an ark of acacia wood and cut out two tablets of stone like the former ones, and went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hand. He wrote on the tablets, like the former writing, the Ten Commandments which the Lord had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the Lord gave them to me. Then I turned and came down from the mountain and put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and there they are, as the Lord commanded me.” Deuteronomy 10:1-5

 

• “And when He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.” Exodus 31:18

 

• “And you shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you. And you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold…And you shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I shall give you. And there I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you…” Exodus 25: 16, 21-22

 

• “How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart…Revive me according to Thy lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Thy mouth. Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness continues throughout all generations…Thou hast commanded thy testimonies in righteousness and exceeding faithfulness…Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is truth…Thy testimonies are righteous forever…Of old I have known from Thy testimonies, that Thou hast founded them forever.” Psalm 119: 1-2, 88-90, 138, 142, 144, 151-152

 

• “Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. Fire goes before Him And burns up His adversaries round about. His lightnings lit up the world; The earth saw and trembled. The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the peoples have seen His glory.” Psalm 97:2-6

 

• “Thy throne is established from of old; Thou are from everlasting…Thy testimonies are fully confirmed.” Psalm 93: 2, 5

 

• “He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake.” Psalm 99:1

 

• “...bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy and the holy of holies. And you shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the holy of holies.” Exodus 26:33-34

 

• "Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the atoning cover which is on the ark, or he will die; I will appear in the cloud over the atoning cover. Aaron shall enter the Holy Place with this: with a bull as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering...Then he shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, and bring it's blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the atoning cover...he may make atonement for himself...and for all the assembly of Israel...for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD...you shall have this as a permanent statute, to make atonement for the sons of Israel for all their sins once every year."  Leviticus 16

 

• "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need." Hebrews 4:14-16

 

• Hebrews 7:24 “The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; Jesus, on the other hand, because he continues forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since he always lives to make intercession for them… (27) who has no daily need, like those high priests to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because he did this for all time when he offered up himself…(8:1) Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens…(9:2) For a tabernacle was equipped, the outer sanctuary, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place. Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the most holy place, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant… and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the atoning cover…(6) the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle, performing the divine worship, but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance…(11) But when Christ appeared as high priest of the good things having come, he entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by hands, that is, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, he entered the holy place once for all time, having obtained eternal redemption…(24) For Christ did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (Presence of God dwells in the most holy place); nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year (outer tabernacle was entered daily, only the most holy place was entered year by year) with blood that is not his own…(10:12) but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified…(19) since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” Hebrews 7-10

 

• “Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” Romans 8:33-34
  • Paul never taught that this intercession will stop for believers in the last days. 

 

Ellen G. White:

Ellen taught that Jesus did not enter God’s presence in the most holy place until 1844, and final atonement has still not been finished. As seen in the above scriptures, the writer of Hebrews compared the levitical high priest's action of entering the most holy place once a year on the Day of Atonement, to the action of Jesus having entered God's direct presence with his own blood and taking his seat at the Father's right hand; an action already accomplished by the time the book of Hebrews was written. In contrast to scripture, Ellen made a similar comparison between the high priest on the Day of Atonement and Jesus' entrance his Father's presence, but she changed the timing of the act to having taken place in 1844; not at the time Jesus shed his blood and ascended to the Father's presence as the author of Hebrews records. Scripture also reveals that the inner veil is what separated the regular priesthood from God, which is why only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place and only with atonement blood. When the author of Hebrews specifically contrasted the priests and their daily service in the Holy Place with the service of the high priest and his entrance into the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement and only with atonement blood, the author is making clear that the role he is placing on Jesus is the act of entering the Most Holy Place, carrying atonement blood to sprinkled on the mercy seat. In saying that God's people can now approach His throne with confidence (a throne represented throughout scripture as the Ark of The Covenant within the Most Holy Place) then the author of Hebrews was teaching his first century audience that they, in their day, could approach God in his throne room - the Most Holy Place; because Jesus had already entered there before them. This was accomplished in the first century according to scripture, not in 1844 according to Ellen.  

Ellen also claimed (by divine vision) that Jesus’ intercession for sinners will stop for the last of God’s people on earth just before his return, he will discontinue his role as high priesthood mediator, and they will have to stand perfect and blameless before God by their own effort, without Jesus as their mediator.

She also claimed that Jesus will not return until his followers on earth are sinless. 

• “I saw that the present test on the Sabbath could not come, until the mediation of Jesus in the Holy Place was finished; and he had passed within the second veil; therefore, Christians, who fell asleep before the door was opened in the Most Holy, when the midnight cry was finished, at the seventh month 1844; and had not kept the true Sabbath, now rest in hope.” The Present Truth, vol. 1, no. 3, Aug. 1849 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/28.329#333 

 

• “I was shown what did take place in heaven at the close of the prophetic periods in 1844. As Jesus ended His ministration in the holy place and closed the door of that apartment, a great darkness settled upon those who had heard and rejected the message of His coming, and they lost sight of Him…As the priest entered the most holy once a year to cleanse the earthly sanctuary, so Jesus entered the most holy of the heavenly, at the end of the 2300 days of Daniel 8, in 1844, to make a final atonement for all who could be benefited by His mediation, and thus to cleanse the sanctuary.” Early Writings, p. 251-253 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/28.1239#1244 

 

• “Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away sin, among God's people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14. When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for his appearing. “Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.” Malachi 3:4. Then the church which our Lord at His coming is to receive to Himself will be a “glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” Great controversy ch. 24 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/133.1928#1938 

 

• “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 every where, and it had stirred up and enraged the inhabitants of earth, who would not receive the message.   I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven. An angel returned from the earth with a writer’s ink-horn by his side, and reported to Jesus that his work was done, that 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 upward, and with a loud voice said, It is done. And all the angelic host laid off their crowns as Jesus made the solemn 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. I saw that every case was then decided for life or death. Jesus had blotted out the sins of his people. He had received his kingdom, and the atonement had been made for the subjects of his kingdom. While Jesus had been ministering in the Sanctuary, the judgment had been going on for the righteous dead, and then for the righteous living. The subjects of the kingdom were made up. The marriage of the Lamb was finished. 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 people; but when Jesus stepped out from between man and the Father, the restraint was removed, and Satan had the control of man. It was impossible for the plagues to be poured out while Jesus officiated in the Sanctuary; but as his work there is finished, as his intercession closes, there is nothing to stay the wrath of God, and it breaks with fury upon the shelterless head of the guilty sinner, who has slighted salvation, and hated reproof. The saints in that fearful time, after the close of Jesus’ mediation, were living in the sight of a holy God, without an intercessor.” Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, Ch 35 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/104.722#723  

 

• “Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Savior be brought to yield to the power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foothold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of Himself: “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.” John 14:30. Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father's commandments, and there was no sin in him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.” The Great Controversy, ch 39 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/133.2776#2818 

 

• “None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience—an experience such as no other company have ever had. “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as “the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 15:2, 3; 14:1-5. “These are they which came out of great tribulation;” they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob's trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of God's judgments. But they have been delivered, for they have “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” “In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault” before God. “Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” The Great Controversy, Ch 40 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/133.2875#2938 

 

• “I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne, and the most of those who were bowed down arose with Him. I did not see one ray of light pass from Jesus to the careless multitude after He arose, and they were left in perfect darkness. Those who arose when Jesus did, kept their eyes fixed on Him as He left the throne and led them out a little way. Then He raised His right arm, and we heard His lovely voice saying, “Wait here; I am going to My Father to receive the kingdom; keep your garments spotless, and in a little while I will return from the wedding and receive you to Myself.” Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by angels, came to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. There I beheld Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father. On the hem of His garment was a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate. Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, “My Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace. I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, “Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan’s object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God’s children.” Early Writings, p. 69 (1882 ed) https://media4.egwwritings.org/pdf/en_EW.pdf 

 

 

Forgotten Sins

 

Scripture:

Man is so corrupted that it is impossible for him to even know or remember all of his transgressions.

• “But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.” Psalm 19:12-13

 

• “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Romans 8:26

 

Ellen G. White:

Ellen claimed that we must repent of every sin in order to be forgiven, and if we have forgotten about any sins we have committed, those forgotten sins could condemn us at the judgment.  

• "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. …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 us, they will bear their testimony to justify or to condemn. …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. " The Great Controversy, ch 28 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/133.2175#2210 

 

Why Jesus Has Not Yet Returned

 

Scripture:

Scripture says Jesus is waiting to come back until his gospel is preached into all the world and for as many people to come to repentance as possible. Scripture does not teach that Jesus is waiting for his people to reflect his sinless character perfectly before he returns. He did not come for the righteous, but only came for the repentant sinners. 

• "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." Matthew 24:14

 

• "I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners, to repentance." Luke 5:32

 

• "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

 

Ellen G. White:

Ellen claimed Jesus will not return until his people perfectly reflect his sinless character. 

• “When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of himself in his church, when the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in his people, then he will come to claim them as His own.” Christ's Object Lessons, ch. 3 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/15.221#251 

 

• "It is true that time has continued longer than we expected...our Savior did not appear as we had hoped. But has the word of the Lord failed? Never! it should be remembered that the promises and the threatenings of God are alike conditional. God had committed to His people a work to be accomplished on earth. The third angel's message was to be given...sabbath reform was to be carried forward...The people of God must purify their souls through obedience to the truth and be prepared to stand without fault before Him at His coming. Had Adventists, after the great disappointment in 1844, held fast their faith and followed on unitedly in the opening providence of God, receiving the message of the third angel and in the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming it to the world, they would have seen the salvation of God...and Christ would have come ere this to receive His people to their reward...Had the whole Adventist body united upon the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, how widely different would have been our history! It was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be thus delayed." Manuscript 4 (1883) https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/14054.4510001ss=eyJwYXJhbXMiOnsicXVlcnkiOiJtYW51c2NyaXB0IDQgMTg4MyIsImxhbmciOiJlbiJ9LCJzZ19pbmRleCI6IjAifQ%3D%3D#4510066 

 

It is also worth noting that this sinless character includes adherence to extra-biblical dietary laws; laws which condemn foods God has declared clean. According to Ellen's direct revelation from God, Jesus will not return as long as Adventists (the acclaimed Remnant church) are still eating foods including eggs, butter, tea, coffee, certain spices, clean meats, three meals per day, etc (See Dietary Laws in content list). If one looks at the state of the Adventist body today in regards to their diet practices alone, one must ask if Jesus will ever be able to return. 

• “This branch of the Lord's work has not received due attention, and through this neglect much has been lost. If the church would manifest a greater interest in the reforms through which God Himself is seeking to fit them for His coming, their influence would be far greater than it now is. God has spoken to his people, and He designs that they shall hear and obey his voice. Although the health reform is not the third angel's message, it is closely connected with it. Those who proclaim the message should teach health reform. It is a subject that we must understand, in order to be prepared for the events that are to close upon us, and it should have a prominent place.” Testimony Studies on Diet and Foods, ch. 21 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/125.1233#1236 

 

• “December 10, 1871, I was again shown that the health reform is one branch of the great work which is to fit a people for the coming of the Lord. It is as closely connected with the third angel's message as the hand is with the body. The law of ten commandments has been lightly regarded by man; but the Lord would not come to punish the transgressors of that law without first sending them a message of warning. The third angel proclaims that message. Had men ever been obedient to the law of ten commandments, carrying out in their lives the principles of those precepts, the curse of disease now flooding the world would not be. Men and women cannot violate natural law by indulging depraved appetite and lustful passions, and not violate the law of God. Therefore, He has permitted the light of health reform to shine upon us, that we may see our sin in violating the laws which He has established in our being. All our enjoyment or suffering may be traced to obedience or transgression of natural law. Our gracious heavenly Father sees the deplorable condition of men, who, some knowingly, but many ignorantly, are living in violation of the laws that He has established. And in love and pity to the race, He causes the light to shine upon health reform. He publishes His law, and the penalty that will follow the transgression of it, that all may learn, and be careful to live in harmony with natural law. He proclaims His law so distinctly, and makes it so prominent, that it is like a city set on a hill. All accountable beings can understand it if they will. Idiots will not be responsible. To make plain natural law, and urge the obedience of it, is the work that accompanies the third angel's message, to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord.” Testimony Studies on Diet and Foods, ch. 21 https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/125.1233#1260 

 

• "Those who have received instruction regarding the evils of the use of flesh foods, tea, and coffee, and rich and unhealthful food preparations, and who are determined to make a covenant with God by sacrifice, will not continue to indulge their appetite for food that they know to be unhealthful. God demands that the appetites be cleansed, and that self-denial be practiced in regard to those things which are not good. This is a work that will have to be done before His people can stand before Him a perfected people. " Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 153, 154 (1909) https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/115.846#851