the great controversy-第86部分
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special work of purification； of putting away of 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。〃 Ephesians 5：27。 Then she will look 〃forth as the morning； fair as
the moon； clear as the sun； and terrible as an army with banners。〃 Song of
Solomon 6：10。
Besides the coming of the Lord to His temple； Malachi also foretells His
second advent； His coming for the execution of the judgment； in these words：
〃And I will come near
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to you to judgment； and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers； and
against the adulterers； and against false swearers； and against those that
oppress the hireling in his wages； the widow； and the fatherless； and that
turn aside the stranger from his right； and fear not Me； saith the Lord of
hosts。〃 Malachi 3：5。 Jude refers to the same scene when he says； 〃Behold；
the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints； to execute judgment upon
all； and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly
deeds。〃 Jude 14； 15。 This coming； and the coming of the Lord to His temple；
are distinct and separate events。
The coming of Christ as our high priest to the most holy place； for the
cleansing of the sanctuary； brought to view in Daniel 8：14； the coming of
the Son of man to the Ancient of Days； as presented in Daniel 7：13； and the
coming of the Lord to His temple； foretold by Malachi； are descriptions of
the same event； and this is also represented by the coming of the bridegroom
to the marriage； described by Christ in the parable of the ten virgins； of
Matthew 25。
In the summer and autumn of 1844 the proclamation； 〃Behold； the Bridegroom
cometh；〃 was given。 The two classes represented by the wise and foolish
virgins were then developedone class who looked with joy to the Lord's
appearing； and who had been diligently preparing to meet Him； another class
that； influenced by fear and acting from impulse； had been satisfied with a
theory of the truth； but were destitute of the grace of God。 In the parable；
when the bridegroom came； 〃they that were ready went in with him to the
marriage。〃 The coming of the bridegroom； here brought to view； takes place
before the marriage。 The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His
kingdom。 The Holy City； the New Jerusalem； which is the capital and
representative of the kingdom； is called 〃the bride； the Lamb's wife。〃 Said
the angel to John： 〃Come hither； I will show thee the bride； the Lamb's
wife。〃 〃He carried me away in the spirit；〃 says the prophet； 〃and showed me
that great city； the holy Jerusalem； descending out of heaven from God。〃
Revelation
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21：9； 10。 Clearly； then； the bride represents the Holy City； and the virgins
that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church。 In the
Revelation the people of God are said to be the guests at the marriage
supper。 Revelation 19：9。 If guests； they cannot be represented also as the
bride。 Christ； as stated by the prophet Daniel； will receive from the
Ancient of Days in heaven； 〃dominion； and glory； and a kingdom；〃 He will
receive the New Jerusalem； the capital of His kingdom； 〃prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband。〃 Daniel 7：14； Revelation 21：2。 Having received the
kingdom； He will come in His glory； as King of kings and Lord of lords； for
the redemption of His people； who are to 〃sit down with Abraham； and Isaac；
and Jacob；〃 at His table in His kingdom （Matthew 8：11； Luke 22：30）； to
partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb。
The proclamation； 〃Behold； the Bridegroom cometh；〃 in the summer of 1844；
led thousands to expect the immediate advent of the Lord。 At the appointed
time the Bridegroom came； not to the earth； as the people expected； but to
the Ancient of Days in heaven； to the marriage； the reception of His
kingdom。 〃They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage： and the
door was shut。〃 They were not to be present in person at the marriage； for
it takes place in heaven； while they are upon the earth。 The followers of
Christ are to 〃wait for their Lord； when He will return from the wedding。〃
Luke 12：36。 But they are to understand His work； and to follow Him by faith
as He goes in before God。 It is in this sense that they are said to go in to
the marriage。
In the parable it was those that had oil in their vessels with their lamps
that went in to the marriage。 Those who； with a knowledge of the truth from
the Scriptures； had also the Spirit and grace of God； and who； in the night
of their bitter trial； had patiently waited； searching the Bible for clearer
lightthese saw the truth concerning the sanctuary in heaven and the
Saviour's change in ministration； and by faith they followed Him in His work
in the sanctuary above。 And all who through the testimony of the Scriptures
accept the
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same truths； following Christ by faith as He enters in before God to perform
the last work of mediation； and at its close to receive His kingdomall
these are represented as going in to the marriage。
In the parable of Matthew 22 the same figure of the marriage is introduced；
and the investigative judgment is clearly represented as taking place before
the marriage。 Previous to the wedding the king comes in to see the guests；
to see if all are attired in the wedding garment； the spotless robe of
character washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb。 Matthew 22：11；
Revelation 7：14。 He who is found wanting is cast out； but all who upon
examination are seen to have the wedding garment on are accepted of God and
accounted worthy of a share in His kingdom and a seat upon His throne。 This
work of examination of character； of determining who are prepared for the
kingdom of God； is that of the investigative judgment； the closing of work
in the sanctuary above。
When the work of investigation shall be ended； when the cases of those who
in all ages have professed to be followers of Christ have been examined and
decided； then； and not till then； probation will close； and the door of
mercy will be shut。 Thus in the one short sentence； 〃They that were ready
went in with Him to the marriage： and the door was shut；〃 we are carried
down through the Saviour's final ministration； to the time when the great
work for man's salvation shall be completed。
In the service of the earthly sanctuary； which； as we have seen； is a figure
of the service in the heavenly； when the high priest on the Day of Atonement
entered the most holy place； the ministration in the first apartment ceased。
God commanded： 〃There shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation
when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place； until he comes
out。〃 Leviticus 16：17。 So when Christ entered the holy of holies to perform
the closing work of the atonement； He ceased His ministration in the first
apartment。 But when the ministration in the first apartment
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ended； the ministration in the second apartment began。 When in the typical
service the high priest left the holy on the Day of Atonement； he went in
before God to present the blood of the sin offering in behalf of all Israel
who truly repented of their sins。 So Christ had only completed one part of
His work as our intercessor； to enter upon another portion of the work； and
He still pleaded His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners。
This subject was not understood by Adventists in 1844。 After the passing of
the time when the Saviour was expected； they still believed His coming to be
near； they held that they had reached an important crisis and that the work
of Christ as man's intercessor before God had ceased。 It appeared to them to
be taught in the Bible that man's probation would close a short time before
the actual coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven。 This seemed evident
from those scriptures which point to a time when men will seek； knock； and
cry at the door of mercy； and it will not be opened。 And it was a question
with them whether the date to which they had looked for the coming of Christ
might not rather mark the beginning of this period which was immediately to
precede His coming。 Having given the warning of the judgment near； they felt
that their work for the world was done； and they lost their burden of soul
for the salvation of sinners； while the bold and blasphemous scoffing of the
ungodly seemed to them another evidence that the Spirit of God had been
withdrawn from the rejecters of His mercy。 All this confirmed them in the
belief that probation had ended； or； as they then expressed it； 〃the door of
mercy was shut。〃
But clearer light came with the investigation of the sanctuary question。
They now saw that they were correct in believing that the end of the 2300
days in 1844 marked an important crisis。 But while it was true that that
door of hope and mercy by which men had for eighteen hundred years found
access to God； was closed； another door was opened；
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and forgiveness of sins was offered to men through the intercession of
Christ in the most holy。 One part of His ministration had closed； only to
give place to another。 There was still an 〃open door〃 to the heavenly
sanctuary； where Christ was ministering in the sinner's behalf。
Now was seen the application of those words of Christ in the Revelation；
addressed to the church at this very time： 〃These things saith He that is
holy； He that is true； He that hath the key of David； He that openeth； and
no man shutteth； and shutteth； and no man openeth； I know thy works： behold；
I have set before thee an open door； and no man can shut it。〃 Revelation
3：7； 8。
It is those who by faith follow Jesus in the great work of the atonement who
receive the benefits of His m
