By Present Truth NZ

Are they blotted out at the time they are repented of and confessed by the sinner? Are they blotted out at the time God forgives the sinner, and writes pardon against his name in the Record Books of Heaven? Have our sins already been blotted out? Are they all blotted out, or only some of them? If they are not blotted out at the time of the sinner’s confession and God’s forgiveness – when will they be blotted out? If they are blotted out at some later stage, why are they not blotted out immediately they are confessed and forgiven? If they are not already blotted out, will I ever know when they are blotted out? Or are our sins blotted out when Jesus comes? These are questions that every sincere Christian should be asking, and seeking the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy answers to. What is God’s great Plan of Salvation relating to the blotting out of the sins of His people?

Firstly, there is no doubt that God has said that He will blot out our sins, but not only that, He has promised that He will, after He has blotted them out, never bring them back to His remembrance.

“I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, AND WILL NOT REMEMBER THY SINS.” Isaiah 43:25

“He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:19

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:16,17

“They shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: FOR I WILL FORGIVE THEIR INIQUITY, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SIN NO MORE.” Jeremiah 31:34

In Bible times, God’s faithful people knew that God would purge away their sins by blotting them out, and they knew that God was faithful and true to His Word, and that He would do exactly what He had promised He would do.

David said:- “Iniquities prevail against me: As for our transgressions, THOU SHALT PURGE THEM AWAY.” Psalm 65:3

“Faithful is He that calleth you, WHO ALSO WILL DO IT.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24

“It is the purpose of [the plan of] Redemption..to blot out sin.” Christ’s Object Lessons 266

Let us start with the Second Advent of Jesus. Are we cleansed from our sins, and our characters purified, and our sins blotted out at that time? God’s answer to this question is “No.” Our characters are not purified, and our sins are not blotted out, as some people believe and teach, when Jesus comes.

“When Jesus comes He is NOT to cleanse us of our sins, to remove from us the defects in our characters, or to cure us of the infirmities of our tempers and dispositions. If wrought for us at all, this work will all be accomplished BEFORE THAT TIME. When the Lord comes, those who are holy will be holy still. Those who have preserved their bodies and spirits in holiness, in sanctification and honour, will then receive the finishing touch of immortality. But those who are unjust, unsanctified, and filthy will remain so forever. NO WORK WILL THEN BE DONE FOR THEM TO REMOVE THEIR DEFECTS AND GIVE THEM HOLY CHARACTERS. The Refiner does not then sit to pursue His refining process and remove their sins and their corruption. This is all to be done in these hours of probation. It is now that this work is to be accomplished for us.” Testimonies Volume Two 355

“When Christ shall come, our vile bodies are to be changed, and made like His glorious body; but the vile character will not be made holy then. The transformation of character must take place before His coming. Our natures must be pure and holy; we must have the mind of Christ, that He may behold with pleasure His image reflected upon our souls.” Signs of the Times 11 January 1886

Are our sins blotted out when we come before God in repentance, and ask Him to forgive us? God again answers “No.” David knew that his sins were not blotted out at the time he repented of them. Even after he had repented of his sins, he still prayed for God to blot them out, because his sins were ever before him.

David prayed this prayer to God:- “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions….FOR MY SIN IS EVER BEFORE ME.” Psalm 51:1-3

“David was a repentant man, and although he confessed and hated his sin, HE COULD NOT FORGET IT.” Review and Herald 24 May 1887

God also says that our sins are still marked before Him – therefore He has not yet blotted them out, because He has promised that when He does blot them out, He will not bring them to remembrance.

“For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before Me, saith the Lord GOD.” Jeremiah 2:22

The prophet Isaiah knew that his sins, and the sins of Israel, had not been blotted out, even though they had been repented of and confessed. He knew that all their sins were still multiplied before God.

“We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before Thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them.” Isaiah 59:11,12

The records of our sins are like scars that we must bear – until our sins are blotted out. Even though God has forgiven us, we still bear the scars. The memory and the scars remain.

“When these persons [who have been so easily led by Satan, and sinned against God] come to a better state of mind, they will consider how much they have lost. In the place of bruising Satan under their feet, they have opened the door of their lips and permitted him to control their tongues; they have opened the door of their minds and permitted him to take possession of them; they opened the door of their hearts and permitted him to occupy the highest seat in the soul temple. After these inglorious defeats, they will ever carry the wounds and scars with them. EVEN IF CHRIST HAS MERCY UPON THEM, AND PARDONS THEIR SINS, THE SCARS REMAIN.” Signs of the Times 12 August 1886

“Now it may be you can repent. But even if pardon is written against your names, you will sustain terrible loss; for the scars you have made upon your souls will remain.” Testimonies to Ministers 447

“Those who take the lead in these things [in sinning against God] bring upon the cause a stain not easily effaced. They wound their own souls, and through their lifetime will carry the scars. The evil-doer may see his sins and repent; God may pardon the transgressor; but the powers of discernment, which ought ever to be kept keen and sensitive to distinguish between the sacred and the common, are in a great measure destroyed.” Testimonies Volume Eight 66

“This class can never become what they might have been had not the convictions of conscience been stifled, the holiest, tenderest affections blunted. If in after years they become followers of Christ, they will still bear the scars which irreverence for sacred things has made upon their souls.” Testimonies Volume Five 41

The Old Testament Sanctuary service was to teach God’s people that the blood of Christ was to cleanse them from the guilt of sin, and it was to deliver them from the power of sin, but the record of their sins was not to be blotted out by the cleansing blood until the Day of Atonement.

“In the [Old Testament] type the blood of the sin offering removed the sin from the penitent, BUT IT RESTED IN THE SANCTUARY UNTIL THE DAY OF ATONEMENT….The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the Law, WAS NOT TO CANCEL THE SIN; it would stand on record in the [Heavenly] Sanctuary until the Final Atonement.” Patriarchs and Prophets 357

“Once a year, on the great Day of Atonement, the priest entered the most holy place for the cleansing of the sanctuary. The work there performed completed the yearly round of ministration….IMPORTANT TRUTHS CONCERNING THE ATONEMENT [IN HEAVEN] ARE TAUGHT BY THIS TYPICAL SERVICE. A substitute was accepted in the sinner’s stead; BUT the sin was not cancelled by the blood of the victim. A means was thus provided by which it was transferred to the sanctuary. By the offering of blood the sinner acknowledged the authority of the Law, confessed his guilt in transgression, and expressed his desire for pardon through faith in a Redeemer to come; BUT HE WAS NOT YET ENTIRELY RELEASED FROM THE CONDEMNATION OF THE LAW.” Great Controversy 419,420

“What was done IN TYPE in the ministration of the earthly sanctuary, is done IN REALITY in the ministration OF THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY.” Great Controversy 420

The following is what happens when we confess our sins in the daily Christian experience: Jesus forgives us, and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. He places upon us His robe of righteousness, and He writes Pardon against our names in the Books of Record in Heaven. But He does not, at that same time, blot out our sins. The record remains, to be dealt with in the Final Atonement.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10

“Notwithstanding the defects of the people of God, Christ does not turn away from the objects of His care. He has the power to change their raiment. He removes the filthy garments, He places upon the repenting, believing ones His own robe of righteousness, and writes pardon against their names on the records of Heaven. He confesses them as His before the heavenly universe. Satan their adversary is shown to be an accuser and deceiver. God will do justice for His own elect.” Christ’s Object Lessons 169,170

After His death and resurrection, Jesus returned back to Heaven, to begin His work as our High Priest in the heavenly Sanctuary. The heavenly Sanctuary is a two-apartment Sanctuary, just as the earthly Sanctuary built by Moses was a two-apartment Sanctuary. The earthly was patterned after the heavenly. Jesus began His ministry as our High Priest in the First Apartment – the Holy Place – of the heavenly Sanctuary at His Ascension. His ministry in that Apartment consisted of hearing and answering the prayers of His people – in hearing their prayers of repentance and confession – and in writing Pardon against their names in the Books of heaven.

“As the Sanctuary on earth had two apartments, the Holy and the Most Holy, so there are two Holy Places in the Sanctuary in Heaven.” Spirit of Prophecy Volume Four 261

“I was then bidden to take notice of the Two Apartments of the heavenly Sanctuary….In the First Apartment I saw the candlestick with seven lamps, the table of showbread, the altar of incense, and the censer….In the Second Apartment, I saw there an Ark which had the appearance of being of the finest gold….In the Ark were tables of stone containing the Ten Commandments.” Early Writings 251,252

“I was also shown a sanctuary upon the earth containing two apartments. It resembled the one in Heaven.” Early Writings 252

“The Holy Places of the Sanctuary in heaven are represented by the two apartments in the Sanctuary on earth.” Great Controversy 414

For 18 centuries, this work of Jesus as our High Priest in Heaven continued in the First Apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary. It was not until 1844 that Jesus transferred His ministry to the Second Apartment – the Most Holy Place of the Sanctuary. The First Apartment ministry did not deal with the blotting out of sins – during that time the sins, though forgiven and pardoned, still remained on the Record Books in the Sanctuary.

“For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the First Apartment of the Sanctuary. The blood of Christ, pleaded in behalf of penitent believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, YET THEIR SINS STILL REMAINED UPON THE BOOKS OF RECORD.” Great Controversy 421

“Some men’s sins are open beforehand, confessed in penitence, and forsaken, and they go beforehand to judgment. Pardon is written over against the names of these men. But other men’s sins follow after, and are not put away by repentance and confession, and these sins will stand registered against them in the Books of Heaven.” Bible Commentary Vol 7 916

It wasn’t until Jesus transferred His ministry into the Most Holy Place – in 1844 – that we have the special work of the Investigative Judgment and the Blotting out of sins. You will understand why the Blotting out of sins had to take place at that time, as we progress further into this study.

When Jesus, as our High Priest, entered into the Most Holy Place in 1844, it was the fulfilling of the Old Testament type – of the earthly high priest, Aaron, entering into the Most Holy place of the earthly Sanctuary, on the Day of Atonement. What happened on earth was the type – for it was a type of heavenly things. What happens in Heaven is the Antitype. That is why we say that we are now living, since 1844, in the Antitypical Day of Atonement.

“WE ARE NOW LIVING IN THE SOLEMN PERIOD OF THE ANTITYPICAL DAY OF ATONEMENT.” Manuscript Releases Volume Five – Page 5

“At the time appointed for The Judgment – the close of the 2,300 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.’” Great Controversy 486

“We are in the antitypical day of atonement.” Fundamentals of Christian Education 272

“In the typical service, when the high priest entered the Most Holy Place, all Israel were required to gather about the Sanctuary and in the most solemn manner humble their souls before God, that they might receive the pardon of their sins and not be cut off from the congregation. How much more essential IN THIS ANTITYPICAL DAY OF ATONEMENT that we understand the work of our High Priest and know what duties are required of us.” Great Controversy 430,431

“WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE WORK THAT IS GOING FORWARD IN HEAVEN. IN THIS THE GREAT ANTITYPICAL DAY OF ATONEMENT, we need to be in perfect harmony with the work being carried forward in heaven. We need to repent and confess our sins.” Manuscript Releases Volume Three 417

The cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary is not just for the blotting out of the sins that are there recorded – it has a direct relationship to the cleansing of the body temples of God’s people here upon the earth.

“As in the typical service there was a work of Atonement at the close of the year, so before Christ’s work for the redemption of men is completed there is a work of Atonement for the removal of sin from the Sanctuary. This is the service which began when the 2300 days ended [in 1844]. At that time, as foretold by Daniel the prophet, our High Priest entered the Most Holy, to perform the last division of His solemn work – TO CLEANSE THE SANCTUARY.” Great Controversy 421

“The passing of the time in 1844 was a period of great events, opening to our astonished eyes the cleansing of the sanctuary transpiring in heaven, AND HAVING DECIDED RELATION TO GOD’S PEOPLE UPON THE EARTH.” Counsels to Writers and Editors 30

“As in THE FINAL ATONEMENT the sins of the truly penitent are to be blotted from the records of heaven, no more to be remembered or come into mind, so in the type they were borne away into the wilderness, FOREVER SEPARATED FROM THE CONGREGATION.” Patriarchs and Prophets 358

“And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month [the Day of Atonement], ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: FOR ON THAT DAY SHALL THE PRIEST MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR YOU, TO CLEANSE YOU, THAT YE MAY BE CLEAN FROM ALL YOUR SINS BEFORE THE LORD.” Leviticus 16:29-31

Before our sins are blotted out in the Investigative Judgment, Satan is able to point to all the record of our sins that he has caused us to commit, and he claims us as his subjects.

“While Jesus is pleading for the subjects of His grace, Satan accuses them before God as transgressors. The great deceiver has sought to lead them into scepticism, to cause them to lose confidence in God, to separate themselves from His love, and to break His Law. Now he points to the record of their lives, to the defects of character, the unlikeness to Christ, which has dishonoured their Redeemer, TO ALL THE SINS THAT HE HAS TEMPTED THEM TO COMMIT, and because of these he claims them as his subjects.” Great Controversy 484

This is talking about God’s people. All their sins have been confessed and forgiven, yet Satan is still able to point to ALL the sins that he has tempted them to commit – simply because their sins have not yet been blotted out, even though pardoned and forgiven. When, then, are our sins blotted out? For the living saints of God, their sins are to be blotted out when the time called the “times of refreshing” comes – that is – the time when the Latter Rain is about to fall upon God’s people for the finishing of the work of God upon this earth before Jesus comes. That is when our sins are going to be blotted out, brethren and sisters, at the time of the Latter Rain, and that time comes after God’s people have passed the Final Test of the Sunday Legislation. For us living here today, the blotting out of our sins is still yet future.

The apostle Peter made it very clear in the Book of Acts as to when the sins of God’s people are going to be blotted out:

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE BLOTTED OUT, WHEN THE TIMES OF REFRESHING SHALL COME FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. And He shall send Jesus, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things…” Acts 3:19-11

“WHEN THE TIMES OF REFRESHING SHALL COME…THEN the sins will be removed…and be remembered no more against him forever.” 3 Selected Messages 355,356

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. Here are ‘the times of refreshing’ to which the apostle Peter looked forward when he said [in Acts 3:19] ‘Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out (IN THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT), when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus.’” Great Controversy 611 (1888 Edition)

“The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the Former Rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the Latter Rain at its close. Here are ‘the times of refreshing’ to which the apostle Peter looked forward when he said: ‘Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus.’” Great Controversy 611,612

“Let our sins go beforehand to judgment, that they may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Manuscript Releases Volume Three 417

The Blotting out of Sins, and the Cleansing of the heavenly Sanctuary – as depicted in the Old Testament Sanctuary Service – cannot take place until after the Investigative Judgment. For those who have died in Jesus, their sins are to be blotted out in the Investigative Judgment now taking place in heaven, while they themselves are resting in their graves. For the people of God who are still living – and looking forward to translation – the Blotting out of their sins cannot take place until after the Judgment of the Living.

“In the typical system, which was a shadow of the sacrifice and priesthood of Christ, the cleansing of the sanctuary was the last service performed by the high priest in the yearly round of ministration. It was the closing work of the atonement – a removal or putting away of sin from Israel. It prefigured the closing work in the ministration of our High Priest in Heaven, in the removal or blotting out of the sins of His people, which are registered in the heavenly records. This service involves a work of investigation, a work of judgment; and it immediately precedes the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Great Controversy 352

“In the great day of final award, the dead are to be ‘judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.’ Revelation 20:12. Then by virtue of the atoning blood of Christ, the sins of all the truly penitent will be blotted from the Books of Heaven. Thus the sanctuary will be freed, or cleansed, from the record of sin. In the type, this great work of atonement, or blotting out of sins, was represented by the services of the Day of Atonement – the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary, which was accomplished by the removal, by virtue of the blood of the sin offering, of the sins by which it had been polluted.” Patriarchs and Prophets 357,358

“As anciently the sins of the people were by faith placed upon the sin offering and through its blood transferred, in figure, to the earthly sanctuary, so in the New Covenant the sins of the repentant are by faith placed upon Christ and transferred, in fact, to the heavenly sanctuary. And as the typical cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of the sins by which it had been polluted, so the actual cleansing of the heavenly is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of the sins which are there recorded. BUT BEFORE THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED, THERE MUST BE AN EXAMINATION OF THE BOOKS OF RECORD TO DETERMINE WHO, THROUGH REPENTANCE OF SIN AND FAITH IN CHRIST, ARE ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF HIS ATONEMENT. The cleansing of the sanctuary therefore involves a work of investigation – a work of judgment. This work must be performed prior to the coming of Christ to redeem His people; for when He comes, His reward is with Him to give to every man according to his works.” Great Controversy 421,422

“The work of Investigative Judgment and the Blotting out of Sins is to be accomplished before the Second Advent of the Lord. Since the dead [and the living as well] 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.’ When the Investigative Judgment closes, Christ will come, and His reward is with Him to give to every man as his work shall be.” Great Controversy 485

“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….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.” Great Controversy 483

This next statement is the way it will be when we can look back, and the heirs of God’s Kingdom are made up, and Jesus is ready to take us home.

“While Jesus had been ministering in the Sanctuary, the Judgment had been going on for the righteous dead, and then for the righteous living. Christ had received His kingdom, having made the Atonement for His people and blotted out their sins. The subjects of the kingdom were made up. The marriage of the Lamb was consummated. 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.” Early Writings 280

Our filthy garments – the record of our sins – are to be taken away from us in the Judgment of the Living. This is the “Joshua and the Angel” experience recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible.

“And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said unto Satan, 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? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.” Zechariah 3:1-5

“Jesus speaks of His people as a brand plucked out of the fire….JOSHUA, WHO REPRESENTS GOD’S PEOPLE, is clothed in filthy garments, and stands before the angel; but as the people repent before God for the transgression of His Law, and reach up by the hand of faith to lay hold on the righteousness of Christ, Jesus says, ‘Take away the filthy garments from them, and clothe them with change of raiment’” Signs of the Times 2 June 1890

This “taking away of the filthy garments” is the blotting out of their sins. It is yet future for God’s people, because, when it takes place, they will not be able to bring any of their sins to remembrance, and they will be eternally secure from the tempter’s devices, nevermore to be defiled by the corruptions of the world.

“AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD AFFLICT THEIR SOULS BEFORE HIM, PLEADING FOR PURITY OF HEART, THE COMMAND IS GIVEN, ‘TAKE AWAY THE FILTHY GARMENTS’ FROM THEM, AND THE ENCOURAGING WORDS ARE SPOKEN, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE CAUSED THINE INIQUITY TO PASS FROM THEE, AND I WILL CLOTHE THEE WITH CHANGE OF RAIMENT.’ THE SPOTLESS ROBE OF CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS PLACED UPON THE TRIED, TEMPTED, YET FAITHFUL CHILDREN OF GOD. THE DESPISED REMNANT ARE CLOTHED IN GLORIOUS APPAREL, NEVERMORE TO BE DEFILED BY THE CORRUPTIONS OF THE WORLD. Their names are retained in the Lamb’s Book of Life, enrolled among the faithful of all ages. They have resisted the wiles of the deceiver; they have not been turned from their loyalty by the dragon’s roar. NOW THEY ARE ETERNALLY SECURE FROM THE TEMPTER’S DEVICES. Their sins are transferred to the originator of sin. And the remnant are not only pardoned and accepted, but honoured. ‘A fair mitre’ IS SET UPON THEIR HEADS. THEY ARE TO BE AS KINGS AND PRIESTS UNTO GOD. WHILE SATAN WAS URGING HIS ACCUSATIONS AND SEEKING TO DESTROY THIS COMPANY, HOLY ANGELS, UNSEEN, WERE PASSING TO AND FRO, PLACING UPON THEM THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD. THESE ARE THEY THAT STAND UPON MOUNT ZION WITH THE LAMB, HAVING THE FATHER’S NAME WRITTEN IN THEIR FOREHEADS. THEY SING THE NEW SONG BEFORE THE THRONE, THAT SONG WHICH NO MAN CAN LEARN SAVE THE HUNDRED AND FORTY AND FOUR THOUSAND, WHICH WERE REDEEMED FROM THE EARTH. ‘THESE ARE THEY WHICH FOLLOW THE LAMB WHITHERSOEVER HE GOETH. THESE WERE REDEEMED FROM AMONG MEN, BEING THE FIRST FRUITS UNTO GOD AND TO THE LAMB. AND IN THEIR MOUTH WAS FOUND NO GUILE: FOR THEY ARE WITHOUT FAULT BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD. NOW IS REACHED THE COMPLETE FULFILMENT OF THOSE WORDS OF THE ANGEL: ‘HEAR NOW, O JOSHUA THE HIGH PRIEST, THOU, AND THY FELLOWS THAT SIT BEFORE THEE: FOR THEY ARE MEN WONDERED AT: FOR, BEHOLD, I WILL BRING FORTH MY SERVANT THE BRANCH.’ CHRIST IS REVEALED AS THE REDEEMER AND DELIVERER OF HIS PEOPLE. NOW INDEED ARE THE REMNANT ‘MEN WONDERED AT,’ AS THE TEARS AND HUMILIATION OF THEIR PILGRIMAGE GIVE PLACE TO JOY AND HONOUR IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND THE LAMB. ‘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.’” Testimonies Volume Five 475,476

“Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth, are receiving the heavenly mould and preparing for the Seal of God in their foreheads. WHEN THE DECREE GOES FORTH AND THE STAMP IS IMPRESSED, THEIR CHARACTER WILL REMAIN PURE AND SPOTLESS FOR ETERNITY.” Testimonies Volume Five 216

“But the Judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his [Satan’s] dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.” Daniel 7:26

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his [Satan’s] burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his [Satan’s] yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing [sealing].” Isaiah 10:27

“The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. ” Zephaniah 3:15

“Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.” Micah 5:9

“O LORD our God, other lords beside Thee have had dominion over us: but by Thee only will we make mention of Thy name. They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.” Isaiah 26:13,14

“God will have a people zealous of good works, standing firm amid the pollutions of this degenerate age. There will be a people who hold so fast to the divine strength that they will be proof against every temptation. Evil communications in flaming handbills may seek to speak to their senses and corrupt their minds; yet they will be so united to God and angels that they will be as those who see not and hear not.” Testimonies Volume Three 472

It will then be proved that: “There is no power in the whole satanic force that can disable the soul that trusts, in simple confidence, in the wisdom that comes from God.” Sons and Daughters of God 91

“THEY SHOW THAT THERE IS A SPIRITUAL POWER THAT CAN ENABLE MEN AND WOMEN NOT TO SWERVE AN INCH FROM TRUTH AND JUSTICE FOR ALL THE GIFTS THAT MEN CAN BESTOW.” Testimonies Volume Nine 24

This is the final purification experience for God’s people, brethren, spoken of in the Books of Malachi and Isaiah.

“I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” Isaiah 13:12

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. 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 3:1-5

“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.” GREAT CONTROVERSY 426 [ALL OF THE ABOVE TEXTS OF SCRIPTURE RELATE TO THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT NOW TAKING PLACE IN THE MOST HOLY PLACE OF THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY.]

The condition of God’s people will then bring forth songs of rejoicing – when their sins have been blotted out.

“And I will turn My hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.” Isaiah 1:25,26

“And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for He hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.” Isaiah 12:4-6

“O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.” Nahum 1:15

“So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.” Joel 3:17

“THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. Sing, O DAUGHTER OF ZION; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all thy heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, HE HATH CAST OUT THINE ENEMY: the King of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee: THOU SHALT NOT SEE EVIL ANY MORE. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, let not thine hands be slack. The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at the time I will undo all that afflict thee; and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.” Zephaniah 3:13-10

“Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work (recompense – margin) before Him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.” Isaiah 62:11,12

God’s people will then be as if they had never sinned.

“’Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.’ All that have put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness will stand before Him as chosen and faithful and true.” Testimonies Volume Five 471

“Those only who through faith in Christ obey all of God’s commandments will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression.” Bible Commentary Vol 6 1118

“‘Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the Angel.’ Satan had represented the chosen and loyal people of God as being full of defilement and sin. He could depict the particular sins of which they had been guilty. Had he not set the whole confederacy of evil at work to lead them, through his seductive arts, into these very sins? But they had repented, they had accepted the righteousness of Christ. They were therefore standing before God clothed with the garments of Christ’s righteousness, and ‘He answered and spake unto those that stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him He said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.’ EVERY SIN OF WHICH THEY HAD BEEN GUILTY WAS FORGIVEN, AND THEY STOOD BEFORE GOD AS CHOSEN AND TRUE, AS INNOCENT, AS PERFECT, AS THOUGH THEY HAD NEVER SINNED.” Testimonies to Ministers 40

“In their untainted purity and spotless perfection, Christ looks upon His people as the reward of all His suffering, His humiliation, and His love, and the supplement of His glory – Christ, the great centre from which radiates all glory.” Testimonies to Ministers 18,19

“Through the righteousness of Christ we shall stand before God pardoned, and as though we had never sinned.” Signs of the Times 10 April 1893

“In all the redeemed host not one defect will be seen.” Youth’s Instructor 17 January 1901

“The Cross of Calvary challenges, and will finally vanquish, every earthly and hellish power. In the Cross all influence centres, and from it all influence goes forth. It is the great centre of attraction, for on it Christ gave up his life for the human race. This sacrifice was offered for the purpose of restoring man to his original perfection; yea, more. It was offered to give him an entire transformation of character, making him more than a conqueror. THOSE WHO IN THE STRENGTH OF CHRIST OVERCOME THE GREAT ENEMY OF GOD AND MAN, WILL OCCUPY A POSITION IN THE HEAVENLY COURTS ABOVE ANGELS WHO HAVE NEVER FALLEN.” General Conference Bulletin 1 April 1899

The following texts will then be “present truth.”

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins.” Isaiah 44:22

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

“Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.” Isaiah 38:17

The wicked, who have not had their sins blotted out, will then be saying:

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jeremiah 8:20

How can we tell, at the present time, that our sins have not yet been blotted out?

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions….FOR MY SIN IS EVER BEFORE ME.” Psalm 51:1-3

If we can still remember our sins, and if others can still remember some of them, then they have not yet been blotted out. When our sins have been blotted out, we will not be able to bring any of them to remembrance. Nor will others be able to bring them to remembrance either.

“Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.” Isaiah 54:4

“In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against Me.” Zephaniah 3:11

“And I will establish My covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 16:62,63

“IN THE FINAL ATONEMENT the sins of the truly penitent are to be blotted from the records of heaven, NO MORE TO BE REMEMBERED OR COME INTO MIND.” Patriarchs and Prophets 358

“Had not Jacob previously repented of his sin in obtaining the birthright by fraud, God could not have heard his prayer and mercifully preserved his life. So in the Time of Trouble, if the people of God had unconfessed sins to appear before them while tortured with fear and anguish, they would be overwhelmed; despair would cut off their faith, and they could not have confidence to plead with God for deliverance. But while they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they will have no concealed wrongs to reveal. Their sins will have been blotted out by the atoning blood of Christ, AND THEY CANNOT BRING THEM TO REMEMBRANCE.” Patriarchs and Prophets 202 Great Controversy 620

“During the Time of Trouble the righteous will not cease their earnest agonizing cries for deliverance. They cannot bring to mind any particular sins, but in their whole life they can see but little good. Their sins had gone beforehand to judgment, and pardon had been written. Their sins had been borne away into the land of forgetfulness, and they could not bring them to remembrance. Certain destruction threatens them, and like Jacob they will not suffer their faith to grow weak, because their prayers are not immediately answered. Though suffering the pangs of hunger, they will not cease their intercessions. They lay hold of the strength of God as Jacob laid hold of the angel, and the language of their soul is, ‘I will not let Thee go except Thou bless me.’ The saints at length prevail like Jacob, and are gloriously delivered by the voice of God.” Spiritual Gifts Volume 3 135

“The assurance had been given that their iniquity should be remembered no more.” Patriarchs and Prophets 540

“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: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.” Jeremiah 50:20

So our sins are blotted out long before the final Time of Trouble.

Actually, God’s people are sealed after their sins are blotted out in the Investigative Judgment – This is before Jesus finishes His work in the Second Apartment of the Heavenly Sanctuary, before what is called the Final Close of Probation..

“Jesus is in His Holy Temple, and will now accept our sacrifices, our prayers, and our confessions of faults and sins, and will pardon all the transgressions of Israel, that they may be blotted out before He leaves the Sanctuary. When Jesus leaves the Sanctuary, then they who are holy and righteous will be holy and righteous still; FOR ALL THEIR SINS WILL THEN BE BLOTTED OUT, AND THEY WILL BE SEALED WITH THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD. But those that are unjust and filthy will be unjust and filthy still; for then there will be no Priest in the Sanctuary to offer their sacrifices, their confessions, and their prayers before the Father’s Throne. Therefore what is done to rescue souls from the coming storm of wrath must be done before Jesus leaves the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary.” Early Writings 48

“The despised remnant [who enter by faith with Jesus into the Most Holy Place, and have their sins blotted out, and who are sealed with the Seal of God in their foreheads] are clothed in glorious apparel, nevermore to be defiled by the corruptions of the world….NOW THEY ARE ETERNALLY SECURE FROM THE TEMPTER’S DEVICES. Their sins are transferred to the originator of sin…Holy angels, unseen, were passing to and fro, placing upon them THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD. These are they that stand upon Mount Zion with the Lamb, having the Father’s name written in their foreheads. They sing the new song before the Throne, that song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.” 5 Testimonies 475,476

“WHAT IS THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD, WHICH IS PLACED IN THE FOREHEADS OF HIS PEOPLE? IT IS A MARK WHICH ANGELS, BUT NOT HUMAN EYES, CAN READ; FOR THE DESTROYING ANGEL MUST SEE THIS MARK OF REDEMPTION. THE INTELLIGENT MIND HAS SEEN THE SIGN OF THE CROSS OF CALVARY IN THE LORD’S ADOPTED SONS AND DAUGHTERS. THE SIN OF THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW OF GOD IS TAKEN AWAY. THEY HAVE ON THE WEDDING GARMENT, AND ARE OBEDIENT AND FAITHFUL TO ALL GOD’S COMMANDS.” Bible Commentary Volume 7 968

The Latter Rain – the Times of Refreshing – comes after the Blotting Out of our Sins, and after we are sealed.

“Repent therefore, and turn again, THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE BLOTTED OUT, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the lord.” Acts 3:19 Revised Standard Version

“Not one of us will receive THE SEAL OF GOD while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. THEN THE LATTER RAIN WILL FALL UPON US as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost.” 5 Testimonies 214

“When the reproach of indolence and slothfulness shall have been wiped away from the church, the Spirit of the Lord will be graciously manifested. Divine power will be revealed. The church will see the providential working of the Lord of hosts. The light of truth will shine forth in clear, strong rays, and as in the time of the apostles, many souls will turn from error to truth. The earth will be lightened with the glory of the Lord.” Christian Service 43

“Clad in the complete armour of light and righteousness, the Church enters upon her final conflict. The dross, the worthless material, will be consumed, and the influence of the truth testifies to the world of its sanctifying, ennobling character.” Testimonies to Ministers 17,18

After the Day of Atonement in ancient Israel, they observed the final feast of the year – the Feast of Tabernacles, or the Feast of Ingathering. This feast came immediately after the Day of Atonement. It represented, in our time, the final harvest of souls who are to be gathered into the Lord’s garner, through the outpouring of His Holy Spirit in Latter Rain power, after God’s Church has entered into the Blotting out of their sins, and God’s Sealing in their foreheads – in this Antitypical Day of Atonement in which we are now living.

“I then saw the Third Angel. Said my accompanying angel, ‘Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and SEAL, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner. These things should engross the whole mind, the whole attention.” Early Writings 118

“In the seventh month came the Feast of Tabernacles, or of ingathering. This feast acknowledged God’s bounty in the products of the orchard, the olive grove, and the vineyard. It was the crowning festal gathering of the year. The land had yielded its increase, the harvests had been gathered into the granaries, the fruits, the oil, and the wine had been stored, the first fruits had been reserved, and now the people came with their tributes of thanksgiving to God, who had thus richly blessed them. This feast was to be preeminently an occasion of rejoicing. IT OCCURRED JUST AFTER THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT, WHEN THE ASSURANCE HAD BEEN GIVEN THAT THEIR INIQUITY SHOULD BE REMEMBERED NO MORE. At peace with God, they now came before Him to acknowledge His goodness and to praise Him for His mercy. The labours of the harvest being ended, and the toils of the new year not yet begun, the people were free from care, and could give themselves up to the sacred, joyous influences of the hour.” Patriarchs and Prophets 540

“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 every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.” Isaiah 4:2-4

“Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Heph-zi-bah [‘My delight is in her’], and thy land BEULAH [Married]: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.” Isaiah 62:4

The Cleansing of the Sanctuary, and the Blotting Out of Sins, must take place before Jesus can come to claim us as His own.

“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. It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for, BUT TO HASTEN THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST [2 Peter 3:12 margin].” Christ’s Object Lessons 69

The Professed People of God, if finally lost, will have to face the penalty for ALL their sins, including the ones which they had confessed, and had been forgiven, BUT WHICH HAD NOT BEEN BLOTTED OUT IN THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT.

“AS SOON AS THE BOOKS OF RECORD ARE OPENED, AND THE EYE OF JESUS LOOKS UPON THE WICKED, THEY ARE CONSCIOUS OF EVERY SIN WHICH THEY HAVE EVER COMMITTED. THEY SEE JUST WHERE THEIR FEET DIVERGED FROM THE PATH OF PURITY AND HOLINESS, JUST HOW FAR PRIDE AND REBELLION HAVE CARRIED THEM IN THE VIOLATION OF THE LAW OF GOD. THE SEDUCTIVE TEMPTATIONS WHICH THEY ENCOURAGED BY INDULGENCE IN SIN, THE BLESSINGS PERVERTED, THE MESSENGERS OF GOD DESPISED, THE WARNINGS REJECTED, THE WAVES OF MERCY BEATEN BACK BY THE STUBBORN, UNREPENTANT HEART – ALL APPEAR AS IF WRITTEN IN LETTERS OF FIRE.” Great Controversy 666

“But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned – in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die….When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.” Ezekiel 18:24,26

“Not until the final settlement, when the cases of all will be decided, and the acts of our entire lives will be laid open to our view in the presence of God and the Lamb and all the holy angels, will parents realize the almost infinite value of their misspent time.” Fundamentals of Christian Education 29

“But ‘if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.’ Romans 8:9. He is alienated from God, fitted only for eternal separation from Him. IT IS TRUE THAT HE MAY ONCE HAVE RECEIVED FORGIVENESS; BUT HIS UNMERCIFUL SPIRIT SHOWS THAT HE NOW REJECTS GOD’S PARDONING LOVE. HE HAS SEPARATED HIMSELF FROM GOD, AND IS IN THE SAME CONDITION AS BEFORE HE WAS FORGIVEN. HE HAS DENIED HIS REPENTANCE,AND HIS SINS ARE UPON HIM AS IF HE HAD NOT REPENTED.” Christ’s Object Lessons 251

This could not be so if every one’s sins were blotted out when they confess them, as some people teach and would want you to believe. Here are the proper sequence of events as shown clearly in Acts 3:19-11.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” Acts 3:19-11 – King James Version

“Repent therefore and be converted, THAT your sins may be blotted out, SO THAT times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” New King James Version

“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, THAT times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, AND THAT He may send the Christ appointed for you.” Revised Standard Version

“Repent and turn about, SO THAT your sins may be wiped away, AND THAT seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, AND SO THAT He may send the Christ who has been appointed unto you.” Modern Language Version

“Repent therefore and return, THAT your sins may be wiped away, IN ORDER THAT times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” New American Standard Version

“Now you must repent and turn to God, SO THAT your sins may be wiped out, AND SO THAT the Lord may send the time of comfort. THEN He will send you the Christ He has predestined – that is Jesus.” Jerusalem Bible

“Repent, therefore, and be converted, for the blotting out of you the sins, SO AS MAY COME times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.” Literal Greek Translation

“Repent, then, and turn to God, SO THAT your sins may be wiped out, THAT times of refreshing may come from the Lord, AND THAT He may send the Christ.” New International Version

“Repent therefore and be converted, for the blotting out of your sins, SO THAT may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, AND THAT He may send Him who was before proclaimed to you – Jesus Christ.” Greek New Testament

“Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to Him SO HE CAN cleanse away your sins AND SEND YOU wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord, AND SEND JESUS YOUR MESSIAH BACK TO YOU AGAIN.” Living Bible

The proper sequence of events are as follows:

• 1:- Repent ye therefore, and be converted – This is our present work.
• 2:- SO THAT your sins may be blotted out – The work yet to be done for us in the Investigative Judgment.
• 3:- SO THAT the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord – The Latter Rain comes after our sins are blotted out.
• 4: SO THAT He shall send Jesus Christ – So that Jesus can come again.

It is not until after we have had our sins blotted out, that the Latter Rain can come upon us, and it is not until God’s people have received the Latter Rain for the finishing of the work, that Jesus can come. Uriah Smith understood the true meaning of Acts 3:19-11. Notice what he said in an article he wrote for the Review and Herald:

“And AFTER the blotting out of sin, COMES THE TIMES OF REFRESHING. Our Version of the Bible reads, ‘WHEN the times of refreshing shall come.’ The original rather demands the translation, ‘THAT the times of refreshing may come.’…It shows that it is subsequent to the blotting out of sins, that the refreshing [Latter Rain] comes from the presence of the Lord upon His people. And it is just before the coming of Christ; for immediately after, Christ is sent for His waiting ones. This refreshing [the Latter Rain] is thus definitely located. IT IS BETWEEN THE BLOTTING OUT OF SINS AND THE COMING OF CHRIST. The blotting out of sins is the conclusion of the work of our Lord in His priestly office as Mediator for man. Between that and the coming of the Lord, a little period intervenes, and at that time His people are refreshed from His heavenly presence. What is the nature of this refreshing? IT IS SOMETHING THAT CANNOT COME TILL SINS ARE BLOTTED OUT.” Uriah Smith in an early Review and Herald Article

Brother O. R. L. Crosier – one of our early Pioneers – had the right understanding on THE BLOTTING OUT OF SINS and the cleansing of the sanctuary.

“THE LORD SHOWED ME IN VISION, MORE THAN ONE YEAR AGO, THAT BROTHER CROSIER HAD THE TRUE LIGHT ON THE CLEANSING OF THE SANCTUARY, AND THAT IT WAS HIS WILL THAT BROTHER CROSIER SHOULD WRITE OUT THE VIEW WHICH HE GAVE US IN THE DAY-STAR EXTRA, FEBRUARY 7, 1846. I FEEL FULLY AUTHORIZED BY THE LORD, TO RECOMMEND THAT EXTRA, TO EVERY SAINT.” A Word To The Little Flock 12

Here is what Brother Crosier wrote upon the subject in the Day-Star Extra:

“The atonement which the priests made for the people in connection with their daily ministration was different from that made on the tenth day of the seventh month. In making the former, they went no further than into the Holy; but to make the latter they entered the Holy of Holies – THE FORMER WAS MADE FOR INDIVIDUAL CASES, THE LATTER FOR THE WHOLE NATION OF ISRAEL COLLECTIVELY – the former was made for the forgiveness of sins, THE LATTER FOR BLOTTING THEM OUT – the former could be made at any time, the latter only on the tenth day of the seventh month. HENCE THE FORMER MAY BE CALLED THE DAILY ATONEMENT, AND THE LATTER THE YEARLY, OR THE FORMER THE INDIVIDUAL, AND THE LATTER THE NATIONAL ATONEMENT.” O. R. L. Crosier

“’Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.’ Here Peter exhorts to repentance and conversion (turning away from sins) – for what purpose? ‘That your sins may be (future) blotted out.’ EVERY ONE CAN SEE THAT THE BLOTTING OUT OF SINS DOES NOT TAKE PLACE AT REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION; BUT FOLLOWS, AND MUST OF NECESSITY BE PRECEDED BY THEM. Repentance, conversion, and baptism had then become imperative duties in the present tense; and when performed, those doing them ‘washed away’ – remitted – or sent away from them their sins; and of course they are forgiven and have ‘received the atonement,’ – BUT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED IT ENTIRELY AT THAT TIME, BECAUSE THEIR SINS WERE NOT YET BLOTTED OUT.” O. R. L. Crosier

Here is what another early Pioneer – Elder E. J. Waggoner – had to say about the Blotting out of sins:

“The blotting out of sin is the erasing of it from the nature, the being, of man….The erasing of sin is the blotting of it from our natures, so that we shall know it no more. ‘The worshippers once purged’ – actually purged by the blood of Christ – have no more conscience of sin – because the way of sin is gone from them. Their iniquity may be sought for, but it will not be found. It is forever gone from them, and even though they may be able to recall the fact that they have committed certain sins, THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN THE SIN ITSELF.” E. J. Waggoner

Here is what another Pioneer – Elder A. T. Jones – had to say about the Blotting out of sins:

“When Jesus comes, it is to take His people unto Himself. It is to present to Himself His glorious Church, ‘not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing,’ but that is ‘holy and without blemish.’ It is to see Himself perfectly reflected in all His saints. And before He comes thus, His people must be in that condition. Before He comes we must have been brought to that state of perfection in the complete image of Jesus. And this state of perfection, this developing in each believer the complete image of Jesus – this is the finishing of the mystery of God, which is Christ in you the hope of glory. This consummation is accomplished in the cleansing of the sanctuary, which is the finishing of the mystery of God, which is the final finishing of transgression, the making of a complete end of sins, the making of reconciliation for iniquity, the bringing in of everlasting righteousness, the sealing up of the vision and prophecy, and the anointing of the Most Holy. The present time being the time when the coming of Jesus and the restitution of all things is at the very doors; and this final perfecting of the saints having necessarily to precede the coming of the Lord and the restitution of all things; we know by every evidence, that now we are in the times of refreshing – the time of the latter rain. And as certainly as that is so, we are also in the time of the utter blotting out of all sins that have ever been against us. AND THE BLOTTING OUT OF SINS IS EXACTLY THIS THING OF THE CLEANSING OF THE SANCTUARY; it is the finishing of all transgression in our lives; it is the making an end of all sins in our characters; it is the bringing in of the very righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ, to abide along everlastingly.” A. T. Jones – “The Consecrated Way to Christian Perfection.”

There was another Pioneer of the movement – Eugene Farnsworth – who had an amazing experience regarding the blotting out of his sins, from which he was able to draw a wonderful lesson for God’s people. He did not have his sins blotted out in the Most Holy Place experience – his sins were blotted out through a severe illness he had experienced, from which he was divinely healed. But he was able to say “That is what it is going to be like, brethren, when we do have our sins blotted out by Jesus in the Second Apartment experience one day soon.” Here is the Eugene Farnsworth experience and testimony:

“Lest I should forget, I want to mention another thing that God has done for my soul. I cannot explain it, and it is not necessary that I should, but it is this: After I had that great infilling of the Spirit of God I became conscious, after a few days, that there were things that I had forgotten. I kept thinking it over, and wondering how it was. I went back in my memory. You, brethren and ministers, know that in our lives and experiences of the past, things have come up, and we have been in touch with other brethren, and it has been difficult for us to explain to ourselves how certain ones could do what they did and still be Christians: and there have been times when some unpleasant feelings that ought not to exist have come into our minds, and we have carried them along. You know what I mean. I want to testify here this morning that the Holy Spirit has taken every one of them out of my recollection. I can’t remember a single one – not a single one. I don’t know WHEN He did it. I don’t know HOW He did it, and I don’t care when or how, but I have praised God from that day to this for that experience. It has helped me more than any other experience I ever had to know what God means when He tells us that He will blot out our transgressions. It means something more than simply blotting out a record up in Heaven. It means blotting out of a man’s mind the nightmare of sin, so that he will never remember it any more. That is what God is going to do for His blessed children, brethren, for all eternity, very soon. I read two or three times over in the Bible that God will forget our transgressions, that He will remember our sins no more. Well, I tell you, brethren, when God forgets them and remembers them no more, it is a blessed thing for us to forget and remember them no more, too. I bless God for that experience. I tell you that kind of experience is worth going down into the valley of the shadow of death to obtain. It is worth it. I don’t know as I would ever have had it if I had not gone down there. But I went.” Eugene W. Farnsworth, ‘Divine Healing, A Personal Testimony and Experience.

We are now to be Praying for – and preparing for – the Blotting out of our sins.

“Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.” Psalm 51:9

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free Spirit. THEN will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Psalm 51:1-13

“Each of us has a case pending in the court of heaven. We are individually to be judged according to the deeds done in the body. In the typical service, when the work of atonement was performed by the high priest in the most holy place of the earthly sanctuary, the people were required to afflict their souls before God, and confess their sins, that they might be atoned for and blotted out. Will any less be required of us in this antitypical day of atonement, when Christ in the sanctuary above is pleading in behalf of His people, and the final, irrevocable decision is to be pronounced upon every case?” Selected Messages Book 1 125

“Say unto the Lord, Mine iniquities have separated between me and my God. O Lord, pardon my transgressions. Blot out my sins from the Book of Thy remembrance.” Testimonies to Ministers 98

The following is the work that has to be done before our sins can be blotted out.

“What is our condition in this fearful and solemn time? Alas, what pride is prevailing in the church, what hypocrisy, what deception, what love of dress, frivolity, and amusement, what desire for the supremacy! All these sins have clouded the mind, so that eternal things have not been discerned. Shall we not search the Scriptures, that we may know where we are in this world’s history? Shall we not become intelligent in regard to the work that is being accomplished for us at this time, and the position that we as sinners should occupy while this work of atonement is going forward? If we have any regard for our souls’ salvation, we must make a decided change. We must seek the Lord with true penitence; we must with deep contrition of soul confess our sins, that they may be blotted out.” Selected Messages Book 1 125

“All who have truly repented of their 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.” Great Controversy 483

“Men may forget, men may deny their wrong course of action, but a record of it is kept in the Book of remembrance, and in the great day of Judgment, unless men repent and walk humbly before God, they will meet this dread record just as it stands. If they repent, and keep the fear of the Lord before them, their sins will be blotted out.” Youth’s Instructor 4 April 1905

“There is something for every one of us to do to clear the King’s highway. We want to confess and forsake our sins and have them go beforehand to judgment that when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord, and He shall send Jesus, our sins will be blotted out. What we want is pure and undefiled religion before God.” Manuscript Releases Volume Five 7

“We cannot afford to dally with the tempter – to persist in one wrong habit, to cherish one darling sin. If we confess and forsake our sin; if we come to Jesus in penitence and humility of soul, acknowledging our inability to remove one spot or stain of sin, and relying wholly on the merits of a crucified Saviour, we may expect forgiveness; for His Word is pledged. He has said that He will pardon our transgressions, and blot out our sins. We must dwell upon the matchless love and compassion of Jesus, and not upon our own unworthiness and sinfulness. If we look to ourselves, all will be darkness; but Jesus is all light and life, and we have only to ‘look and live.’ We may look ‘unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame. What tenderness, what mercy, what love, are here manifested!” Gospel Workers 437

“We are living in the great antitypical day of atonement. Jesus is now in the heavenly sanctuary, making reconciliation for the sins of His people, and the Judgment of the righteous dead has been going on almost forty years [now over 150 years]. How soon the cases of the living will come in review before this tribunal we know not; but we do know that we are living in the closing scenes of earth’s history, standing, as it were, on the very borders of the eternal world. It is important that each of us enquire, How stands my case in the courts of Heaven? WILL MY SINS BE BLOTTED OUT? Am I defective in character, and so blinded to these defects by the customs and opinions of the world, that sin does not appear to me to be as exceedingly offensive to God as it really is? It is no time now to allow our minds to be absorbed with the things of earth, while we give only occasional thoughts to God, and make but slight preparation for the country to which we are journeying.” Signs of the Times 29 May 1884

We would not have to be asking ourselves “Will my sins be blotted out?” if they were already blotted out when we confessed them, as some people teach and believe.

Many of us might only have one more step yet to take – let us prepare to enter into taking that one final step – the blotting out of our sins in the Second Apartment experience – with Jesus our Saviour, our Mediator, and our heavenly High Priest.

“For three hundred years Enoch had been seeking purity of soul, that he might be in harmony with Heaven. For three centuries he had walked with God. Day by day he had longed for a closer union; nearer and nearer had grown the communion, until God took him to Himself. He had stood at the threshold of the eternal world, only a step between him and the land of the blest; and now the portals opened, the walk with God, so long pursued on earth, continued, and he passed through the gates of the Holy City – the first from among men to enter there.” Patriarchs and Prophets 87 Gospel Workers 53

When the final work has been done in God’s people, then Jesus can come. Can’t you then see that we are not waiting for Jesus – Jesus is waiting for us. He is waiting patiently for His people to prepare for, and start praying about, the Final Atonement experience in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly Sanctuary, so that their sins can be blotted out in the Judgment of the Living experience, and so that they can be “eternally secure” from the tempter’s devices. Then they will be ready to pass safely through the final Time of Trouble, to be alive and translated when Jesus comes.

“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. It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for, BUT TO HASTEN THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Were all who profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain.” Christ’s Object Lessons 69

God says that He blots out our sins “for His own sake.” What does that mean?

“I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions FOR MINE OWN SAKE, and will not remember thy sins.” Isaiah 43:25

“Those who think of the result of hastening or hindering the gospel THINK OF IT IN RELATION TO THEMSELVES AND TO THE WORLD. Few think of its relation to God. Few give thought to the suffering that sin has caused our Creator. All heaven suffered in Christ’s agony; but that suffering did not begin or end with His manifestation in humanity. The Cross is a revelation to our dull senses of the pain that, from its very inception, sin has brought to the heart of God. EVERY DEPARTURE FROM THE RIGHT, EVERY DEED OF CRUELTY, EVERY FAILURE OF HUMANITY TO REACH HIS IDEAL, BRINGS GRIEF TO HIM. When there came upon Israel the calamities that were the sure result of separation from God – subjugation by their enemies, cruelty, and death – it is said that ‘His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.’ ‘In all their affliction He was afflicted….and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” His Spirit ‘maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.’ As the ‘whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together’ the heart of the infinite Father is pained in sympathy.” Education 263

The reason why Jesus did not come in 1844, as the early believers expected, was simply because they had not entered through the open door into the Final Atonement experience with Jesus, to have their sins blotted out, and to receive the Seal of God.

“Said my accompanying angel, ‘They are again disappointed in their expectations. JESUS CANNOT YET COME TO THE EARTH…THEY MUST BE PURIFIED, MADE WHITE, AND TRIED.’” Early Writings 243

There is a special work to be done at this time, to get God’s people ready for the Investigative Judgment and the Blotting out of their sins, so that they can receive the Seal of God in their foreheads, and so that the work can be finished in Latter Rain power.

“The slumbering church must be aroused, awakened out of its spiritual lethargy, to a realization of the important duties which have been left undone. THE PEOPLE HAVE NOT ENTERED INTO THE HOLY PLACE WHERE JESUS HAS GONE TO MAKE AN ATONEMENT FOR HIS CHILDREN.” Review and Herald 25 February 1890

“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” Romans 16:20

Those of God’s people who have their sins blotted out by Jesus in the Most Holy Place, Judgment of the living experience, will have their sins rolled back upon Satan, who will have to bear the final punishment for all their sins, as well as his own sins. Those people who do not enter into the Final Atonement experience to have their sins blotted out by Jesus, will, instead, have their names blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life, and they will have to bear all their own sins, and carry the punishment for them in the final destruction of the wicked.

“For the sins of those who are redeemed by the blood of Christ, and overcome, at last will be rolled back upon the originator of sin, the Devil, and he will have to bear their sins, while those who do not accept salvation through Jesus will bear their own sins.” Spiritual Gifts Volume 1 61

“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.” The Faith I Live By 211

CORRECT TEACHINGS BY THE PIONEERS ON THE BLOTTING OUT OF SINS

“In that day the sins of Israel cannot be found. Should any want to uncover or remember them, they cannot be found, for they will have been blotted out. The Church of our Lord will have been made ready and prepared to meet her Lord.” – F. C. Gilbert

“The blotting out of sin is the erasing of it from the nature, the being, of man.” – E. J. Waggoner

“This blotting out of sin constitutes the atonement. Then will sins be removed from the faithful ‘as far as the east is from the west.’ Then they will be remembered no more.” – M. C. Wilcox

“And the blotting out of sins is exactly this thing of the cleansing of the sanctuary; it is the finishing of all transgression in our lives; it is the making an end of all sins in our character; it is the bringing in of the very righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ, to abide alone everlastingly.” – A. T. Jones

“It means something more than simply blotting out a record up in heaven. It means blotting out of a man’s mind the nightmare of sin, so that he will never remember it any more. That is what God is going to do for His blessed children, brethren, for all eternity, very soon.” – Eugene W. Farnsworth

CLOSING THOUGHTS

“THE DONATION OF CHRIST TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER [BY TURNING THE WATER INTO WINE] WAS A SYMBOL OF THE MEANS OF SALVATION. THE WATER REPRESENTED BAPTISM INTO HIS DEATH, THE WINE, THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD FOR THE PURIFYING OF THE SINS OF THE WORLD. THE PROVISION MADE FOR THE WEDDING-GUESTS WAS AMPLE, AND NOT LESS ABUNDANT IS THE PROVISION FOR BLOTTING OUT THE INIQUITIES OF MEN.” Spirit Of Prophecy Volume Two 104

“IN THE TYPICAL SYSTEM, WHICH WAS A SHADOW OF THE SACRIFICE AND PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST, THE CLEANSING OF THE SANCTUARY WAS THE LAST SERVICE PERFORMED BY THE HIGH PRIEST IN THE YEARLY ROUND OF MINISTRATION. IT WAS THE CLOSING WORK OF THE ATONEMENT – A REMOVAL OR PUTTING AWAY OF SIN FROM ISRAEL. IT PREFIGURED THE CLOSING WORK IN THE MINISTRATION OF OUR HIGH PRIEST IN HEAVEN, IN THE REMOVAL OR BLOTTING OUT OF THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE, WHICH ARE REGISTERED IN THE HEAVENLY RECORDS. THIS SERVICE INVOLVES A WORK OF INVESTIGATION, A WORK OF JUDGMENT; AND IT IMMEDIATELY PRECEDES THE COMING OF CHRIST IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY; FOR WHEN HE COMES, EVERY CASE HAS BEEN DECIDED. SAYS JESUS: ‘MY REWARD IS WITH ME, TO GIVE EVERY MAN ACCORDING AS HIS WORK SHALL BE.’ REVELATION 22:12. IT IS THIS WORK OF JUDGMENT, IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE SECOND ADVENT, THAT IS ANNOUNCED IN THE FIRST ANGEL’S MESSAGE OF REVELATION 14:7: ‘FEAR GOD, AND GIVE GLORY TO HIM; FOR THE HOUR OF HIS JUDGMENT IS COME.’” Great Controversy 352

“The mission of Christ to this earth was to direct erring human beings to God, to lead them to seek for holiness of character, to lead them to pray to Him that is mighty in counsel. Confess your sins to God, and He will never betray your trust. Although we are sinners, He will pardon abundantly….He marks our contrition of soul; and sins will go beforehand to judgment; AND WHEN THE TIMES OF REFRESHING SHALL COME, THEY WILL BE BLOTTED OUT BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, AND OUR NAMES WILL BE RETAINED IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE. ‘Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.’” Review and Herald 7 May 1889

Even though we know that the blotting out of our sins is yet future – and will not take place until our names come up before God in the Judgment of the living – yet God wants us to exercise such a faith in what He says He is going to do for us – in blotting out our sins so that we will nevermore be able to bring them to remembrance – THAT WE WILL WALK BEFORE GOD EVERY DAY AS IF THIS WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE FOR US.

“In the parable [of the prodigal son] there is no taunting, no casting up to the prodigal of his evil course. The son feels that the past is forgiven and forgotten, blotted out forever. And so God says to the sinner, ‘I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins;’ ‘I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more;’ ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon;’ ‘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.’” Christ’s Object Lessons 204,205

“NOT ONE SIN HAS YET BEEN BLOTTED OUT FROM THE BOOK OF GOD – only through the faith of the believer who holds the beginning of his confidence firm unto the end. WE MAY HAVE HOPE IN ANTICIPATION OF THE FULL AND ENTIRE ATONEMENT MADE, FOR THIS IS EFFICACIOUS [PRODUCTIVE OF WHAT HAS BEEN PROMISED] IF SIN IS PUT AWAY.” Manuscript Releases Volume Four 155

THE THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE FINISHED

“WHEN THE THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE CLOSES, MERCY NO LONGER PLEADS FOR THE GUILTY INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH. THE PEOPLE OF GOD HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THEIR WORK. THEY HAVE RECEIVED ‘THE LATTER RAIN,’ ‘THE REFRESHING FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD,’ AND THEY ARE PREPARED FOR THE TRYING HOUR BEFORE THEM [THE FINAL TIME OF TROUBLE.]. ANGELS ARE HASTENING TO AND FRO IN HEAVEN. AN ANGEL RETURNING FROM THE EARTH ANNOUNCES THAT HIS WORK IS DONE; THE FINAL TEST [THE SUNDAY LEGISLATION] HAS BEEN BROUGHT UPON THE WORLD, AND ALL WHO HAVE PROVED THEMSELVES LOYAL TO THE DIVINE PRECEPTS HAVE RECEIVED ‘THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD.’ THEN JESUS CEASES HIS INTERCESSION IN THE SANCTUARY ABOVE [THE FINAL CLOSE OF PROBATION]. HE LIFTS HIS HANDS AND WITH A LOUD VOICE SAYS, ‘IT IS DONE;’ AND ALL THE ANGELIC HOST LAY OFF THEIR CROWNS AS HE MAKES THE SOLEMN ANNOUNCEMENT: ‘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.’ REVELATION 22:11. EVERY CASE HAS BEEN DECIDED FOR LIFE OR DEATH. CHRIST HAS MADE THE ATONEMENT FOR HIS PEOPLE AND BLOTTED OUT THEIR SINS. THE NUMBER OF HIS SUBJECTS IS MADE UP; ‘THE KINGDOM AND DOMINION, AND THE GREATNESS OF THE KINGDOM UNDER THE WHOLE HEAVEN,’ IS ABOUT TO BE GIVEN TO THE HEIRS OF SALVATION, AND JESUS IS TO REIGN AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” Great Controversy 613,614

“THE ENQUIRY OF EVERYONE SHOULD BE, ‘WHOSE AM I? TO WHOM DO I OWE ALLEGIANCE? IS MY HEART RENEWED? IS MY SOUL REFORMED? ARE MY SINS FORGIVEN? WILL THEY BE BLOTTED OUT WHEN THE TIME OF REFRESHING SHALL COME?’” Selected Messages Book 3 419

“Time is fast hastening on, and every work will soon be brought into judgment, and either our sins or our names will be blotted out of the Book of Life.” Sons and Daughters of God 49

“Now is the time when we are to confess and forsake our sins, that they may go beforehand to judgment and be blotted out.” Bible Commentary Vol 4 1178