John Thiel mp3 – Preparation for the Heavenly Canaan Conference

As I have uttered in the prayer, every sunset for the beginning of the Sabbath is a close of probation.  It’s a symbol of the close of probation because we have to be ready for the Sabbath and if we’re not, we miss out on the blessing and so that’s the way it is at the close of probation if people are not ready. They miss out on the blessing of eternal life and so our meditation for this hour is reaching the point of no return which is the close of probation. We need to study this subject in preparation to enter the heavenly Canaan for a very important reason. 

This is the purpose of our meditation. This hour, there are many people who have said to me in reference to certain humans who have shut the door of their opportunity, they have said to me; while there is life there is hope. This has been as I said applied to human beings who have been in the faith and understood the message very well and then turn away from it. I usually just move on and let them be because that’s the choice they have made. 

No Hope 

The concept that there is such a possibility that while people are alive there is no hope anymore, is a very serious subject to meditate upon. There is such a thing that even though there is life, there is no more hope and this is what the close of probation is all about; a point of no return. 

We meditated in the previous subject that we went through about how that when the crisis of after the close of probation comes, there is the plagues and there is the war Armageddon. All that sort of thing. That sort of thing happens because people can’t change anymore. They are going to engage in that which their natural reaction demands and that’s war, conflict and destruction. It is our purpose at this time to see that there is such a thing as probation closing for those who are still living.

Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 

It is impossible. It says for those who have tasted of all these things and experienced it, if they fall away, it is impossible for them to renew them again unto repentance. That’s what this says. That is when probation is closed for those kinds of people because it is impossible for them to return now, there are human beings in history who have demonstrated this. If we come to right at the very beginning, the story of Cain, we read there an experience of somebody who comes to the point of no return.

Genesis 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:  5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 

We know how that although God was speaking to him from verses 7 onwards, he went along and slew his brother Abel.  God came to him in verse 10. 

Genesis 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; 16 And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 

This is a very final position. Cain continued to live but what did he do? He went out from the presence of the Lord. In observing his situation:

Cain had the same opportunity of learning and accepting these truths as had Abel. He was not the victim of an arbitrary purpose. One brother was not elected to be accepted of God, and the other to be rejected. Abel chose faith and obedience; Cain, unbelief and rebellion. Here the whole matter rested. PP 72.4

Cain and Abel had the same opportunities. He was not the victim of an arbitrary purpose. One brother was not elected to be accepted of God and the other to be rejected, we are looking at the subject of the close of probation. 

Not Arbitrary 

The close of probation is not an arbitrary thing. His probation closed when he went out from the presence of the Lord but here we have some very important illumination. Both of them had the exactly the same opportunity. There was no election as it were for one versus or against the other or one brother was not elected to be accepted of God and the other to be rejected. Abel chose faith and obedience. Cain chose unbelief and rebellion. Here the whole matter rested. This is a very important illumination for us.  

Cain and Abel represent two classes that will exist in the world till the close of time. One class avail themselves of the appointed sacrifice for sin; the other venture to depend upon their own merits; theirs is a sacrifice without the virtue of divine mediation, and thus it is not able to bring man into favor with God. It is only through the merits of Jesus that our transgressions can be pardoned. Those who feel no need of the blood of Christ, who feel that without divine grace they can by their own works secure the approval of God, are making the same mistake as did Cain. PP 72.5

His heart of flesh becomes a heart of stone. Resistance to truth confirms him in iniquity. It is because men sowed seeds of evil that lawlessness, crime and violence prevailed in the antediluvian world. This takes us right to the previous study that we have had as we are preparing for meeting the crisis. We are called upon to confirm in our mind that we will not have any judgment or vindictiveness against anybody because if we don’t change, if we don’t prepare ourselves to meet that crisis by putting away all antagonism towards people, we will finally come to the point where we will be prepared to consume and destroy another person. 

That’s what the pharisees did to Jesus. That’s what Judas did in selling Jesus. To them, this is the end result that is going to happen to this earth. We are living in a time to prepare ourselves so that we make the choices not of those who are rejecting the mercy of God, but are embracing it so that we can put away all those things and be prepared for the close of probation which is a point of no return.

We’ve been looking here at the experience of those such as Cain, Esau, Judas the pharisees; this class of people spanning from Cain to the coming of Jesus. There is such a class of people and did you notice these are people as I’ve just been reading from Bible Commentary that have become more and more resistant by choice to those negatives against God while He was warning them? The Holy Spirit was warning but they’ve hardened and hardened until the point came of no return. That was the picture that we’re seeing here. 

2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 

Here are the people in the last days whose probation has closed. They are like that. They can find no way of changing their mind. They can’t do it and when you look at Israel’s situation, even though with tears he sought for it, it was a state of mind that he couldn’t change. Not because of any decree that God had sent out, and that’s something to really understand. we sometimes read it as though it was a decree that God made that now the people can’t be saved anymore. A decree no. It is a mistaken view. Let’s read it the way it was written and we see it from the respect of our meditation at this time. The language can be misunderstood if not understood, from the perspective that we are looking at it right now.

Revelation 22:11 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. 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 

Have you read this statement sometimes thinking that God has now said that person can’t be saved anymore by decree? You’ve made a big mistake because that is not what He is saying. He is simply saying these people can’t change their mind anymore. Let him who is righteous continue to be righteous because they can’t change their mind and he who is unjust let him be unjust because he can’t change his mind. It has come to the point where everybody has made their firm decision and they can’t change. That is what is behind this statement. So why do we raise this subject in this series of preparation for the heavenly Canaan? Why is this important? Because we are to be preparing ourselves to enter the pressure, to enter the heavenly Canaan. We are to prepare ourselves to come to the point where we cannot change anymore. That’s what this is all about.

Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved. (Manuscript 173, 1902). 4BC 1161.6

This class are not declared by any arbitrary decree. You are to remain just you are now to remain holy. No; they have settled, prepared themselves in such a way so that intellectually and spiritually they have prepared themselves into such a point that they cannot change anymore. I’d like you to consider your own position. Are you in a position now where you would ever think of going back to the past life that you’ve lived? 

Have we studied God’s word long enough to settle into its practice and we’ve entered into a practice of harmony with what the Spirit of God has been teaching us? As we’ve studied in our sabbath school lessons, as we’ve grown in grace where if you were to go back to that kind of life, that you don’t follow the health reform anymore, that you don’t follow the dress reform anymore, you begin to go to the worldly ways of doing things. Can you do that now? You say but yeah I could do that couldn’t I? There comes a point where you have settled into the truth both intellectually and spiritually so that you cannot be moved. That’s the close of probation for you. You can’t change just like a wicked person has settled himself so consistently to the point of rejection like Cain, like Esau, like Judas that they can’t change for the good. This is what it means that probation has closed for the world. 

People are still alive but they cannot change. Both parties, the Cainites and the Abelites have arrived at a point of no return a condition of being fit or unfit for the conditions of heaven or for the conditions of the events of the end. There are a people who will be brought to a point of Armageddon, to a point of fighting against God’s people, fighting against each other, destroying each other. They cannot change. That’s the condition they have met. 

Those who delay a preparation for the day of God cannot obtain it in the time of trouble or at any subsequent time. The case of all such is hopeless. GC 620.2

When the time of trouble comes, if we are not prepared for it as we studied it, already we got a very clear understanding from our previous study where we have settled into such an attitude that we will love every person. We will not become antagonistic against anybody. We will keep on reflecting only the love of Jesus, the mentality of the angels. 

As we study, as we prepare ourselves before we cross into the promised land, there is a preparation that has made us fit for that terrible time of trouble that has made us fit to be welcomed into the heavenly society.  Those who delay a preparation for that time, cannot obtain it during the time of trouble or any subsequent time the case is such as hopeless because probation has closed. Their condition is unchangeable. 

Those professed Christians who come up to that last fearful conflict unprepared will, in their despair, confess their sins in words of burning anguish, while the wicked exult over their distress. GC 620.3

Esau, was he in burning anguish? He sought it but he couldn’t change his mind and the wicked, as they see God’s people realising, were they or the prophet God’s people then realising, oh dear, they are in anguish and the wicked because they’ve got no conscience anymore, they’ve already got it. These people they can’t change their mind like Esau. 

These confessions are of the same character as was that of Esau or of Judas. Those who make them, lament the result of transgression, but not its guilt. They feel no true contrition, no abhorrence of evil. They acknowledge their sin, through fear of punishment; but, like Pharaoh of old, they would return to their defiance of Heaven should the judgments be removed. GC 620.3

They can’t change their mind. all that they’re worried about is the consequences with tears. That was the unjust.

Yet when the storm of opposition and reproach bursts upon them, some, overwhelmed with consternation, will be ready to exclaim: “Had we foreseen the consequences of our words, we would have held our peace.” They are hedged in with difficulties. Satan assails them with fierce temptations. The work which they have undertaken seems far beyond their ability to accomplish. They are threatened with destruction. GC 608.3

Therefore, because the truth was in their hearts, they couldn’t change and although they’ve suffered the consequences of proclaiming the truth, and they said oh if we knew that this was going to happen, we wouldn’t have, we would have kept silent 

The enthusiasm which animated them is gone; yet they cannot turn back. GC 608.3

We can just make a glib statement that you’re settling into truth both intellectually and spiritually you can’t go back, but as you are reading this, you can see the experience of it. Just like we saw the experience of Cain and Esau and the wicked. We see the experience of God’s people that can’t change anymore. It’s all to do with an experience that we have to be prepared for beforehand. 

Prepare for the crisis, prepare for the close of probation. Profound meditation here so our preparation involves reaching a condition of no return and Jesus our High Priest in the sanctuary above, when He comes, He looks at the situation on earth and He looks at His children, He comes to a point that He terminates hHs ministry because He is observing that here is a people who want change anymore. He says well my work is over. I’ve worked upon them to change them and those that rejected are locked into their mind. Those who have accepted are locked into their position, my work is finished. Not a different mentality to what we often think when He declares them – that is just, let him be just still and he that is holy, let him be holy still. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still. He who is wicked, let him be wicked still; it’s simply a declaration of what He’s observing. That’s all. 

Here we have our appreciation. As I mentioned as the Sabbath was coming in, we have prepared ourselves so that when the Sabbath comes in, we are there to worship God. Other people aren’t prepared and they’re in a position where they can’t really keep the Sabbath properly. But those who have prepared will keep the Sabbath properly and we’re learning very quickly how to prepare for the Sabbath. We’re learning very quickly how to prepare for the close of probation. It’s such an intelligent activity. 

The work of Jesus finishing when he will leave the sanctuary:

Jesus has left us word: “Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping. What time is here referred to? Not to the revelation of Christ in the clouds of heaven to find a people asleep. No; but to His return from His ministration in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, when He lays off His priestly attire and clothes Himself with garments of vengeance, and when the mandate goes forth: “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.” 2T 190.1

When Jesus ceases to plead for man, the cases of all are forever decided. This is the time of reckoning with His servants. To those who have neglected the preparation of purity and holiness, which fits them to be waiting ones to welcome their Lord, the sun sets in gloom and darkness, and rises not again. Probation closes. 2T 191.1

You see the meaning now. This is a totally different meaning. No arbitrary decision of Christ as it was no arbitrary decision of God in reference to Gain. There is a point of no return and we must be prepared by watching and preparing ourselves just as Joshua had stated; you are about to go cross the river Jordan. Sanctify yourselves because tomorrow God is going to do great things for you. 

We are to prepare ourselves, we are to sanctify ourselves so that when the time of terrible trouble comes, we cannot change our mind from what we have decided to do with our relationship with God. That’s the close of probation. That’s what this study is all about that we will understand at this conference clearly. Our position that we must be in and we are being blessed with truth that we can actually seriously look at our case and say ah now I’m learning what it means to meet the condition that God wants me to be in.

Just as we come to the conclusion of all this meditation so that we come away with no confusion, no misunderstanding when probation closes:

The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state—men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above. Before the Flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life and mocked the warnings of impending judgment. “So,” says the Saviour, “shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:39. Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man’s destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy’s offer to guilty men. GC 491.1

As we’ve received the mercy offer, we are placed in a position of mind that cannot be changed because we’ve accepted that mercy offer and the others have rejected it. Cain

and Abel, Esau and Jacob, the righteous and the wicked. It is therefore ours at this conference to discuss together to find answers from our conversations that we have been doing so far and as we continue that we will know where we stand personally.

The question is; is Jesus still waiting for me? His voice is still audible to us where He says; “Behold I stand at the door and knock.” He wants us to enter in and let Him enter in and eat and drink with us and lock ourselves in a position of unchangeable possibility that he’s going to be inside of me for good. The appeal is intense especially in the last few moments of our possibilities as we prepare. 

2 Corinthians 6:2 For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 

Can you see the intensity while the time is still available? The Lord wants us to prepare and we understand what the preparation is all about. Hasten put it into a secure decisive position in your own life as we come to the edge of the river Jordan. 

Hebrews 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8 Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 

Cain hardened his heart. Esau hardened his heart. Pharaoh hardened his heart but there are those of us who have a soft hear and we desire that we will live for Jesus so we are receiving the call of consolidation, prepare to meet your God. 

When the heart responds out of its sleepy state and really takes hold of this with all the heart, Jesus knows and He can cease His pleading. He can cease His work in the sanctuary because in the sanctuary while He is pleading, He’s pleading my case and I’ve set my mind by His pleading in my heart. Don’t harden your heart. ‘Give yourself to me’ like He did with Judas but Judas rejected it. If we if we accept it, He can close His work for me. He doesn’t have to plead for my case anymore.

But those who rejected – Ephraim. What is written there? Ephraim is joined to his idols, leave him alone. Why doesn’t God leave them alone? Why does Jesus stop pleading for them? He’s pled and they’ve joined to their idols. No place of return. 

When the heart responds with zealous endeavour with repentance of heart and mind energetically resolute purpose to obey all of God’s ways, Jesus can say; He is righteous, let him be righteous still. He is holy, let him be holy still. We have this precious comfort to resolve to be those who cannot change back into being consumed. Who wants to be consumed? We don’t want to be consumed. We are understanding it and God grant us to consolidate our position. Make a decisive choice. It’s my prayer in Jesus name. 

Amen.