On one occasion, when in New York City, I was in the night season called upon to behold buildings rising story after story toward heaven. These buildings were warranted to be fireproof, and they were erected to glorify the owners and builders. Higher and still higher these buildings rose, and in them the most costly material was used....The scene that next passed before me was an alarm of fire. Men looked at the lofty and supposedly fire-proof buildings and said: "They are perfectly safe." But these buildings were consumed as if made of pitch. The fire engines could do nothing to stay the destruction. The firemen were unable to operate the engines....The world is stirred with the spirit of war. The prophecy of the eleventh chapter of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place.{Testimonies Volume 9, 12-14}

The Congregation of Wheat and Tares

For over one hundred and fifty years, the denominated church of God, has been wandering in the wilderness of Laodicea. As we are nearing the Sunday Law Crisis, which is to bring everything to a close, God's faithful souls look on in horror at the apostasy that has entered into the ranks of Adventism, subtly but surely. Like Elijah, as he beheld the backsliding of apostate Israel, and was vexed in his soul, we too long to do something to cleanse the church from it's profanation. Sis White foretold that this would be the sentiment in the heart of God's people as we near the close of probation:

Christ's servants are GRIEVED AS THEY SEE TRUE AND FALSE BELIEVERS MINGLED IN THE CHURCH. THEY LONG TO DO SOMETHING TO CLEANSE THE CHURCH. Like the servants of the householder, they are ready to uproot the tares. But Christ says to them, "Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow TOGETHER until the harvest." {COL 71.2}

The emphasis Christ is making here, is that both the wheat and the tares are to remain together until harvest time. In that same parable, He tells us that the harvest is the end of the world. However, at what part of the end of the world is Jesus speaking about? 'The tares and the wheat are to grow together until the HARVEST; and the HARVEST is the END OF PROBATIONARY TIME.' {COL 71.3} So we can agree from this point, that the true and the false believers will remain in the same environment, at least until the close of probation.

When does probation close for Seventh- Day Adventists?

'WHEN the LAW OF GOD IS MADE VOID the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will GIVE HEED TO SEDUCING SPIRITS and DOCTRINES OF DEVILS.'{2SM 368}

The point in time when the 'the law of God is made void', is at the passage of the Sunday Law. At THAT TIME, MANY will give heed to delusions. Well, does that mean that's the end of probationary time for Seventh- Day Adventists? In the Bible, the context of the Scripture, 'giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils', is when probation closes. The heart is forever fixed:

'Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their CONSCIENCE SEARED WITH A HOT IRON...' {1 Timothy 4:1}

In other words, at the Sunday Law, the character is revealed, and no longer developed: 'It is in a CRISIS that CHARACTER IS REVEALED.'{COL 412.1} Another testimony to support that the end of probationary time, is at the Sunday Law:

'The great issue so near at hand [enforcement of SUNDAY LAWS] will WEED OUT those WHOM GOD HAS NOT APPOINTED and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.'{3SM 385}.

'Some will GO OUT FROM AMONG US who will bear the ark no longer. But these can not make walls to obstruct the truth; for it will go onward and upward to the end.'{TM 409, 411}

Some, use the following passage to say that God is calling His people out of the environment of the nominal Adventists:

'I saw that God has honest children among the NOMINAL ADVENTISTS and the FALLEN CHURCHES, and BEFORE THE PLAGUES SHALL BE POURED OUT, ministers and people will be CALLED OUT FROM THESE CHURCHES and will gladly RECEIVE THE TRUTH. Satan knows this; and before the LOUD CRY of the third angel is given, he raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think that God is with them. He hopes to deceive the honest and lead them to think that God is still working for the churches. But the light will shine, and all who are honest will LEAVE THE FALLEN CHURCHES, and take their stand with the remnant.' {EW 261.1}

Inspiration speaks here of two classes of religious bodies, where God's people are found. However, if we pay attention to the language that is being used here, we will see that the focus of this message is on those in the fallen churches. I say this because:

1. It says that there will be a CALLING OUT from these CHURCHES. In the Bible, at what time in history do we see a 'call out' of the churches?

'He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many [countries] shall be overthrown: but these shall ESCAPE OUT OF HIS HAND, [even] EDOM, and MOAB, and the CHIEF OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON.'{Daniel 11:41}

'And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.'{Rev 18:4}

Upon the testimony of two a thing is established. The calling out, happens at the Sunday Law, when the Third Angel's Message swells into a LOUD CRY. This call is to those in the FALLEN CHURCHES OF BABYLON; and NOT TO THOSE IN THE NOMINAL ADVENTIST CHURCH. Sister White mentions twice, which religious body she is directing this statement to:

'FALLEN CHURCHES'

'will be CALLED OUT FROM THESE CHURCHES'

'LEAVE THE FALLEN CHURCHES'.

2. Another reason why this quote is not speaking of leaving the nominal Adventist congregations, is because of this statement:

'ministers and people will be called out from these churches and WILL GLADLY RECEIVE THE TRUTH'.{ibid}

At the Sunday Law, when the call out of Babylon is made, it will be too late for anyone among the Adventist circle, to receive the truth. That won't be happening, because our probation closes at that point in time. Sister White even mentions the LOUD CRY, because that's in harmony with Scripture on when the call out of the fallen churches will be made.

We have a MORE SURE Word of prophecy, friends; and what makes it so sure, where we can stake our life on it, is not only the truth that God cannot lie, but also the PROPHETIC PATTERNS IN BIBLICAL HISTORY. The Bible admonishes us time and time again to study, and keep in mind the 'old paths', because HISTORY WILL REPEAT:

'The thing that hath been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is done [is] that which shall be done: and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun. Is there [any] thing whereof it may be said, See, this [is] new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.'{Eccl 1:9, 10}

'THE WORK OF GOD in the earth presents, from AGE TO AGE, a STRIKING SIMILARITY in EVERY GREAT REFORMATION or RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT. The principles of GOD'S DEALING WITH MEN ARE EVER THE SAME. The important movements of the PRESENT have their PARALLEL in those of the PAST.'{GC 343.1}

In every great reformatory movement in the Bible, there are striking similarities. We will see patterns that are evident in each history, and runs parallel. Why? Because Jesus Chrst is the SAME yesterday, today and forever. So we can be sure of His dealings with His people. One of those many patterns, which run parallel (can be lined up in the exact order), is the truth that at the second waymark in each working of God, we will see a SEPARATION taking place. For example:

1. The Three Decrees. At the second decree, we see a separation being symbolised here, when the Israelites who returned to Jerusalem, celebrated the Passover. The history of the Passover, was when they were warned to separate themselves from the Egyptians. Then what followed? The third waymark, which was judgement upon the firstborn. The third waymark in the time of the decrees, was the judgement which came upon the Jews who decided to remain in Babylon: the death decree.

2. The Millerite History. At the Second Angel's Message, we see a separation of those in the fallen churches, as they took heed to the call out of Babylon. Then what followed? The third waymark, which was the judgement was set and the books were opened.

3. Our time(Daniel 11:40-45). It is at the repeat of the Second Angel's Message, that we will see for the final time in history, a separation of those in the fallen churches, who take heed to the call out of Babylon. Then what will follow? The third waymark, which will be the executed judgement, when the plagues fall on the wicked.

Nowhere do we see any PHYSICAL separation PRIOR to the Sunday Law. What IS the responsibility of God's faithful souls before Modern Israel's probation closes?

'These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into [any] city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But GO RATHER TO THE LOST SHEEPOF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.'{Matthew 10:5-7}

Now what does this mean? Is is saying that we are to sit under the false teachings that are being preached from the sacred desk? No. This is what it is saying:

'And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.' {Ezek 9:4}

Ezekiel, as well as all the prophets in God's Word, represents God's people at the end of the world; as Inspiration teaches. Here, the prophet is illustrating a time BEFORE THE PLAGUES, when the faithful souls are being sealed. Take special note as to the environment that they were in: they were in the MIDST OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF ISRAEL, SIGING AND CRYING AGAINST THE APOSTASY. In other words, the seal of God is placed on those who are AMONG the congregation of the wheat and the tares; who are actively counteracting the darkness that has engulfed the professed people of God. They are not in an abomination- free environment This passage of Scripture is in line with the previous testimonies that I showed, to say that there is NO PHYSICAL SEPARATION PRIOR TO THE SUNDAY LAW. Let's look even further as to the surroundings that God's people will be dwelling in, lifting up their voices in:

'Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ANCIENTS OF ISRAEL do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.' {Ezek 8:12}

Friends, they are dwelling among the CORRUPT LEADERSHIP. It is the LEADING MEN IN AUTHORITY who are responsible for these ABOMINATIONS; and THIS is the environment where the sealing will take place. Nowhere in God's Word does it teach that the wheat and the tares grow together under converted leadership. It is by OUR PRESENCE in the midts of the two classes, that will give the honest, yet weak wheat, opportunity to be ripened for the harvest; and will give the tares all the light, to be ripened for destruction. Here are the two ripenings:

Ripening of the Wheat

'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."' {EW 118.1}

From 1798 to 1844, God was GATHERING a people unto Himself; preparing them to enter into the experience of the Most Holy Place experience. For this He used the First and the Second Angel's Messages. During that BINDING time, two classes were being developed among the professed believers. Division was clearly seen; but it was NOT UNTIL THE SECOND ANGEL'S MESSAGE, THAT PHYSICAL SEPARATION TOOK PLACE. While the wise virgins remained, they faithfully warned their fellow brethren to prepare for Jesus' coming.

It's the same today: God is gathering the wheat unto Himself, to be sealed and prepared for the second coming of Christ. For this, He is using the THIRD ANGEL'S MESSAGE (as seen in the above quote). During this BINDING time, two classes(wheat and tares) are being developed. Division is once again clearly seen; but as noted earlier, it's NOT UNTIL THE REPEAT OF THE SECOND ANGEL'S MESSAGE, THAT PHYSICAL SEPARATION WILL TAKE PLACE. While we remain among the abominations that plague the congregation, we, as Ezekiel 9 points out, are to faithfully proclaim the warning to our fellow brethren of the Third Angel's Message, to prepare the weakened, deceived wheat, to shake off the Laodicean condition, and prepare for Jesus' coming.

The Ripening of the Tares

I will close this study in Isaiah chapter six. Isaiah was zealous prophet of the LORD, pronouncing woe after woe upon apostate Israel. Then he beheld Christ in the Most Holy Place, and like Daniel, when he had the same vision, his 'comeliness was turned into corruption'. Here, he beheld the awesome beauty of God's character; the enduring love, long- suffering and mercy extended to him by God, and his heart cry was:

'WOE IS ME! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I DWELL IN THE MIDST OF A PEOPLE OF UNCLEAN LIPS; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.'

Isaiah was DWELLING IN THE MIDST OF THE UNGODLY{the tares}; and it is HERE, while he was denouncing the sins that were prevalent among them, he had a MOST HOLY PLACE ENCOUNTER(WHERE THE SEALING EXPERIENCE IS FOUND).

'THIS IS THE EXPERIENCE NEEDED by those who labor in all our institutions.' {CW 91}

NOW, he was FITTED to do the work that God expected him to do. It is the same work that has been laid upon everyone of us who call ourselves Seventh- Day Adventists. It was the very work that Christ said that He was called to do(he quotes Isaiah chapter six, to represent His mission). What was and is this work?

'Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but UNDERSTAND NOT; and see ye indeed, but PERCEIVE NOT. MAKE THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE FAT, and MAKE THEIR EARS HEAVY, and SHUT THEIR EYES; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.'

Isaiah was told to LABOUR AMONGST THE PROFESSED PEOPLE OF GOD WHO WOULD NOT HEAR. In fact, his message to the tares, was going to harden their hearts even more against the truth. In Jesus' words:

'Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I CAME not TO SEND peace, but a SWORD. For I AM COME TO SET A MAN AT VARIANCE against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes [shall be] they of his own household.' {Matthew 10:34-36}

Was there a point in time that Isaiah was to separate himself from the tares?

'Then said I, Lord, HOW LONG? And he answered, UNTIL THE CITIES BE WASTED without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be UTTERLY DESOLATE...''{Isa. 6:1-13}.

He was to sigh and cry in the midst of the people of unclean lips, UNTIL THEIR PROBATION CLOSED. The message he bore was to ripen them for destruction. As they would hear, they would move from one rejection to the next, until their hearts were perfectly hardened. This was in God's order, so that when the lost of Israel were destroyed, Satan can never suggest that, if only God laboured with them just a little longer, they may have received the truth. People will see that they only had their own selves to blame, for their destruction.

Jesus and His disciples were to labour among the lost sheep of the house of Israel UNTIL THEIR PROBATION CLOSED. Yes, they were to come apart and rest a while, so that they could strengthen themselves with the true Bread; but friends, though they temporarily withdrew from that stubborn environment, they always returned, or moved on to another area where the false Jews were.

So it is with us today: We have been called to sigh and cry aloud the message of the Third Angel, in the midst of a people with unclean lips. Just like Isaiah, and Jesus, the message we are to bear will also ripen the tares among us for destruction. Yes, even amongst a people that will not hear! Yet we are to sigh and cry aloud, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. It was among a corrupted environment, that Isaiah was led into the Most Holy Place experience; where the sealing takes place. It is among the congregation of the wheat and the tares, yes even where the ancients of Israel are but a corrupted leadership; that our characters will be purified and fitted for the heavenly courts, and for the fiery trial that is on its way.

'How', you may ask, will my character receive the seal of God in such an environment? Because character is developed when it is tested. When the popular ministry, and fellow believers reject your warnings and reproofs; and cast you off as a fanatic; it is THEN you will learn to love as God loves, and learn to bless and do good. As Inspiration puts it:

'When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, THEN should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few--THIS WILL BE OUR TEST. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.' {5T 136.2}

God does not expect us to sit under the teachings which are coming from the hellish torch of Satan. Sabbath School is a great opportunity to share with those in the class, the final message for God's people. You have plenty of space to counteract any false doctrines that are being taught. Divine Service, may not be that simple. Being as you can't just get vocal in the middle of a sermon, when you hear error, your silent witness of getting up and leaving the service, will speak volumes. Always have the mindset of Christ, to attend, NOT to be ministered unto, but TO MINISTER. Seek ways through prayer on how you can serve someone in that congregation. People don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care. Isaiah 58, is to be constantly upon our hearts, and doors will fly open to reach souls in areas where you would never reach them if you just whipped out the Word of God directly.

WE NEED A MOST HOLY PLACE EXPERIENCE