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led thousands to expect the immediate advent of the Lord。 At the appointed
time the Bridegroom came； not to the earth； as the people expected； but to
the Ancient of Days in heaven； to the marriage； the reception of His
kingdom。 〃They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage： and the
door was shut。〃 They were not to be present in person at the marriage； for
it takes place in heaven； while they are upon the earth。 The followers of
Christ are to 〃wait for their Lord； when He will return from the wedding。〃
Luke 12：36。 But they are to understand His work； and to follow Him by faith
as He goes in before God。 It is in this sense that they are said to go in to
the marriage。
In the parable it was those that had oil in their vessels with their lamps
that went in to the marriage。 Those who； with a knowledge of the truth from
the Scriptures； had also the Spirit and grace of God； and who； in the night
of their bitter trial； had patiently waited； searching the Bible for clearer
lightthese saw the truth concerning the sanctuary in heaven and the
Saviour's change in ministration； and by faith they followed Him in His work
in the sanctuary above。 And all who through the testimony of the Scriptures
accept the
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same truths； following Christ by faith as He enters in before God to perform
the last work of mediation； and at its close to receive His kingdomall
these are represented as going in to the marriage。
In the parable of Matthew 22 the same figure of the marriage is introduced；
and the investigative judgment is clearly represented as taking place before
the marriage。 Previous to the wedding the king comes in to see the guests；
to see if all are attired in the wedding garment； the spotless robe of
character washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb。 Matthew 22：11；
Revelation 7：14。 He who is found wanting is cast out； but all who upon
examination are seen to have the wedding garment on are accepted of God and
accounted worthy of a share in His kingdom and a seat upon His throne。 This
work of examination of character； of determining who are prepared for the
kingdom of God； is that of the investigative judgment； the closing of work
in the sanctuary above。
When the work of investigation shall be ended； when the cases of those who
in all ages have professed to be followers of Christ have been examined and
decided； then； and not till then； probation will close； and the door of
mercy will be shut。 Thus in the one short sentence； 〃They that were ready
went in with Him to the marriage： and the door was shut；〃 we are carried
down through the Saviour's final ministration； to the time when the great
work for man's salvation shall be completed。
In the service of the earthly sanctuary； which； as we have seen； is a figure
of the service in the heavenly； when the high priest on the Day of Atonement
entered the most holy place； the ministration in the first apartment ceased。
God commanded： 〃There shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation
when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place； until he comes
out。〃 Leviticus 16：17。 So when Christ entered the holy of holies to perform
the closing work of the atonement； He ceased His ministration in the first
apartment。 But when the ministration in the first apartment
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ended； the ministration in the second apartment began。 When in the typical
service the high priest left the holy on the Day of Atonement； he went in
before God to present the blood of the sin offering in behalf of all Israel
who truly repented of their sins。 So Christ had only completed one part of
His work as our intercessor； to enter upon another portion of the work； and
He still pleaded His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners。
This subject was not understood by Adventists in 1844。 After the passing of
the time when the Saviour was expected； they still believed His coming to be
near； they held that they had reached an important crisis and that the work
of Christ as man's intercessor before God had ceased。 It appeared to them to
be taught in the Bible that man's probation would close a short time before
the actual coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven。 This seemed evident
from those scriptures which point to a time when men will seek； knock； and
cry at the door of mercy； and it will not be opened。 And it was a question
with them whether the date to which they had looked for the coming of Christ
might not rather mark the beginning of this period which was immediately to
precede His coming。 Having given the warning of the judgment near； they felt
that their work for the world was done； and they lost their burden of soul
for the salvation of sinners； while the bold and blasphemous scoffing of the
ungodly seemed to them another evidence that the Spirit of God had been
withdrawn from the rejecters of His mercy。 All this confirmed them in the
belief that probation had ended； or； as they then expressed it； 〃the door of
mercy was shut。〃
But clearer light came with the investigation of the sanctuary question。
They now saw that they were correct in believing that the end of the 2300
days in 1844 marked an important crisis。 But while it was true that that
door of hope and mercy by which men had for eighteen hundred years found
access to God； was closed； another door was opened；
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and forgiveness of sins was offered to men through the intercession of
Christ in the most holy。 One part of His ministration had closed； only to
give place to another。 There was still an 〃open door〃 to the heavenly
sanctuary； where Christ was ministering in the sinner's behalf。
Now was seen the application of those words of Christ in the Revelation；
addressed to the church at this very time： 〃These things saith He that is
holy； He that is true； He that hath the key of David； He that openeth； and
no man shutteth； and shutteth； and no man openeth； I know thy works： behold；
I have set before thee an open door； and no man can shut it。〃 Revelation
3：7； 8。
It is those who by faith follow Jesus in the great work of the atonement who
receive the benefits of His mediation in their behalf； while those who
reject the light which brings to view this work of ministration are not
benefited thereby。 The Jews who rejected the light given at Christ's first
advent； and refused to believe on Him as the Saviour of the world； could not
receive pardon through Him。 When Jesus at His ascension entered by His own
blood into the heavenly sanctuary to shed upon His disciples the blessings
of His mediation； the Jews were left in total darkness to continue their
useless sacrifices and offerings。 The ministration of types and shadows had
ceased。 That door by which men had formerly found access to God was no
longer open。 The Jews had refused to seek Him in the only way whereby He
could then be found； through the ministration in the sanctuary in heaven。
Therefore they found no communion with God。 To them the door was shut。 They
had no knowledge of Christ as the true sacrifice and the only mediator
before God； hence they could not receive the benefits of His mediation。
The