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with the clouds of heaven； and came〃not to the earth； but〃to the Ancient
of Days； and they brought Him near before Him。〃 Daniel 7：13。
This coming is foretold also by the prophet Malachi： 〃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。〃 Malachi
3：1。 The coming of the Lord to His temple was sudden； unexpected； to His
people。 They were not looking to Him there。 They expected Him to come to
earth； 〃in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God； and that
obey not the gospel。〃 2 Thessalonians 1：8。
But the people were not yet ready to meet their Lord。 There was still a work
of preparation to be accomplished for
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them。 Light was to be given； directing their minds to the temple of God in
heaven； and as they should by faith follow their High Priest in His
ministration there； new duties would be revealed。 Another message of warning
and instruction was to be given to the church。
Says the prophet： 〃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。〃 Malachi 3：2； 3。 Those who are
living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the
sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator。
Their robes must be spotless； their characters must be purified from sin by
the blood of sprinkling。 Through the grace of God and their own diligent
effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil。 While the
investigative judgment is going forward in heaven； while the sins of
penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary； there is to be a
special work of purification； of putting away of sin； among God's people
upon earth。 This work is more clearly presented in the messages of
Revelation 14。
When this work shall have been accomplished； the followers of Christ will be
ready for His appearing。 〃Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be
pleasant unto the Lord； as in the days of old； and as in former years。〃
Malachi 3：4。 Then the church which our Lord at His coming is to receive to
Himself will be a 〃glorious church； not having spot； or wrinkle； or any such
thing。〃 Ephesians 5：27。 Then she will look 〃forth as the morning； fair as
the moon； clear as the sun； and terrible as an army with banners。〃 Song of
Solomon 6：10。
Besides the coming of the Lord to His temple； Malachi also foretells His
second advent； His coming for the execution of the judgment； in these words：
〃And I will come near
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to you to judgment； and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers； and
against the adulterers； and against false swearers； and against those that
oppress the hireling in his wages； the widow； and the fatherless； and that
turn aside the stranger from his right； and fear not Me； saith the Lord of
hosts。〃 Malachi 3：5。 Jude refers to the same scene when he says； 〃Behold；
the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints； to execute judgment upon
all； and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly
deeds。〃 Jude 14； 15。 This coming； and the coming of the Lord to His temple；
are distinct and separate events。
The coming of Christ as our high priest to the most holy place； for the
cleansing of the sanctuary； brought to view in Daniel 8：14； the coming of
the Son of man to the Ancient of Days； as presented in Daniel 7：13； and the
coming of the Lord to His temple； foretold by Malachi； are descriptions of
the same event； and this is also represented by the coming of the bridegroom
to the marriage； described by Christ in the parable of the ten virgins； of
Matthew 25。
In the summer and autumn of 1844 the proclamation； 〃Behold； the Bridegroom
cometh；〃 was given。 The two classes represented by the wise and foolish
virgins were then developedone class who looked with joy to the Lord's
appearing； and who had been diligently preparing to meet Him； another class
that； influenced by fear and acting from impulse； had been satisfied with a
theory of the truth； but were destitute of the grace of God。 In the parable；
when the bridegroom came； 〃they that were ready went in with him to the
marriage。〃 The coming of the bridegroom； here brought to view； takes place
before the marriage。 The marriage represents the reception by Christ of His
kingdom。 The Holy City； the New Jerusalem； which is the capital and
representative of the kingdom； is called 〃the bride； the Lamb's wife。〃 Said
the angel to John： 〃Come hither； I will show thee the bride； the Lamb's
wife。〃 〃He carried me away in the spirit；〃 says the prophet； 〃and showed me
that great city； the holy Jerusalem； descending out of heaven from God。〃
Revelation
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21：9； 10。 Clearly； then； the bride represents the Holy City； and the virgins
that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church。 In the
Revelation the people of God are said to be the guests at the marriage
supper。 Revelation 19：9。 If guests； they cannot be represented also as the
bride。 Christ； as stated by the prophet Daniel； will receive from the
Ancient of Days in heaven； 〃dominion； and glory； and a kingdom；〃 He will
receive the New Jerusalem； the capital of His kingdom； 〃prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband。〃 Daniel 7：14； Revelation 21：2。 Having received the
kingdom； He will come in His glory； as King of kings and Lord of lords； for
the redemption of His people； who are to 〃sit down with Abraham； and Isaac；
and Jacob；〃 at His table in His kingdom （Matthew 8：11； Luke 22：30）； to
partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb。
The proclamation； 〃Behold； the Bridegroom cometh；〃 in the summer of 1844；
led thousands to expect the immediate advent of the Lord。 At the appointed
time the Bridegroom came； not to the earth； as the people expected； but to
the Ancient of Days in heaven； to the marriage； the reception of His
kingdom。 〃They that were ready went in with Him to the marriage： and the
door was shut。〃 They were not to be present in person at the marriage； for
it takes place in heaven； while they are upon the earth。 The followers of
Christ are to 〃wait for their Lord； when He will return from the wedding。〃
Luke 12：36。 But they are to understand His work； and to follow Him by faith
as He goes in before God。 It is in this sense that they are said to go in to
the marriage。
In the parable it was those that had oil in their vessels with their lamps
that went in to the marriage。 Those who； with a knowledge of the truth from
the Scriptures； had also the Spirit and grace of God； and who； in the night
of their bitter trial； had patiently waited； searching the Bible for clearer
lightthese saw the truth concerning the sanctuary in heaven and the
Saviour's change in ministration； and by faith they followed Him in His work
in the sanctuary above。 And all who through the testimony of the Scriptures
accept the
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same truths； following Christ by faith as He enters in before God to perform
the last work of mediation； and at its close to receive His kingdomall
these are represented as going in to the marriage。
In the parable of Matthew 22 the same figure of the marriage is introduced；
and the investigative judgment is clearly represented as taking place before
the marriage。 Previous to the wedding the king comes in to see the guests；
to see if all are attired in the wedding garment； the spotless robe of
character washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb。 Matthew 22：11；
Revelation 7：14。 He who is found wanting is cast out； but all who upon
examination are seen to have the wedding garment on are accepted of God and
accounted worthy of a share in His kingdom and a seat upon His throne。 This
work of examination of character； of determining who are prepared for the
kingdom of God； is that of the investigative judgment； the closing