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were prepared to receive and give to the world the solemn warning of the
third angel of Revelation 14。
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Chapter 25
God's Law Immutable
The temple of God was opened in heaven； and there was seen in His temple the
ark of His testament。〃 Revelation 11：19。 The ark of God's testament is in
the holy of holies； the second apartment of the sanctuary。 In the
ministration of the earthly tabernacle； which served 〃unto the example and
shadow of heavenly things；〃 this apartment was opened only upon the great
Day of Atonement for the cleansing of the sanctuary。 Therefore the
announcement that the temple of God was opened in heaven and the ark of His
testament was seen points to the opening of the most holy place of the
heavenly sanctuary in 1844 as Christ entered there to perform the closing
work of the atonement。 Those who by faith followed their great High Priest
as He entered upon His ministry in the most holy place； beheld the ark of
His testament。 As they had studied the subject of the sanctuary they had
come to understand the Saviour's change of ministration； and they saw that
He was now officiating before the ark of God； pleading His blood in behalf
of sinners。
The ark in the tabernacle on earth contained the two tables of stone； upon
which were inscribed the precepts of the law of God。 The ark was merely a
receptacle for the tables of the law； and the presence of these divine
precepts gave to it its value and sacredness。 When the temple of God was
opened in heaven； the ark of His testament was seen。
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Within the holy of holies； in the sanctuary in heaven； the divine law is
sacredly enshrinedthe law that was spoken by God Himself amid the thunders
of Sinai and written with His own finger on the tables of stone。
The law of God in the sanctuary in heaven is the great original； of which
the precepts inscribed upon the tables of stone and recorded by Moses in the
Pentateuch were an unerring transcript。 Those who arrived at an
understanding of this important point were thus led to see the sacred；
unchanging character of the divine law。 They saw； as never before； the force
of the Saviour's words： 〃Till heaven and earth pass； one jot or one tittle
shall in no wise pass from the law。〃 Matthew 5：18。 The law of God； being a
revelation of His will； a transcript of His character； must forever endure；
〃as a faithful witness in heaven。〃 Not one command has been annulled； not a
jot or tittle has been changed。 Says the psalmist： 〃Forever； O Lord； Thy
word is settled in heaven。〃 〃All His commandments are sure。 They stand fast
for ever and ever。〃 Psalms 119：89； 111：7； 8。
In the very bosom of the Decalogue is the fourth commandment； as it was
first proclaimed： 〃Remember the Sabbath day； to keep it holy。 Six days shalt
thou labor； and do all thy work： but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the
Lord thy God： in it thou shalt not do any work； thou； nor thy son； nor thy
daughter； thy manservant； nor thy maidservant； nor thy cattle； nor thy
stranger that is within thy gates： for in six days the Lord made heaven and
earth； the sea； and all that in them is； and rested the seventh day：
wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day； and hallowed it。〃 Exodus
20：8…11。
The Spirit of God impressed the hearts of those students of His word。 The
conviction was urged upon them that they had ignorantly transgressed this
precept by disregarding the Creator's rest day。 They began to examine the
reasons for observing the first day of the week instead of the day which God
had sanctified。 They could find no evidence in the
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Scriptures that the fourth commandment had been abolished； or that the
Sabbath had been changed； the blessing which first hallowed the seventh day
had never been removed。 They had been honestly seeking to know and to do
God's will； now； as they saw themselves transgressors of His law； sorrow
filled their hearts； and they manifested their loyalty to God by keeping His
Sabbath holy。
Many and earnest were the efforts made to overthrow their faith。 None could
fail to see that if the earthly sanctuary was a figure or pattern of the
heavenly； the law deposited in the ark on earth was an exact transcript of
the law in the ark in heaven； and that an acceptance of the truth concerning
the heavenly sanctuary involved an acknowledgment of the claims of God's law
and the obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment。 Here was the
secret of the bitter and determined opposition to the harmonious exposition
of the Scriptures that revealed the ministration of Christ in the heavenly
sanctuary。 Men sought to close the door which God had opened； and to open
the door which He had closed。 But 〃He that openeth； and no man shutteth； and
shutteth； and no man openeth；〃 had declared： 〃Behold； I have set before thee
an open door； and no man can shut it。〃 Revelation 3：7； 8。 Christ had opened
the door； or ministration； of the most holy place； light was shining from
that open door of the sanctuary in heaven； and the fourth commandment was
shown to be included in the law which is there enshrined； what God had
established； no man could overthrow。
Those who had accepted the light concerning the mediation of Christ and the
perpetuity of the law of God found that these were the truths presented in
Revelation 14。 The messages of this chapter constitute a threefold warning
（see Appendix） which is to prepare the inhabitants of the earth for the
Lord's second coming。 The announcement； 〃The hour of His judgment is come；〃
points to the closing work of Christ's ministration for the salvation of
men。 It heralds a
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truth which must be proclaimed until the Saviour's intercession shall cease
and He shall return to the earth to take His people to Himself。 The work of
judgment which began in
1844 must continue until the cases of all are decided； both of
the living and the dead； hence it will extend to the close of human
probation。 That men may be prepared to stand in the judgment； the message
commands them to 〃fear God； and give glory to Him；〃 〃and worship Him that
made heaven； and earth； and the sea； and the fountains of waters。〃 The
result of an acceptance of these messages is given in the word： 〃Here are
they that keep the commandments of God； and the faith of Jesus。〃 In order to
be prepared for the judgment； it is necessary that men should keep the law
of God。 That law will be the standard of character in the judgment。 The
apostle Paul declares： 〃As many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by
the law； 。 。 。 in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus
Christ。〃 And he says that 〃the doers of the law shall be justified。〃 Romans
2：12…16。 Faith is essential in order to the keeping of the law of God； for
〃without faith it is impossible to please Him。〃 And 〃whatsoever is not of
faith is sin。〃 Hebrews 11：6； Romans 14：23。
By the first angel； men are called upon to 〃fear God； and give glory to Him〃
and to worship Him as the Creator of the heavens and the earth。 In order to
do this； they must obey His law。 Says the wise man： 〃Fear God； and keep His
commandments： for this is the whole duty of man。〃 Ecclesiastes 12：13。
Without obedience to His commandments no worship can be pleasing to God。
〃This is the love of God； that we keep His commandments。〃 〃He that turneth
away his ear from hearing the law； even his prayer shall be abomination。〃
1 John 5：3； Proverbs 28：9。
The duty to worship God is based upon the fact that He is the Creator and
that to Him all other beings owe their existence。 And wherever； in the
Bible； His claim to reverence and worship； above the gods of the heathen； is
presented；
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there is cited the evidence of His creative power。 〃All the gods of the
nations are idols： but the Lord made the heavens。〃 Psalm 96：5。 〃To whom then
will ye liken Me； or shall I be equal？ saith the Holy One。 Lift up your eyes
on high； and behold who hath created