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the very center of Christ's work in behalf of men。 It concerns every soul
living upon the earth。 It opens to view the plan of redemption； bringing us
down to the very close of time and revealing the triumphant issue of the
contest between righteousness and sin。 It is of the utmost importance that
all should thoroughly investigate these subjects and be able to give an
answer to
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everyone that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them。
The intercession of Christ in man's behalf in the sanctuary above is as
essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross。 By His
death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to
complete in heaven。 We must by faith enter within the veil； 〃whither the
forerunner is for us entered。〃 Hebrews 6：20。 There the light from the cross
of Calvary is reflected。 There we may gain a clearer insight into the
mysteries of redemption。 The salvation of man is accomplished at an infinite
expense to heaven； the sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands of
the broken law of God。 Jesus has opened the way to the Father's throne； and
through His mediation the sincere desire of all who come to Him in faith may
be presented before God。
〃He that covereth his sins shall not prosper： but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy。〃 Proverbs 28：13。 If those who hide and
excuse their faults could see how Satan exults over them； how he taunts
Christ and holy angels with their course； they would make haste to confess
their sins and to put them away。 Through defects in the character； Satan
works to gain control of the whole mind； and he knows that if these defects
are cherished； he will succeed。 Therefore he is constantly seeking to
deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it is
impossible for them to overcome。 But Jesus pleads in their behalf His
wounded hands； His bruised body； and He declares to all who would follow
Him： 〃My grace is sufficient for thee。〃
2 Corinthians 12：9。 〃Take My yoke upon you； and learn of
Me； for I am meek and lowly in heart： and ye shall find rest unto your
souls。 For My yoke is easy； and My burden is light。〃 Matthew 11：29； 30。 Let
none； then； regard their defects as incurable。 God will give faith and grace
to overcome them。
We are now living in the great day of atonement。 In the typical service；
while the high priest was making the
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atonement for Israel； all were required to afflict their souls by repentance
of sin and humiliation before the Lord； lest they be cut off from among the
people。 In like manner； all who would have their names retained in the book
of life should now； in the few remaining days of their probation； afflict
their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance。 There must be
deep； faithful searching of heart。 The light； frivolous spirit indulged by
so many professed Christians must be put away。 There is earnest warfare
before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery。
The work of preparation is an individual work。 We are not saved in groups。
The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities
in another。 Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God； yet He
will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching
scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth。 Everyone must be
tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing。
Solemn are the scenes connected with the closing work of the atonement。
Momentous are the interests involved therein。 The judgment is now passing in
the sanctuary above。 For many years this work has been in progress。
Soonnone know how soonit will pass to the cases of the living。 In the
awful presence of God our lives are to come up in review。 At this time above
all others it behooves every soul to heed the Saviour's admonition： 〃Watch
and pray： for ye know not when the time is。〃 Mark 13：33。 〃If therefore thou
shalt not watch； I will come on thee as a thief； and thou shalt not know
what hour I will come upon thee。〃 Revelation 3：3。
When the work of the investigative judgment closes； the destiny of all will
have been decided for life or death。 Probation is ended a short time before
the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven。 Christ in the Revelation；
looking forward to that time； declares： 〃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
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holy； let him be holy still。 And； behold； I come quickly； and My reward is
with Me； to give every man according as his work shall be。〃 Revelation
22：11； 12。
The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their
mortal statemen 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。
〃Watch ye therefore： 。 。 。 lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping。〃 Mark
13：35； 36。 Perilous is the condition of those who； growing weary of their
watch； turn to the attractions of the world。 While the man of business is
absorbed in the pursuit of gain； while the pleasure lover is seeking
indulgence； while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornmentsit
may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence：
〃Thou art weighed in the balances； and art found wanting。〃 Daniel 5：27。
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Chapter 29
The Origin of Evil
To many minds the origin of sin and the reason for its existence are a
source of great perplexity。 They see the work of evil； with its terrible
results of woe and desolation； and they question how all this can exist
under the sovereignty of One who is infinite in wisdom； in power； and in
love。 Here is a mystery of which they find no explanation。 And in their
uncertainty and doubt they are blinded to truths plainly revealed in God's
word and essential to salvation。 There are those who； in their inquiries
concerning the existence of sin； endeavor to search into that which God has
never revealed； hence they find no solution of their difficulties； and such
as are actuated by a disposition to doubt and cavil seize upon this as an
excuse for rejecting the words of Holy Writ。 Others； however； fail of a
satisfactory understanding of the great problem of evil； from the fact that
tradition and misinterpretation have obscured the teaching of the Bible
concerning the character of God； the nature of His government； and the
principles of His dealing with sin。
It is impossible to explain the origin of sin so as to give a reason for its
existence。 Yet enough may be understood concerning both the origin and the
final disposition of sin to make fully manifest the justice and benevolence
of God in all His dealings with evil。 Nothing is more plainly taught in
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Scripture than that God was in no wise responsible for the entrance of sin；
that there was no arbitrary withdrawal of divine grace； no deficiency in the
divine government； that gave occasion for the uprising of rebellion。 Sin is
an intruder； for whose presence no reason can be given。 It is mysterious；
unaccountable； to excuse it is to defend it。 Could excuse for it be found；
or cause be shown for its existence； it would cease to be sin。 Our only
definition of sin is that given in the word of God； it is 〃the transgression
of the law；〃 it i