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Below, you will find the explanation as to why Charles & I believe that We Must Overcome Sin Before Jesus Comes The fact that Jesus came and lived a sinless life and paid the price for the sins of the world does not complete or finish the plan of redemption. Jesus death on the cross completed phase one of the redemption plan; phases two and three are found in Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. From Revelation 12: 12 we read: Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea. for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth he hath a short time. This text of scripture is in response to Jesus victorious defeat of satan at the cross and who was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin. As a result of Jesus victory at the cross and his ascension to His Fathers Throne whereby God anointed Jesus at His coronation, then, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost. All heaven was rejoicing because, 1) satan had no more access to heaven, 2) this planet called earth and its inhabitants was no longer under the dominion of sin, (see Romans 6:13-14) and 3) mankind now had access to a power source, the Holy Spirit, whereby they could gain the victory over all sin and thereby vindicate the character of God before the Universe. Now here is where we must slow down and pay strict attention to what we are reading and studying. From the pen of inspiration we read: But the plan of redemption had a yet broader and deeper purpose than the salvation of man; it was not for this alone that Christ came to the earth; it was not merely that the inhabitants of this little world might regard the law of God as it should be regarded; but it was to vindicate the character of God before the Universe. To this result of His great sacrifice--its influence upon the intelligences of other worlds, as well as upon man--the Saviour looked forward when just before His crucifixion He said: "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto 69 Me." John 12:31, 32. The act of Christ in dying for the salvation of man would not only make heaven accessible to men, but before all the universe it would justify God and His Son in their dealing with the rebellion of Satan. It would establish the perpetuity of the law of God and would reveal the nature and the results of sin. PP 68.2 Phrase 3 of the redemption plan is the complete restoration of the human soul into the image of God. This takes place in the Most Holy Place and the people of God have a part to play. For the outpouring of the Spirit every lover of the cause of truth should pray. And as far as lies in our power, we are to remove every hindrance to His working. {YRP 301.2} In the garden Eden, man transgressed the Law of God and sinned; this affected him physically, spiritually, mentally, socially and morally, but a loving God said I am going to restore you. This is not a partial restoration, NO, it is a complete restoration in every way. Adam and Eve could stand in the presence of God without being consumed, because they had no sin them. In the third phase of the plan of redemption man will again be brought back to a sinless condition, so that he can again

stand in the presence of God without being consumed. From the book of Revelation we read: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. (Rev. 22:4) The Bible says that these redeemed, restored saints have Gods name written in their foreheads, which of course means that they have been sealed, and if they are sealed and in heaven, then they are sinless. God loves us but He will not put the Seal of God upon the forehead of a disobedient law breaking sinful person. So, in order to get the SEAL OF GOD, we must be without sin. Well, when does the sealing take place? Does the sealing take place after you get to heaven or does it take place while we are still here on earth? In Rev 6, John in vision sees the cataclysmic events taking place preceding the second coming of Jesus, and John seemingly in distress cries out and exclaims who shall be able to stand, Rev. 6:17. Immediately John is shown the sealing of the 144,000, because these are the only ones that will be able to stand and go through this great time of trouble. They will live in the sight of a holy God without a mediator, they will not see death. They will vindicate the character of God before the entire universe. From the Bible we read: And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of earth that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. Rev. 7:1 From the pen of Inspiration we read; I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesus work was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues. The plagues enraged the wicked against the righteous; they thought that we had brought the judgments of God upon them, and that if they could rid the earth of us, the plagues would then be stayed. (EW-37) From the above statement, we can plainly see that the sealing will take place before the 7 last plagues; therefore the saints will be sinless before the 7 last plagues. Remember we cannot receive the Seal of God and still be sinning. We also see that the 7 last plagues cannot be poured out until Jesus announces that irrevocable decision of Rev. 22:11-12, He that is unjust, let him be unjust still. . . . At this announcement, probation has closed for the entire world; however probation cannot close for the world before the world is warned. The warning message is found in Rev. 18. It is called the Loud Cry. Remember, that the purpose of the Loud Cry is to reach the other sheep not of this fold. That means that the Loud Cry will of necessity first be given by the sheep of the true fold. This fold is called theTriumphant SDA church. But before a person can give the Loud Cry, he must first have received the Latter Rain which supplies the power to give the Loud Cry. Now here comes the real issue. Observe the Chart below:
Dan 8: 14 Judgment Rev.13: 15-17 The Test Rev.7: 1-8 Seal of God James 5:7 Latter Rain Rev. 18:1-4 Loud Cry Rev. 22:11 Close of Probation Second Coming 7

Between #6 & 7, the 7 last plagues will be poured out

Take a look at #3 which is the Seal of God. Before a person can receive the Latter Rain, he or she must first have received the Seal of God. From the pen of inspiration we read: Not one of us will ever receive the Seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse

the soul temple of every defilement. Then the Latter Rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost. 5T 214.2 The above statement means that the members of the SDA church, Militant, that are faithful and become the SDA church, Triumphant, will pass the ultimate test #2 in the chart, and having gained victory over sin receives the Seal of God which qualifies them to receive the Latter Rain which empowers them to give the Loud Cry of Rev. 18 and Finish the Work Question: What Is The Test? Answer: the Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, THEN the will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. . . . While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the Seal of God. GC 605.2 The answer stated above refers to the separation of the Wheat and the Tares which takes place at the time of the National Sunday Law. And Id like to add that thats when the judgment passes from the dead to the living. So, everyone who is alive TODAY has a chance to be saved. Another Statement As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the Third Angels Message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy popular side. . . .GC 608.2 SDA Christians must have obtained victory over sin before the Sunday Law Test. If we do NOT obtain this victory, our probation will close as we accept the mark of the beast. Sadly inspiration tells us that the vast majority of professing SDAs will give up the Bible Sabbath and keep Sunday. One of the primary reasons for this is that men under the control of Satan are teaching the members of the Church Militant that we will be sinning until Jesus comes. While Christ is sowing the good seed, Satan is sowing the tares. There are two opposing influences continually exerted on the members of the church. One influence is working for the purification of the church, and the other for the corrupting of the people of God. CC 46 From the pen of inspiration we read: Satan declared that it was impossible for the sons and daughters of Adam to keep the law of God, and thus charged upon God a lack of wisdom and love. If they could not keep the law, then there was fault with the Lawgiver. Men who are under the control of Satan repeat these accusations against God, in asserting that men cannot keep the law of God. Jesus humbled himself, clothing his divinity with humanity, in order that he might stand as the head and representative of the human family, and by both precept and example condemn sin in the flesh, and give the lie to Satans charges. He was subjected to the fiercest temptations that

NOT; for sin is the transgression of the law.

(ST, January 16, 1896 par.3)