The Spirit of Prophecy high standard--time of the end connection

 “But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him. 

And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.... 

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. 

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” (1Jn. 2:27,28;3:2,3).

The Spirit of Prophecy’s high standard came from Jesus at the same time as the start of the investigative judgment, and also when the cleansing of the heavenly and earthly sanctuaries began. Called for from page 425 of The Great Controversy, the “special work of purification”, which is needed for the cleansing of the sanctuary, is the fundamental guideline for all who pass the investigative judgment and who then will give the last warning to the world.

The Spirit of Prophecy’s very high standard is not just a nice thing to do to be good Christians, but, much more, it is the requirement for passing the investigative judgment when all true commandment keeping followers of Jesus will be found proven faithful to their professing Christ until the very end of probation. And in the purification that resulted from their growing up into His image they will allow the anti-typical Day of atonement to be finalized.

Three things must happen in order for them to pass the investigative judgment: 1) a genuine, initial conversion and justification before God; 2) faithfulness to the ongoing work of sanctification (which necessarily requires their often needing justification); and 3) until the end of probation, and come at them what may, their holding dear the third angel’s message, which is the godly counsel from Ellen White’s gift of Prophecy. These three items must require time in order for them to stand before Jesus when He returns in power. 

But, the investigative judgment limits the amount of time God will allow for the special work of purification. In other words, that special purification does not have an unlimited time-frame. We can’t expect God to wait until we feel ready to begin this work of purification. God will determine its length and “cut it short in righteousness”. Decisions in the court of heaven are being made upon every person who is honestly, earnestly trying to be purified. As it is written, “The marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her it was granted that she should be arrayed in  fine linen, clean and [bright]: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (Rev. 9:7,8). Or, the heavenly court is deciding who is simply making a profession and trying to fool people, and even God. But God knows who is honest, and He involves the angelic jury as a backup against the possibility (or probability) of Satan’s future charges.

In this closing up of the investigative judgment, they need their full focus on Jesus and His example, His life. “Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Rev. 3:10,11). Their focus must ignore the mindset of the world around them if they will survive the investigative judgment trial and the darkness that increasingly covers the earth during this time. As Ellen White revealed to us:

“I saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God. Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in their countenances; large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads.... Evil angels crowded around, pressing darkness upon them to shut out Jesus from their view, that their eyes might be drawn to the darkness that surrounded them.... Their only safety was in keeping their eyes directed upward.” Early Writings, p. 269.

They need to see Jesus in His Law because His Bible, both Old and New Testaments, and the Spirit of Prophecy, testify of Him. All inspired writings, received into the soul, will let their faith sit in heavenly places with Christ. Whether it is a story, a letter of admonition, or an outright commandment, inspiration alone most clearly shows the character of Jesus and the love in His heart.

But, Ellen White continued: “Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud. The angels of God left these and went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones.” Ibid. p. 270. 

The god of this world now owns the business world. Employment, simply to please the business world and its agenda of promoting the devil’s program of perpetuating unbelief, is forbidden and will prove our eternal ruin. “The merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.” (Rev. 18:3). Such work keeps us from ever preparing to participate in the Latter Rain of Christ’s Spirit. The world keeps us too busy to prepare to give the Loud Cry of the fourth angel, as seen in Revelation 18.

1) Working for the purpose of buying a newer car or a bigger house, just for the sake of having a nicer life;

2) not going to the Spirit of Prophecy for afflicting our souls to know whether or not we are reprobate;

3) not striving for sanctification to obtain victory over all our our sins, all our deformations of character and deficiencies of the character of Christ;

the failure of the above three will land us in the lake of fire when Jesus comes. And afterwards we will come up in the second resurrection. 

God forbid.