Probation in SDA Fundamental Beliefs exposition
27-23.htm: <p align="justify"><b><i>There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man. In it Christ ministers on our behalf,
making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at the time of His ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry.
It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of At
onement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with the perfect sacrifice of the
blood of Jesus. The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have
part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him,
therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that t
hose who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Adven
t.—Fundamental Beliefs, 23</i></b></P>
27-23.htm:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Christ's work as high priest is nearing its completion. The years of human probation<A HREF="#53" NAME="53!"><B>53</B></A> are slipping aw
ay. No one knows just when God's voice will proclaim, "It is finished." "'Take heed, '" Christ said, "'watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is'" (Mark 13:
33).</P>
27-23.htm:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY"><font size="-1"><a name="53"></a><font color="#FF0080">53</font> The end of human probation is the time when repentance is no longer possi
ble. A person's probation can close in any of three ways: (1) at death; (2) when the unpardonable sin has been committed (Matt. 12:31, 32; Luke 12:10); (3) when probat
ion is closed for all just before the Second Advent. As long as Christ functions as high priest and mediator between God and man, mercy is available. "No judgments the
refore can be inflicted without mercy till Christ's work as priest has ended. But the seven last plagues are poured out without mixture of mercy [Rev. 14:10; 15:1], he
nce they are poured out after Christ has ceased His pleading, and probation has ended" (U. Smith, in <I>SDA Encyclopedia</I>, rev. ed., p. 1152).[<a href="#53!">back</
a>] [<a href="#top">top</a>] </font></P>
27-25.htm:<P ALIGN="JUSTIFY">This story, however, is a parable—one of Christ's favorite methods of teaching. Each parable was meant to teach a lesson, and what Ch
rist was teaching had nothing to do with the state of the dead. The moral of this parable is the importance of living by the Word of God. Jesus showed that the rich ma
n was preoccupied with materialism and neglected to care for those in need. Eternal destiny is decided in this present life and there is no second probation. Scripture
is the guide to repentance and salvation, and if we will not heed the warnings of God's Word, nothing can reach us. Thus Christ ended the parable with the words "'"If
they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead"'" (Luke 16:31).</P>
