Chapter 12 The Close of Probation
Revelation explains itself in many of the events and symbols. The Close of Probation is no exception. We see in Rev 10:5-7 it is given explicitly that when the seventh trumpet sounds time will be no more and the mystery of God shall be complete:
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
What is the mystery of God? A search for the word in the Bible shows that it only occurs in the New Testament. When it is related to God (there is a mystery of iniquity as well) it has to do with salvation and restoration. A big theme that is exemplified in Rom 11:25 is that God provides salvation to the Gentiles as well:
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rev 10 and 11 also talks about restoration in terms of God’s people and the Gentiles. Rev 11:1, 2 indicates that God seals His own people, the 144 000, but the Gentiles are not sealed at that moment, because they have 3.5 more years before their grace is expended. During their extra time of grace, the holy city is trampled. It would seem that the Gentiles are trampling the holy city, but many of them will be sealed at the end of the 3.5 years. This is revealed in the mystery of God being finished when the 7th Trumpet sounds. This is the Close of Probation:
Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Notice that the text does not say the Gentiles tread the court under foot. There is a break in that train of thought. The court is given to the Gentiles. The new thought is the holy city is tread under foot for 42 months. We see clearly here that God’s people are measured, sealed at the beginning of the 42 months, but the Gentiles have 42 more months of grace before they are sealed. When they are sealed, God’s mystery is complete. Probation for the Gentiles closes at the end of the 42 months. The elaboration of this concept certainly does not make sense in terms of the Dark Ages from 538 to 1798.
In the previous chapter we looked at the principle that the temple in heaven is not a concrete structure, but that it is a sequence of events that is the antitype of the annual feasts of Israel. Temple comes up twice in the Scripture we are pondering in terms of Close of Probation: At the sealing of the 144 000 the temple is measured, and at the 7th Trumpet the temple in heaven is open. In chapter 7 of this book we saw that the measuring of the temple indicates that the temple and the worshippers and the altar have been purified. This happened annually in the type to give Israel a fresh start with all their sins dealt with. The antitype of that is God’s people, the 144 000, have been purified and sealed and are made so that they are not inherently sinful, so that they can live perfect lives while spreading the Three Angels’ Messages in the 3.5 years. This is the Early Close of Probation. The outer court of the temple is not purified yet, but have 3.5 years chance to set their relationships with God straight before the Corporate Close of Probation. When the Seventh Trumpet sounds, Probation closes:
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
These 5 verses clearly indicate that Probation has closed at this point in prophecy:
• The Seventh Trumpet has sounded – Rev 10:6, 7 indicates time will be no longer.
• The kingdoms of Earth are now the kingdoms of Christ. This indicates that no one can make choices to serve God, or not, any longer. Choices have been made. Those that have chosen God are sealed in that choice, and those that have rejected God are sealed in that choice Rev 22:11. God and His Son are now in control of the Earth and all of mankind.
• Time to judge and give rewards.
• The temple of God in heaven is opened.
The type of the opening of the temple is when Christ died on the cross, the veil before the ark of the covenant was torn, and the ark was exposed and seen by all in the temple. That signaled the end of the type – the sacrificial system. Likewise, in the antitype, the temple in heaven is opened and the ark of the testament (covenant) is seen. This event signals the end of the antitype – the real system. Every sin of God’s saints has been confessed, and they are sealed into a state where they will no longer have the propensity to sin. Christ’s atoning blood has completed its work, and grace to confess and deal with our sinfulness has expired. Those who have chosen not to settle things with God are sealed for doom, and those who have committed their all to God are sealed for eternal life. This indeed is the final Close of Probation.
We should be in the daily habit of pouring out our hearts before God, admitting our sins and our sinfulness, and asking Him to take charge of our lives. If this is our way of life, we are on the path that will lead God to seal us and purify us for Eternity. When the curtain drops, when the temple in heaven is opened, we will be in God’s safe hands. May this be your experience.
Revelation explains itself in many of the events and symbols. The Close of Probation is no exception. We see in Rev 10:5-7 it is given explicitly that when the seventh trumpet sounds time will be no more and the mystery of God shall be complete:
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
What is the mystery of God? A search for the word in the Bible shows that it only occurs in the New Testament. When it is related to God (there is a mystery of iniquity as well) it has to do with salvation and restoration. A big theme that is exemplified in Rom 11:25 is that God provides salvation to the Gentiles as well:
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rev 10 and 11 also talks about restoration in terms of God’s people and the Gentiles. Rev 11:1, 2 indicates that God seals His own people, the 144 000, but the Gentiles are not sealed at that moment, because they have 3.5 more years before their grace is expended. During their extra time of grace, the holy city is trampled. It would seem that the Gentiles are trampling the holy city, but many of them will be sealed at the end of the 3.5 years. This is revealed in the mystery of God being finished when the 7th Trumpet sounds. This is the Close of Probation:
Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Notice that the text does not say the Gentiles tread the court under foot. There is a break in that train of thought. The court is given to the Gentiles. The new thought is the holy city is tread under foot for 42 months. We see clearly here that God’s people are measured, sealed at the beginning of the 42 months, but the Gentiles have 42 more months of grace before they are sealed. When they are sealed, God’s mystery is complete. Probation for the Gentiles closes at the end of the 42 months. The elaboration of this concept certainly does not make sense in terms of the Dark Ages from 538 to 1798.
In the previous chapter we looked at the principle that the temple in heaven is not a concrete structure, but that it is a sequence of events that is the antitype of the annual feasts of Israel. Temple comes up twice in the Scripture we are pondering in terms of Close of Probation: At the sealing of the 144 000 the temple is measured, and at the 7th Trumpet the temple in heaven is open. In chapter 7 of this book we saw that the measuring of the temple indicates that the temple and the worshippers and the altar have been purified. This happened annually in the type to give Israel a fresh start with all their sins dealt with. The antitype of that is God’s people, the 144 000, have been purified and sealed and are made so that they are not inherently sinful, so that they can live perfect lives while spreading the Three Angels’ Messages in the 3.5 years. This is the Early Close of Probation. The outer court of the temple is not purified yet, but have 3.5 years chance to set their relationships with God straight before the Corporate Close of Probation. When the Seventh Trumpet sounds, Probation closes:
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
These 5 verses clearly indicate that Probation has closed at this point in prophecy:
• The Seventh Trumpet has sounded – Rev 10:6, 7 indicates time will be no longer.
• The kingdoms of Earth are now the kingdoms of Christ. This indicates that no one can make choices to serve God, or not, any longer. Choices have been made. Those that have chosen God are sealed in that choice, and those that have rejected God are sealed in that choice Rev 22:11. God and His Son are now in control of the Earth and all of mankind.
• Time to judge and give rewards.
• The temple of God in heaven is opened.
The type of the opening of the temple is when Christ died on the cross, the veil before the ark of the covenant was torn, and the ark was exposed and seen by all in the temple. That signaled the end of the type – the sacrificial system. Likewise, in the antitype, the temple in heaven is opened and the ark of the testament (covenant) is seen. This event signals the end of the antitype – the real system. Every sin of God’s saints has been confessed, and they are sealed into a state where they will no longer have the propensity to sin. Christ’s atoning blood has completed its work, and grace to confess and deal with our sinfulness has expired. Those who have chosen not to settle things with God are sealed for doom, and those who have committed their all to God are sealed for eternal life. This indeed is the final Close of Probation.
We should be in the daily habit of pouring out our hearts before God, admitting our sins and our sinfulness, and asking Him to take charge of our lives. If this is our way of life, we are on the path that will lead God to seal us and purify us for Eternity. When the curtain drops, when the temple in heaven is opened, we will be in God’s safe hands. May this be your experience.
Chapter 12 The Close of Probation
Revelation explains itself in many of the events and symbols. The Close of Probation is no exception. We see in Rev 10:5-7 it is given explicitly that when the seventh trumpet sounds time will be no more and the mystery of God shall be complete:
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
What is the mystery of God? A search for the word in the Bible shows that it only occurs in the New Testament. When it is related to God (there is a mystery of iniquity as well) it has to do with salvation and restoration. A big theme that is exemplified in Rom 11:25 is that God provides salvation to the Gentiles as well:
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rev 10 and 11 also talks about restoration in terms of God’s people and the Gentiles. Rev 11:1, 2 indicates that God seals His own people, the 144 000, but the Gentiles are not sealed at that moment, because they have 3.5 more years before their grace is expended. During their extra time of grace, the holy city is trampled. It would seem that the Gentiles are trampling the holy city, but many of them will be sealed at the end of the 3.5 years. This is revealed in the mystery of God being finished when the 7th Trumpet sounds. This is the Close of Probation:
Rev 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Notice that the text does not say the Gentiles tread the court under foot. There is a break in that train of thought. The court is given to the Gentiles. The new thought is the holy city is tread under foot for 42 months. We see clearly here that God’s people are measured, sealed at the beginning of the 42 months, but the Gentiles have 42 more months of grace before they are sealed. When they are sealed, God’s mystery is complete. Probation for the Gentiles closes at the end of the 42 months. The elaboration of this concept certainly does not make sense in terms of the Dark Ages from 538 to 1798.
In the previous chapter we looked at the principle that the temple in heaven is not a concrete structure, but that it is a sequence of events that is the antitype of the annual feasts of Israel. Temple comes up twice in the Scripture we are pondering in terms of Close of Probation: At the sealing of the 144 000 the temple is measured, and at the 7th Trumpet the temple in heaven is open. In chapter 7 of this book we saw that the measuring of the temple indicates that the temple and the worshippers and the altar have been purified. This happened annually in the type to give Israel a fresh start with all their sins dealt with. The antitype of that is God’s people, the 144 000, have been purified and sealed and are made so that they are not inherently sinful, so that they can live perfect lives while spreading the Three Angels’ Messages in the 3.5 years. This is the Early Close of Probation. The outer court of the temple is not purified yet, but have 3.5 years chance to set their relationships with God straight before the Corporate Close of Probation. When the Seventh Trumpet sounds, Probation closes:
Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.
19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
These 5 verses clearly indicate that Probation has closed at this point in prophecy:
• The Seventh Trumpet has sounded – Rev 10:6, 7 indicates time will be no longer.
• The kingdoms of Earth are now the kingdoms of Christ. This indicates that no one can make choices to serve God, or not, any longer. Choices have been made. Those that have chosen God are sealed in that choice, and those that have rejected God are sealed in that choice Rev 22:11. God and His Son are now in control of the Earth and all of mankind.
• Time to judge and give rewards.
• The temple of God in heaven is opened.
The type of the opening of the temple is when Christ died on the cross, the veil before the ark of the covenant was torn, and the ark was exposed and seen by all in the temple. That signaled the end of the type – the sacrificial system. Likewise, in the antitype, the temple in heaven is opened and the ark of the testament (covenant) is seen. This event signals the end of the antitype – the real system. Every sin of God’s saints has been confessed, and they are sealed into a state where they will no longer have the propensity to sin. Christ’s atoning blood has completed its work, and grace to confess and deal with our sinfulness has expired. Those who have chosen not to settle things with God are sealed for doom, and those who have committed their all to God are sealed for eternal life. This indeed is the final Close of Probation.
We should be in the daily habit of pouring out our hearts before God, admitting our sins and our sinfulness, and asking Him to take charge of our lives. If this is our way of life, we are on the path that will lead God to seal us and purify us for Eternity. When the curtain drops, when the temple in heaven is opened, we will be in God’s safe hands. May this be your experience.
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