OBJECTION 31. — THE SEALING TIME

The visions show that the sealing time commenced in 1844; and yet it is claimed that the Review teaches that we are just entering into that time. Although this is offered as an objection to the visions, the most that can be claimed for it, certainly, is that there is a discrepancy between the teachings of the REVIEW and the visions; but this would by no means prove the visions false. But there is no discrepancy between the two. The trouble with the objector all arises from his overlooking the very plain fact that the sealing time covers a period during which a progressive work is carried on upon the earth. The third angel’s message is a sealing message; but a person is not sealed as soon as he embraces it. Time is given for the development of a holy character, by obedience to the truth. And the message is designed to bring people to a position where they can be sealed absolutely, in the sense of having their cases forever decided for Heaven. Yet all the time covered by this message is the sealing time. In the sense of decision of character, the closing work in the sanctuary in Heaven is also a sealing work. This work, the cleansing of the sanctuary, commenced in 1844, and the time during which it is carried on is the sealing time. It is a time when investigative judgment sits upon all characters, and every individual of the human race has his place assigned him [not his punishment or reward meted out] either among the righteous or the wicked. Now it must be apparent to all that by far a greater proportion of this time must be occupied with the cases of the dead, than with the cases of the living. And while the decisions of the sanctuary are going on in relation to the dead, a message goes forth to the living to prepare a people for the time when the decisions of the sanctuary shall have respect to them. That message is now going forth; and what the REVIEW has taught is that the time is about to commence when the cases of the living will come up in the investigative judgment in the sanctuary above, and those who are found righteous among them will be sealed for Heaven. The work brought to view in Revelation 7:1-3, had reference of course to the living, not to the dead. By overlooking this plain distinction, the objector fancies he finds a discrepancy between the Review and the visions, and hopes to make capital out of it against the visions. But if there was any disagreement between them it would only prove the Review at fault, and make nothing whatever for his cause; and since there is none at all, he is left to get what consolation he can from the fact that his own lack of discrimination is the only ground of all his fancied triumph here.VEGW 86.2