Close of Probation
157
women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other
left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other
left.” The righteous and the wicked are to be associated together in
the work of life. But the Lord reads the character. He discerns who
are obedient children, who respect and love His commandments.—
Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 234
(1895).
It is a solemn thing to die, but a far more solemn thing to live.
Every thought and word and deed of our lives will meet us again.
What we make of ourselves in probationary time, that we must remain
to all eternity. Death brings dissolution to the body, but makes no
change in the character. The coming of Christ does not change our
characters; it only fixes them forever beyond all change.—
Testimonies
for the Church 5:466
(1885).
Another Probation Would Not Convince the Wicked
We are to make the best of our present opportunities. There will
be no other probation given to us in which to prepare for heaven. This
is our only and last opportunity to form characters which will fit us for
the future home which the Lord has prepared for all who are obedient
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to His commandments.—
Letter 20, 1899
.
There will be no probation after the coming of the Lord. Those
who say that there will be are deceived and misled. Before Christ
comes just such a state of things will exist as existed before the Flood.
And after the Saviour appears in the clouds of heaven no one will
be given another chance to gain salvation. All will have made their
decisions.—
Letter 45, 1891
.
All will be tested and tried according to the light they have had.
Those who turn from the truth to fables can look for no second proba-
tion. There will be no temporal millennium. If, after the Holy Spirit
has brought conviction to their hearts, they resist the truth and use their
influence to block the way so that others will not receive it, they will
never be convinced. They did not seek for transformation of character
in the probation given them, and Christ will not give them opportunity
to pass over the ground again. The decision is a final one.—
Letter 25,
1900
.
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