When Jesus ascended to heaven, He entered the heavenly sanctuary to perform His work as High Priest (Hebrews 8:1; 1 Timothy 2:5). Those things which were a shadow of things to come had to be fulfilled not only by His death on the cross, but also by His ministration in heaven. In the past, the high priest would enter the most holy place once a year for the purification of the sanctuary from sin (Leviticus 16:29-34; Hebrews 9:7). This is the very work that Jesus is now doing in our behalf in heaven. Paul says: “Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24).

But there is another phase included in the work of Christ in heaven. His position in heaven as an advocate (1 John 2:1) indicates that there is a work of jugdment being carried out now. Scripture declares: “The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God;” and “some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after” (1 Peter 4:17; 1 Timothy 5:24).

This work of judgment was revealed in a vision to the prophet Daniel, as he describes: “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:9, 10, emphasis supplied).

“For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary. The blood of Christ, pleaded in behalf of penitent believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins still remained upon the books of record. As in the typical service there was a work of atonement at the close of the year, so before Christ’s work for the redemption of men is completed there is a work of atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary. This is the service which began when the 2300 days ended. At that time, as foretold by Daniel the prophet, our High Priest entered the most holy, to perform the last division of His solemn work - to cleanse the sanctuary.”1

It is very important for us to understand what the work of Jesus in heaven consists of, so we may know how we should live during this time. We have just considered that there is a work of judgment going on in heaven. Since we are now being judged, what are the things that we should always bear in mind? Regarding the judgment, we read: “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14). And Jesus Himself declared: “I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36, 37). Here we see that our words and actions will determine whether or not we will be condemned. Let us now see what is being taken into account during this judgment time:

“As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance.”2

“Every man’s work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered with terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling. Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected , wasted moments , unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel.”3

“In the judgment the use made of every talent will be scrutinized. How have we employed the capital lent us of Heaven? Will the Lord at His coming receive His own with usury? Have we improved the powers entrusted us, in hand and heart and brain, to the glory of God and the blessing of the world? How have we used our time, our pen, our voice, our money, our influence? What have we done for Christ, in the person of the poor, the afflicted, the orphan, or the widow? God has made us the depositaries of His holy word; what have we done with the light and truth given us to make men wise unto salvation? . . .

“Money, time, and strength are sacrificed for display and self-indulgence; but few are the moments devoted to prayer, to the searching of the Scriptures, to humiliation of soul and confession of sin.”4

Many - even among those who profess the third angel’s message - do not truly realize the solemnity of the work taking place in heaven. They are living a careless, casual existence, and in some respects are conforming to the world. In their words and actions, they are denying Christ by not keeping foremost in mind the fact that there is a record of all their deeds in the book in heaven. I would say, if there is a time when we have to consider our ways and purify our souls, it is now.

There will come a time when the Father will reveal the time of the second coming of Jesus. After the ministration of Christ is finished in the second apartment of the sanctuary, He will declare: “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still” (Revelation 22:11). At that time, the case of every soul will have been decided for life or death. There will be no mediator to plead on behalf of the transgressors of God’s law. Here is what the servant of the Lord saw in a vision regarding that time: “As Jesus moved out of the most holy place, I heard the tinkling of the bells upon His garment; and as He left, a cloud of darkness covered the inhabitants of the earth. There was then no mediator between guilty man and an offended God. . . . Every case was decided, every jewel numbered. . . .

“The last tear for sinners had been shed, the last agonizing prayer offered, the last burden borne, the last warning given. The sweet voice of mercy was no more to invite them. When the saints, and all heaven, were interested for their salvation, they had no interest for themselves. Life and death had been set before them. Many desired life, but made no effort to obtain it. They did not choose life, and now there was no atoning blood to cleanse the guilty, no compassionate Saviour to plead for them, and cry, ‘Spare, spare the sinner a little longer.’ All heaven had united with Jesus, as they heard the fearful words, ‘It is done. It is finished.’ The plan of salvation had been accomplished, but few had chosen to accept it. And as mercy’s sweet voice died away, fear and horror seized the wicked. With terrible distinctness they heard the words, ‘Too late! too late!’ ”5

After these words are uttered, the plagues will be poured out on the earth where the wicked will have to drink of the wrath of God. And after the partial resurrection, the Father will reveal to the just the day of Jesus’ coming. The pen of Inspiration explains: “The voice of God is heard from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming, and delivering everlasting covenant to His people.”6

“The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. For many years this work has been in progress. Soon - none know how soon - it will pass to the cases of the living. In the awful presence of God our lives are to come up in review. At this time above all others it behooves every soul to heed the Saviour’s admonition: ‘Watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is’ (Mark 13:33). ‘If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee’ (Revelation 3:3).”7

“While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments - it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence: ‘Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting’ (Daniel 5:27).”8

“When the scorner, the rejecter of truth, has become presumptuous; when the routine of work in the various money-making lines is carried on without regard to principle; when the student is eagerly seeking knowledge of everything but his Bible, Christ comes as a thief.”9

“We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be put away. There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth. Everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.”10

Dear brethren and sisters, let us seek the Lord while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6). Let us live a life of repentance and humility (Acts 3:19; Proverbs 28:13; James 4:10). Then, let us put our trust in the power of Christ that we may be saved at last (2 Corinthians 12:9). Because “all who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life.”11