Greetings from Future for America. We are going to begin a presentation that may continue on to four, possibly five in a series. We're going to go through the presentation very, very slowly and carefully because in the recent weeks as we've shared this presentation, there's been some resistance or misunderstanding from those that are hearing it and it's our conviction that this resistance and misunderstanding has more to do with confrontation of truth with those that are receiving it than anything else. So we want to develop the basic premise of this study very carefully. Virtually all the prophetic studies that I present begin with an understanding of Daniel 11 40 to 45 where in verse 41 we identify that what is symbolized in Daniel 11 41 is a Sunday Law in the United States and that those sequence of the verses in the end of chapter 11 are to be understood as a very rapid series of events that began in verse 40 with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 and that a Sunday Law is imminent in the United States and then we have studies that come after that presentation on Daniel 11 where in that presentation of Daniel 11 we identify three powers that are symbolized in those verses. The King of the North, the King of the South and the United States as symbolized in verse 40 through the chariot ships and horsemen and these three powers, the King of the South being the Soviet Union, the philosophy of atheism, the King of the North being the papacy and the United States and the chariot ships and horsemen, these three powers wind through verses 40 to 45 until they come to the conclusion just before Daniel 12 1 where we see Michael standing up and Sister White tells us that when Michael stands up human probation closes and enough in following studies we look at these same three powers in Revelation 16 only there John the Revelator portrays these powers as the dragon, the beast and the false prophet and they lead the world to Armageddon and we also look at the sequence that is illustrated in the verses 40 to 45 of Daniel 11 as first the United States passing a Sunday Law then the world being conquered and we take that sequence and look at Revelation 13 and find that in Revelation 13 that same sequence is portrayed first the United States speaks as a dragon then it forces the whole world to set up an image of the beast and we further look at that sequence once again in Revelation 17 is symbolized in the kingdoms of Bible prophecy and in the mystery that is portrayed in Revelation 17 but in any case the the prophetic studies that we present begin with Daniel 11 40 to 45 the imminence of a Sunday Law then we show that these verses in Daniel 11 agree with the testimony in Revelation and one important study that we do is a follow-on study is called the purification of God's Church where we look very carefully how the Sunday Law is symbolized in Bible prophecy in the parables of the Bible in the teachings of the Bible in general and we also identify that this Sunday Law as illustrated in the Bible is many many places and if we aren't students of prophecy that are seeking to recognize these illustrations as a Sunday Law then we do not recognize that the Sunday Law is perhaps the most important end time prophetic way mark by way mark I mean something that has been identified as an event in the sequence of events at the end of the world and in our study of the purification of the church we look at the Sunday Law in prophecy from that perspective is the issue at the end of the world which lines up many other way marks there's virtually no end time events that we understand the Seventh-day Adventist that doesn't somehow connect to the Sunday Law issue and we take nine presentations to cover that material and in doing so we hope that it's very clear that the Sunday Law is the focus of end-time Bible prophecy we as we go through these studies we also identify that the Sunday Law is the very heart of the message of Seventh-day Adventist for when the third angels message swells to a loud cry it is the third angels message that's warning against receiving the mark of the beast and the mark of the beast is Sunday keeping the very heart of our message of as a people is the Sunday issue and the very heart of end-time Bible prophecy is the Sunday issue and as we go through these studies we develop some truths that are fairly clearly identified in the Bible and spirit of prophecy but because we have been as God's people wandering in the wilderness of Laodicea we have not been studying prophecy as we should and sometimes these truths seem obscure to those of us who haven't been studying but by the time we arrive at this study that we're going to take up here for those that are familiar with our previous studies some of the premises that we've developed over many many hours of investigation when heard for the first time they they are harder to digest than if you've had the previous background to them and recently in Asia and in South America in the southeastern United States we've shared essentially a four-part presentation and some of the lack of understanding on certain parts of that presentation were clearly developed in earlier studies so as we begin this for our audio newsletter we are going to go back and re-emphasize some of the truths that people seem to be not understanding well in the recent presentation because they are very important to what we're going to look at we're going to look at in this study perhaps the most important prophetic study in the sense that it's dealing more directly with the current events that are taking place right now in the United States in the world and in order to do that we're just going to go selectively look at some of these things and build that premise in this first tape and then begin in earnest in the next tape now one of the primary quotes that we build our presentations on is the Great Controversy 594 where it says the events connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation for the time of trouble are clearly presented but multitudes have no more understanding of these important truths than if they had never been revealed and in our presentation we look at the events connected with the close of probation in the hopes that these events might be used by the Holy Spirit to bring about in us individually an experience where we will be prepared for the time of trouble because this message hopefully will be twofold in its reception not only to inform us of what's taking place and about to take place but inform us that we must be prepared for the time of trouble or we're going to be lost now the events that Sister White emphasizes in this passage have to do with the close of probation and in our previous studies one of the things that we develop very strongly and that is one of the foundational principles of the things that we do study in prophecy is that probation closes at the Sunday law now there's this is one of the areas whenever it's presented that you meet with resistance either from misunderstanding or from people that do not want to receive this truth but this is also one of the truths in the spirit of prophecy that is the most easily defendable although there are aspects of it it's not a singular truth there's several aspects to it that must be understood when we say that probation closes with the Sunday law we are saying that the tool that the Lord uses to bring human probation to a close during the time period of the judgment of the living is the Sunday law test we are about to move into the time period Sister White says no man knows when the judgment of the living begins so I please don't say that I'm saying I know when the judgment of the living begins but I do know by the events that we are on the verge of the judgment of the living and at that time period the Lord allows the Sunday law issue to be the tool that brings probation to a close for all mankind as they choose either for or against upholding the Sabbath or the Sunday. Now that's one truth connected with the close of probation a truth that's sometimes even more resisted but it's directly related to that is that judgment begins with the house of God and the first people confronted with the Sunday law test are Seventh-day Adventists. We will be the first that will be tested by the Sunday law issue and it will be that test that will purify God's church allowing the latter rain to be poured out upon it and under the power of the latter rain the loud cry message will be proclaimed which will be a call to God's other children in Babylon to come out and when they come out they come out and stand with the Sabbath keepers they come out of the Sunday churches and make their stand during the time period of the Sunday law. Now another closely related understanding of this that you need to address is what is the Sunday law? There's Sunday laws in the world today but they don't fulfill the one that Bible prophecy speaks of in the Sunday law that we identify in our studies as the one that fulfills the time period when probation begins to close is the Sunday law that forces you to observe and uphold Sunday sacredness while at the same time it persecutes you for keeping the Seventh-day Sabbath. That's the Sunday law that we speak of when we're talking the Sunday law test. It's not simply a Sunday law that forbids you to buy gasoline on Sunday or one of the earlier Sunday laws that will no doubt precede the Sunday law that finally upholds Sunday observance and persecutes us for keeping Sabbath. There no doubt will be a series of Sunday laws that develop and get stronger and stronger as time proceeds but the one that we're speaking of is two-fold Sunday law that persecutes us for keeping Sabbath, forces us to observe Sunday. Now those issues are sometimes not clearly understood in Adventism and because of that, because we haven't been studying they're not clearly understood. When you set forth these truths in a rather matter-of-fact presentation when you have developed those truths earlier, people sometimes misunderstand them. So we're going to go back and look at some of the defenses for the things that we've just said in order to make sure that these understandings are clear before we move further on to our studies. In Review and Herald, December 18, 1888, it says this, the time is coming when the law of God is in a special sense to be made void in our land. The rulers of our nation will by legislative enactments enforce the Sunday law and thus God's people will be brought into great peril. When our nation in its legislative council shall enact laws to bind the consciences of men in regard to their religious privileges, enforcing Sunday observance and bringing oppressive power to bear against those who keep the seventh-day Sabbath, the law of God will to all intents and purposes be made void in our land and national apostasy will be followed by national ruin. Here's the twofold part of the Sunday law that Sister White says, in a special sense is when the law of God is made void in our land. It's enforcing Sunday observance and bringing power to bear against those who keep the seventh-day Sabbath. Now, that is what we're speaking of with the Sunday law fulfilling Bible prophecy. The issue there at that point that arises among some is that truly where probation closes for God's people and we point to that event as the time period when probation closes for seventh-day Adventists because they are the first tested by the Sunday law test because they are those that have the light on the Sabbath Sunday issue and judgment begins with the house of God in agreement with the truth that only those people that have light on Sabbath and Sunday or who have had the opportunity to have light but have not availed themselves, only those people will receive the mark of the beast during the Sunday law time period. Immediately thereafter, when the church is purified and the issues are made clear for other people who, up to that point, they have not understood the issues, then they will be confronted with the same test. But in the Great Controversy 605, identifying the Sabbath as the dividing line, Sister White says this, the Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve him not. While the observance of the false Sabbath in compliance with the laws of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be in a vow of an allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath in obedience to God's law is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God. Now, she says in there that when the final test shall be brought to bear, when, and she's speaking about the Sunday law issue, then the dividing line is drawn. The dividing line is the line between those who receive the mark of the beast and those who receive the seal of God. She says it takes place at the Sunday law issue. Now, Sister White's clear when she speaks about the mark of the beast that only those that understand the issues will be, will receive the mark of the beast during that time period, and those that initially understand the issues are Seventh-day Adventists. Another important passage where she addresses this is in Review and Herald, April 27th, 1911, and in this passage she identifies the truth that we must have the light of truth before we will receive the mark of the beast, but she's clear about when it takes place. If the light of truth has been presented to you, revealing the Sabbath of the fourth commandment and showing that there is no foundation in the Word of God for Sunday observance, and yet you still cling to the false Sabbath, refusing to keep holy the Sabbath which God calls my holy day, you receive the mark of the beast. When does this take place? When you obey the decree that commands you to cease from labor on Sunday and worship God, while you know that there is not a word in the Bible showing Sunday to be other than a working day, you consent to receive the mark of the beast and refuse the seal of God. If we receive this mark in our foreheads or in our hands, the judgments pronounced against the disobedients must fall upon us, but the seal of the living God is placed upon those who conscientiously keep the Sabbath of the Lord." It's very clear, she's emphasizing in this passage, she asks questions, when does this take place? Well, it takes place at the decree. Now, in these three passages that we just read from the Review and Herald, The Great Controversy, and then another one from the Review and Herald, there's some extra pieces of information that we want to just mention here because they'll have a bearing later on in our study. This first one where she's identifying the twofold nature of the Sunday test, she also points out that at that point, at the Sunday law in the United States, national apostasy will be followed by national ruin. We want to mention that, that's a theme that Sister White talks about several times. At the Sunday law in the United States, immediately thereafter, national ruin will set in, and although you will not find a place where Sister White identifies the little time of trouble, as Adventists, we have identified the little time of trouble for many years as the time of trouble that begins immediately after the Sunday law, when national apostasy is followed by national ruin, and when this nation fully disconnects itself from righteousness by passing the Sunday law, everything falls apart. But at this time period, probation is still open, although at this time period, God's church has been purified by the Sunday test, the greatest majority of us receiving the mark of the beast, the minority receiving the seal of God, the church has been purified, the latter rain is being poured out, but probation is still open for God's other children in Babylon, but it's during a time period of escalating catastrophes, and we want to note that because we'll look at that a little bit closer later on. The other thing that I would like to note here on this twofold nature of the Sunday law, some people have questioned whether enforcing you to observe Sunday means that they're going to force you to worship on Sunday, and if you listen closely to that last quote from April 27, 1911 Review and Herald, she's clear, when you obey the decree that commands you to cease from labor on Sunday, you're going to cease from labor on Sunday, but she continues on, and worship God, while you know that there is not a word in the Bible showing Sunday to be other than a common working day, so this decree is going to force us to cease from labor and to worship God on Sunday, so this is going to be a direct contradiction to religious liberty and to the Sabbath commandment, and that is the issue that's going to be enforced. Now, one other truth that we want to develop early on is that it is at the Sunday law that the church is purified, it's at the Sunday law that we've already read a couple passages that we either receive the mark of the beast or the seal of God, and we want to really draw a line in the sand about a sequence of prophetic events when you take the Sunday law and you bring together the different issues connected to it, you'll develop a very clear, consistent outline of the sequence of events at the end of the world. Sunday law purifies God's church, they then receive the latter rain, they then give the loud cry message, then God's other children come out of Babylon. During this same time period, the little time of trouble begins, national apostasy is followed by national ruin, God's destructive judgments are in the land, the eleventh hour labors are coming out during a time period of great crisis, and eventually, shortly thereafter, the world will come into line with the Sunday law issue, and then human probation will close. These end time events, when you look carefully at what we've been told about them, are very specifically identified, and one of them that we want to be clear about is when the latter rain takes place, and in Testimonies, volume 5, page 214 and onward, it says this, not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement, then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost. What are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world are receiving the worldly mold and preparing for the mark of the beast. Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth, these are receiving the heavenly mold and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads. When the decree goes forth and the stamp is impressed, their characters will remain pure and spotless for eternity. Now, this decree that takes place is the Sunday Law decree, and the stamp is impressed, and those that receive the seal at that point, at the Sunday Law, their characters remain pure and spotless for eternity, and likewise those that receive the mark of the beast at that time have chosen their position for eternity, and it's at this Sunday decree that this takes place, and it's when you receive the seal of God at that point, then the latter rain comes. The latter rain comes after you're sealed. Now, the definition of the close of probation that we would suggest for our studies is contained in that passage from Testimonies, Volume 5. I mean, certainly when someone dies, they close their probation, but for our prophetic study, what we are identifying as the close of probation when we continue on in this study is the time period when you either receive the seal of God or the mark of the beast. We're talking about the close of probation in the judgment of the living. We're not denying the truth that at death you close your probation, but at the end of the world, the world will be divided into two classes, and the process that brings this about is the Sunday Law test, and that's what we want to convey as far as the close of probation, because we will be talking about that all the way through. At the Sunday Law, if I've had opportunity or I understand the issues between Sabbath and Sunday, and I choose for whatever reasons to give in to Sunday observance and worship the false God on Sunday, I receive the mark of the beast. I remain that way forever. Now, that's sometimes a difficult truth for Seventh-day Adventists to receive, but it is clearly identified in the Spirit of Prophecy, and it's consistent with end-time events as set forth in the Spirit of Prophecy. When you recognize that it's this issue that purifies the church, allowing the latter rain to be poured out, because Testimonies Volume 5 said, when we are sealed, then the latter rain comes. When you realize that this sealing takes place at the Sunday Law, you put together with that what the latter rain is for, and we're told the latter rain is to strengthen us to stand through the time of trouble, but also to empower us to give the loud cry message. The loud cry message is the come-out-of-Babylon message, so the latter rain strengthened us to call God's other children out of Babylon. For those of us in Adventism that want to believe that after the Sunday Law, probation is still open for Seventh-day Adventists to choose one way or the other on Sabbath and Sunday, the logic of that position is very flawed, because it's at that time period that God's people, under the power of the latter rain, go out and preach the Sabbath more fully. They clarify the issues connected with Sabbath and Sunday, and how could they possibly be clarifying those issues if they were still vacillating on that truth in their own heart? And we want to look at some passages where Sister White speaks about this sequence in this time period, and hopefully you can see that she upholds this Sunday Law, purifying the Church prior to the latter rain, the latter rain empowering us to go out and finish this work on the clarification of the Sabbath. In This Day with God, page 163, Sister White says this, Many who have known the truth have corrupted their way before God and have departed from the faith. The broken ranks will be filled up by those represented by Christ as coming in at the 11th hour. Here's the 11th hour workers that come in. Sometimes Sister White calls them the one-hour workers. These are those that Christ called his other sheep, that he says when he calls they will come. These are God's other children in Babylon. Now back to the quote. I'll start over again. Many who have known the truth have corrupted their way before God and have departed from the faith. The broken ranks will be filled up by those represented by Christ as coming in at the 11th hour. There are many with whom the Spirit of God is striving. The time of God's destructive judgments is a time of mercy for those who have had, who have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched. His hand is stretched out to save while the door is closed to those who would not enter. Large numbers who will be admitted, large numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the truth for the first time. Now I hope you're seeing there a few things. The time of God's destructive judgments. When does the time of God's destructive judgments begin? We need to identify that because it's a time of mercy for those who have not known the truth. Well the time of God's destructive judgments prophetically begins at the Sunday Law when national apostasy is followed by national ruin. This is what Adventism calls the little time of trouble. It begins at the Sunday Law. This is the time of God's destructive judgment and during that time period it's a time of mercy for those of God's other children, the 11th hour workers who are in Babylon who have never heard the truth between Sabbath and Sunday. And at this time period the Lord stretches out his hand to save them, but during this time period the door is closed to those who would not enter. Now that's in the past tense. Those who wouldn't enter previously for Seventh-day Adventists that have not brought their life into agreement with the truth for this time, when the Sunday Law arrives they will not have the spiritual strength to choose correctly and they receive the mark of the beast and the door is closed to those that would not enter. The door of probation closes for those Seventh-day Adventists at that point and their broken ranks are filled up by those that come in from Babylon. Now here's another one where this the similar transition is described. This is from the words of the little flock, page 19. I saw that the... will be the separating wall between the true Israel of God and unbelievers and that the Sabbath is the great question to unite the hearts of God's dear waiting saints. And if one believed and kept the Sabbath and received the blessing attending it and then gave it up and break the holy commandment, they would shut the gates of the holy city against themselves as sure as there was a God that rules in heaven above. I saw that God had children who did not see, who do not see and keep the Sabbath. They had not rejected the light on it and at the commencement of the time of trouble we were filled with the Holy Ghost as we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully. This enraged the church and nominal Adventists as they could not refute the Sabbath truth and at this time God's chosen all saw clearly that we had the truth and they came out and endured persecution with us. And I saw the sword, famine, pestilence and great confusion in the land. The wicked thought that we had brought the judgments down on them. They rose up and took counsel to rid the earth of us thinking that then the evil would be stayed." Now there's much in that passage but this is in agreement with the passage we just read that there is a group of people that have not seen the truth on Sabbath and they at the commencement of the time of trouble and this is not the time of trouble that Sister White identifies when Michael stands up. When Michael stands up human probation closes. Let's look at that first and come back to this quote. Testimony volume 5 page 212. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time and at that time thy people shall be delivered everyone that shall be found written in the book. When this time of trouble comes every case is decided there is no longer probation no longer mercy for the impenitent the seal of the living God is upon his people. This small remnant unable to defend themselves in the deadly conflict with the powers of earth that are marshaled by the dragon host make God their defense. The decree has been passed by the highest earthly authority that they shall worship the beast and receive his mark under pain of persecution and death. May God help his people now for what can they what can they then do in such a fearful conflict without his assistance. That's the great time of trouble when human probation is closed. Sister White in this previous quote from a world to a little flock is speaking she says at the commencement of the time of trouble we're filled with the Holy Ghost and we went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully. Now there's no reason to go proclaim the Sabbath more fully if probation is over and this is obviously not what she's talking about in the words of the little flock because she's speaking about those that had she says I saw that God had children who do not see and keep the Sabbath they had not rejected light on it and at the commencement of the time of trouble we were filled with the Holy Ghost and went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully this enraged the church and nominal Adventists as they could not refute the Sabbath truth and at this time God's chosen this is the other people in Babylon all saw clearly that we had the truth and came out and endured persecution with us. So here even though Sister White never uses the term little time of trouble here is the time of trouble where probation is still open. It's the time period when the judgments of the God's destructive judgments are in the land but it's also a time of mercy for those who have never known the truth but in both these passages this day with God and a word to the little flock as Sister White's identifying this time period when under the power of the Holy Spirit the Sabbath is being clarified for God's other children in Babylon in both these passages she identifies a group of people that prior to that time have left the faith. That's Seventh-day Adventists who have not brought their life into agreement with the truth of Adventism prior to the Sunday Law and at the Sunday Law when the decree goes forth that when we are sealed but the majority of us receive the mark of the beast these people in one place in a word to little flock she says they shut the gates of the holy city against themselves and the shutting of the gates is the shutting of the doors and the shutting of a door in Bible prophecy is the close of probation and at this day with God she says the door is closed to those who would not enter. At the Sunday Law test the door is closed to Seventh-day Adventists that have prepared their character for the mark of the beast. Now as far as the sequence of events and the closed probation for Seventh-day Adventists we identify the Sunday Law in the United States as the the corporate dividing line and please don't misunderstand I'm not talking about the church structure or apostasy in the church structure at this point I'm using the corporate dividing line in a very selective way in terms of Bible prophecy. The Sunday Law in the United States is the point where Seventh-day Adventists in the United States are confronted with a test that will illustrate what character they've developed. They've either developed the character for the seal of God or they've developed a character for the mark of the beast. At that point you are forced by the laws of the land to be in either one camp or the other. It's going to be made clear which camp you're in. That in in that sense it's the corporate dividing line for Adventists and that is the close of probation at the Sunday Law that we're speaking of but I do know I hope I'm not misunderstood because one of the primary truths that we want to emphasize throughout our studies is that we close our probation before that time. Before the Sunday Law you and I are developing a character either for the mark of the beast or the seal of God and the Sunday Law test is simply the point in history the place in time whereby the circumstances it will be made evident what character I have developed. So God uses the Sunday Law as a tool to illustrate the character that I've developed but in reality I am developing my character today right now prior to the Sunday Law and in reality there are some of us in Adventism today that no doubt have already developed the character one way or the other. The Sunday Law is simply the corporate dividing line where this will be made manifest to everyone to see. Now these one of the ways that you can identify this is this at the Sunday Law is just look at the several places where Sister White emphasizes that national apostasy is followed by national ruin and you'll notice in these passages that it's during this time period that she calls it a time period of God's destructive judgments. It's a time of mercy for those people that God's destructive judgments is this little time of trouble. In the word of little flock she says she sees sword and famine pestilence and great confusion in the land. Once again the little time of trouble the next sentence she says the wicked thought we brought the judgments down upon them. This is an agreement with this day with God, God's destructive judgments. These begin at the Sunday Law in Review and Herald May 2nd 1893 it says this the time has come when judgment is fallen in the streets and equity cannot enter and he that departed from evil maketh himself a prey but the Lord's arm is not shortened that it cannot save and his ear is not heavy that it cannot hear. The people of the United States have been a favored people but when they restrict religious liberty surrender Protestantism give countenance to potpourri the measure of their guilt will be full and national apostasy will be registered in the books of heaven. The result of this apostasy will be national ruin. It's an agreement with the work that's going on in the heavenly courts when they reach this point in the judgment books national ruin follows and this is something that takes place in agreement with the judgment in heaven. Here's another one in Review and Herald June 15th 1897 Protestants will work upon the rulers of the land to make laws to restore the lost ascendancy of the man of sin who sets in the temple of God showing himself that he is God. Roman Catholic principles will be taken under the care and protection of the state. This national apostasy will speedily be followed by national ruin. It's the Sunday law that begins this time period of destruction that is a time of mercy for those that have never known what the truth but it's also at this time period where it's pointed out that there is a group of people that have already closed the door or shut the gates of the heavenly city against themselves and that group of people is Seventh-day Adventists. Now one of the things that we're going to develop as we continue on in this study is that what is going to take place in Adventism at the end is going to be a fulfillment of the parable of the ten virgins. So we want to look at that here at this time and point out some of the specifics of that parable that we're going to consider as we continue on. In Great Controversy 393 we're told the parable of the ten virgins of Matthew 25 also illustrates the experience of the Adventist people. You want to understand our experience as an Adventist or as a group of people read the parable of the ten virgins. It's clearly identified. That is the parable for Adventism. Now in Review and Herald August 19th 1890 and this is one of at least three places where Sister White draws this connection. She says the state of the church represented by the foolish virgins is also spoken of as the Laodicean state. The foolish virgins are Laodiceans and there's at least three places where she says that. Now that has a bearing on our further study because we're going to look at the truth in the parable of the ten virgins. That part of that parable is a closing of the door, a closing of probation. We're going to identify that the parable of the ten virgins was fulfilled in the pioneer experience and there was a door, a probation that closed during that time period and that that will be repeated in our day. And the close of probation in our day is the Sunday law and the time period that the pioneer experience, the pioneer fulfillment of the parable of the ten virgins was the Philadelphian time period. And the time period that it will be fulfilled in our day and age is the Laodicean time period. The parable of the ten virgins describes the experience of the Adventist people both in the beginning and the end of this movement. But at the beginning we were Philadelphians, at the end we're Laodiceans, or we're in that time period, we're in that condition both at the beginning and at the end. And it isn't an accident, it's a prophetic truth that in the message to Philadelphia there is a message about the closing of the door, which we understand very clearly by the information that Sister White speaks about the message to Philadelphia, that the door that was closed to Philadelphia was the door to the holy place and there was a door opened in the most holy place. And that opening of that door took place on October 22nd, 1844, when the wise and foolish virgins were separated and the greatest majority of the Millerite movement at that time left the truth. It went from 50,000 down to 50 overnight at the Great Disappointment. And you never find a place in the spirit of prophecy where any of those 50,000 ever returned to the truth. They closed the door in agreement with the closing of the door in the parable of the ten virgins and in agreement with the closing of the door in the message to Philadelphia. The parable of the ten virgins coincides with its fulfillment during the Philadelphian time period and the parable of the ten virgins with its closing of the door also corresponds to the Laodicean message. Because in the Laodicean message there's also a closing of the door, only it's when Christ is seeking entrance into the door of our hearts and we refuse him entrance. And we'll find that those people in Adventism that receive the mark of the beast are those that will not receive the righteousness of Christ, the message and counsel that comes from Laodicea, they will not bring it into their life. And in that sense they close their own probation. They keep the door of their heart closed and this is a symbol of closing a probation and this is an agreement also with the parable of the ten virgins. Now in the Review and Herald, August 19th, 1890, we're told this, I am often referred to the parable of the ten virgins, five of whom were wise and five foolish. This parable has been and will be fulfilled to the very letter for it has special application to this time and like the third angel's message has been fulfilled and will continue to be present truth till the close of time. The parable of the ten virgins has been and will be fulfilled to the very letter. Now, in Manuscript Releases, Volume 16, page 270, we're told this, the parable of the ten virgins was given by Christ himself and every specification should be carefully studied. A time will come when the door will be shut. We are represented either by the wise or the foolish virgins. Now, in this passage, Sister White says, every specification in the parable of the ten virgins should be carefully studied and the reason it should be carefully studied is because this is our experience as Seventh-day Adventists. We should understand it. We should understand all the specifications and what it means to us individually, what it means to us as a group, a body of people. But when she says this, the one specification that she emphasizes by selectively identifying it all by itself is, a time will come when the door will be shut. The closing of the door in Bible prophecy is the close of probation. The parable of the ten virgins, we need to understand every part of it, but one of the essential understandings of that is that in that parable is a description of the close of probation for the virgins. And in our day, that fulfillment takes place at the Sunday Law. Now, you can pull out many passages where you identify the closing of a door as symbolizing the close of probation. It begins with the testimony of Noah. The door to the ark was closed and probation was closed on an Antelopean world. In Desire of Ages 636, we're told this, the crisis is stilling gradually upon us. The highest excitement prevails, yet probation's hour is fast closing, and every case is about to be eternally decided. Satan sees that his time is short. He has set all his agencies at work that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied, and entranced until the day of probation shall be ended and the door of mercy be shut forever. The closing of the door is the close of probation. The close of probation is one of the primary specifications of the parable of the ten virgins. The parable of the ten virgins is the illustration of the Advent experience. One of the primary focuses of the Adventist experience is the close of probation. Friends, the Advent message is a close of probation message. This is our message. Sister White says that we're to have the same message that Noah had. We're to have the same message that William Miller had. Both William Miller and Noah went to the world and said, probation's about to close. The world's about to be destroyed. This is our message. The first angel's message is identifying, among other things, that judgment has begun. And when judgment is understood correctly, when you correctly identify what's taking place in heaven during the judgment time, part of what you're identifying is that the Lord is finishing his work of selecting who's going to live for eternity and who's going to die for eternity. The judgment is the process where all of this is determined. In other words, when we identify in the first angel's message that judgment is beginning, it's a close of probation message. The second angel's message is a call out of Babylon. Why? Why are we calling people out of Babylon? Because probation is closing on Babylon. That's why they're being called out. The second angel's message is a close of probation message. The third angel's message is a warning against receiving the mark of the beast. And if you receive the mark of the beast, you're forever lost. The third angel's message is a close of probation message. Every one of the three angels' message has to do with the close of probation. The experience of Adventism, as illustrated in the Parable of the Ten Virgins, has a closing of the door, where the foolish virgins come to the door and when an entrance in the Lord does not let them in. The close of probation, clearly identified. And friends, this takes place at the Sunday Law. This is clearly identified that it's at that point, at that testing time, that God's Church is purified and that we stand or fall based on the character that we've prepared before that time. Now, if you've listened to our presentations previously, or either purchased some from Future for America, or listened to these in the monthly mail out, you're not hearing anything that we haven't covered before. And not that I'm personally afraid of repetition, but some of the things that we're developing on this tape need to be set forth at the very beginning of this series, because what follows hereafter, it's very important that these concepts are understood. From Signs of the Times, December 20th, 1877. The Spirit of God continued to strive with rebellious man until the time it specified, until the time of God had specified, had nearly expired. When Noah and his family entered the Ark, the hand of God closed the door of the Ark. Mercy had stepped from the golden throne no longer to intercede for man. Early Writings, page 251. I was shown what did take place in heaven at the close of the prophetic periods in 1844. As Jesus ended his ministration in the holy place and closed the door of that apartment, a great darkness settled upon those who had heard and rejected the message of his coming, and they lost sight of him. See, there was a close of probation in 1844. Review and Herald, March 22nd, 1889. You may have ears and not hear, you may have eyes and not see the light, nor receive the illumination that God has provided for you. You may close the door to light as effectually as the Pharisees closed the door to Christ when he taught among them. The way was open, but by their own course of action, they closed the door and severed the connection with Christ. We may be, we may do the same thing by rejecting light and truth. The Pharisees closed the door of their probation, and they did it through the same process that the Laodiceans here at the end will close the door of their probation by refusing to receive light. And these Laodiceans, remember, are foolish virgins, and that's who we are. We're either wise or foolish virgins. Now, from the youth instructor, January 16th, 1896, we're told this. We are now living in a most solemn time, and not one of us should be tardy in seeking a preparation for the coming of Christ. Let none follow the example of the foolish virgins and think that it would be safe to wait until the crisis comes before gaining a preparation of character to stand in that time. It will be too late to seek for the righteousness of Christ when the guests are called in and examined. Now is the time to put on the righteousness of Christ, the wedding garment that will fit you to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb. In the parable, the foolish virgins are represented as begging for oil and failing to receive it at their request. This is symbolic of those who have not prepared themselves by developing a character to stand in a time of crisis. It is as if they should go to their neighbors and say, give me your character or I shall be lost. Those that were wise could not impart their oil to the flickering lamps of the foolish virgins. Character is not transferable. It is not to be bought or sold. It is to be acquired. The Lord has given to every individual an opportunity to obtain a righteous character through the hours of probation, but he has not provided a way by which one human agent may impart to another the character which he has developed by going through hard experiences, by learning lessons from the great teacher, so that he can manifest patience under trial and exercise faith so that he can remove mountains of impossibility. But the day is coming, and it is close upon us, when every phase of character will be revealed by special temptation. Those who remain true to principle, who exercise faith to the end, will be those who have proved true under test and trial during the previous hours of their probation and have formed characters after the likeness of Christ. Now friends, Sister White writes, we could probably compile a small book on how much Sister White writes about the Parable of the Ten Virgins, and one of her strongest truths is that the oil in the Parable of the Ten Virgins represents the work of the Holy Spirit. But in this passage, she's identifying it as the character that we developed, the character that we developed before some test comes that will reveal what character we have developed. You notice that she says, let none follow the example of the foolish virgins, and she describes why they're foolish, that think that it will be safe to wait until a crisis comes before gaining a preparation of character to stand in that time. She says, it'd be too late. The crisis that's coming is the Sunday law test, and it will reveal, she emphasizes in these passages, this test reveals the character that we've developed. That's part of the story of the Parable of the Ten Virgins. It's at midnight, there's a cry that comes, behold the bridegroom cometh. There's some prophetic event that takes place that is going to awaken us to where we're at, and at that time, we're going to reveal the character that we've developed. Now, Review and Herald, October 17th, 1895, is one place where Sister White states something that she states in many places, and it's one of the primary truths of the Parable of the Ten Virgins, and it's one of the primary truths of the following study. She says this, character is revealed by a crisis. When the earnest voice proclaimed at midnight, behold the bridegroom cometh, go you out to meet him, the sleeping virgins roused from their slumbers, and it was seen who had made preparation for the event. Both parties were taken unawares, but one was prepared for the emergency, and the other was found without preparation. Character is revealed by circumstances. Emergencies bring out the true metal of character. Some sudden and unlooked-for calamity, bereavement, or crisis, some unexpected sickness or anguish, something that brings the soul face to face with death, will bring out the true inwardness of character. It will be made manifest whether or not there is any real faith in the promises of the Word of God. It will be made manifest whether or not the soul is sustained by grace, whether there is oil in the vessel with the lamp. You see, there's a crisis coming that will reveal, it's going to manifest the character that we have. Friends, that crisis is the Sunday Law Test. Sister White speaks of the Sunday Law Test as the crisis. That crisis that takes place corresponds to the Parable of the Ten Virgins. This closing of probation on the foolish virgins in the Parable of the Ten Virgins that takes place at the end of the world, takes place at the Sunday Law when it's made manifest whether we have prepared a character for the mark of the beast or the seal of God. This is one of the primary truths that we have to develop before we proceed in the following studies, and I know that many of you that have listened to these presentations through the months are familiar with these truths, but for those that aren't, we had to make this development. And I would encourage you to listen to the following presentation as we begin to bring into focus some of the prophetic information that really points to this time period as the time period when this crisis is about to hit.