GLAL, how do you think the executive judgment of the SDA Church will play out? Will we know who is pure and who is not? Will we know probation has closed for the SDA Church?

There seem to be several confusing issues--

What does it mean to be "sealed"?


It is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually,

Thus this is not an instantaneous thing. Everyone who is abiding in Christ and settling into the truth is being sealed right now. But that does not mark the close of probation for the church.

Those who abide in Christ and are settling into the truth will receive the latter rain. But again this does not mark the close of probation for the church.

When Sunday laws are agitated a lot of members who have not been abiding in Christ and settling into the truth, will separate themselves from Sabbath keepers.

In all this there is a progressive separation as those who are abiding in Christ and settling into the truth become more vocal in presenting truth, and those who have not settled into the truth become anxious to get away from these "fanatics".

People are sealing their own destiny and settling into either truth or opposition to truth. God's seal confirms this choice.
But this doesn't mean probation is closed for the church.



There are some groups -- like shepherd Rod -- who preach that all "unsealed" Adventists will be slaughtered BEFORE the Loud Cry -- but that is totally false. It will be true followers of God who will face martyrdom.


Those who will be persecuted will suffer enough anguish without some group saying they are unsealed that's why they are being killed.

We know that after probation closes there will be no more martyrs. Thus the whole concept that probation closes for Adventists prior to the Sunday law and the "unsealed" will be killed, before the "loud cry" is given, is perfectly calculated propaganda to cause untold heartache for God's true people facing martyrdom because they keep the Sabbath of the commandments.
That teaching of early close of probation is NOT truth.

The Ezekiel prediction takes place much later -- after probation has closed, the plagues have fallen, and just before the actual second coming.
Read Great Controversy page 656 for when it takes place.

It says directly the test of the mark of the beast comes BEFORE probation closes -- and it says this in reference to the PEOPLE OF GOD. There is no way we can say it's not talking about the people of God.


Probation closes when Christ leaves the sanctuary.
The winds of strife are congruent with the plagues.

The Sunday movement is before that.

The settling into truth (or against truth) is taking place now. This is what the sealing is. Settling into truth and abiding in Christ, so one can't be moved.

That is an excellent question. As we know SOP makes known that the Rev. 7 sealings are also the Ezekiel 9 judgment. So in regard to your first question, let us look at Ezekiel 9.

"1 He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.

2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.

3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;

4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?

9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.

10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.

11 And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.

The striking thing we notice is that the marking angel marks ONLY those who are "sighing and crying" in "Jerusalem" (church).
This tells us that those who are looking the other way at sins in our midst, such as dress reform, diet reform, sanctuary reform, etc. will NOT be sealed. EGW really explains this process in two places (Testimonies, vol.5, p.210-213, and vol. 3, p.266-267)

In regards to your second question, obviously once the church judgment happens (Ezek.9) there will be no doubt as to it being fulfilled. Sadly, we are told that the slaying happens right in the church!

The great concern is to obey the instructions implied. Pay close attention to our walk, stop doing repetitive sinning, and to basically sell-out to the Lord (which means to forgo the world as much as possible). Then lastly, He is watching to see how we react to sinning in the church. Are we whistling dixie at what we see? Or do we really hurt and grieve at the mini-shirts women wear in church. The loud talking/laughing in the sanctuary, the continual peace and safety message given in the pulpit.

These are all things we need to stop and think about because again, ONLY those who sigh and cry for the 'abominations" done in the church--get sealed in the first strike--church judgment.

Isn't there a difference between this description of the "sealing" and the one in Rev 7? There will come a time when 144,000 saints will be numbered and sealed. They will be translated alive when Jesus arrives.

I didn't see where you defined COP. I guess you mean the close of probation. Have you considered it's not two specific instances, but more of an individualized time of probation closing? In other words, it's not a "Aha, times up! Ready or not, you lose!" type of attitude, but everyone will have a chance to fully and consciously make a decision. Of course, the Sunday law passing will be a deadline to make a final decision. For some. For others, after they fully understand it after hearing the loud cry, they will need to make a decision which would not happen simultaneously for all. When the last one has made a decision or has been forced to make a decision for right or wrong, that's when probation has finally closed for man. Christ will then leave the sanctuary.

I've considered this subject well, did you see the outlines and references? They show (and backed up by SOP and Scripture)why, where and how the two probations come. Review what is posted and not hop over the points raised. Please read carefully again the posts.

No, that reference indicates a belief in "truth". And what is truth"?It's believing in His word as spoken by the prophets.

Who are we to say "Lord, I don't like that sealing your word says is going to happen upon the 144,000 through Scripture and SOP, therefore it's not going to happen"

The Lord has made it plain through the outlines I've shown that HIS way is going to happen. It seals us in our forehead because we believe in His "truth".

"There will come a time when 144,000 saints will be numbered and sealed. They will be translated alive when Jesus arrives."

Yes, agreed. And as shown that time is first to arrive upon His church (us).

Let me say that when I first heard all this and studied it out,I was unbelieving and skeptical. Yet pressing on in the search for truth, found that there is no denying His end-time plan will come not as we have been taught but by HIS plan.

"If the heart is loyal to God, Everything will be made plain" (TM 432)

"Satan has ability to suggest doubts and to devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue, a mark of intelligence in them, to be unbelieving, and to question and quibble. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit, and all should decide from the WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE." 3T 255.

"Even Seventh-day Adventists are in danger of closing their eyes to truth as it is in Jesus, BECAUSE IT CONTRADICTS SOMETHING WHICH THEY HAVE TAKEN FOR GRANTED AS TRUTH, BUT WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES IS NOT TRUTH." TM 70, 71.

"THE WORKERS WILL BE SURPRISED BY THE SIMPLE MEANS THAT HE WILL USE TO BRING ABOUT AND PERFECT HIS WORK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS." TM 300.

GLAL, please summarize your view of the two different COPs. For example:

1. Judgment and probation ends for the SDA Church during the early stages of the mark of the beast crisis.

2. Judgment and probation ends for the world just before the seven last plagues are poured out.

I'm sorry, but I do not see how what you posted disagrees with what I said. I note the words, sealing, set a mark, UNTIL the sealing is done. None of them indicate a precise and simultaneously point of time.