The very title was enough to spook any careful student of either the Bible or the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy. The book was called, Never Without An Intercessor [##1|Morris L. Venden, Never Without An Intercessor: The Good News About the Judgment (Boise, ID: Pacific Press Publishing Assn, 1996).##].

The author of this book, a well-known modern Adventist pastor and revivalist, has since died. But tragically, the same notion appears to linger in certain quarters of the contemporary church. During the past few days I have experienced an ongoing and lively discussion with a pastor in a distant country, who recently marked his Facebook page with the headline, “No End to Jesus’ Intercession” [2]. The Bible text he quoted in defense of his position is the following:

Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them (Heb. 7:25).

Interestingly, this same pastor contradicted himself within the space of a few days, having declared but a few days earlier that “Jesus’ mediation began in Eden and will continue to the Second Coming” [3]. So which is it? Does Jesus’ mediation never end at all, or will it continue till the Second Advent?

The pastor in question seems very uncomfortable with the writings of Ellen White, insisting at one point that Ellen White’s statements on the close of Christ’s intercession at the time probation ceases “seem to fly in the face of all that the Bible has to say on this subject” [4]. After declaring that Jesus’ intercession will extend till His Second Coming [5], the pastor goes on to say:

EGW's statements re "without a Mediator" has to be in the context of the end of the Investigative Judgment and can only be applied to that phase of His ministry. In every other sense Jesus continues to be our Mediator or there can be no connection between God and man [6].

But he fails to explain how one who experiences eternal vindication in the investigative judgment still needs a Mediator. (Who needs a lawyer when you’ve already won your case?) However, we need to establish first and foremost what in fact the Bible teaches regarding the end of Christ’s mediation in heaven. Is this a doctrine found only in the writings of Ellen White, as the pastor quoted above implies very strongly?

What Does the Bible Say?

First of all, while the Bible declares that Jesus “ever liveth to make intercession” for His people (Heb. 7:25), we know from the collective witness of Scripture that “forever” doesn’t always mean time without end (see 1 Sam. 1:22; Jonah 2:6; Rev. 20:10). All in the present discussion—including the afore-quoted pastor, assuming he truly believes Christ’s mediation ends at the Second Coming—agree Christ’s mediation won’t last indefinitely. But is there Biblical support for the classic Adventist belief, affirmed so strongly in Ellen White’s writings, that probation ceases prior to the Second Advent?

Three times in the book of Revelation we read of Christ’s mediation coming to a close before He returns. The first of these is in Chapter 8:

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.

And the angel took the censer, and filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake (Rev. 8:3-5).

This reference to voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake is found on two other occasions in Revelation (Rev. 11:19; 16:18), both of which occur following the end of the investigative judgment, simultaneous to the outpouring of the seven last plagues, and prior to the Second Advent. (Revelation 11:19 speaks of the plague of hail, described in Revelation 16:21 as the last of these plagues.) Quite clearly, the casting down of the censer into the earth (Rev. 8:5) involves the end of priestly mediation in the heavenly sanctuary.

The second description of this event is found in Revelation chapter 15, just before the seven last plagues are poured out:

And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.

And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from His power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled (verses 6-8).

No reference can be found in Revelation to Christ mediating in His sanctuary after this event takes place. “No man was able to enter into the temple” beyond this point—Jesus included. His intercessory work is finished. The time of divine mercy has ended and the time of divine wrath has come. The seven last plagues and the final judgment of God’s enemies follow immediately (Rev. 16-18). Thus Christ is able to make the declaration found in the final chapter of this book, the third affirmation of the final close of human probation:

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 (Rev. 22:11).

The fact that the seven angels pour out the seven last plagues immediately after the sanctuary is filled with smoke, after which point no one is able to enter the sanctuary (Rev. 15:8), makes it clear that as in Noah’s day, when the door of the ark was closed seven days prior to the Flood (Gen. 7:4,16), so the final close of probation takes place in advance of the Second Coming of Christ.

Ellen White on the Close of Christ’s Mediation

In light of the above, we can see that when Ellen White makes the following statements, she stands in full harmony with the witness of the Bible:

When the third angel’s message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished their work. They have received ‘the latter rain,’ ‘the refreshing from the presence of the Lord,’ and they are prepared for the trying hour before them. Angels are hastening to and fro in heaven. An angel returning from the earth announces that his work is done; the final test has been brought upon the world, and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received ‘the seal of the living God.’ Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands and with a loud voice says, ‘It is done,’ and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn announcement: ‘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. Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for His people, and blotted out their sins. The number of His subjects is made up, ‘the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven,’ is about to be given unto the heirs of salvation, and Jesus is to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.

When He leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth. In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent [##7|Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 613-614.##].

Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above, are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon the earth. . . .

When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His appearing [##8|——The Great Controversy, p. 425.##].

Never Without A Helper

But while the saints following probation’s close will in fact live without a Mediator—that is, without the continuous availability of divine forgiveness—they will not live without the sustaining grace of the Holy Spirit. Ellen White does say that at this time, “the wicked have passed the boundary of their probation,” and that “the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn” [##9|——The Great Controversy, p. 614.##]. But regarding God’s people, this is not the case. Describing the agony of the saints during the time of Jacob’s trouble, Ellen White states:

Though God’s people will be surrounded by enemies who are bent upon their destruction, yet the anguish which they suffer is not a dread of persecution for the truth’s sake; they fear that every sin has not been repented of, and that through some fault in themselves they will fail to realize the fulfillment of the Saviour’s promise: I “will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world.” Revelation 3:10 [##10|——The Great Controversy, p. 619.##].

Notice that Christ’s promise to preserve His saints from temptation is still valid following probation’s close, even though the continuous availability of forgiveness has ceased on account of the end of our Lord’s mediation. Jesus’ promise at His ascension remains valid after probation ceases: “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20). True, the people of God at this time will fear that every sin hasn’t been repented of, and will afflict their souls and search their lives to make sure all sin has been confessed and forsaken. But though they fear themselves unworthy of the Savior’s promise of power over temptation, that promise is still theirs. They are not standing on their own power.

REFERENCES

1. Morris L. Venden, Never Without An Intercessor: The Good News About the Judgment (Boise, ID: Pacific Press Publishing Assn, 1996).

2. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=321222990574016&set=a.121775367185447&type=3

3. https://www.facebook.com/edmax1963

4. Ibid.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 613-614.

8. Ibid, p. 425.

9. Ibid, p. 614.

10. Ibid, p. 619.

Pastor Kevin Paulson holds a Bachelor’s degree in theology from Pacific Union College, a Master of Arts in systematic theology from Loma Linda University, and a Master of Divinity from the SDA Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He served the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for ten years as a Bible instructor, evangelist, and local pastor. He writes regularly for Liberty magazine and does script writing for various evangelistic ministries within the denomination. He continues to hold evangelistic and revival meetings throughout the North American Division and beyond, and is a sought-after seminar speaker relative to current issues in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He presently resides in Berrien Springs, Michigan