The treasurer of Jesus’ fledgling company of apostles, Judas Iscariot, had been entrusted by God with talent and intelligence—and he had been granted the blessed opportunity of close association with the Son of man, who was the Creator Himself clothed in human garb.

Judas was surely confident of his own managerial abilities, particularly in comparison to those of the unlearned fishermen in the group. Like the others in the circle, this apostle was entrusted with divine power to heal the sick and cast out devils.

Judas actually viewed himself as the most capable of the apostles, one who could not be deceived or overreached, and his executive strengths were indeed highly respected by his peers. . . .

But a few disturbances were brewing in the mind of Judas. Christ, the Master, had repeatedly stated that His kingdom was not of this world. Such a remark was offensive to Judas, who was quite materialistic—even to the point of embezzling funds from the treasury (John 12:4–6). And the fact that Christ had no aspiration to allow the multitude to crown Him king brought further disappointment to this ambitious man.

Judas had been drawn to Christ at a time when multitudes were following the great Teacher. With the apostle’s talents and abilities, the natural assumption would undoubtedly be that he would have a bright future of a prominent position in the new kingdom. But eventually a time of test arrived. . . .

At a special dinner hosted by Simon of Bethany, an interesting incident occurred. Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, expressed her gratitude to Jesus for having forgiven her many sins. She generously poured out upon his feet a pound of fragrant, expensive ointment of spikenard and carefully wiped them with the hairs of her head.

The greed of Judas triggered fury in his heart with the jealous murmur, “To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor” (Matthew 26:8, 9). The reality was that the poor would have received no benefit, since the treasurer would have stolen it before it could go anywhere else.

But what happened next is of interest. Jesus actually had to give some words of reproof in the woman’s defense: “Why trouble ye the woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him” (Matthew 26:10–16).

The reproof with regard to the anointing apparently rankled in the bitter heart of Judas. Reproof is not easy for any of us to bear, yet how important it is to accept it in the right spirit. “Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:5, 6).

Judas was soon to become the enemy who would deceitfully kiss the Master, partly because he had refused the faithful, mild wounds that came from humanity’s Best Friend.

Then the next step occurred. At the Last Supper, the Lord made a quiet appeal to the conscience of Judas by tenderly bathing his feet in advance of the other disciples. But the humble, self-sacrificing love of Christ turned out to be repulsive to the proud Judas.

As the Passover supper continued, Jesus foretold, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. . . . He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night” (John 13:21, 26–30).

Yes, Judas went out into the darkness . . . and the next we hear about him refers to later that night: “Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said Hail, master; and kissed him” . . . “But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” (Matthew 26:47–49; Luke 22:48).

Now, having steeled his cold heart against the gentle appeals of the Holy Spirit, Judas the betrayer was overwhelmed with an indescribably hopeless agony of guilt. We read that the following morning, “all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: and when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? See thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:1–5).

The hardened apostate was driven to suicide through the unspeakably horrible guilt that plagued him for having betrayed the innocent blood of the spotless, holy Son of God.

The first king of Israel—tall, handsome Saul, son of Kish—under-went a similar experience to that of Judas. Having grieved the Holy Spirit of God through continuous steps which fostered pride, bitter envy and murderous plotting, Saul became completely steeped in the gall of bitterness. Eventually, his deep remorse drove him to such despair until the aim he finally cherished most strongly was death. (1 Samuel 31:3, 4.)

But did Saul suffer regret because of how he had grieved the Lord? Was he sorry for his sins? Quite the contrary. The evidence indicates that he was saddened by the consequences of his wrongs, not that pain that these wrongs had inflicted on the heart of God.

Like Judas, Saul is another example of a man whom the Lord had entrusted with great power and influence with the potential to do good—yet whose selfishness spoiled his legacy to ruin.

The apostle Peter, writing to all believers, emphasizes the ladder by which we might be partakers of the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust. He then urges us to build with all diligence a character established on this ladder of faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. If we lack any of these qualities, he explains that it is because we have forgotten that we were purged from our old sins. We must never allow our appreciation of what Christ has done for us in forgiving our sins to fade! Immense, continual gratitude for His tremendous grace is what prevents us from ending up as casualties doomed as were Judas and king Saul.

The apostle states: “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth” (2 Peter 1:12).

What was the “present truth” in Peter’s day? It was not merely “truth,” it was “present truth”—that is, truth that was most timely for that hour in history. Likewise, we today need clear discernment and understanding to be established in the present truth for our times.

The pendulum swing from the belief in salvation by works, totally eclipsing the beauty of God’s grace (the prevalent teaching in the Dark Ages before the Protestant Reformation) later shifted to the opposite extreme so common today—a presumptuous concept of cheap grace devoid of intelligent, willingly obedient cooperation with God through love for Him. In reality, genuine faith that works by love (Galatians 5:6) purifies the soul in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren (1 Peter 1:22) has power to move the world. As we truly “love one another with a pure heart fervently” as Jesus has loved us, He clearly declares, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). So, if I have some lofty goal to do some great missionary work for the outside world, the results certainly will not be very effective if I am lacking in love for my own brethren inside the fold. Charity begins at home, and immediately follows in the house of God. Christ declares: “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven” (Matthew 10:32, 33).

We have already touched upon the importance of present truth. In the current era in which we live, it is being unveiled primarily in the threefold angels’ message in Revelation 14:6–12 and that other angel of Revelation 18:1–4. These messages have been presented for well over a century, and a vast number of souls are familiar with them. Many have never heard this truth, while others may have heard it but did not profess to follow it. Yet others have wholeheartedly accepted the present truth and allowed it to energize and motivate them to the very core of their existence. Still others, on the other hand, are lukewarm about it.

Let us then examine each of these 3 categories:

Cold: Some who are “cold” have never had a chance to hear the present truth. Others are cold because they have heard it, but unfortunately rejected it. (See Romans 10:15; Hebrews 3:15.)

Hot: Some are hot because the message is like a fire in their bones which moves them, or a spring of water that joyfully overflows. (See Jeremiah 20:9; Isaiah 58:11; John 7:38, 39.)

Lukewarm: These are quite confident of their theoretical knowledge of the truth—but they do not actually have a relationship with Jesus, so, somewhat to their surprise, He does not consider them to be followers of Him. (Matthew 7:21–23; Revelation 3:15–17.)

Ezekiel chapter 18 reveals how important it is to continue our experience with the Lord. If we have started off well in our Christian walk, but then fall into a state of apostasy, we end up being lost.

“When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, . . . all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned’ (Ezekiel 18:24).

On the other hand, if we have lived a wicked life, and later turn wholeheartedly to the Lord and are faithful to Him, His great mercy acknowledges that as well. If our probation would close at such a time, we are safe in His arms.

“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. The Lord declared to Moses, ‘Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book’ (Exodus 32:33). . . .

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. The Lord declares, by the prophet Isaiah: ‘I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins’ (Isaiah 43:25). Said Jesus: ‘He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.’ ”1

The time is soon coming when the time of grace is closed, and the Voice from heaven 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).

Those whose sins have not been confessed and blotted out at this time will suffer a similar anguish as that experienced by Judas, and will lament, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jeremiah 8:20).

It is quite a tragedy indeed when a person rejects Heaven-sent truth. But what about those who have been entrusted as pastors of the flock yet they neglect their duty, causing people to be lost as a result? The blood of multiple souls will be on their hands.

At that hour, “the wicked are filled with regret, not because of their sinful neglect of God and their fellowmen, but because God has conquered. They lament that the result is what it is; but they do not repent of their wickedness. They would leave no means untried to conquer if they could.

“The world see the very class whom they have mocked and derided, and desired to exterminate, pass unharmed through tempest and earthquake and pestilence. He who is to the transgressors of His law a devouring fire, is to His people a safe pavilion.

“The minister who has sacrificed truth to gain the favor of men, now discerns the character and influence of his teachings. It is apparent that an omniscient eye was following him as he stood in the desk, as he walked the streets, as he mingled with men in the various scenes of life. Every emotion of the soul, every line written, every word uttered, every act that led men to rest in a refuge of falsehood, has been scattering seed; and now, in the wretched, lost souls around him, he beholds the harvest.

“Ministers and people see that they have not sustained the right relation to God. They see that they have rebelled against the Author of all just and righteous law. The setting aside of the divine precepts gave rise to thousands of springs of evil, discord, hatred, iniquity, until the earth became one vast field of strife, one sink of corruption. This is the view that now appears to those who rejected truth and chose to cherish error. No language can express the longing which the disobedient and disloyal feel for that which they have lost forever—eternal life. Men whom the world has worshiped for their talents and eloquence now see these things in their true light. They realize what they have forfeited by transgression, and they fall at the feet of those whose fidelity they have despised and derided, and confess that God has loved them.

“The people see that they have been deluded. They eagerly accuse one another of having led them to destruction; but all unite in heaping their bitterest condemnation upon the ministers. Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things; they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. Now, in their despair, these teachers confess before the world their work of deception. The multitudes are filled with fury. ‘We are lost!’ they cry, ‘and you are the cause of our ruin;’ and they turn upon the false watchmen. The very ones that once admired them most, will pronounce the most dreadful curses upon them. The very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised for their destruction. The swords which were to slay God’s people are now employed to destroy their enemies. Everywhere there is strife and bloodshed.”2

After the betrayal of our Master, this is perhaps the most vivid example of innocent blood betrayed. Sincere souls who depend on their pastors for light will be rightly outraged when they realize they have been left in darkness by those who had been entrusted with sharing that light with them.

Those who have professed to be spiritual guardians of the flock are the first to fall under the judgments of God. His wrath will be poured out from Heaven in the seven last plagues depicted in Revelation chapter 16, the fifth plague specifically falls “upon the seat of the beast” (Revelation 16:10), i.e., the religious power in Revelation 13:1.

On the other hand, those who put their trust entirely in the Lord will have a different experience when the plagues fall. Please read the entire chapter of Psalm 91. It assures that to whomsoever will be faithful to God will have divine protection as the times of violence, pestilence and plague approach. Shall we not cherish such precious promises found in His holy Word?

“The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger—a faith that will not faint though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time. Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined. His victory is an evidence of the power of importunate prayer. All who will lay hold of God’s promises, as he did, and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed as he succeeded. Those who are unwilling to deny self, to agonize before God, to pray long and earnestly for His blessing, will not obtain it. Wrestling with God—how few know what it is! How few have ever had their souls drawn out after God with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch. When waves of despair which no language can express sweep over the suppliant, how few cling with unyielding faith to the promises of God.”3

“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:7).

Remember Jacob’s prayer, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shown unto thy servant” (Genesis 32:10). Have you reached the point in your experience to acknowledge such reality? Or do you feel instead as if you’re rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing?

Are you ready to cling to Christ as if your very existence depended on it? It in fact does! Let us all remember Jacob’s night of agony as he pleaded with the Lord, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me” (Genesis 32:26).

The experience of Jacob in his night of wrestling is an example for us in the last days. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. . . . The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:1–3, 11). Amen!