Human history has been marked by a series of disasters and destruction caused by disobedience and the consequence of sin. There has been violence, perversion, wickedness, suffering, sickness and death. At times, God stopped the wickedness by His intervention. One such time is recorded about 1500 years after creation, when because of the constant, persistent, disobedience of the people of that time, the Creator brought a worldwide flood, bringing destruction upon the entire planet with the exception of faithful Noah and his family—a total of 8 persons along with the creatures protected on the ark built by divine guidance. (Genesis 6:13–22.)

“ ‘By the word of God . . . the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.’ 2 Peter 3:5–7. Another storm is coming. The earth will again be swept by the desolating wrath of God, and sin and sinners will be destroyed.”2

After the flood, the descendants of Noah multiplied. Under the deceitful influence of the enemy and his agents, sin and wickedness flourished. Few there were that kept the true faith in God manifest in obedience to all of His commandments.

Noah is listed in the inspired Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, as one of the faithful few, a hero of faith, among many others who impacted the society they loved. These faithful ones had an experience that we need at the time when this sinful world will come to an end, and the everlasting kingdom of heaven will be the result of God’s great plan of redemption. Hebrews 11:13–16.

As we study the Bible, we discover the unfolding of the history of God’s people who are set apart to be a holy nation governed by the principles given by the King of the universe. After a time, they lost their special identity through compromise with pagan practices and customs manifest in continuing disobedience to God. God chose prophets to give His Word to those people who failed to fulfill the plan of their Creator. This sacred history describes the rise and fall of great empires. Each had a specific time in which they evolved, prospered and eventually were destroyed by a succeeding empire upon the world’s stage.

The first king of the Babylonian empire is known as Nebuchadezzar. Among his conquests was the subduing of the people of Israel, the destruction of Jerusalem and their being taken captive for about 70 years. To this king, God gave an impressive prophetic dream in regard to future worldwide powers, beginning with Babylon to the end of this world’s history.

By divine revelation, Daniel, a young, faithful, Jewish captive, was enabled to explain to the king the elements of that dream. The head was made of pure gold; the breast and the arms of silver; the belly and thighs out of brass, the legs out of iron, and the feet out of iron mixed with clay—plus he disclosed which empires were thereby represented. Daniel 2:31–43.

In that dream rests the most important element in relation to these world empires, the manner of their ultimate destruction by the rise of the eternal kingdom of God. “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure” (Daniel 2:44, 45).

“Every nation that has come upon the stage of action has been permitted to occupy its place on the earth, that it might be seen whether it would fulfill the purpose of ‘the Watcher and the Holy One.’ Prophecy has traced the rise and fall of the world’s great empires—Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. With each of these, as with nations of less power, history repeated itself. Each had its period of test, each failed, its glory faded, its power departed, and its place was occupied by another.

“While the nations rejected God’s principles, and in this rejection wrought their own ruin, it was still manifest that the divine, overruling purpose was working through all their movements.”3

During the Roman Empire, represented by the fourth kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, having dominated the world for over 500 years, came the Messiah as the Saviour and Redeemer of the human race. The Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea (Matthew 2:1–6), grew up in Nazareth until the age of 30 years old (Luke 4:16), and then dedicated the next 3½ years to the public ministry of preaching the gospel of the everlasting kingdom, healing the sick, giving hope to sinners, raising the dead—and through all His actions and miracles, ultimately fulfilling the plan of salvation. Galatians 4:4, 5; John 3:16.

“Instead of destroying the world, God sent His Son to save it. Though corruption and defiance might be seen in every part of the alien province, a way for its recovery was provided. At the very crisis, when Satan seemed about to triumph, the Son of God came with the embassage of divine grace. Through every age, through every hour, the love of God had been exercised toward the fallen race. Notwithstanding the perversity of men, the signals of mercy had been continually exhibited. And when the fullness of the time had come, the Deity was glorified by pouring upon the world a flood of healing grace that was never to be obstructed or withdrawn till the plan of salvation should be fulfilled. “Satan was exulting that he had succeeded in debasing the image of God in humanity. Then Jesus came to restore in man the image of his Maker. None but Christ can fashion anew the character that has been ruined by sin. He came to expel the demons that had controlled the will. He came to lift us up from the dust, to reshape the marred character after the pattern of His divine character, and to make it beautiful with His own glory.”4

In the Holy Scriptures, we find two decisive declarations of Christ in reference to the end of time. Presented in completely different circumstances, and separated by significant time, they are similar in import:

1. Christ’s final declaration while on the cross

Amid the disbelief and constant opposition of the Jewish people and its leaders, the Lord Jesus was taken, judged, diabolically mocked and condemned to crucifixion. While hanging on the cross between two thieves, surrounded by a crowd of mockers, Christ pronounced a most important declaration before entrusting His Spirit to His Father, “It is finished!” At the end of His mission on earth, and in fulfillment of the prophecies in Word and symbol, He gave His life as the redeeming sacrifice for humanity. “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30).

“Jesus did not yield up His life till He had accomplished the work which He came to do, and exclaimed with His departing breath: ‘It is finished.’ Satan was then defeated. He knew that his kingdom was lost. Angels rejoiced as the words were uttered: ‘It is finished.’ The great plan of redemption, which was dependent on the death of Christ, had been thus far carried out. And there was joy in heaven that the sons of Adam could, through a life of obedience, be finally exalted to the throne of God. Oh, what love! What amazing love! that brought the Son of God to earth to be made sin for us, that we might be reconciled to God, and elevated to a life with Him in His mansions in glory. Oh, what is man, that such a price should be paid for his redemption!”5

After His death and resurrection, in fulfillment of the prophecies relating to His earthly life, Jesus ascended to heaven from among His disciples on the Mount of Olives. While the disciples remained, two angels appeared and told them: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

“Christ had sojourned in the world for thirty-three years; He had endured its scorn, insult, and mockery; He had been rejected and crucified. Now, when about to ascend to His throne of glory—as He reviews the ingratitude of the people He came to save—will He not withdraw from them His sympathy and love? Will not His affections be centered upon that realm where He is appreciated, and where sinless angels wait to do His bidding? No; His promise to those loved ones whom He leaves on earth is, ‘I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’ Matthew 28:20.”6

Another assurance given is: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1–3).

Under divine inspiration, the apostle Paul wrote about Christ’s intercessory work which had been typified through the whole sanctuary service for thousands of years. “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:34).

“Our Saviour is in the sanctuary pleading in our behalf. He is our interceding High Priest, making an atoning sacrifice for us, pleading in our behalf the efficacy of His blood. . . . Christ suffered in order that through faith in Him our sins might be pardoned. He became man’s substitute and surety, Himself taking the punishment, though all undeserving, that we who deserved it might be free, and return to our allegiance to God through the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. He is our only hope of salvation. Through His sacrifice we who are now on probation are prisoners of hope. We are to reveal to the universe, to the world fallen and to worlds unfallen, that there is forgiveness with God, that through the love of God we may be reconciled to God.”7

2. Christ’s declaration at the end of His intercession in heaven

The moment is coming when Christ will finish His intercessory work for us in the heavenly sanctuary, and the case of every person on earth will have been decided either for eternal life or eternal damnation. At that moment, Jesus will make another declaration similar to the first noted on the cross. “And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great” (Revelation 16:17, 18).

“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. . . . Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for his people, and blotted out their sins.”8

“When Jesus ceases to plead for man, the cases of all are forever decided. . . . Probation closes; Christ’s intercessions cease in heaven. This time finally comes suddenly upon all, and those who have neglected to purify their souls by obeying the truth are found sleeping.”9

“When probation ends, it will come suddenly, unexpectedly—at a time when we are least expecting it. But we can have a clean record in heaven today, and know that God accepts us.”10

“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:12–14).

“The Lord is soon to come, and we must be prepared to meet Him in peace. Let us be determined to do all in our power to impart light to those around us. We are not to be sad, but cheerful, and we are to keep the Lord Jesus ever before us. He is soon coming, and we must be ready and waiting for His appearing. Oh, how glorious it will be to see Him and be welcomed as His redeemed ones! Long have we waited, but our hope is not to grow dim. If we can but see the King in His beauty we shall be forever blessed. I feel as if I must cry aloud: ‘Homeward bound!’ We are nearing the time when Christ will come in power and great glory to take His ransomed ones to their eternal home. “In the great closing work we shall meet with perplexities that we know not how to deal with; but let us not forget that the three great powers of heaven are working, that a divine hand is on the wheel, and that God will bring His promises to pass. He will gather from the world a people who will serve Him in righteousness.”11

John the Revelator explains: “I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Revelation 21:1–3).

“In that day the redeemed will shine forth in the glory of the Father and the Son. The angels, touching their golden harps, will welcome the King and His trophies of victory—those who have been washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. A song of triumph will peal forth, filling all heaven. Christ has conquered. He enters the heavenly courts, accompanied by His redeemed ones, the witnesses that His mission of suffering and sacrifice has not been in vain.

“The resurrection and ascension of our Lord is a sure evidence of the triumph of the saints of God over death and the grave, and a pledge that heaven is open to those who wash their robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb.”12

“With unutterable love, Jesus welcomes His faithful ones to the joy of their Lord. The Saviour’s joy is in seeing, in the kingdom of glory, the souls that have been saved by His agony and humiliation.”13

“The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.”14

“And [Jesus] said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son” (Revelation 21:6, 7).

Dear friends, young people, brothers and sisters all over the world, we are approaching with rapid pace the fulfillment of these important promises given to us by God. The history of humanity affected by sin is coming to an end, and it is followed by eternal life without sin or the tempter. Are we ready to spend an eternity without sin and suffering with the One who has loved us so much that He gave His life for us?

What is our situation today? What decision would be written if probation closed today for me and for the whole world?

May God bless us with His presence and flood each soul with His love. Let us prepare wholeheartedly to meet Him. He is waiting to take us home. Is this your desire? My beloved, if we lose Heaven, it will be the biggest loss in the universe, but if we gain Heaven by God’s grace, it will be the greatest victory. Nothing can be compared with this important treasure. I wish for this to be our experience, that the day of salvation may come as quickly as possible and that we may see each other in His kingdom, never again to depart. Amen!