A higher motivation becomes realized in the close of time than has prevailed in the church in past ages—a concern for Christ that He receive His reward and find His "rest" in the final eradication of sin. All egocentric motivation based merely on fear of hell or hope of reward is less effective. The higher motivation is symbolized in the climax of Scripture-the Bride of Christ making herself "ready."
The Bible Teaching
(a) An appreciation of the agape of Christ delivers from egocentric motivation (2 Corinthians 5:14, 15).(b) God longs to see His people "grow up" out of immature, childish motivation (Ephesians 4:13-15).
(c) A spiritual "babe" is "unskillful in the word of righteousness" (Hebrews 5:12-6:3).
(d) The climax of the plan of salvation is the "marriage of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:7).
(e) It has been delayed only because "His wife [has not yet] made herself ready" (verse 7).
(f) The making "ready" is the experience of righteousness by faith (dikaiosune) which culminates in "the righteousness of saints" (dikaiomata). Imputed righteousness is at last lived out in imparted righteousness (verse 8; Romans 8:4). It is all by faith.
(g) This glorious triumph is parallel to the sealing work as the culmination of the cleansing of the sanctuary (Daniel 8:14; Revelation 7:1-4; 14:1-5, 12).
(h) Satan maintains that it is impossible for fallen man to obey God's law; a people who keep God's law demonstrate the falsehood of his claim (Romans 13:10; Revelation 15:1-4).
What Jones and Waggoner Understood
"When Jesus comes, it is to take His people unto Himself. It is to present to Himself His glorious church, 'not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing,' but that it is 'holy and without blemish' [quoted from Ephesians 5:25-17, 32]. It is to see Himself perfectly reflected in all His saints."And before He comes thus, His people must be in that condition. Before He comes, we must be brought to that state of perfection in the complete image of Jesus (Ephesians 4:7, 8, 11-13). And this state of perfection, this developing in each believer the complete image of Jesus-this is the finishing of the mystery of God, which is Christ in you the hope of glory. This consummation is accomplished in the cleansing of the sanctuary.
"And the blotting out of sins is exactly this thing of the cleansing of the sanctuary; it is the finishing of all transgression in our lives; it is the making an end of all sins in our character; it is the bringing in of the very righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ. … Therefore now as never before, we are to repent and be converted, that our sins may be blotted out, than an utter end shall be made of them forever in our lives" (Jones, The Consecrated Way, pp. 123-125).
"When [the True Witness] comes and speaks to you and me, it is because He wants to translate us, but He cannot translate sin, can He? Then, the only purpose that He has in showing us the depth and breadth of sin, is that He may save us from it and translate us" (Jones, General Conference Bulletin, 1893, p. 205).
"God is now accused by Satan of injustice and indifference, and even of cruelty. Thousands of men have echoed the charge. But the judgment will declare the righteousness of God. His character, as well as that of man, is on trial. In the judgment every act, both of God and man, that has been done since creation, will be seen by all in all its bearings. And when everything is seen in that perfect light, God will be acquitted of all wrongdoing, even by His enemies" (Waggoner, Signs of the Times, January 9, 1896).
Ellen White's View
"'When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he [the farmer] putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come' (Mark 4:29). Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own."It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Christ's Object Lessons, p. 69).
"[Jesus] raised His right arm, and we heard His lovely voice saying, 'Wait here; I am going to My Father to receive the kingdom; keep your garments spotless, and in a little while I will return from the wedding and receive you to Myself'" (Early Writings, p. 55).
"I saw that while Jesus was in the most holy place, He would be married to the New Jerusalem; and after His work should be accomplished in the holiest, He would descend to earth in kingly power, and take to Himself the precious ones who had patiently waited His return" (ibid., p. 251).
"While Jesus had been ministering in the sanctuary [most holy place], the judgment had been going on for the righteous dead, and then for the righteous living. Christ had received His kingdom, having made the atonement for His people, and blotted out their sins. The subjects of the kingdom were made up. The marriage of the Lamb was consummated. And the kingdom, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, was given to Jesus and the heirs of salvation, and Jesus was to reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords" (ibid., p. 280).