I [Ellen White] was shown the time when the third angel's message will end. The power of God was with His people. God's people had finished their work. Now they were prepared for the difficult time just ahead of them. The people had received the power of God through the Holy Spirit. Their lives showed that God was with them the same as He had been with His people in ancient times. God's people had preached everywhere, warning the world to get ready for Christ's second coming. The people who would not accept the warning message became very angry.SRme 1.1769

I saw angels hurrying here and there in heaven. An angel with an inkpen returned to heaven from earth. The angel spoke to Jesus saying that his work was finished and that he had counted the righteous people and prepared them for the final crisis.SRme 1.1770

Jesus had been ministering in the sanctuary in front of the ark that contains the Ten Commandments. Now Jesus threw down the golden incense container. Jesus lifted His hands and with a loud voice said, "It is done!" Then all the angels took off their crowns as Jesus made this important 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" (Rev. 22:11).SRme 1.1771

The judgment for the righteous dead and for the righteous living had been going on in heaven. This was Jesus' work in the sanctuary. Now the decision had been made for each person for eternal life or eternal death. The list of people who will live in Jesus' kingdom is finished. All the sins of the righteous have been removed, and Jesus brings His people into unity with Himself. The power and greatness of God's kingdom under the whole heaven are given to Jesus and to the people who have accepted His gift of salvation. Jesus rules as King of kings and Lord of lords.SRme 1.1772

The bells on Jesus' robe rang as He left the most holy place. When Jesus left the most holy place, spiritual darkness covered the people on earth. There was no mediator between guilty people and the God whom they rejected. During the time that Jesus stood between God and sinful people, a heavenly power kept the wicked people under control. But when Jesus stepped out from between man and the Father, heaven's controlling power was removed. Satan then had complete control of people who had decided never to stop sinning.SRme 1.1773

God could not punish sinners with the seven last plagues while Jesus ministered in the sanctuary. But when Jesus finished His work in heaven and the judgment was ended, nothing could protect the guilty sinner from God's anger against sin.SRme 1.1774

For a long time the wicked people rejected God's mercy. The wicked people laughed at God's salvation and hated God's law. The wicked people continually rejected the Holy Spirit. So the Holy Spirit finally left wicked people alone. Then Satan brings the last terrible time of trouble upon the whole world.SRme 1.1775

In that terrible time, after Jesus leaves the heavenly sanctuary, the righteous people must live without a mediator. Before Jesus leaves the heavenly sanctuary, He waits a moment in the outer room. In the outer room Jesus puts on Satan the sins that had been confessed while He [Jesus] was in the most holy place. Satan is the evil person who began all sin. Satan must suffer for all the sins the righteous people have confessed and forsaken.*SRme 1.1776

Chapter 58 — THE LOUD CRY

&QUOT;TOO LATE! TOO LATE!&QUOT;