Section
6
The
Sure Word of Prophecy
Chapter
55.
The Judgment
1.
WHAT assurance have we that there will be a judgment?
"God. . . hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge
the world." Acts 17:30,31.
2.
Was the judgment still future in Paul's day?
"As he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix
trembled." Acts 24:25.
3.
How many must meet the test of the judgment?
"I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the
wicked." Eccl. 3:17. "For we must all appear before
the judgment-seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done
in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or
bad." 2 Cor. 5:10.
4.
What reason did Solomon give for urging all to fear God and keep His
commandments?
"For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret
thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Eccl. 12:14.
5.
What view of the judgment scene was given Daniel?
"I beheld till the thrones were cast down [placed, R.V.], and the
Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of
His head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His
wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before
Him: thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were
opened." Dan. 7:9,10.
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6.
Out of what will all be judged?
"And the books were opened: and another book was opened, which
is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which
were written in the books, according to their works." Rev. 20:12.
7.
For whom has a book of remembrance been written?
"Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the
Lord harkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before
Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name." Mal.
3:16. See Rev. 20:12.
8.
Who opens the judgment and presides over it?
"I beheld till the thrones were cast down [placed], and the Ancient
of days did sit." Dan. 7:9.
9.
Who minister to God, and assist in the judgment?
"Thousand thousands [of angels] ministered unto Him, and ten thousand
times ten thousand stood before Him." Verse 10. See Rev. 5:11.
10.
Who is brought before the Father at this time?
"I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, one like the
Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of
days, and they brought Him near before Him." Dan. 7:13.
11.
What does Christ as the advocate of His people confess before the Father and
His angels?
"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." Rev. 3:5. See
Matt. 10:32,33; Mark 8:38.
NOTE.-During
this judgment scene, both the righteous and the wicked dead are still in
their graves. The record of each one's life, however, is in the books of
heaven, and by that record their characters and deeds are well known. Christ
is there to appear in behalf of those who have chosen Him as their advocate.
1 John 2:1. He presents His blood, as He appeals for their sins to be
blotted from the books of record. As the place of judgment is in heaven,
where God's throne is, and as Christ is present in person, it follows that
the work of judgment is also in heaven. All are judged by the record of
their lives, and thus answer for the deeds done in the body. This work will
not only decide forever the cases of the dead, but will also close the
probation of all who are living, after which Christ will come to take to
Himself those who have been found loyal to Him.
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12.
After the subjects of the kingdom have been determined by the investigative
judgment, what is given to Christ?
"And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a
kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve
Him." Dan. 7:14.
13.
When He comes the second time, what title will He bear?
"And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, King of
kings, and Lord of lords." Rev. 19:16.
14.
What will He then do for each one?
"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His
angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works." Matt.
16:27. See also Rev. 22:12.
15.
Where will Christ then take His people?
"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 14:2,3.
16.
How many of the dead will be raised?
"For the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the
graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; they that have done
good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the
resurrection of damnation." John 5:28,29. See also Acts 24:15.
17.
What time intervenes between the two resurrections?
"And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the
witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the
beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their
foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a
thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the
thousand years were finished." Rev. 20:4,5.
18.
What work did Daniel see finally assigned to the saints?
"I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and
prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was
given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints
possessed the kingdom." Dan. 7:21,22.
19.
How long will the saints engage in this work of judgment?
"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment
was given unto
them: . . . and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." Rev.
20:4.
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20.
Who will thus be judged by the saints?
"Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and
if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest
matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things
that pertain to this life?" 1 Cor. 6:2,3.
21.
How will the decisions of the judgment be executed?
"And out of His [Christ's] mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He
should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He
treadeth the wine-press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
Rev. 19:15.
22.
Why is the execution of the judgment given to Christ?
"For as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to
the Son to have life in Himself; and hath given Him authority to execute
judgment also, because He is the Son of man." John 5:26,27.
23.
How was the opening of the judgment to be made known to the world?
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having
the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to
every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice,
Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is
come." Rev. 14:6,7.
NOTE.-There
are three phases of the judgment mentioned in the Scriptures,-the
investigative judgment, preceding the second advent; the judgment of the
lost world and wicked angels by Christ and the saints during the one
thousand years following the second advent; and the executive judgment, or
punishment of the wicked at the close of this period. The investigative
judgment takes place in heaven before Christ comes, in order to ascertain
who are worthy to be raised in the first resurrection, at His coming, and
who among the living are to be changed in the twinkling of an eye, at the
sound of the last trump. It is necessary for this to take place before the
second advent, as there will be no time for such a work between the coming
of Christ and the raising of the righteous dead. The executive Judgment on
the wicked occurs after their cases have been examined by the saints during
the thousand years. Rev. 20:4,5; 1 Cor. 6:1-3. The investigative judgment is
that which is announced to the world by the angel's message of Rev. 14:6,7.
Thou Judge of
quick and dead,
Before whose bar severe,
With holy joy or guilty dread,
We all shall soon appear,-
Our cautioned souls prepare
For that tremendous day,
And fill us now with watchful care,
And stir us up to pray.
CHARLES WESLEY.
Preparing For Eternity
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