The jury is in, the verdict read…..case closed! Few thoughts could be more sobering. The day is fast approaching when every person who has ever lived will have their lives reviewed before all-knowing eyes of God [2 Corinthians 5:10].but don’t let this alarm you-take heart! Millions have already found the judgment message in this study guide to be very good news!
1] The angel Gabriel gave Daniel the prophecy of the 1844 heavenly Judgment. The first phase of the judgment is called the pre-advent Judgment because it takes place before Jesus second coming. What group of people will be considered in the first phase of the judgment? When does it end?
1 peter 4:17 Judgments must begin at the house of God
Isaiah 10:11-12 when the lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart
Ezekiel 9:6-11 slay utterly old and young, come not near any man upon whom is the mark, and begin at my sanctuary, then they begin at the ancient man which were before the house
2 chronicles 36:17-21 he brought upon them the King Chaldees, who slew their young man with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion
Jeremiah 25:29 I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name
Ezekiel 8:11-18 God’s people worship false gods
Luke 10:10-14 it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the Judgment, than for you
Note-[Great Controversy pp, 479-480]—“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. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away,” Daniel 7:13-14.The coming of Christ here described is not His second coming to the earth. He comes to the Ancient of Days in heaven to receive dominion and glory and a kingdom, which will be given him at close of his work as a mediator. It is this coming, and not his second advent to the earth,that was foretold in prophecy to take place at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844. Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the holy of holies and there appears in the presence of God to engage in the lasts acts of his ministration in behalf of man-to perform the work of investigative judgment and to make an atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits.
In the typical service only those who had come before God with confession and repentance, and whose sins, through the blood of the sin offering, were transferred to the sanctuary, had a part in the service of the Day of Atonement . So in the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. The judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work, and takes place at a later period. “judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel?” 1peter4:17.
The books of record in heaven, in which the names and the deeds of man are registered, are to determine the decisions of the judgment. Says the prophet Daniel: “The judgment was set, and the books were opened.” The revelator, describing the same scene adds: “Another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the deadwere judged out of those things which were written in thebooks according to their works.” Revelation20:12.
The book of life contains the names of all who have ever entered the service of God. Jesus bade His disciples: “Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”Luke10:20. Paul speaks of his faithful fellow workers “whose names are in the book of life.”Philippians 4:3.Daniel, looking down to “a time of trouble, such as never was,” declares that that God’s people shall be delivered, “everyone that shall be found written in the book.” And the revelator says that those only shall enter the city of God whose names “are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Daniel12:1; Revelation 21:27.
Part 2 when it ends [judgment]
Revelation 22:11-12 he that is unjust, let him be unjust, still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still
Ezekiel 3:27 I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them thus saith the lord God; he that heareth
Daniel 12:9-10 many shall be purified and made white, and tried
2Timothy 3:13 but evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived
2] Who presides at the Judgment? Who is the defense attorney? The Judge?The accuser? Who are the witnesses?
Daniel 7:9-10 the Ancient of Days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, a fiery flame, the judgment was set, and the books were opened
Revelation 20:4 I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded
Daniel 7:13,22 I saw in the night vision and, behold , one like the son of man come with the clouds of heaven and came to Ancient of Days
Psalm 104:2 who coverest thyself with light as with a garment, who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain
Revelation 1:14-15 his head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire
Ezekiel 1:15-16 I beheld the living creatures behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures, with his four faces
[Great Controversy pg 512- In the presence chamber of the King of kings they wait – “angels, that excel in strength,” “ministers of His that do His pleasure,” “hearkening unto the voice of His word.” Psalm 103:19-21; Revelation 5:11. Ten thousand times ten thousand and thousand of thousands, were the heavenly messengers beheld by the prophet Daniel. The apostle Paul declared them “an innumerable company.” Daniel 7:10; Hebrews 12:22. As God’s messengers they go forth, like “the appearance of flash of lightning,”(Ezekiel 1:14)
1John 2:1 and if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Romans 8:34 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, make intercession
Hebrews 7:25 wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him maketh intercession for them
John 5:2-23[v22]—the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the son
Matthew 11:27 all things are delivered unto me of my father: and no man knoweth, neither knoweth any man the Father, save the son, and he to whosoever the son revealeth
John 5:26-27 the Father, hath given him authority to execute judgment also; because he is the son of man
John 5:35-36 the father loveth the son, and hath given all things into his hand
Acts 17:30-31 because he hath appointed a day, in which he will judge the world in righteousness.
1 peter 4:5 who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead
Revelation 12:9-10 the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night
Zechariah 3:1-4 he showed me Joshua the high priest, standing before the angel and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him
Job 1:8-9 then Satan answered the lord, and said doth job fear God for naught?
Revelation 11:15 the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our lord, and of his Christ, and shall reign for ever and ever
The true witness – Jesus Christ
Revelation 13:14 these things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of God
Revelation 1:5,7 from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead
Note-[Daniel and the Revelation pp, 219-223]-the momentous declaration made by the angel to Daniel, “unto two thousand and three hundred days: then shall the sanctuary be cleansed,” is now explained. In our search for the meaning of the sanctuary and its cleansing and the application of the time, we have found not only that this subject can be easily understood, but lo the event is even now in process of accomplishment .Here we pause a brief moment to reflect upon the solemn position into which we are brought. We have seen that the sanctuary of the Christian Era is the tabernacle of God in heaven, the house not made with hands, where our Lord ministers in behalf of penitent sinners the place where between the great God and His son Jesus Christ the “counsel of peace” prevails in the book of salvation for perishing man.(Zechariah 6:13;Psalms 85:10)We have seen that the cleansing of the sanctuary consists in the removing of the sins from it, and is the closing act of the ministration performed in it; that the work of salvation now centers in the heavenly sanctuary; and the when the sanctuary is cleansed, the work is done. Then the great plan of salvation devised at the fall of man is brought to its final termination .Mercy no longer pleads, and the great voice is heard from the throne in the temple in heaven, saying, “It is done.” Revelation 16:17. What then? All the righteous have the gift of everlasting life; allthe wicked are doomed to everlasting death. Beyond that point, no decision can be changed, no reward can be lost, and no destiny of despair can be averted.
The Solemn Judgment Hour – we have seen (and this is what brings the solemnities of the judgment to our own door) that that long prophetic period which was to mark the beginning of this final work in the heavenly sanctuary, has met its termination. In 1844 the days ended. Since that time the final work for man’s salvation has been going forward. This work involves an examination of every man’s character, for it consists in the remission of the sins of those who shall be found worthy to have them remitted, and determines who among the dead and living shall be left to have their part in the fearful scenes of the second death. All can see that such a decision as this must be rendered before the Lord appears. Every man’s destiny is to be determined by the deeds done in the body, and each one is to be rewarded according to his work (2corinthians 5:10; Revelation 22:12.)In the books of record kept by the heavenly scribes above, every man’s deeds will be found recorded. (Revelation 20:12.) In the closing sanctuary work these records are examined, and decisions are rendered in accordance with the findings. (Daniel 7:9-10.) It would be natural to suppose that the work would begin with the first members of the human race, that their cases would be first examined, and decisions rendered, and so on with all the dead, generation by generation, in chronological succession, until we reach the last generation- the generation of the living, with whose cases the work would close. When the cases of all the dead have been examined, and when the cases of the living been reached, no man can know. But since the year 1844 this solemn work has been going forward. Light from the types and the very nature of the work forbid that it should be of long continuance. In his sublime views of heavenly scenes, John saw millions of attendants and assistants engaged with our Lord in his priestly work (Revelation 5.) Thus the ministration goes forward. It ceases not, it delays not. And it must soon be forever finished.
Here we stand then, with the last, the greatest and the most solemn, crisis in the history of our race immediately impending. The plan of salvation is about finished. The last precious years of probation are almost ended. The lord is about to come to save those who are ready and waiting, and to cut asunder the careless and unbelieving. The world- alas! What shall we say of it? deceived with error, crazed with vice, the inhabitants have not a moment to spare for listening to solemn truth, nor a thought to bestow upon their eternal interest. Let the people of God, with eternity in view, be careful to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust, and prepare to pass the searching test when their cases shall come up for examination at the great tribunal above. Let them be diligent in warning sinners of the wrath to come and in pointing them to a loving Saviour who intercedes in their behalf.
What is the source of evidence used in the pre-advent Judgment? by what standard will all be judged? Since God already knows everything about every person, why have a Judgment?
Revelation 20:12 the book opened and another book was opened which is the book of life: and dead were judged out of those things, written in books
Revelation 19:5-7 praise our god all ye his servants and ye that fear him, both small and great
Psalm 69:28 let them be blotted out of the book of the living and not be written with the righteousness.
Daniel 12:1-2 Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth, thy people shall be delivered every one that shall be found written in the book
Philippians 4:3 true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me, and my other fellow labourers, who names are in the book of life
Revelation 3:5 he that overcometh the same shall be clothed in white raiment, I will not blot out his name out of the book of life;
Exodus 32:32-33 Moses said blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book , and the lord said unto Moses, whosoever hath sinned against me, I will blot out of my book
Revelation 13:7-9 and it was given unto him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. The earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life
Matthew10:32-33 whosoever therefore shall confess me before man him will I confess also before my father which is in heaven
Luke 12:8 whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God
Jeremiah 17:10 I the lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings
1 Samuel 16:7-13 the lord said unto Samuel look not on his countenance nor on the height of his stature, the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance but the lord looketh on the heart
Psalm 7:9-17 for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins
Proverbs 17:3 the furnace for gold: but the lord trieth the hearts
Jeremiah 11:20 Oh lord of hosts, that judgest righteously that triest the reins and the heart
Romans 8:27 he that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the spirit
Revelation 2:21-23 I will kill her children, I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts, and I will give unto every one of you according to you work
Psalm 62:10-12 O Lord to you belongeth mercy for thou renderest to every man according to his work
Jeremiah 32:19 great in counsel and mighty in work for thine eyes are upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according of his way
Romans 2:4-13 who will render to every man according to his deeds
Matthew 16:27 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
Job 34:11-15 the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
1 Corinthians 3:8 he that planteth and that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour
2 Corinthians 5:10 for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, for the things done in his body, according to that he hath done whether it be good or evil
Mark 8:38 whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed
Jude 14:16 Enoch also, the seventh from Adam prophesied of these, saying the Lord cometh, to execute judgment upon all, and the ungodly deeds which they have committed
Note-[Daniel and Revelation pp, 113-115]-“The Ancient of day” God the Father, presides at the judgment. Mark the description of his person. Those who believe in the impersonality of God are obliged to admit that he is here described as a personal being, but they console themselves by saying that it is the only description of the kind in the Bible. We do not admit this latter assertion; but granting that it were true,is not one description of this kind as fatal to their theory , as though it were repeated a score of times ? The thousand thousands who ministers unto him, and the ten thousand times ten thousand who stand before him, are not sinners arraigned before the judgment seat, but heavenly intelligences who wait before him, attendant on his will. John saw the same heavenly attendants before the throne of God, and he describes the majestic scene, in these words: “I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders : and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousand of thousands.” Revelation 5:11. A fuller understanding of these verses involves an understanding of the sanctuary service.
The closing up of the ministration of Christ, our great high priest, in the heavenly sanctuary, is the work of Judgment here introduced. It is an investigative Judgment. The books are opened, and the cases of all come up for examination before that great tribunal, that it may be decided before hand who are to receive eternal life when the lord shall come to confer it upon His people. It will appear from the testimony of Daniel 8:14 that this solemn work is even now going on in the sanctuary above.
End of the fourth Beast – there are those who believe in a thousand years’ reign of righteousness over all the world before the coming of Christ. There are others who believe in probation after the lord comes during which the immortal righteous still proclaim the gospel to mortal sinners, and lead them into the way of salvation. Neither of these theories can be substantiated from the Bible, as we shall see. The fourth terrible beast (Rome) continue without change of character, and the little horn continues to utter its blasphemies, (pope) holding its millions of votaries in the bonds of blind superstition, until the beast is given to the burning flame (Rome and the pope)this is not its conversion but its destruction (see 2 thessalonians 2:8)
The life of the fourth beast (Rome) is not prolonged after its dominion is gone, as were the lives of the preceding beasts. Their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season. The territory and the subjects of the Babylonian kingdom still existed, though made subject to the Persians. So with the Persian kingdom in respect to Greece, and Greece in respect to Rome. But what succeeds the fourth kingdom? No Government or state in which mortal has any part, follow it. Its career ends in the lake of fire. And it has no existence beyond. The lion was merged into the bear, the bear unto the leopard, the into the fourth the beast. But the fourth beast is not merged unto another beast. It is to be cast into a lake of fire. (Rome).
Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night vision, and behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days-(God) and they brought him near before him. Vs 14 – and there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people nation, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. Note that the praise and glory are given to God the way he handles the judgment.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 for God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing whether it be good or bad
Ecclesiastes 11:9-10 walk in the ways of thine heart, God will bring thee into judgment
Numbers 15:39-41 remember all the commandments of the lord and do them, seek not after your heart and your eyes
Matthew12:36-37 every idle word that man shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment
Acts 17:30, 31 he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness
Acts 10:42 it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of the quick and the dead
Romans 2:16 in the day when God shall judge the secret of men by Jesus
John 12:48-50 he that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:
1 Corinthians 4:5 judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will bring to light the hidden things
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead
1 peter 4:5 who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead
Note-Every detail of life will be reviewed, including secret thoughts and actions. For this reason, this first phase of the judgment is called the investigative. The judgment will confirm who will be saved of those who claimed to be Christians. It will doubtless also confirm as lost those whose names are not judged in the pre-advent judgment. Although we are saved by grace, rewards will be given based on works, deeds, or conduct which prove the genuineness of a Christian’s faith [James 2:26]
Note-[Great Controversy pp, 481-482]—Paul speaks of his faithful fellow workers, “whose names are in the book of life.”-Philippians4:3.Daniel looking down to “a time of trouble, such as never was,” declares that “God’s people shall be delivered everyone that shall be found written in the book.” And the revelator says that those only shall enter the city of God whose names “are written in the lamb’s book of life.” Daniel12:1; Revelation:27. “A book of rememberance”is written before God, in which are recorded the good deeds of “them that feared the lord, and that thought upon His name.” Malachi 3:16. Their words of faith, their acts of love, are registered in heaven. Nehemiah refers to this when he says: “Remember me, O My God, —and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God.” Nehemiah 13:14. In the book of God’s remembrance every deed of righteousness is immortalized. There every temptation resisted, every evil overcome, every word of tender pity expressed, is faithfully chronicled. And every act of sacrifice, every suffering and sorrow endured for Christ’s sake, recorded. Says the psalmist. “Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book?” Psalm56:8. There is a record also of the sins of man. “ For God shall bring every work in judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment.” Says the saviour: “by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Ecclesiastes 12: 14; Matthew 12:36. The secret purpose and motives appear in the unerring register; for God “will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the councils of the hearts”1Corinthains 4:5 “behold, it is written before me —your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord.”Isaiah 65:6-7. Every man’s work passes in review before God and it is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the book of heaven is entered with terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling, heaven- sent warning or reproof neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel.
What group is involved in the heavenly judgment during the 1,000 years of Revelation chapter 20? What is the purpose of this second phase of the judgment?
1 Corinthians 6:2-3 do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?
Revelation 20:4 I saw thrones and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them
Daniel 7:9, 22,27 the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the most high
Matthew 19:28-29 in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging, twelve tribe of Israel
Revelation 6:9 I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God
Revelation 13:12 he exerciseth all the power of first beast, he causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast
Revelation 13:15-16 the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast
2 Timothy 2:12 if we suffer, we shall also reign with him, if we deny him, he also will deny us
Revelation 5:10 hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth
Note-[Daniel and Revelation pp. 379-380.]-The Admonition- “Hold fast till I come.” These are the words of the Son of God, and bring to our view an unconditional coming. To the churches of Ephesus and Pergamos, certain comings were threatened on conditions: “repent, or else I will come unto thee,” implying visitations of judgment. But here a coming of a different nature is brought to view. It is not a threatening of punishment. It is suspended upon no conditions. It is set before the believer as a matter of hope, and can refer to no event other than the future second advent of the Lord in glory, when the Christians trials will cease, and his efforts in the race for life, and his warfare for a crown of righteousness, will be rewarded with everlasting success. This church brings us down to the time when the more immediate signs of the soon- coming advent began to be fulfilled In 1780, eighteen years before the close of this period, the predicted signs in the sun and moon were fulfilled. (See comments on Revelation 6:12.) In reference to these signs the Savior said; “when these things begin to come to pass then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”Luke21:28. In the history of this church we reach a point when the end is drawing so near that the attention of the people could properly be called more particularly to that event. Christ has ever said to his followers, “occupy till I come.”Luke 19:13.Now he says “hold the end.”
The Promise to the Overcomer.–“Unto the end.” This must denote the end of the Christian age. “He that shall endure unto the end,” says Christ, “the same shall be saved.”Matthew 24:13. Is there not here a like promise to those who keep the works of Christ, do thing He has enjoined, and keep the faith of Jesus?(Revelation14:12.)
“Power over the nations.”—In this world the wicked bear rule, and the servants of Christ are of no esteem. But the time is coming when righteousness will be in the ascendency; when all ungodliness will be seen in its true light, and be at a heavy discount; and when the scepter of power will be in the hands of the people of God. This promise will be explained by the following facts and scriptures: The nations are to be given by the Father into the hands of Christ, to be ruled with a rod of iron, and dashed in pieces like a potter’s vessel. (Psalm2:8-9.)
Associated with Christ, when He thus enters upon His own work of power and judgment, are to be His saints. (Revelation 3: 21.) They are to reign with Him in this capacity for one thousand years. (Revelation 20: 4.) During this period, the degree of judgment upon wicked men and evil angels is determined. (1 Corinthians 6: 2, 3.) At the end of the one thousand years, they have the honor of sharing with Christ in the execution of the sentence written. (Psalm 149: 9.)
The Morning Star.–Christ says in Revelation 22: 16 that He is Himself the morning star, the immediate forerunner of the day. What is here called the “morning star,” is called the “daystar” in 2 Peter 1: 19, where it is associated with the dawn of the day: “Until the day dawn, and the daystar arise.” During the saints’ weary night of watching, they have the word of God to shed its needful light upon their path. But when the daystar shall arise in their hearts, or the morning star be given to the overcomers, they will be taken into so close a relationship to Christ that their hearts will be fully illuminated with His Spirit, and they will walk in His light. Then they will no longer need the sure word of prophecy, which now shines as a light in a dark place. Hasten on, O glorious hour, when the light of heaven’s bright day shall rise upon the pathway of the faithful, and beams of glory from the eternal world shall gild their banners!
When and where will the third phase of the final Judgment take place? What now group will be present at his phase of judgment?
Zachariah 14:4-5,10 and his feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which before Jerusalem on the east, … and there shall be a very great valley
Ezekiel 11:23 the glory of the Lord went up from the midst
Ezekiel 10:4 the glory of the lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house, the brightness of the lord’s glory
Ezekiel 43:2 the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters
Joel 3:12-16 let the heathen be wakened and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, I will sit to judge all the heathen round about
Psalm 96:13 before the lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness
Psalm 110:6 he shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies
Isaiah 2:4 he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people
Micah 4:3-7 he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off
Note-[great controversy pp, 662 -663]-The Controversy Ended- At the close of the thousand years, Christ again returns to the earth. He is accompanied by the host of the redeemed and attended by a retinue of angels. As He descends in terrific majesty He bids the wicked dead arise to receive their doom. They come forth, a mighty host, numberless as the sands of the sea. What a contrast to those who were raised at the first resurrection! The righteous were clothed with immortal youth and beauty. The wicked bear the traces of disease and death. Every eye in that vast multitude is turned to behold the glory of the Son of God. With one voice the wicked hosts exclaim: “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord!” It is not love to Jesus that inspires this utterance. The force of truth urges the words from unwilling lips. As the wicked went into their graves, so they come forth with the same enmity to Christ and the same spirit of rebellion. They are to have no new probation in which to remedy the defects of their past lives. Nothing would be gained by this. A lifetime of transgression has not softened their hearts. A second probation, were it given them, would be occupied as was the first in evading the requirements of God and exciting rebellion against Him.
Christ descends upon the Mount of Olives, whence, after His resurrection, He ascended, and where angels repeated the promise of His return. Says the prophet: “The Lord my God
shall come, and all the saints with Thee.” “And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof, . . . and there shall be a very great valley.” “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one.” Zechariah 14:5, 4, 9. As the New Jerusalem, in its dazzling splendor, comes down out of heaven, it rests upon the place purified and made ready to receive it, and Christ, with His people and the angels, enters the Holy City.
Now Satan prepares for a last mighty struggle for the supremacy. While deprived of his power and cut off from his work of deception, the prince of evil was miserable and dejected; but as the wicked dead are raised and he sees the vast multitudes upon his side, his hopes revive, and he determines not to yield the great controversy. He will marshal all the armies of the lost under his banner and through them endeavor to execute his plans. The wicked are Satan’s captives. In rejecting Christ they have accepted the rule of the rebel leader. They are ready to receive his suggestions and to do his bidding. Yet, true to his early cunning, he does not acknowledge himself to be Satan. He claims to be the prince who is the rightful owner of the world and whose inheritance has been unlawfully wrested from him. He represents himself to his deluded subjects as a redeemer, assuring them that his power has brought them forth from their graves and that he is about to rescue them from the most cruel tyranny. The presence of Christ having been removed, Satan works wonders to support his claims. He makes the weak strong and inspires all with his own spirit and energy. He proposes to lead them against the camp of the saints and to take possession of the City of God. With fiendish exultation he points to the unnumbered millions who have been raised from the dead and declares that as their leader he is well able to overthrow the city and regain his throne and his kingdom.
What happens next?
Revelation 20:9 they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about the beloved city and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them
Isaiah 8:8 he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck
Ezekiel 38:9,16 thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land
Isaiah 28:2-8 the lord hath a mighty and strong one, which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand
Jeremiah 4:13-14 behold he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us!
Note-[Testimonies for the church vol 1,pp,67-69]-Vision of the new earth- With Jesus at our head, we all descended from the city down to this earth, on a great and mighty mountain, which could not bear Jesus up, and it parted asunder, and there was a mighty plain. Then we looked up and saw the great city, with twelve foundations, and twelve gates, three on each side, and an angel at each gate. We all cried out: “The city, the great city, it’s coming, it’s coming down from God out of heaven,” and it came and settled on the place where we stood. Then we began to look at the glorious things outside of the city. There I saw most beautiful houses, that had the appearance of silver, supported by four pillars set with pearls, most glorious to behold, which were to be inhabited by the saints, and in which was a golden shelf. I saw many of the saints go into the houses, take off their glittering crowns and lay them on the shelf, then go out into the field by the houses to do something with the earth; not as we have to do with the earth here; no, no. A glorious light shone all about their heads, and they were continually offering praise to God.
And I saw another field full of all kinds of flowers, and as I plucked them, I cried out: “They will never fade.” Next I saw a field of tall grass, most glorious to behold; it was living green, and had a reflection of silver and gold, as it waved proudly to the glory of King Jesus. Then we entered a field full of all kinds of beasts–the lion, the lamb, the leopard, and the wolf, all together in perfect union. We passed through the midst of them, and they followed on peaceably after. Then we entered a wood, not like the dark woods we have here; no, no; but light, and all over glorious; the branches of the trees waved to and fro, and we all cried out: “We will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.” We passed through the woods, for we were on our way to Mount Zion.
As we were traveling along, we met a company who were also gazing at the glories of the place. I noticed red as a border on their garments; their crowns were brilliant; their robes were pure white. As we greeted them, I asked Jesus who they were. He said they were martyrs that had been slain for Him. With them was an innumerable company of little ones; they had a hem of red on their garments also. Mount Zion was just before us, and on the mount was a glorious temple, and about it were seven other mountains, on which grew roses and lilies. And I saw the little ones climb, or, if they chose, use their little wings and fly to the top of the mountains, and pluck the never-fading flowers. There were all kinds of trees around the temple to beautify the place–the box, the pine, the fir, the oil, the myrtle, the pomegranate, and the fig tree bowed down with the weight of its timely figs; these made the place all over glorious. And as we were about to enter the temple, Jesus raised His lovely voice and said, “Only the 144,000 enter this place,” and we shouted, “Alleluia!”
This temple was supported by seven pillars, all of transparent gold, set with pearls most glorious. The wonderful things I there saw, I cannot describe. Oh, that I could talk in the language of Canaan, then could I tell a little of the glory of the better world. I saw there tables of stone in which the names of the 144,000 were engraved in letters of gold.
After beholding the glory of the temple, we went out, and Jesus left us and went to the city. Soon we heard His lovely voice again, saying: “Come, My people, you have come out of great tribulation, and done My will, suffered for Me, come in to supper; for I will gird Myself and serve you.” We shouted, “Alleluia, glory,” and entered the city. Here I saw a table of pure silver; it was many miles in length, yet our eyes could extend over it. I saw the fruit of the tree of life, the manna, almonds, figs, pomegranates, grapes, and many other kinds of fruit. I asked Jesus to let me eat of the fruit. He said: “Not now. Those who eat of the fruit of this land, go back to earth no more. But in a little while, if faithful, you shall both eat of the fruit of the tree of life and drink of the water of the fountain. And,” said He, “you must go back to the earth again, and relate to others what I have revealed to you.” Then an angel bore me gently down to this dark world.
What interrupts their battle plan, and with what results?
Revelation 20:12 I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God and the books were opened, and the dead were judged out of those written in the book
Revelation 19:5 a voice came out of the throne, saying, praise our God all ye servants
Deuteronomy 7:10 he repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him
Psalm 60:27-28 let them be blotted out of the book of the living
Daniel 12:1,2 Michael shall stand up the great prince of his people
Jeremiah 17:10 I The lord search the heart, try the reins, every man according to his ways, and according to fruit of his doings
Matthew 16:27 the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then shall reward every man according to his works
Romans 2:6 who will render to every man according to his deeds: Revelation 2:23 I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts, give according to your works
Revelation 20:13 and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works
2 Corinthians 5:10 we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive things done in the body, good or bad
Matthew 25:31-34 the son of man shall come, sit on his throne of his glory, he will gather the nations, he shall separate sheep from goat
Mark 8:38 whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the man of man be ashamed
Jude 14:16 Enoch prophesied of these saying behold the lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints to execute judgment upon all
Revelation 1:7-8 behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him
Romans 14:11-12 so then every one of us shall give account of himself to god
Matthew 12:36 I say unto you, that every idle word that man shall speak they shall give account there in the Day of Judgment
Matthew 16:1-4 Pharisees seeketh for a sign
1 peter4:5-7 who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and dead?
Unexpectedly, without warning, God appears with almost paralyzing brightness above the city (Revelation 19:11-21). The moment of truth has arrived. Every lost soul since the world began, including Satan and his angels, now faces God in judgment. Every eye is fastened upon the King of kings (Revelation 20:12). Each Person Sees Own Life Reviewed
Then each lost soul recalls his own life story: God’s constant, warm, pleading calls to repent; that wooing, still, small voice; the awesome conviction that often came; the repeated refusals to respond. It is all there. Its accuracy is incontestable. Its facts are irrefutable. God wants the wicked to fully understand. He will provide any details desired in order to make all things clear. The books and records are available. No Cover-Up
God is not involved in some celestial cover-up. He has destroyed no evidence, erased no tapes. There is nothing to hide. Everything is open, and every person who has ever lived plus all the good and bad angels will be viewing this drama of all dramas. The Lost Fall to Their Knees Suddenly there is a movement. One lost soul drops to his knees to admit his guilt and openly confess that God was more than fair with him. His own stubborn pride kept him from responding. And on all sides now, people and evil angels are likewise kneeling. Then in one great, almost simultaneous move all remaining people and evil angels, including Satan, fall prostrate before God (Romans 14:11). They openly clear the name of God from all false accusations and give witness to His loving, fair, merciful treatment of them. All Confess That the Sentence Is Fair
All confess that the sentence of death pronounced upon them is fair–the only safe way to handle sin. Of each lost person it can be said, “Thou hast destroyed thyself.” Hosea 13:9. God now stands vindicated before the universe. The accusations and claims of Satan have been exposed and unequivocally discredited as the perverse lies of a hardened sinner.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; 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.” Revelation 20:12. “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:10. “As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:11, 12.
What final steps will eradicate sin from the universe and provide a secure home and future for the righteous?
Revelation 20:10 they compassed the camp of the saints,….and fire come down from God out of heaven, and devoured them, the devil was cast in the fire
Ezekiel 38:9,10-16 thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou and all thy bands
Revelation 19:20-21 the beast was taken, and with him the false prophets that wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast
Revelation 16:16-21 he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon
Revelation 14:9-11 the same shall drink of wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation
Malachi 4:3-6 and ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the lord
2 Samuel 22:43 I beat them as small as the dust of dust of the earth
Micah 7:10-18 then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the lord thy God?
Zechariah 10:3-6 as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight
Isaiah 65:17 behold I create a new heaven and a new earth and the former shall not be remembered, nor come in mind
2 peter 3:13-14 according to his promise, we look for new heavens and new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness
Revelation 21:1-2 I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away
Revelation 20:11 I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it from whose face the earth and heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them
Note-[Great Controversy pp,671]—Notwithstanding that Satan has been constrained to acknowledge God’s justice and to bow to the supremacy of Christ, his character remains unchanged. The spirit of rebellion, like a mighty torrent, again bursts forth. Filled with frenzy, he determines not to yield the great controversy. The time has come for a last desperate struggle against the King of heaven. He rushes into the midst of his subjects and endeavors to inspire them with his own fury and arouse them to instant battle. But of all the countless millions whom he has allured into rebellion, there are none now to acknowledge his supremacy. His power is at an end. The wicked are filled with the same hatred of God that inspires Satan; but they see that their case is hopeless, that they cannot prevail against Jehovah. Their rage is kindled against Satan and those who have been his agents in deception, and with the fury of demons they turn upon them.
Saith the Lord: “Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. They shall bring thee down to the pit.” “I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. . . . I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. . . . I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. . . . Thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.” Ezekiel 28:6-8, 16-19. “Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.” “The indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and His fury upon all their armies: He hath utterly destroyed them, He hath delivered them to the slaughter.” “Upon the wicked He shall rain quick burning coals, fire and brimstone and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.” Isaiah 9:5; 34:2; Psalm 11:6, margin. Fire comes down from God out of heaven. The earth is broken up. The weapons concealed in its depths are drawn forth. Devouring flames burst from every yawning chasm. The very rocks are on fire. The day has come that shall burn as an oven. The elements melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein are burned up. Malachi 4:1; 2 Peter 3:10. The earth’s surface seems one molten mass–a vast, seething lake of fire. It is the time of the judgment and perdition of ungodly men–“the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.” Isaiah 34:8.
The wicked receive their recompense in the earth. Proverbs 11:31. They “shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 4:1. Some are destroyed as in a moment, while others suffer many days. All are punished “according to their deeds.” The sins of the righteous having been transferred to Satan, he is made to suffer not only for his own rebellion, but for all the sins which he has caused God’s people to commit. His punishment is to be far greater than that of those whom he has deceived. After all have perished who fell by his deceptions, he is still to live and suffer on. In the cleansing flames the wicked are at last destroyed, root and branch–Satan the root, his followers the branches. The full penalty of the law has been visited; the demands of justice have been met; and heaven and earth, beholding, declare the righteousness of Jehovah. Satan’s work of ruin is forever ended. For six thousand years he has wrought his will, filling the earth with woe and causing grief throughout the universe. The whole creation has groaned and travailed together in pain. Now God’s creatures are forever delivered from his presence and temptations. “The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they [the righteous] break forth into singing.” Isaiah 14:7. And a shout of praise and triumph ascends from the whole loyal universe. “The voice of a great multitude,” “as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings,” is heard, saying: “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” Revelation 19:6.
How did the “day of atonement “service in the testament earthly sanctuary symbolizes the judgment and god’s plan to eradicate sin from the universe and restore perfect harmony?
Note- we learned how Satan falsely accused and challenged God and brought the ugly malignancy of sin into the universe. The day of atonement in ancient Israel taught, through symbols, how God will handle the sin problem and bring harmony back to the universe by the atonement. (Atonement means “at-one-ment,” or “to bring all things into total divine harmony.”) In the earthly sanctuary, the symbolic steps were:
A. Lord’s goat slain to cover sins of the people
B. Priest ministered the blood before the mercy seat
C. Judgment took place in this order: (1) the righteous confirmed, (2) the unrepentant cut off, and (3) the record of sin removed from the sanctuary
D. Record of sin placed on scapegoat
E. Scapegoat sent into wilderness
F. people cleansed from their sins
G. All begin New Year with a clean slate
These five symbolic steps represent literal atonement events which are instituted from the heavenly sanctuary–God’s celestial headquarters for the universe. The first point above is the symbol of the literal atonement event of the first point below; the second point above is the symbol of the second point below, etc. Notice how clearly God has symbolized these great atonement events:
A. Jesus’ sacrificial death as man’s substitute (1 Corinthians 15:3; 5:7).
B. Jesus as our High Priest restores people to God’s image (Hebrews 4:14-16; Romans 8:29).
C. Judgment provides records to confirm lives–good and bad–and then removes the records of sin from the heavenly sanctuary (Revelation 20:12; Acts 3:19-21).
D. Responsibility for originating sin and for causing all people to sin is placed on Satan (1 John 3:8; Revelation 22:12).
E. Satan banished into wilderness (1,000 years of Revelation chapter 20).
F. Satan, sin, and sinners eradicated permanently (Revelation 20:10; 21:8; Psalms 37:10, 20; Nahum 1:9).
G. New earth created for God’s people. Everything lost by sin is restored to the Lord’s saints (2 Peter 3:13; Acts 3:20, 21).
Note – [Great Controversy pp, 673-675]- While the earth was wrapped in the fire of destruction, the righteous abode safely in the Holy City. Upon those that had part in the first resurrection, the second death has no power. While God is to the wicked a consuming fire, He is to His people both a sun and a shield. Revelation 20:6; Psalm 84:11.
I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.” Revelation 21:1. The fire that consumes the wicked purifies the earth. Every trace of the curse is swept away. No eternally burning hell will keep before the ransomed the fearful consequences of sin.
One reminder alone remains: Our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His crucifixion. Upon His wounded head, upon His side, His hands and feet, are the only traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought. Says the prophet, beholding Christ in His glory: “He had bright beams coming out of His side: and there was the hiding of His power.” Habakkuk 3:4, margin. That pierced side whence flowed the crimson stream that reconciled man to God–there is the Saviour’s glory, there “the hiding of His power.” “Mighty to save,” through the sacrifice of redemption, He was therefore strong to execute justice upon them that despised God’s mercy. And the tokens of His humiliation are His highest honor; through the eternal ages the wounds of Calvary will show forth His praise and declare His power.
“O Tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion.” Micah 4:8. The time has come to which holy men have looked with longing since the flaming sword barred the first pair from Eden, the time for “the redemption of the purchased possession.” Ephesians 1:14. The earth originally given to man as his kingdom, betrayed by him into the hands of Satan, and so long held by the mighty foe, has been brought back by the great plan of redemption. All that was lost by sin has been restored. “Thus saith the Lord . . . that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited.” Isaiah 45:18. God’s original purpose in the creation of the earth is fulfilled as it is made the eternal abode of the redeemed. “The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever.” Psalm 37:29.
Ambassadors of Christ 