The Weighing of Character by J. O. CORLISS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 7, 1916

The Weighing of Character

By J. O. CORLISS

The Atonement — No. 11

The Weighing of Character

J. O. CORLISS

It will be generally conceded without controversy that the second coming of Christ ends the conflict with sin. The work of atonement must, therefore, be a preparation for that event. When “the voice of the archangel,” and “the trump of God” are heard, as Christ descends to earth, the dead in Christ rise from their graves, and are then joined by the living righteous, ever to be with the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

In this description of events there is no waiting for adjustment of cases. No time is then given for such a scene; for the text says that the change here mentioned takes place while the heralding shout of the descending Christ is heard in midheaven. Indeed, Christ does not actually reach the earth, but the transmuted ones are “caught up” to meet their Lord in the clouds. We are further told that this glorious change from mortality to immortality takes place “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” 1 Cor. 15:52, 53.

Please look at the text for another point there mentioned. It tells us that the sudden change from death to life takes place in the very act of the resurrection; the righteous therefore are incorruptible when they come from the grave. This is positive evidence that the decision fixing the cases of the dead was made prior to the descent of the Lord to call his own from their tombs. That the cases of the righteous living have also been decided is shown by the fact that they are selected from among others to be caught up to meet the Lord in midheaven. But such decisions are not made without a judgment session, at which each case is carefully examined in detail, and so settled beyond dispute. This is clearly stated, as follows: “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.

Nothing can possibly be hidden from the scrutiny of the Judge on that occasion; for we are positively told that God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil. Eccl. 12:14.

But how will such a minute account be made to appear in this final summing up? The revelator says that he saw the judgment in session, and that, besides certain books which were opened, another book was there, which was the “book of life.” The dead, he says, were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. Rev. 20:12. One of the duties of ministering angels (Heb. 1:14) is to record the sayings and actions of people (Eccl. 5:5, 6), together with the motives which actuated them. These records are to be used in the closing work of the atonement, which fully decides the destiny of all.

When this time arrives, the angels, ten thousand times ten thousand in number, are called to minister in the presence of the Judge. Dan. 7:9, 10. As the case of an individual whose name has been registered in the book of life (Phil. 4:3) comes up for examination, the attendant angel of that one produces the record of his life. If this record shows the errors and mistakes all heartily repented of, the Saviour himself then pleads the efficacy of his blood in acknowledgment of the person under consideration . The consequence is, the name is retained in the book of life, and his sins are forever blotted from the “book of remembrance.” Mal. 3:16; Acts 3:19.

But if it should appear that the life has been a careless one, carrying a record of neglected prayer, of not having overcome evil habits, of having had no more than a formal profession of religion, the Lord cannot confess the name before his Father. Nothing can then be done but to order the name stricken from the book of life, and the sins of life must be borne by the individual.

This is no fancy sketch; it is plainly taught by the Saviour’s own setting forth of the subject. His statement is this: “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.

This, indeed, must be the order of events to take place before Christ returns to earth; for then every one is rewarded “according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:12. In order to do this, the decision of each case must have been rendered preparatory to Christ’s coming, because at his coming his reward is with him to bestow on each one to whom it has been awarded. Indeed, the very object of Christ’s second coming is to take to himself those who have benefited by his sufferings and death when here on earth. When he comes as “King of kings, and Lord of lords,” it must have been previously decided who are his and who are not, that he may bring his reward with him to bestow on every one according as his work has appeared, in the examination preparatory to that greatest of all events.

Thus it is clear that the very design of Christ’s second coming is to reap the benefit of his first advent, and take to himself those whom a prior examination has decided to be his. So when he comes to earth the second time, those who have passed the necessary test will be caught up to meet their Lord in the air, and so ever be with him whom they love. 1 Thess. 4:15-17. The nearness of this time, therefore, warrants the issuance of a world warning, that the living may prepare for their final examination in the court of high heaven. Accordingly, when the crucial time comes, the prophet’s message is heralded forth: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” Rev. 14:7.

It must be quite apparent to all that such a gospel call to all the world for a thorough reformation in life and character, even after the judgment has set, is really an announcement that the last opportunity for human restoration to oneness with God has arrived. It also means that judgment has begun with those who, from the first, have been registered as God’s children (1 Peter 4:17), and that shortly the examination will pass to the cases of the living.

The final work for man, as typified in the earthly sanctuary atonement service, began at the close of the twenty-three hundred symbolic days of Dan. 8:14.

which ended in the autumn of 1844 A. D., and the world at that date was brought face to face with the most solemn time in the history of the world. The judgment work begins with the dead, but at the close it must deal with the living—with men and women in all the activities of life. The final test demands a consecration which shuts the world out of every plan. This must be so, since these living ones, to be changed from mortality to immortality at Christ’s appearing, will be taken from among their fellow men at a time when there is such trouble as never has been witnessed since the world began. Dan. 12:1, 2.

This time is now at hand, as world events so forcibly testify. It must be that the last case of living candidates for eternal joys will soon come up in judgment. And how solemn will the end of it all be to every one concerned! No one will have escaped the scrutiny of the judgment; for the books of record will have faithfully revealed every secret motive. The insincerity of dealing one with another, though now hidden perchance from human gaze, will then appear in all its deformity; for nothing will then be concealed from the Judge of all the earth.

In view of this, and also in view of the fact that the great work of atonement is now going on in the court of heaven, it is a solemn thought that ere-long the fiat will be issued: “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. And, behold, I come quickly.” Rev. 22:11, 12.

All will be in one or the other of these classes when the atonement work for the world has ended. In which class will the reader be found?

Glendale, Cal.