Place of the Judgment by J. O. CORLISS

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 22, 1915

Place of the Judgment

By J. O. CORLISS

The Age-to-Come Doctrine — No. 7

Place of the Judgment

J. O. CORLISS

NOTHING is more certainly taught by inspiration than that a day of judgment awaits every human being who has lived or who will yet live on our earth. This is well attested by the affirmation that “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. The definiteness of this text shows the judgment work to be a vast one. It could not be otherwise when, as the text declares, “every one” will be required to answer personally for every deed ever done, whether it was good or bad.

Of course the question quickly follows such a statement as to where, when, and how such a stupendous program could most likely be rendered. Were the common view to be accepted as to the place where, and the time when, such operation could best be effected, one becomes at once involved in insurmountable difficulties. For instance, if at Christ’s coming all the multiplied millions of the dead should arise, each to await his turn to answer for his life work in the categorical form indicated by the text under consideration, it might seem that many of the waiting ones would be delayed many years expecting the issue of their cases.

It must not be supposed that the judgment process will be a passage through some standing multitude simply to say to one, Stand on my right, or to another, Go to my left. That could not be and render the just decisions then required in behalf of eternity-bound creatures. Even idle words, perhaps long since forgotten, must then be brought forward for examination. Matt. 12:36. More than this, every sort of life work, “with every secret thing,” will God bring under judgment criticism. Eccl. 12:14. In view of such a searching scrutiny, all will readily admit the solemn truth of the preacher’s remark that there must be on that occasion time “for every purpose and for every work.” Eccl. 3:17.

This judgment scene has been graphically set forth by inspired foresight. God is shown seated on his throne, with many thousands ministering before him, while “the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Dan. 7:9, 10. The opening of the “books” was the important era in that work. Turning to another passing view of this same display, one quickly learns just why these books are such a necessary adjunct to that solemn function; for this description reveals that “the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Rev. 20:12.

Two things are here made prominent: First, the sentence upon all is decided, not from the oral testimony of those involved, but from the things written in the books. This is reasonable because it is absolutely just. Were the memory of those to be judged depended on for true accounts, they could not be had because of faulty recollections. But another striking point in the text is that those who are being judged are all dead while the operation proceeds. Why should not this be so, when all their life deeds are on record, and they themselves are relieved of painful solicitude while wearily awaiting their fateful decisions?

The decisions having been all rendered, the next event is the raising of the dead for the execution of the conclusions previously reached. This part of the program is distinctly set forth by the Saviour in these words: “All that are in their 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. This mention of the two classes shows that every one having a resurrection is previously assigned to the particular rank in which the judgment books had decided his place to be. This position is, however, much strengthened by the apostle’s reference to this event. He reveals that which he calls a mystery. Speaking to and of the church, he says, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Cor. 15:51, 52. Please take notice of what is here involved. The text says that the saints thus raised are incorruptible when brought from their graves. This touch of immortality could not have been conferred before the full decision of their cases; hence having it when raised from the grave clearly shows that the judgment had previously closed their records favorably. This being true, it follows that those who were not thus enriched with them, had been counted unworthy of the honor. This point is quite clearly made in another account. In administering comfort to the church of Thessalonica concerning the dead for whom they mourned, the apostle told them that when the Lord should come to take his own, he would by no means desert their dead through forgetfulness; for at the sound of the Archangel’s accompanying voice, the dead in Christ would rise before the living saints were changed. 1 Thess. 4:16.

Further evidence is not necessary to show that the decisions of the judgment do separate between the righteous and the wicked before the resurrection, which attends the second coming of Christ. This point settled forever destroys the age-to-come theory of a post-resurrection probation (a probation following the resurrection); for the fact that only the “dead in Christ” are raised at Christ’s return to earth, proclaims that final decisions were rendered before that operation. But other scriptures settle this question without logic or controversy for all willing to receive their plain statements. Thus the Saviour, when speaking directly about his future advent, and that which would immediately precede it, said: “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; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:11, 12.

This ought in all reason to settle the matter completely. The fact that the condition of every one must remain as disclosed at a certain period, and that period a time just prior to the coming of the Lord, is ample evidence that probation for all of every class of people was ended at that time. Otherwise the Lord’s second coming would fail of its exact accomplishment, according to the divine program, which is thus stated: “Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all.” Jude 14, 15.

To execute a judgment is to carry out its decisions in full, to the minutest degree. In the judgment scene described by the prophet Daniel, already referred to, its work is followed by the eye of divine foresight, until the kingdom and its peoples have been delivered to the Son of God. This is why he comes to earth at once armed with power to execute that which had previously been judgment written. He therefore comes properly seated on the throne of his glory, accompanied by all the holy angels. Matt. 25:31. But only those will then be claimed as his who, like their Master, will have before been glorified, because none others can possibly look upon him as he will then appear in his glory. 1 John 3:2.

From this solid ground of belief, no other conclusion is possible than that the session of judgment which forever separates between good men and bad, that determines who shall be saved and who lost at his coming is held in heaven itself, in the very presence of the throne of God (Dan. 7:9), at which time and place Christ is crowned King of kings and Lord of lords. The kingdoms of this

world are then his, when he at once proceeds to cleanse the world of its last defilement (2 Peter 3:10-12), preparatory to its becoming a fit place over which he may reign forever and ever. Rev. 11:15.

Glendale, Cal.