On Earth or in Heaven? Which?
By Uriah Smith
It makes a good deal of difference which. If we locate things in heaven which take place on the earth, we confuse the things of heaven and earth, confuse ourselves, confuse two separate worlds, throw everything out of order, and block the way to a correct understanding of the Scriptures. If we locate on the earth that which takes place in heaven, we are apt to draw conclusions which not only contradict the Scriptures, but lead to ruinous practices in spiritual things. For these reasons we ought to adjust these matters with the most scrupulous care. For instance, there is a passage which seems to us to have a definite application to a scene of judgment after the close of probation, and to furnish a definite and clear place for an application of another important scripture which, otherwise, we find no apparent place to apply. The passage is Rev. 20:4. The scene here described is located after the binding of Satan, and his incarceration in the bottomless pit for a thousand years. Then John says: “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.” This is spoken of the blessed and holy ones who have a part in the first resurrection. “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” These are the ones who have no further part in life until the second resurrection, until the time limited for the binding and imprisonment of Satan should be fulfilled, and he should be loosed out of his prison. Here are the saints reigning with Christ a thousand years. This accords therewith the prediction of the prophet Daniel concerning the same class. He says, “I beheld . . . 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. Compare this passage with Rev. 20:4, and then mark the statement of Paul in 1 Cor. 6:1–3. He says: “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? . . . Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” When is judgment thus given into the hands of the saints? When do the saints judge the world? — In the period mentioned in Dan. 7:21, 22, and in Rev. 20:4. But this judgment on the wicked dead, in which the saints are associated with Christ, is after probation has ended; for the second resurrection immediately follows the end of the thousand years, and all the wicked then perish in the second death. From this it follows that there is no second probation after this life, but all who would secure eternal life must make sure of it before they die. Some seem to think that they can avoid this conclusion, if they can find some text which can be applied to events that apparently take place in this world. For instance, a correspondent writes from Omaha, Neb.: “How would you show that Rev. 14:2 and Rev. 15:1, 2, do not pertain to this life, and are not fulfilled in probation? The future-probation people so apply it when we quote Rev. 20:4 to show that the judgment by Christ and the saints takes place during the thousand years.” And why not apply Rev. 14:2 and 15:2, 3, as we do Rev. 12:3, and several other texts that might be mentioned? The answer is, Because in a consecutive line of prophecy everything must have its proper place, and nothing be placed out of its harmonious relation with the context and other scriptures. Now an explanation of Rev. 14:2 and 15:2, 3, involves an exposition of other prophecies, especially the threefold message of Rev. 14:6–10, as set forth in various publications issued from this Office, which bring to view the experience of the people of God in the last days, till they see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. But however we may apply these scriptures, we know that the judgment on the cases of those who have finished their probation in this life, decides forever their future destiny. Then let no one deceive himself with the thought that there will be opportunity to secure by a second probation the blessings of salvation which they neglected to secure while they had opportunity in this present time. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Cor. 6:2. U. S.