The Standard in the Judgment
By A. C. Gilbert
The Judgment Is Certain—The Investigations Now in Progress—The Solemn, Eternal Decree Soon to Be Pronounced—The Joyous Climax for All Who Are Prepared ALL men look forward to a Judgment. The Judgment day, the bar of God—these have been made the subject of solemn discourse, the pith of repartee, of joke and jest. Fancy has painted the picture of earth's motley throng filing in line before the bar of heaven's chancery, to receive the decisions of the tribunal, and the consequent reward, according to what they have done, “whether it be good or bad.” Whatever may have been the reason for reference to this subject, in joke or jest, in fancy or fact, there is no escaping the conclusion that there is a time of judgment appointed by the “Judge of all the earth,” and that every human being has a case pending. These facts are clearly revealed in the Scriptures. See Acts 17:31; Eccl. 3:17; Jude 6; Eccl. 12:14; 2 Cor. 5:10; Rev. 20:12. According to an interesting prophecy in the Bible (Dan. 8:13, 14; 9:23–27; 7:9, 10; Rev. 14:6, 7), a work called the Investigative Judgment began in the fall of 1844 A.D. At this point terminated the longest prophetic period in all the Bible. Then began the investigation of every name entered in the book of life, in order to determine the nature of the reward to be bestowed by the Lord when He comes to execute the decisions rendered by this grand and solemn assize. As in an earthly court, so in the heavenly, decisions for or against the individual are not rendered until examination has first taken place. The general rewards of eternal death or eternal life are apportioned at the close of probation, when Jesus comes. See Isa. 40:10; Matt. 16:27; Rev. 22:12. With the awe-inspiring thought of the Investigative Judgment now in progress in heaven, comes the natural question as to the role of this court. What is the basis upon which decisions are determined? What is the standard to which appeal is made by this solemn tribunal? In order that equity be given in each case, there can be only one rule or law by which justice is decreed, and only one interpreter of that law. God is “Judge of all the earth.” Gen. 18:25; Ps. 94:2; Rom. 3:6. But He has given the work of Judgment into the hands of His Son, as expressed in the following texts: Acts 17:31; 10:42; John 5:22, 27. In the Bible is expressed the combined purpose and united will of both the Father and the Son as pertaining to the work of the Judgment, investigative and executive, as well as other matters that appertain to moral duties. The Word, seeing it is the expressed will of the Godhead, becomes, therefore, the interpreter of the rules or law of the Judgment. Law is the foundation of all government. The citizens of this world who enjoy or expect to enjoy the blessings and favors that civilization and government afford, must recognize the law of the land, and must allow it to enter into all their plans for their future happiness. And should a contingency arise whereby it becomes necessary to have a cause recorded for examination by a court of equity, conviction or exoneration is decreed by this court just according to the individual's relation to the fundamental law that governs in the examination. As stated above, we all have a case pending in the Investigative Judgment. 2 Cor. 5:10. Jesus Christ is the Advocate (1 John 2:1), and pleads the cause of all persons who accept Him as their only help, their substitute, their righteousness. See Rom. 8:34; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 7:25. He pleads every cause upon its own merits, and the decision in regard to every name is determined according to the individual's relation to the fundamental law of God's government. One Standard for the Universe
There is only one standard in the universe that can determine fitness or unfitness of character for the kingdom of heaven, and that is the moral law. The apostle James calls it the “royal law.” James 2:8. This fundamental law of the heavenly land is therefore the only test applied to ascertain whether we are pure gold or worthless dross. This principle is emphatically stated by the wise man: “Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Why shall we fear God? Why shall we be so urgent in regard to keeping all His commandments?—Because “God shall bring every work into Judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Eccl. 12:13, 14. Thus we see how closely the moral law is associated with the work of the Investigative Judgment. Seeing that the court of heaven is so thorough in the examination of character, the rule applied must be one that can measure every act of man. The only law recognized by God as able to do this is the moral law, the Ten Commandments, in which is enshrined “the whole duty of man.” Eccl. 12:13, 14; Rom. 7:7; Rev. 22:14. Ought to Study the Law That Decides
Perfection is the standard of entrance into the kingdom. Therefore those who expect to be citizens of the world to come, and would like to know whether their case in the Judgment will receive a favorable decision or not, ought now to be considering their relation to the sovereign law of the universe. They should bring it to bear in every condition in life. Why?—Because in all the details of life, we are either doing or not doing our duty. Seeing that the Investigative Judgment now in session in heaven examines the whole duty of man, and seeing that the law of God comprehends man's whole duty, of necessity every person must be obedient to the law in every particular in order to do his whole duty and eat of the good of Canaan's heavenly land. Man of himself is utterly unable to keep the holy, perfect law of God. “I can of mine own self do nothing,” should be the feeling of all. But the apostle Paul's victory may be ours. He said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Phil. 4:13. When the life is wholly surrendered to the working of the Holy Spirit, the Lord comes and dwells in that life, and keeps His commandments in us and for us. Phil. 2:13; Eph. 3:16, 17. Christ kept the law perfectly in humanity while here on earth. He was perfectly obedient to all the requirements of the perfect moral law. He desires to live His perfect obedience in every heart. “And if we consent, He will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience.” The work of the Investigative Judgment will soon close. That tribunal will render its decisions according to heaven's law in the following awful words: “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.” Rev. 22:11. Then will appear the Lord to apportion the rewards. “And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Verse 12. “Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Eccl. 12:13.