GOD’S SYSTEM OF JUDGING MEN.
By J. O. Corliss
SINCE every moment of men’s lives will be scrutinized at the final judgment bar, it follows that adequate records are kept, and that due time must be given to the examination of the employment of all these moments, before decision can be justly made, upon which eternal destinies hang. Eccl. 12:14; 3:17. That such a stupendous work may be done in proper time, some well-defined system of operation must be employed by which to accomplish the desired object. In order to arrive quickly at an understanding of this system, let us briefly look at an arrangement that not only provides for man’s success in his earthly existence, but also becomes a factor in the work of the judgment itself. The angels of heaven have been constituted ministers of man’s earthly necessities. Heb. 1:14. Not only do these accompany men, to deliver them from the evil designs of God’s enemies (Ps. 34:7; Acts 12:5–11), but they are always present to record every word and act of those whom they are sent to assist. Matt. 18:10; Eccl. 5:6. When therefore the time of the judgment arrives, the angels become an important part of that tribunal. While the eternal Father sits upon the throne of His final decision in the cases of men, thousands upon thousands stand about to answer to His demands. Dan. 7:9, 10. These ministers in Heaven’s service, are the angels. Rev. 5:11. In the presence of this august assembly, the Lord Jesus comes directly before the throne of the Ancient of Days (Dan. 7:13, 14), and the judgment work begins. Ponderous volumes are then opened, containing records of individual deeds and impulses,—harsh words and those of tender sympathy; slights to the poor and acts of kindly charity; neglect of prayer, and seasons of deep devotion. Every misdeed, in fact, as well as every righteous deed, together with every thought of reform and its attending forgiveness from God, each pang of sorrow or thrill of joy, the faintest discouragement or fondest hope, is laid bare in the sight of every heavenly being. Another book,—one of far different character,—is also present, the “book of life.” In this is recorded the names of those who had longed for the likeness of Christ, and had been co-workers with God and the angels to that end. Luke 10:20; Phil. 4:3. As this book is opened, and the first name on its pages is announced, the angel who was the ministering spirit to that person in his earthly pilgrimage comes forward with the open record of his life. If these show that he was a final “overcomer,” the Lord Jesus then and there confesses his name before the Father, and before His angels, pleading His own blood in behalf of the individual’s misdeeds. These are then blotted out, and the person’s name is retained in the book of life. Isa. 43:25; 44:22. But if the records show a person’s name entered who afterward gave up his connection with Heaven to walk in the ways of the world, to the end of his life, his name is blotted out from the book, and his sins are retained against him, and will condemn him to the second death. Ex. 32:32, 33; Matt. 10:32; Luke 12:8, 9; Rev. 3:5. This “blotting out” time is a specific period in the world’s history, rather than a point of time in any one person’s career. Thus we are distinctly told that our sins “may be blotted out, when the ‘times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and ‘He shall send Jesus Christ, . . . whom the heaven must receive ‘until the times of restitution of all things.” Acts 3:19–21. Sins are forgiven when confessed, but as shown by the Saviour’s illustration in Matt. 18:23–25, these may be rolled back upon the individual, providing he does not prove faithful to the end. Matt. 24:13. In case of his failure, all the sins of his life must fall back on him as the one responsible for them. They could not, therefore, be “blotted ‘out” until his earthly career has ended, and the decision of the judgment has determined his standing in the sight of Heaven. But when sins are once blotted out, then they can be no more remembered forever. Heb. 8:12. Those who committed them must then be forever free from them, and dwell eternally with the most high God, to enjoy the bliss of His presence. This state is well worth securing, even at the expense of all that the world affords.