[Note to the Student.—These lessons are not designed to be exhaustive, but suggestive. In references to the “Desire of Ages,” in the lessons, the subscription edition is referred to. Those who have only the trade edition will find the matter in chapters 1, 4, 11, 27, 77, 78; also read “Patriarchs and Prophets,” chapters 5 and 30. “Christ Our Advocate,” Bible Students’ Library No. 12 (price, 10 cents), and “Looking unto Jesus” (price, $1.00) will be found a great help. The SIGNS OF THE TIMES will have an article on the subject of each lesson this quarter by J. O. Corliss. Read these articles in connection with the study of the lesson. We have not space to print all the scriptures. Let the student study them carefully from the Bible. Those printed are from the Revised Version.]
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
1. Who opens the judgment and presides over it?
“I beheld till thrones were placed, and One that was ancient of days did sit; His raiment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool: His throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him; thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Dan. 7:9, 10. (Ps. 50:6.)
2. Who assist in the work?
“He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.” Rev. 3:5.
3. What part does Christ act?
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1. (Heb. 9:24; 7:25; Rev. 3:5.)
4. On what condition will our names be confessed on that day?
“Every one therefore who shall confess Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 10:32, 33. (Luke 12:8, 9.)
5. What books will be used in the investigation of each case?
“And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Rev. 20:12. “Book of remembrance.” (Mal. 3:16. Note .)
6. What does the book of life contain?
“Howbeit in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20. (Phil. 4:3; Rev. 21:27.)
7. What is contained in the book of remembrance?
“Then they that feared the Lord spake one with another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him, for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name.” Mal. 3:16.
“Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.” Acts 10:31. (Ps. 56:8. Note .)
8. What does the book of death contain?
“For thou wash me with lye, and take thee much soap; yet thine iniquity is marked before Me, saith the Lord God.” Jer. 2:22. (Isa. 65:3-7; Ps. 149:9. Note .)
9. In the judgment what will be taken into account?
“I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon as among them that know Me: Behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this one was born there. Yea, of Zion it shall be said, This one and that one was born in her; and the Most High Himself shall establish her. The Lord shall count, when He writeth up the peoples, This one was born there.” Ps. 87:4-6.
10. After a name has once been written in the book of life, is there a possibility of its being blotted out?
“Let them be blotted out of the book of life, and not be written with the righteous.” Ps. 69:28. (Ex. 32:32; Rev. 3:5.)
11. If the name is retained, what is blotted out?
“I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake; and I will not remember thy sins.” Isa. 43:25. (Isa. 44:22.)
12. Are sins blotted out at the time when they are forgiven?
“For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.” Eccl. 12:14. (Matt. 18:23-25.)
13. During what time are they blotted out?
“Repent ye therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send the Christ who hath been appointed for you, even Jesus.” Acts 3:19, 20.
14. What will then be the condition of God’s people?
“In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.” Jer. 50:20. (Isa. 4:2-5.)
