THE ATONEMENT FINISHED.
By John Orr
We are plainly told by inspiration that the wicked are reserved unto the day of judgment to be punished. 2 Peter 2:9. We are also informed on the same authority that, when Christ comes, He awards every man according to his work. Matt. 16:27. How necessary, then, that, prior to His coming, an examination of men's cases be made, so that when He does come, the separation between the saint and sinner may readily be made, and the righteous changed in a moment, in the “twinkling of an eye,” at the last trump. 1 Cor. 15:51, 52. It will be noticed that, at the coming of the Lord, the “dead in Christ” are first raised, and thus suddenly changed. 1 Thess. 4:16, 17. This shows that some decision has previously fixed the destiny of these. Then, too, the fact that the good are “caught up” to meet the Lord in the air, while the others are left behind, shows that the decisions rendered have reached the cases of all men. But such decisions are not rendered outside of a session of the judgment, which is instituted to decide such matters. The saints being changed in the “twinkling of an eye” when the last trump sounds, gives no opportunity for the judgment to decide their cases after Christ comes. All this was done while they were in their graves, and everything was settled by what was found “written in the books, according to their works.” Rev. 20:12. With these minute records of men's lives preserved in the courts above, it is not necessary to call up men personally to be judged. Ps. 56:8. Each day, yes, each moment, as men move along in life, angels of God, given for their ministration (Heb. 1:14; Matt. 18:10; Eccl. 5:5, 6), keep records of every word and every deed, together with the motives which prompted them. When the judgment sits, these angels, ten thousand times ten thousand in number, minister before the Judge. Dan. 7:9, 10. There the books are opened; also the book of life, wherein is inscribed the names of those who have entered the service of God. Rev. 20:12; Phil. 4:3. The work then begins with the house of God. 1 Peter 4:17. As the name of one is called from the book of life, an angel produces his life record. If this shows his errors and mistakes all heartily repented of, the Saviour Himself acknowledges him as His own. That name is, in consequence, retained in the book of life, and the sins once committed, blotted from the record. If, however, the name of one is called who, it is found, was not an overcomer, but lived a merely formal religion, without any assurance of sins forgiven, the Lord Jesus can not confess his name before the assembled witnesses of the judgment. Not having the Saviour to stand for him in the judgment, such a person must have his name blotted from the book of life, and his sins will remain on the records to condemn him. This method of procedure is plainly set forth in the Saviour's own words: “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.” Rev. 3:5. Such a work as this must take place before Christ comes, in order that, at His coming, He may reward “every man according as his work shall be.” Rev. 22:12. In fact, the object of Christ's second coming is to take His people to dwell with Himself. Heb. 9:28. When He comes, therefore, it has already been decided who belong to Him, and who are not His, that His reward for the faithful may be brought with Him to bestow on each. Rev. 22:12. In order, therefore, that all may have an opportunity to be prepared for the Lord's coming, He sends a warning of the time of the judgment to every nation, tongue, and people, saying clearly, “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.” Rev. 14:7. It is, however, still an hour of probation, a brief time of preparation, in which to be ready4for the Lord's soon coming; for the exhortation to all is to worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea, and the fountains of waters. As already seen, this time was ushered in by the close of the 2,300 days of Daniel's prophecy. As the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary on the day of atonement was a time when men were to afflict their souls (Lev. 16:29, 30), so now the most solemn time of all the world has arrived. No one can escape the scrutiny of this searching time. Moreover, when the case of one has been called in this closing work of the world's atonement, his last opportunity to prepare to meet the Lord has passed. When the last name has been considered, it will then be 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.” Rev. 22:11, 12. That work will very soon close, and every case will be decided for weal or woe. On which side will the reader be found then?