Sabbath School Department

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 2, 1879

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 53, No. 1.

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Sabbath School Department.

LESSONS FOR BIBLE CLASSES.

LESSON XXVII.—CHRIST EXECUTES JUDGMENT.

QUESTIONS.

Who presides as judge in the investigative Judgment?
From what scripture may this be proved?
What statement is made in John 5:22?
Where is this seeming contradiction explained?
What do we learn from verse 27?
What does Christ say in verse 30?
What is made plain by these passages?
To whom does this work of executing judgment pertain?
What will the righteous receive when Christ comes?
What will be the fate of the wicked?
With what different feelings will the righteous and the wicked behold the coming of the Lord?
Where do we find a vivid description of the feelings that will then seize the wicked?
What words will be uttered by those who try to hide from the presence of God?
Where is the awful destruction of the wicked described?
How is Christ represented in these verses?
What does the angel say to the fowls of the air?
What does Jude say of this Judgment?
Where will Christ take his people when they are caught up to meet him in the air? John 14:2, 3.
Where may we find a description of the scene that will then be presented?
Give the description.

SYNOPSIS.

We have seen from Dan. 7:9, 10, that God the Father presides as judge in the investigative Judgment; but in John 5:22 we read that, “The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” This seeming contradiction is explained in the verses that follow. From verse 27 we learn that Christ has authority from his Father to execute judgment. In verse 30 he says, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” It is plain, then, that Christ comes to earth to execute the decisions made by the Father in the investigative Judgment.

This work of executing judgment pertains both to the righteous and to the wicked. The righteous will receive eternal life; the wicked will be destroyed. Read 1 Thess. 4:16, 17; John 5:26–29. This will be a time of great rejoicing to the righteous, but a time of unutterable terror to the wicked. The scene that will then take place is described in Rev. 6:14–17. The awful destruction of the wicked is described in Rev. 19:11–18. This is the Judgment referred to in Jude 14, 15. After the righteous are caught up to meet the Lord in the air, he takes them to the holy city, the New Jerusalem, the capital of his kingdom.

The scene that will then be presented is described in Rev. 7:9–17.