The Order of Events in the Judgment.
By John Nevins Andrews
THE righteous dead are "accounted worthy" of a part in the resurrection to immortal life before they are resurrected from the dead. Luke 20:35, 36; Phil. 3:11; 1 Cor. 15:23; Rev. 20:4-6. They awake with the likeness of Christ. Ps. 17:15. We may be certain, therefore, that the investigation and decision of their cases is an accomplished fact prior to their resurrection; for that event is declarative of their final justification in the judgment. But Luke 21:36, uses the same expression both in Greek and in English, respecting those that are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, that Luke 20:35, 36, uses respecting those who are asleep. As the latter, before their resurrection, are "accounted worthy" to be made like the angels, so the former are "accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke 21:36. The things that shall come to pass before the deliverance of the saints, are the events of the time of trouble such as never was. Dan. 12:1. And those who are accounted worthy to escape these things, are also worthy to stand before the Son of man at his appearing. This act of accounting worthy does, therefore, relate to their eternal salvation, and is performed before they enter that great time of trouble at which they are to be delivered; for that does not commence until the standing up of Michael, which is but another term for the coronation of Christ, or the beginning of his reign upon his own throne. But Michael, or Christ, does not take his throne till he has finished his work as priest at the tribunal of his Father. It is at that tribunal that the righteous dead are accounted worthy of the resurrection to immortality, and the righteous living are accounted worthy to escape the anguish of the time of trouble, and to stand before the Son of man. Those only can be accounted worthy of this, whose record in the book of God's remembrance shows them to have been perfect overcomers. The Saviour, while yet high priest, confesses the names of such before his Father and the holy angels, and secures the blotting out of their sins. Those who shall be resurrected to immortality, and those who shall escape the things coming upon the earth and stand before the Son of man, are severally counted worthy of this before the priesthood of Christ is closed. We cannot therefore doubt, that with both these classes the investigation and decision of the judgment is passed before the Saviour takes the throne of his glory and begins the destruction of his enemies. The righteous dead come first in the order of the investigative judgment; and while their cases are being examined and decided, probation continues to the living. It is certainly most natural that the cases of the righteous dead should be the first to come up in the investigative judgment, for their names stand first in the book of God's remembrance. Reason would therefore teach us that these cases must earliest come into account before God. But we are not left simply to the reasonableness of this order of events. We have direct proof that probation to the living continues after the judgment hour has actually arrived. Rev. 14:6-14: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship Him that made heaven and earth, and the fountains of waters. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud sat one like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle." The first angel ushers in the hour of God's judgment by a solemn announcement to all the inhabitants of the earth that it has actually commenced. But the second and third angels, who follow this proclamation, deliver their messages in the judgment hour itself, and address themselves to men still in probation. We have already learned that God the Father sits in judgment, as described in Dan. 7, before the advent of our Lord to this earth. And in Rev. 14, the fact that the hour of God's judgment has come is announced to the inhabitants of the earth by a mighty proclamation. The judgment scene of Dan. 7 is closed by the coronation of Christ. And the judgment hour of Rev. 14 is followed by our Lord's being seen upon the white cloud with a crown upon his head; a proof that his priesthood has then given place to his kingly office. Each of these pertains to the closing events of this dispensation. There can be, therefore, no doubt that the hour of God's judgment announced in Rev. 14, is the time when God the Father sits in judgment, as described in Dan. 7:9-14. While the judgment hour of Rev. 14 is passing, two solemn proclamations are made to men still in probation. And the judgment scene of Dan. 7 is for the very purpose of closing our Lord's priesthood, and of crowning him King of kings. But the closing work of Christ as priest pertains to the acquittal of his people at his Father's tribunal, the blotting out of their sins, and the decision accounting them worthy of that world and the resurrection to immortality. Our Lord cannot do this for people in a state of probation. His first work must therefore relate to the righteous dead. And while their cases are severally passing under examination101and decision, the living righteous are being prepared for the close of their probation, and for the decision of the investigative judgment by the proclamation of the third angel. This work being accomplished, and the living righteous being counted worthy to escape the things coming upon the earth, and to stand before the Son of man, our Lord is crowned king, and takes his seat upon the white cloud, with a crown of pure gold upon his head.