p. 9 | Our Bible Reading

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 28, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 13.

Our Bible Reading

The Judgment

1. For what does the wise man assure us there is a time?

I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work. Eccl. 3: 17.

2. What must there necessarily be in God's plan?

Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead. Acts 17: 31.

NOTE: Every work of probation or trial must end with examination and judgment. This is manifest in every school of the world; in every place where men put themselves on test. There comes a time at last which must determine whether they have met the standard or not; whether they have, in other words, made good what they have attempted. So after the final trials of men in this world have passed, the judgment will determine each case on motive and conduct as to whether the soul has met the test. This judgment-day was appointed in the very beginning, but it can not of necessity come until the close of God's work.

3. In what time did the apostle Paul place the judgment in his day?

And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. Acts 24: 25.

4. When that judgment is impending what message will go forth to the world?

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 sea, and the fountains of waters. Rev. 14: 6, 7.

5. By what other expression does the revelator indicate the judgment?

And sware by Him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets. Rev. 10: 6, 7.

NOTE: By Eph. 6:19 and other scriptures it will be seen that the mystery of God is the Gospel, and the finishing of the mystery of God must be the closing of that work, and that must close with the judgment work, consequently those who prophesied of the judgment pointed to the very work which would take place in the days in which we live and the consummation of the judgment of God.

6. What prophet predicted definite time concerning the beginning of this work of judgment?

NOTE: It will be seen that in our previous scripture the angel swears that the mystery of God would be finished as declared by the prophets, and the one prophet who declares the definite time concerning when that finishing work will begin is Daniel. The book of Daniel was closed and sealed till the time of the end. Dan. 12:4. We must conclude that the little book in the angel's hand which is represented as being opened includes at least the book of Daniel, and the opening of that book is the revelation of the closing of the Gospel work. That began in 2300 days from a certain point of time. That certain point of time was fixed in Daniel 9 as when the decree should go forth to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, beginning in B.C. 457. See the detailed division of this period of time in Daniel 9. We have the beginning of the decree in 457; the building and restoration of the walls of Jerusalem in 408; the coming of the Messiah in 27; His crucifixion in 31; the cutting off of the Jews in 34; and the remaining 1810 years reach to 1844, when the great investigative judgment began in the courts of heaven. Since that time the message of Rev. 14:7 has been due to the world, "The hour of His judgment IS come."

7. What will be the rule of that judgment?

As many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. Rom. 2: 12.

So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. James 2: 12.

8. To whom is the work of final judgment committed?

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. John 5: 22, 23.

9. How will those fare who have believed on Christ to the end?

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and they that hear shall live. John 5: 25.

10. How will it be with those who have done evil?

And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5: 29.

11. What then is our duty in view of the judgment?

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: FEAR GOD, AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: for this is the WHOLE DUTY of man. For God shall bring EVERY WORK INTO JUDGMENT, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Eccl. 12: 13, 14.