THE JUDGMENT! (CONTINUED.)
SYNOPSIS OF THE PRESENT TRUTH, No. 21.
THE JUDGMENT! (CONTINUED.)
PETER in his first epistle [chap. iv, 4-6] speaks of a certain class "who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick (living) and dead. For for this cause," he continues, "was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to (Gr., kata, in the same manner as) men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit." This testimony is important. It furnishes positive proof that some are judged while they are dead, and others while they are living; and that consequently a Judgment passes upon the human race, before the resurrection. And the next verse shows us the chronology of this work: it is when "the end of all things is at hand." It may be asked how those in their graves can be judged. We answer, It is from the books of record which are kept of all men's actions. We read in Dan. vii, 10, that the Judgment was set, and the books were opened. And again, [Rev. xx, 12.] the books were opened and the dead were judged out of those things written in the books. A variety of texts also inform us that every man shall be rewarded according to his works. See Matt. xvi, 17; Rom. ii, 6; 2 Cor. v, 10; Rev. ii, 23; xxii, 12. From this testimony we learn that a record is kept of the acts of all men, and from that record their reward is given them according to their desert. There is no judgment in this sense of the term, independent of these books of record. But "the time is come," says Peter, "that judgment must begin at the house of God; and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" We now inquire, What event must be pointed out by this testimony? The answer is, The closing ministration of the Sanctuary! The work of cleansing the earthly Sanctuary was a work of judgment. The high priest went into the most holy place, bearing the breast plate of judgment, on which were the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel, to make an atonement for the holy Sanctuary and for all the people of the congregation. Ex. xxviii, 15-30; Lev. xvi, 33. And whosoever did not afflict his soul upon that day of atonement, was to be cut off from among his people. Chap. xxiii, 29. This could only prefigure one solemn fact, namely, the great time of judgment and decision that should pass upon the human race in the closing work of the heavenly Sanctuary. In the type, the cleansing of the Sanctuary was atoning for, and removing, sins. In the antitype it is blotting them out. "Repent ye therefore," says Peter, "and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." Acts iii, 19. When is this? Ans. When he is about to send Jesus Christ. Verse 20. In the type a round of service was repeated and completed every year. In the antitype it is accomplished once for all. When the last act of cleansing is accomplished, the plan of salvation is ended—the result is told! From that decision there is no appeal; for there is thenceforth no more offering for sin. Heb. x, 18. Then the decree goes forth, "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." Rev. xxii, 11. All cases are then decided; judgment has passed upon the human race! And the chronology of this decision is also revealed to us in the verse following, where the Saviour continues after pronouncing the above sentence, "And behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me." In the type atonement was made for the people of Israel as a body. Now it has to do with individuals; for as individuals we must stand condemned or acquitted at the judgment-seat of Christ. It is but a just conclusion therefore that the lives of the children of God, not only those who are living, but all who have ever lived, whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life, will during the closing of the Sanctuary service, pass in final review before that great tribunal. It is thus that judgment begins at the house of God. It is thus that the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and all the people of God, stand in their lot. The merits of that blood which was shed on Calvary looked back as well as forward, and reached transgressions under the first covenant, as well as those committed since that time. Heb. ix, 15. We now understand the import of that angel's message who proclaimed on land and sea, The hour of his Judgment is come. With his message it did come. The proclamation ceased, and our High Priest entered upon his last office for the salvation of men. That there is a Judgment after Christ comes is evident. The time allotted to it is one thousand years. But this can have no connection with the saints who enter upon their reward previous to that time, as we have already shown. Who then are the subjects of this Judgment? We answer. The wicked. Our Lord told Peter, and through him the twelve apostles, that in the regeneration, when he should sit upon the throne of his glory, they also should sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Matt. xix, 28. This must refer to the wicked of the tribes of Israel; for the righteous are then entered upon the fruition of their hope. But the tribes of Israel are not alone concerned in this matter. Paul writes to his Corinthian brethren, "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? Know ye not that we shall judge angels?" 1 Cor. vi, 2, 3. The reference here must of course be to the wicked of the world and to the fallen angels who are reserved to judgment. Jude 6. And this judgment of the wicked passes upon them while they are yet in their graves; for we read in Rev. xx, that those who have part in the first resurrection live and reign with Christ a thousand years; and it is during this thousand years, while they are reigning with Christ that they are judging the wicked, as we learn from Matt. xix, 28. Rev. xx, 4, also says that judgment was given (committed) unto them. After the thousand years are ended, the wicked are raised, come up around the camp of the saints, and the judgment which during that time had been allotted to them is executed upon them. In the Judgment that is now passing in the heavenly Sanctuary, since it has to do with transgressions under the first testament, the natural order would be that the cases of the dead should first come up, and the living last. Thirteen years and over have now elapsed since the work commenced. In the very nature of the case it must soon be finished. The interests of a perishing world now center there. All have an interest there; for the cases of each personally and singly must come up and be forever decided. Brethren, we are satisfied that this is the great subject for this time. The Judgment! The Judgment! Would that a voice might continually remind us that its solemn council is now in session, and its unalterable decisions passing upon our race. Reader, how does your case stand? Have you an interest in the Advocate who is pleading the cases of his children before his Father? Are you aware of a charge that yet stands against you unrepented of and unforgiven? Pass not over this subject lightly. Eternity is bound up in it. An endless and glorious life, or an eternal death, hang upon the issue. May the Lord help us to feel over it, and feeling to act—so act that our sins may be blotted from the book of his remembrance, and our names, though unworthy, still stand in the golden characters of the book of life.