Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
Some sins are openly known before the judgment, while other sins are hidden and only come to light afterward. The same is true of good works, for some are clearly seen beforehand and others are only revealed later. Sins are sent on beforehand to judgment by self-examination, true repentance, full confession, forsaking of sin, and faith in Jesus, and sins so confessed and forsaken are pardoned, cleansed by His blood, and blotted out through His intercession. This work must be done now while probation lasts and mercy is offered, without delay, for character defects must be removed in this life and it will be too late to change when Christ comes. Sins left concealed, unconfessed and unforgiven remain written against the sinner in the books of heaven to meet him at the judgment, when hidden things will be made public to the universe. That judgment is the investigative judgment and antitypical Day of Atonement begun when Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, in which the cases of the dead and then the living are reviewed and each is judged according to deeds done in the body.
Verse Meaning and Judgment
Some sins are open and evident beforehand, going before to judgment, while other sins follow after and are exposed only later. Judgment brings hidden wrongdoing to light, so what is concealed now becomes apparent then. Sins that have been confessed and forgiven have already gone beforehand to judgment and been blotted out, and they will not confront God's people in the time of trouble. Israel's sins must be brought to judgment beforehand, with every sin confessed at the sanctuary. If sins are not sent beforehand by repentance and conversion they remain to be revealed, and otherwise the sinner's name is blotted out of the book of life and Christ does not plead that case before the Father.
The same rule stated in the following verse applies to good works, which likewise may be evident beforehand or become known only later. Sins left concealed, unconfessed and unforgiven remain registered against their owners in heaven's books and record to meet the person at judgment. When sins are confessed in penitence and forsaken, pardon is recorded against the names, they are atoned for and cleansed by Christ's blood, and the stains against character are erased so the record is clean. Hidden sins that are not confessed will later be made public to the universe.
The judgment is the investigative judgment and antitypical Day of Atonement, which takes place before Christ comes. In 1844 Christ the great High Priest entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to begin it. The cases of the righteous dead are reviewed first, and when that work is complete judgment is pronounced on the living. Each person has a case pending in heaven and is judged according to deeds done in the body. As in the earthly Day of Atonement when the people were required to humble themselves and confess their sins, confession, humbling, repentance and putting away sin, which is transgression of the law, are required in this antitypical day while Christ pleads for His people and before the final decision is made in every case, with Christ cleansing from unrighteousness and washing away every stain so pardon may be written against the names.
Each person is judged according to light and knowledge received, and no position excuses sin. God sees every wrong, unlawful business dealings are recorded in heaven and will be judged, and those who hurt and oppress others will be judged. Sins left unconfessed harden the heart, while rejected light deepens the sinner's darkness. Those who connived to cut off every advantage in publishing books whose profits were for the Southern field, working out false theories and principles that bring God's frown upon workers, need to examine themselves and send their sins beforehand to judgment by self-examination, repentance, confession and conversion. When the Holy Spirit brings wrongs to mind they should be confessed and made right with those wronged, and the safe course is to come to Christ humbly and confess sins beforehand because the outcome is life or death.
Sending Sins Beforehand by Repentance
Sins are sent beforehand to judgment by self-examination, humbling the self before God, true penitence, repentance, full confession, forsaking of sin, conversion, and faith in Jesus, with no sin kept hidden or reserved. When sins are confessed in penitence and forsaken they go beforehand to judgment, pardon is recorded against the name, and they are atoned for, cleansed by Christ's blood, and blotted out through His intercession and atoning sacrifice. If this is not done the sinner's name is blotted out of the book of life and Christ does not plead his case.
This work must be done now during probation while mercy is offered and while Christ intercedes, with zeal and without delay. Delay is dangerous and leaves the one delaying without excuse. Character defects must be removed in this life by God's truth, for when Christ comes it will be too late to change character or right wrongs. Covering sins leaves them for judgment, while confessing them sends them ahead.
Sins repented of and confessed beforehand are blotted out and cannot be brought back to remembrance. God's people in the time of trouble therefore have no concealed wrongs left to be revealed against them, and cannot even recall their forgiven sins. Though they feel deeply unworthy and suffer keen anxiety, terror and distress over weakness, this prior cleansing keeps despair from cutting off faith and gives confidence to keep pleading with God for deliverance. By contrast, unconfessed sins appearing then would overwhelm with fear and anguish, crush the soul with heaven giving no answer, and cut off confidence in pleading for deliverance, while fear-driven confessions then only regret consequences without true contrition or hatred of evil.
Sending sins beforehand prepares people for the great Day of Atonement, the day of the Lord, the times of refreshing from the Lord's presence when He sends Jesus, and standing worthy before Christ when He appears. God erases stains against the character so the record is clean, Christ cleanses from unrighteousness and washes every stain, and those who are subjects of grace and sealed are sealed for heaven. Confessing sins and letting them go beforehand means seeking forgiveness while Christ intercedes in heaven, through whose atoning sacrifice God forgives for Christ's sake and records pardon against the name. In that antitypical Day of Atonement confession and humbling are required while Christ pleads and before the final decision in every case.
Confession includes closely examining self and making full and thorough confession of all wrongs, so that opposite the name the recording angel writes Pardon. It includes seeking forgiveness from those harmed and making wrongs right when the Holy Spirit brings them to mind, departing from all iniquity, cleansing from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, and walking before God in humility, as Joshua confessed the sins of Israel. Those who do this keep a living connection with heaven and secure the protecting care of Jesus and holy angels from Satan's effort to seal their fate by disasters on sea and land, pestilence, and dangers seen and unseen.
The verse also guides judging fitness for trust and church office. A person whose principles and character are sound, whose influence is Christ-like, and whose conduct is stable may be trusted and admitted to fellowship. Known wrongdoing must not be excused through favoritism or sympathy. Unstable conduct contradicting words profanes both people and God and damages others' confidence in the gospel.
Some sins are openly known before the judgment, while other sins are hidden and only come to light afterward. The same is true of good works, for some are clearly seen beforehand and others are only revealed later. Sins are sent on beforehand to judgment by self-examination, true repentance, full confession, forsaking of sin, and faith in Jesus, and sins so confessed and forsaken are pardoned, cleansed by His blood, and blotted out through His intercession. This work must be done now while probation lasts and mercy is offered, without delay, for character defects must be removed in this life and it will be too late to change when Christ comes. Sins left concealed, unconfessed and unforgiven remain written against the sinner in the books of heaven to meet him at the judgment, when hidden things will be made public to the universe. That judgment is the investigative judgment and antitypical Day of Atonement begun when Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, in which the cases of the dead and then the living are reviewed and each is judged according to deeds done in the body.
Verse Meaning and Judgment
Some sins are open and evident beforehand, going before to judgment, while other sins follow after and are exposed only later. Judgment brings hidden wrongdoing to light, so what is concealed now becomes apparent then. Sins that have been confessed and forgiven have already gone beforehand to judgment and been blotted out, and they will not confront God's people in the time of trouble. Israel's sins must be brought to judgment beforehand, with every sin confessed at the sanctuary. If sins are not sent beforehand by repentance and conversion they remain to be revealed, and otherwise the sinner's name is blotted out of the book of life and Christ does not plead that case before the Father.
The same rule stated in the following verse applies to good works, which likewise may be evident beforehand or become known only later. Sins left concealed, unconfessed and unforgiven remain registered against their owners in heaven's books and record to meet the person at judgment. When sins are confessed in penitence and forsaken, pardon is recorded against the names, they are atoned for and cleansed by Christ's blood, and the stains against character are erased so the record is clean. Hidden sins that are not confessed will later be made public to the universe.
The judgment is the investigative judgment and antitypical Day of Atonement, which takes place before Christ comes. In 1844 Christ the great High Priest entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to begin it. The cases of the righteous dead are reviewed first, and when that work is complete judgment is pronounced on the living. Each person has a case pending in heaven and is judged according to deeds done in the body. As in the earthly Day of Atonement when the people were required to humble themselves and confess their sins, confession, humbling, repentance and putting away sin, which is transgression of the law, are required in this antitypical day while Christ pleads for His people and before the final decision is made in every case, with Christ cleansing from unrighteousness and washing away every stain so pardon may be written against the names.
Each person is judged according to light and knowledge received, and no position excuses sin. God sees every wrong, unlawful business dealings are recorded in heaven and will be judged, and those who hurt and oppress others will be judged. Sins left unconfessed harden the heart, while rejected light deepens the sinner's darkness. Those who connived to cut off every advantage in publishing books whose profits were for the Southern field, working out false theories and principles that bring God's frown upon workers, need to examine themselves and send their sins beforehand to judgment by self-examination, repentance, confession and conversion. When the Holy Spirit brings wrongs to mind they should be confessed and made right with those wronged, and the safe course is to come to Christ humbly and confess sins beforehand because the outcome is life or death.
Sending Sins Beforehand by Repentance
Sins are sent beforehand to judgment by self-examination, humbling the self before God, true penitence, repentance, full confession, forsaking of sin, conversion, and faith in Jesus, with no sin kept hidden or reserved. When sins are confessed in penitence and forsaken they go beforehand to judgment, pardon is recorded against the name, and they are atoned for, cleansed by Christ's blood, and blotted out through His intercession and atoning sacrifice. If this is not done the sinner's name is blotted out of the book of life and Christ does not plead his case.
This work must be done now during probation while mercy is offered and while Christ intercedes, with zeal and without delay. Delay is dangerous and leaves the one delaying without excuse. Character defects must be removed in this life by God's truth, for when Christ comes it will be too late to change character or right wrongs. Covering sins leaves them for judgment, while confessing them sends them ahead.
Sins repented of and confessed beforehand are blotted out and cannot be brought back to remembrance. God's people in the time of trouble therefore have no concealed wrongs left to be revealed against them, and cannot even recall their forgiven sins. Though they feel deeply unworthy and suffer keen anxiety, terror and distress over weakness, this prior cleansing keeps despair from cutting off faith and gives confidence to keep pleading with God for deliverance. By contrast, unconfessed sins appearing then would overwhelm with fear and anguish, crush the soul with heaven giving no answer, and cut off confidence in pleading for deliverance, while fear-driven confessions then only regret consequences without true contrition or hatred of evil.
Sending sins beforehand prepares people for the great Day of Atonement, the day of the Lord, the times of refreshing from the Lord's presence when He sends Jesus, and standing worthy before Christ when He appears. God erases stains against the character so the record is clean, Christ cleanses from unrighteousness and washes every stain, and those who are subjects of grace and sealed are sealed for heaven. Confessing sins and letting them go beforehand means seeking forgiveness while Christ intercedes in heaven, through whose atoning sacrifice God forgives for Christ's sake and records pardon against the name. In that antitypical Day of Atonement confession and humbling are required while Christ pleads and before the final decision in every case.
Confession includes closely examining self and making full and thorough confession of all wrongs, so that opposite the name the recording angel writes Pardon. It includes seeking forgiveness from those harmed and making wrongs right when the Holy Spirit brings them to mind, departing from all iniquity, cleansing from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, and walking before God in humility, as Joshua confessed the sins of Israel. Those who do this keep a living connection with heaven and secure the protecting care of Jesus and holy angels from Satan's effort to seal their fate by disasters on sea and land, pestilence, and dangers seen and unseen.
The verse also guides judging fitness for trust and church office. A person whose principles and character are sound, whose influence is Christ-like, and whose conduct is stable may be trusted and admitted to fellowship. Known wrongdoing must not be excused through favoritism or sympathy. Unstable conduct contradicting words profanes both people and God and damages others' confidence in the gospel.