Hebrew Scroll Saying Jesus Is Coming SoonBible World
22:12Revelation 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Christ himself promises to come soon, bringing his reward with him to repay every person exactly as his work has been. His coming follows the close of probation, when mediatorial work ends, the investigative judgment of every case is finished, and character and destiny are forever fixed. The reward he brings is eternal life, glory and entrance into the city of God for those who keep his commandments, and indignation, anguish and death for the disobedient and slothful. No one is repaid by outward profession or human merit, but by works weighed against God's law with motives, intentions and secret deeds laid open, through what Christ has purchased by his sacrifice. Because there is no second probation after he comes, now is the time for repentance, cleansing, faithful stewardship and urgent mission to bring others to him.
Promise Words and Context
Christ himself promises to come quickly, bringing his reward with him to give every person according as that person's work shall be. That reward follows the final decision of every case, when character and destiny are fixed, and it belongs to the closing events foretold in Revelation pointing to the final triumph and salvation of God's people. He has gone to prepare mansions for those who love God and keep his commandments, and his coming brings that promised reward. The reward is connected with moral character, which angels watch as it develops and heaven records, for no sin is hidden from God though confessed sins can be forgiven. Those who do God's commandments may then enter the city and have access to the tree of life.
Quickly means his coming is near and certain, yet protracted longer than finite minds could anticipate. The delay does not make him, the faithful and true Witness, a deceiver, for his words are verity and truth. It fixes no definite day or hour. It warrants telling people the Lord will soon come and getting ready to be found waiting, watching, and loving his appearing, remaining watchful and prayerful without setting a definite time.
My reward is with me means the reward has already been decided and apportioned before he appears, after every deed has passed in review before God and every action has been weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. What a person sows in deeds of love or in selfish oppression determines the harvest received, because judgment fixes destiny while Christ is still in heaven and he then comes to execute it. The examination of the books of record to determine who through repentance of sin and faith in Christ are entitled to the benefits of his atonement must therefore be completed beforehand. Before he comes in the clouds the character of every person's work has been determined and to every follower a reward apportioned in line with deeds, as in the king examining the guests at the gospel feast, those professing to serve God with names written in the book of life, carried out while people still dwell on earth but decided in the courts of heaven where lives are reviewed from the books and each destiny fixed forever. His coming follows the completion of his work as mediator, when he appears to bless his waiting people with eternal life. The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary by the removal or blotting out of recorded sins of the repentant is that prior work of investigation and judgment.
Its immediate setting is the close of Revelation, where the sayings are faithful and true, sent by God through his angel to show things which must shortly be done, and the book is not sealed because the time is at hand. Blessing belongs to those who keep the sayings of its prophecy. Coming follows a decree spoken in heaven fixing destiny forever, when every case has been decided and it is declared that the unjust and filthy remain so still and the righteous and holy remain so still. Christ is there revealed as Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Those who do his commandments are blessed with right to the tree of life with all Eden's privileges and entrance through the gates into the city, God's loyal people who have witnessed for him, kept his commandments and the testimony of Jesus Christ, owned the crucified Saviour, believed on Christ as personal Saviour, repented of transgression of God's law and come back to loyalty, eating with no flaming sword to debar the way. After Adam and Eve's transgression they were deprived of the tree which perpetuated immortality, and an angel with flaming sword turning every way guarded it so that man in sin should not approach it and sin become immortalized.
The speaker is Jesus as King and Lord of the marriage, now at the door inviting guests because all things are ready, the faithful and true Witness, the bright and morning star. Preparation must be immediate by opening the door and receiving him, so as to enter the marriage feast and the mansions of everlasting rest and never-fading glory prepared for all who love him, while delay risks being turned away and shut out. The work repaid is the life lived in the Spirit, bearing love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts, and walking in the Spirit without vainglory, provoking or envying. From creation onward the Bible tells of his works and speaks with his voice, and it is his word spoken with awful majesty to end his sympathetic union with sinners. By taking human nature and dying at Calvary where mercy and truth met together and righteousness and peace kissed each other, he fastened each sinner to himself with threads of sympathy and love, taking responsibility to die in the sinner's stead and identifying his interests with every member of the human family, a union never broken until he fixes every character and then comes quickly with reward. His words are voiced by John for the benefit of his hearers.
The verse belongs to the description of life in the city of God, where those who have a place there shall see his face and have his name in their foreheads, under changed circumstances from when Moses was told no one could see God's face and live. It stands within a communication given for all who live in these last days and bears on the third angel's message, which combines the first and second messages and binds them up with the third, bringing believers down to the closing scenes and the great last warfare between those who keep the commandments of God and those who make void his law, charging all who love God and keep his commandments to lift up the standard of truth and declare the last message of mercy. Together with Revelation 3, Revelation 16:13-21, Revelation 18 and Revelation 21 it forms a most tremendous testimony about the last events made known by Christ himself to John on Patmos, to be read and understood now because the perils of the last days are upon us, for if Satan can keep minds confused now he gains a great victory and confusion now may be death unto death. It is cited in connection with Christ's coming and the followers' mission to give people God's present truth rather than devote efforts to unrelated books, and is identified with the giving of the final threefold message of warning to the world.
Coming After Probation Closes
Christ comes with reward only after probation has closed, when He rises from the most holy place, lays aside His mediatorial robes and puts on the garments of vengeance. Mercy then folds its wings and steps from the throne above the ark with the loud proclamation It is done, the last prayer for sinners has been offered, the last tear shed, and the last warning and entreaty given with the sweet voice of mercy heard no more. By then every case is decided and character is fixed as unjust and filthy still or righteous and holy still, and He gives each one according to works. Because that coming is near and His time is short, Satan has come down with great power to secure men and women, especially professing Christians, crowding their hearts with evil traits of the carnal nature and working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. The same Christ who now lives to intercede will soon end His mercy in the perils of the last days, confronting all with eternal realities rather than suppositions as Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
After He leaves there is no atoning blood to cleanse from sin and pollution, no further opportunity to repent and be forgiven, and the time of trouble commences. Those who delayed preparation cannot gain it during the time of trouble, leaving professed believers who are unprepared with a hopeless case. The judgment distinguishes those whose sins remain unrepented and unforgiven from those who repented and were pardoned before the time of trouble.
There is no probation after He comes, for every person's destiny is forever fixed at His coming when the unjust remain unjust, the filthy remain filthy, the righteous remain righteous, and the holy remain holy. People are tested by the light given them before His coming, and their choices then determine life or death, with accountability for how they use what has been entrusted to them and results expected from everyone. The time to prepare for that reckoning is now, with no second probation, no later opportunity to prepare, and soon no more appeals or warnings.
Before He appears the investigative judgment closes and every destiny is irrevocably decided, while the righteous and wicked are still living ordinary mortal lives on earth unaware the decision has been made. This is the heavenly High Priest's work of examining the books of record to determine who through repentance and faith in Christ are entitled to the benefits of His atonement, removing or blotting out His people's sins from the heavenly records. Because He comes with the reward already with Him, the examination and apportionment must be completed beforehand, represented by the king examining the guests at the gospel feast whose names are written in the book of life, with lives reviewed from the books of heaven in the courts of heaven and each destiny fixed forever. This judgment immediately precedes the second advent and follows that blotting-out work.
At that point every case is decided and character and destiny are forever fixed by decree spoken in heaven, with the unjust and filthy left as they are and the righteous and holy confirmed as they are, and the very same character possessed at His coming retained. The giving of each person's reward according to works belongs within that final judgment and follows the declaration that settled characters will remain fixed, bringing sure consequences for continuing in sin. The final reward follows resurrection and judgment and is not already enjoyed or suffered at death, for the judgment that reviews every case, character, and deed takes place before anyone enters heaven's mansions and not at death. One teaching places the setting of the verse at the close of the thousand years after the second advent.
Reward and Punishment Described
The reward he brings is eternal salvation and an immortal inheritance that cannot be destroyed or pass away, given to each person according to the course of life and deeds. It is glory, honor, immortality and peace to every one who by patient continuance in well-doing seeks for glory and honor and immortality and works good, with mansions prepared for those who love God and keep His commandments. It is entrance into the city where those who have a place there shall see His face and have His name in their foreheads, under changed circumstances from when Moses was told no one could see God's face and live, and the faithful will see the beauty and glory of the earth made new. At the final deliverance of those recorded in the Book of Life, even one long opposed like William Miller receives this reward of immortality, secure from human hostility and demonic rage. This calls all to do all the good they can and to live with a character that influences the world for good, since God gives every man his work and renders without respect of persons, not to ministers only but to every soul who believes, requiring sincere and faithful doing of temporal and spiritual duties and missionary work instead of neglecting duty, criticizing others, or fretting over evils that cannot be helped.
For those who do His commandments the reward is right to the tree of life with all the privileges of Eden and entrance through the gates into the city and New Jerusalem. Adam and Eve through transgression were deprived of the tree that perpetuated immortality, and an angel with flaming sword turning every way guarded it lest man in sin approach it and sin become immortalized, but all who believe on Christ as personal Saviour, repent of transgression of God's law, return to loyalty and keep His commandments eat with no flaming sword to bar the way. Those who enter are God's loyal people who have witnessed for Him, kept His commandments and the testimony of Jesus Christ and owned the crucified Saviour, and the promise is linked to sharing in the first resurrection and escaping the power of the second death. The setting is when character is fixed forever as unjust or filthy still and righteous or holy still, with Christ revealed as Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, and with the bright and morning star coming quickly, the prophecy unsealed because the time is at hand.
The same reckoning according to works is punishment for the disobedient, set over against the blessing on commandment-keepers. To them that are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness He renders indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soul that does evil, and those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark drink the wine of the wrath of God and are tormented with fire and brimstone without rest, while the patience of the saints is keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The wicked face death, and those who disregard His laws, refuse to repent and dishonor His kingdom are punished with death, with unrepentant fornicators certain to be outside the city of God when the reward is near. Those who have done little or nothing, too slothful to invest in truth and work for salvation of souls and benefit of others, who sought ease and pleasure and shunned burdens and crosses and responsibilities, will be disappointed to find they have no reward laid up in heaven, though reward was laid up for faithful investment.
Rewards are rigidly proportioned to works, purchased by Christ yet measured by faithful returns for great privileges, requiring diligence, a sure calling and election, and enlisted faith, hope, patience, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, goodness and mercy rather than listless drifting, doubt-shrouded living or false security. There are different assigned spheres and degrees of glory in the future life, as star differs from star, and even the saved receive according to works so that wasted substance, careless hours, wasted opportunities and neglected mercies lessen the crown and bring terrible eternal loss though light and truth shone all around and the peace and joy of Christ was not chosen. A person's worth is not measured by wages or property but by good done with entrusted means, talents devoted in fear and love of God to advance His glory, and only when the reward is given will it be known how much treasure was sent ahead to heaven. The amount accomplished alone does not decide it, for purity of motive and earnest desire to glorify God can bring one who does less the same reward as one who accomplishes more, since principles and spirit govern the work and men are not to measure one another. In the last great day His own estimate of character will greatly surprise those ready to judge others, giving great reward to those who in sincerity followed righteous principles, for nothing thought or said or done escapes His notice and He knows the motives prompting action.
No act of devotion or sacrifice on the altar of faith is forgotten, and Jesus remembers every good work of His children, rewarding the self-sacrificing and benevolent who live in His memory, with fuller obligation to the Saviour uniting believers to Him and expressing itself in all acts. Faithful toil and labor endured to the end share the inheritance and reward of the righteous, and humble unselfish service done without recognition is remembered, with every righteous act recorded in the book of life though its full fruit is hidden now and revealed in heaven. Hidden servants unrecognized and unhonored in this life are understood by God, have names written in the Lamb's book of life, and will be claimed as His jewels and spared in the day He rewards. The "Well done" is for those who have done well, while idleness gives no title to the righteous reward, and every effort for Christ in His name, with means returned and increased, is rewarded and brings happiness.
Humanity stands in only two parties recognized in the judgment, divided by loyalty in the last warfare. On one side are those who keep God's law and bear His signet, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; on the other are those who violate it, who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark, who have chosen apostasy and rebellion and stand with the prince of darkness. Reward is given according as each belongs to one side in the last great day of battle, with right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city for the commandment-keepers.
Works and Motives Weighed
Every person is repaid exactly according to works, whether good or evil, when the books are opened and sentence is given from the record kept of all deeds. Angels keep a daily record of all human doings, so every transaction, every mean act and small deal, every unfulfilled duty, neglect, selfishness, deception, fraud and overreaching is written down and accumulates for that day. Every business transaction is noted by heaven, including auditing decisions and the setting of wages for workers, ministers and publishing workers, and unjust partial dealing that favors some and presses poor laborers into hard places will be met in that judgment. Every secret thing is brought into judgment, every word and act is recorded with certainty, and each life is then revealed from the record to shame and confusion of face or to approval, with good and evil bringing their corresponding harvest. Influence upon others is also counted, for God sees every action and its motive and its effects, and calls for thorough confession, conversion, humility and a life of goodness in view of certain reward.
The standard of that judgment is the law spoken from Sinai amidst awful grandeur, written by the finger of God and given to Moses to be deposited in the ark. Those tables are in the heavenly sanctuary where the ark is and will be brought forth in the day of judgment, when every case is tried by a law emanating from the mind of Jehovah and deeds are compared with the ten holy precepts engraved by Omnipotence. That law is the transcript of His character, expressing His justice, goodness, mercy and benevolence, and no one is fit for the society of saints in light unless he walks in its light. Knowing and doing the will of God according to every word proceeding out of His mouth is the test of true religion that determines standing in the reckoning, so obedience is rewarded and transgression receives its due. All business among believers must therefore be done in high, holy, sanctified rectitude with no unrighteousness in judgment and no vestige of oppression or selfishness, altogether unlike worldlings and unlike injustice sustained by a lawyer's interpretation, for all actions are weighed in unerring scales and every room and meeting has its record to present. Workers for God are tested by the same law, and those who have labored with integrity and diligence receive a just reward even if regarded poorly by men, while professed children fitted by that criterion are made ready for every work as heirs of the immortal inheritance.
What is weighed is not profession alone but purity of motives and obedience to God's law, for as probation closes each destiny is fixed on that ground. Profession of faith or church membership will not be the test, but the character developed in life, and only those faithful in well-doing receive commendation. God sees every action and the motive behind it, including secret wrongs and results upon others, and reward is measured according to the motives that prompted the action. Human beings cannot read the heart or rightly measure one another by human standards, and God alone distinguishes human inventions from the true doctrines of grace that come through Jesus Christ and judges without mistake. Neglect of opportunities to save souls matters in that reckoning, as when unwillingness to accept inconvenience closes a door to evangelistic work, while work for others' salvation has eternal value with glory reflected both on the saved and on the one who helped lead them.
The reward is not given because of human merit but is bestowed in proportion to work done in Christ's name, and those works testify to the character developed. Its eternal riches were purchased by Christ's self-denial, self-sacrifice, humiliation, toil and shameful death, yet are still rigidly proportioned to each person's works. Men are justified by faith but judged and rewarded according to works, with every case decided at the general judgment according to faithfulness in the work left for each to do, from which no one can plead excuse. The parable of the talents illustrates this proportion, for God gives great privileges and expects corresponding returns, and each may strive for the highest reward by improving what is entrusted. Neglect or lack of zeal affects the decision, so every soul must be roused to diligence, make calling and election sure instead of living in doubt, and show true religion by its decided marks and fruits in faith, hope, patience, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, goodness and mercy rather than drifting listless with circumstances in false security.
To those who by patient continuance in well-doing seek glory, honor and immortality He renders eternal life, with glory, honor and peace to every one working good without respect of persons. To those who are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness He renders indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soul doing evil. God takes account of words and actions, and the loyal and obedient receive rich blessings while those who disregard known law, refuse to repent and dishonor His kingdom are punished with death. Retribution must come upon those who disregard laws He has made known, for as Governor of the universe from whom every blessing comes He knows whether each deserves praise or condemnation. The cross of Calvary will make plain the love offered and the dishonor of continued sin, showing that obedience to His law would have brought life, health, prosperity and eternal good.
Christ alone is judge of righteousness because He created and redeemed at infinite cost to Himself, and He is infinite in righteousness, goodness and truth, knowing all things. He has power over principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places, covers with His righteousness all who love and trust Him, and as Captain of the Lord's host leads the heavenly host to stand as a wall of fire about His people. By taking human nature and dying where mercy and truth met together and righteousness and peace kissed each other, He fastened each sinner to Himself with threads of sympathy and love, taking responsibility to die in the sinner's stead and identifying His interests with every member of the human family. That sympathetic union can never be broken until He fixes every character as unjust or filthy still and righteous or holy still and then comes quickly with His reward to give every man according as his work shall be.
Stewardship and Daily Conduct
The work that will be repaid is faithful use of every entrusted capability, talent and gift of mind, body, influence, time, strength, property and professional skill to win people to him, to improve every capability, to give light to those in darkness, and to return increase with interest in proportion to gifts bestowed. Both use and disuse are counted, what is done heartily and what is left undone through unbelief, worldliness and indolence, talents put to use and talents left unused, words as well as actions, each answering individually for the time of probation. Idleness in his work gives no title to the reward of the righteous, and the final reward is proportioned to development of Christian character and to results of work entrusted. The “Well done” is for those who have done well by wise and faithful labor in many places, as the Lord expects a return from his servants.
This stewardship includes money and means, for the tithe belongs to God to support his work and withholding it is robbing God and delaying his work, to be accounted for when he comes unexpectedly with reward according to works. Self-denying liberality, economy, and investment in his cause, missions, houses of worship, and relief of suffering are recorded in heaven and bring reward now and in eternity, with blessed results in this world and full consequences known when judgment sits and each is recompensed. Giving up gratifications of appetite and dress such as tobacco, tea, coffee, rich food and needless expense, and putting the money thus saved into the Lord’s treasury to advance truth, is a sacrifice that brings greater blessing in this life and reward in heaven. Using his money for self-pleasing, worldly enterprise, needless expense, dress, furniture, ornaments, stored treasure, and locking up means or living for self brings disappointment, anxiety and loss, and neglect of opportunities through failure to seek his will and claims must also be answered for. Giving regularly to ministers or the church does not by itself fulfill every duty or earn entrance to heaven, since obligations to family and fellow beings remain and works reveal character as God sees use of wealth, whether oppressing the poor or showing true generosity.
Honest dealing matters eternally, for every transaction is recorded and will be reckoned with when he comes to give each according to deeds, including decisions about workers’ wages, auditing committee decisions, and the setting of ministers’ and publishing workers’ wages noted by heaven and recorded by angels. All business among church members must be done in high, holy, sanctified rectitude, with no unrighteousness in judgment and not one vestige of oppression or selfishness, altogether different from worldlings and from injustice sustained by a lawyer’s interpretation of the law. Every action is weighed in scales that are unerring, motives and words tried by a law emanating from Jehovah’s mind, God’s perfect standard, the ten holy precepts engraved by Omnipotence’s finger and kept in the ark to be brought forth and compared with deeds. Selfishness, neglect, deception, fraud, overreaching, oppression of the hireling and the poor, and unjust partiality that favors some and presses poor workers into hard places misrepresent the Lord of heaven, break his commandments, and will be met in that judgment when every room and meeting has its record to present and each life is revealed to shame or approval. Every mean act and small deal, every unfulfilled duty, is written down daily and accumulates for that day, bringing shame and confusion of face to those whose evil works are exposed.
Daily conduct is weighed, for angels watch character development and weigh moral worth, and an impartial Judge views character stripped of all outward gloss and gives to all on the basis of what was done in the body. God sees every action and the motive behind it, including secret wrongs and secret acts, and the reward is measured according to motives that prompted action and includes the result of influence upon others and words and acts that help or hinder souls. This testing proves each man and woman until true character is developed and revealed, calling for thorough confession, conversion, humility and a life of goodness, since good and evil deeds bring their corresponding certain harvest. Those who by example and counsel encourage departure from Bible simplicity, worldliness in dress, wearing of jewelry, gold and costly adornment, and conformity to customs and fashions of the world, will meet the result of that influence in judgment and will not be pleased with it. Lasting family influence is also counted, for parents’ character and choices shape children and later generations for good or evil, and doing evil can bring consequences upon future generations, alongside hasty temper, diet and temperance of the body as his temple, neglect of the fatherless, widow, hungry and shelterless, selling liquor that tempts appetite, and perverting the vine into stupefying drink.
Ministers, elders, evangelists, physicians, teachers, canvassers and institutional workers are accountable for bearing responsibility, preaching only God’s Word rather than suppositions, correcting error, and laboring with humility, economy and self-sacrifice, and faithful acceptance of responsibility and standing for right will be rewarded while avoidance brings loss. The reward of ministers is proportionate to successful labor, so neglecting counsel, leaving errors uncorrected, creating doubt, opposing missionary workers from finite judgment, dividing believers with discordant teachings and false gifts, and hindering truth endanger eternal interests. Those in churches who seek preeminence, lack true self-sacrifice, oppose private judgment and hinder missionary workers will see that God has honored the workers they refused to unite with when he renders to every person according to work. Those who work iniquity while claiming prophesying and healings will receive according to those works and lose everlasting life.
God keeps a faithful record of offerings dedicated to him, including amount, proportion as with the widow’s mite, willingness or reluctance, motive and results, valuing sacrificial trust above large gifts. Those who give sincerely and self-sacrificially for his glory will not lose reward even if others mismanage the offering and it fails to achieve the intended purpose. At the judgment when books are opened and reward is given, each work is given all the credit it deserves, so patient toil that is unappreciated and without apparent or applauded success is regarded when done from duty with right purpose and faithful integrity, to be done for the Master and not for praise. Some with ordinary abilities will have pursued self-denial and sacrifice more earnestly than those entrusted with greater responsibilities and will outrank them, while failure to use abilities given loses eternal life and faithful labor to save others through suffering and trials is repaid with welcome into his joy.
Urgent Preparation and Mission
Because cases will soon be fixed forever, the present is sowing time that demands immediate preparation of character in this life rather than gratifying desire and inclination, forming characters day by day after the divine likeness. That preparation requires thorough humbling of the soul before God, deep searching of heart, cleansing, refining and transforming of the heart, and cleansing of the soul temple, especially by those bearing responsibility in office and church so a wrong spirit does not develop and permeate the work. It means most thorough work for repentance, heartfelt purification, earnest prayer and untiring labor, asking forgiveness for unfaithful discharge of duty, leaving the unprepared state, opening the door of the heart, living by every word, abiding in Christ, overcoming defects, submitting the will, and purifying the soul by obedience to truth. The certain reckoning forbids carelessness and indifference and serving an unsanctified will, for living with him in the future life and wearing the crown of glory requires working the works of God here, revealing his goodness, mercy and holy character in every action through the Holy Spirit. Character cannot be transferred and the opportunity to prepare will end, so the light must shine now, and every church, school and sanitarium should long since have been placed on a much higher platform with fruit appearing in every teacher and worker in proportion to light given.
The nearness of his coming makes present service urgent, for his coming is near and certain with reward accompanying him to recompense each according to work, and the time to use and share light and truth will end when the final decree fixes people in their condition. Those who taste the water of life have the privilege of telling others to come, sounding the invitation to take the water of life freely as a link drawing others toward heaven and a channel through which he communicates to the world, in keeping with keeping his commandments to have right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city. Workers should therefore humbly do what they can now rather than spend years preparing for a larger work and fail to bring people to God, lest neglected fields leave minds unenlightened including the young. The call is for immediate heaven-appointed work without wasting another day: a decided stand for the right, coming out from the world and being separate, turning from worldly ambition and selfish indulgence, acting the appointed part in the closing scenes, carrying gifts where they are new, educating and training the neglected, putting away racial prejudice, and laboring in neighborhood, home, school, sanitarium, city and foreign field. Delay leaves people lamenting that harvest is past and the soul is not saved, receiving heavier condemnation for refusing present truth and perishing with the wicked and with worshipers of worldly idols who get no comfort from them, while those who make him refuge find him living, conquering and their defense, and those who heed his invitation to rest, peace and light and do his commandments enter to take the water of life freely.
Believers are to answer his promise with Even so, come, Lord Jesus, longing for his coming, talking of it, praying for it, and living as pilgrims and strangers in unity and renewal. That faith must be held firm while infidelity stalks abroad and Satan works through men in prominent positions to sweep away the foundations of faith in the history of the cause and work of God, trusting him with heart and soul, for he will do much more for his people if they have faith. His return is therefore a warning to remain watchful and prayerful without setting a definite time, since it will come at an hour not expected. Readiness is connected with keeping God's commandments and entering the city to receive right to the tree of life.
His coming is good tidings to be proclaimed with strength from the high mountain without fear, saying to the cities of Judah, Behold your God, with strong hand to rule. It is a wonderful message written for the present to have influence in life, a wonderful incentive not to be satisfied with a low standard but to reach perfection through earnest striving and increase in fervency and genuine love. Expecting his coming and reward gives reason for good cheer, diligence to make calling and election sure, and continued labor for salvation despite opposition, discouragement or unseen fruit. Even when workers cannot see fruit, unselfish service in fellowship with him brings blessed recompense now, sharing his sufferings and sympathies, increasing his joy and honoring his name, with a future reward that will astonish by its greatness.
Readiness means dwelling with him now, obeying God's commandments as he obeyed, striving for perfection through Scripture, doing God's works, developing his character, bearing the fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance, crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts, and walking in the Spirit without vainglory, provoking or envying. The whole life work is connected with his second appearing, a solemn thought, and he loves his people and wants them to be partakers of his trials and sufferings so they may be partakers of his glory, for they that suffer with him shall reign with him in his kingdom. Only those who live by every word, suffer with him, let truth transform them, keep his commandments and take part with him in proclaiming the third angel's message will reign with him, enter the holy city, and be fitted for fellowship with him, remaining on his side rather than yielding to indulgence, dissipation, worldly allurements or ambition as faithful stewards of his grace.
The reckoning forbids judging others with Pharisaic condemnation, for those who condemn must examine themselves lest they be guilty of greater sins in his sight. Each day adds to the history recorded in heaven's books so judgment may be known, making faithful care and instruction in the home urgent day by day, since sickness or death may come suddenly to parents or children. He will not pass over present injustice with silence but will repay every transgressor, keeping strict account of every lie framed and dealing with each according to secret and hidden plans, though he has borne long and is not deceived. This covers false dealing over literature funds that starved the Southern field, masterful power taken to rule men and gain wealth by underhand deception under the great deceiver, oppressive man-made unions bringing confusion, violence and strife, and deceptive sharpness, answered by earthquake, fire, flood, devastation and death upon cities full of extreme transgression.
Particular applications name those addressed: Eleanor sorely tempted by having to labor constantly while other children are free should remember all will be rewarded as works have been. His watchful judgment before the whole universe of heaven was evident in Joseph's faithfulness and in the wicked conduct of Eli's sons, observing both righteous and wicked conduct to reward each according to deeds. John warned Herod of this future retribution while reproving him for his conduct. At the final deliverance of those recorded in the Book of Life, William Miller will receive immortality secure from human hostility and demonic rage. The message to the Laodicean church presses the lukewarm to heed him as the Amen and true witness, to face being wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked despite claiming riches, to buy gold tried in fire and white raiment and eyesalve, and to be zealous and repent under loving rebuke and chastening.
The reckoning hastens when his work is made supreme, for completing the entrusted work of third-angel proclamation and Sabbath reform receives his people to reward, while division and opposition delay his coming. It is foolish to spend life anxiously pursuing worldly gain and commercial interests; life and work should instead be directed toward God and his truth, handling money as the Lord's and freeing his house from debt through united self-denial as a current flowing heavenward. He holds people accountable for how they used money and influence, recording selfishness and indifference toward the afflicted, widows, fatherless and suffering, neglecting duty to him as guilt and lawbreaking, and charging against those who withheld resources that could have relieved suffering. Rich men who are unfaithful stewards, neglecting the great Owner, making self their idol, putting justice and mercy out of mind for greed and strife, and storing up wrath against the day of wrath by robbery before God in getting and using money, will be visited for these things, including those who sell liquor and answer for tempting appetite that harms.
Christ himself promises to come soon, bringing his reward with him to repay every person exactly as his work has been. His coming follows the close of probation, when mediatorial work ends, the investigative judgment of every case is finished, and character and destiny are forever fixed. The reward he brings is eternal life, glory and entrance into the city of God for those who keep his commandments, and indignation, anguish and death for the disobedient and slothful. No one is repaid by outward profession or human merit, but by works weighed against God's law with motives, intentions and secret deeds laid open, through what Christ has purchased by his sacrifice. Because there is no second probation after he comes, now is the time for repentance, cleansing, faithful stewardship and urgent mission to bring others to him.
Promise Words and Context
Christ himself promises to come quickly, bringing his reward with him to give every person according as that person's work shall be. That reward follows the final decision of every case, when character and destiny are fixed, and it belongs to the closing events foretold in Revelation pointing to the final triumph and salvation of God's people. He has gone to prepare mansions for those who love God and keep his commandments, and his coming brings that promised reward. The reward is connected with moral character, which angels watch as it develops and heaven records, for no sin is hidden from God though confessed sins can be forgiven. Those who do God's commandments may then enter the city and have access to the tree of life.
Quickly means his coming is near and certain, yet protracted longer than finite minds could anticipate. The delay does not make him, the faithful and true Witness, a deceiver, for his words are verity and truth. It fixes no definite day or hour. It warrants telling people the Lord will soon come and getting ready to be found waiting, watching, and loving his appearing, remaining watchful and prayerful without setting a definite time.
My reward is with me means the reward has already been decided and apportioned before he appears, after every deed has passed in review before God and every action has been weighed in the balances of the sanctuary. What a person sows in deeds of love or in selfish oppression determines the harvest received, because judgment fixes destiny while Christ is still in heaven and he then comes to execute it. The examination of the books of record to determine who through repentance of sin and faith in Christ are entitled to the benefits of his atonement must therefore be completed beforehand. Before he comes in the clouds the character of every person's work has been determined and to every follower a reward apportioned in line with deeds, as in the king examining the guests at the gospel feast, those professing to serve God with names written in the book of life, carried out while people still dwell on earth but decided in the courts of heaven where lives are reviewed from the books and each destiny fixed forever. His coming follows the completion of his work as mediator, when he appears to bless his waiting people with eternal life. The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary by the removal or blotting out of recorded sins of the repentant is that prior work of investigation and judgment.
Its immediate setting is the close of Revelation, where the sayings are faithful and true, sent by God through his angel to show things which must shortly be done, and the book is not sealed because the time is at hand. Blessing belongs to those who keep the sayings of its prophecy. Coming follows a decree spoken in heaven fixing destiny forever, when every case has been decided and it is declared that the unjust and filthy remain so still and the righteous and holy remain so still. Christ is there revealed as Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Those who do his commandments are blessed with right to the tree of life with all Eden's privileges and entrance through the gates into the city, God's loyal people who have witnessed for him, kept his commandments and the testimony of Jesus Christ, owned the crucified Saviour, believed on Christ as personal Saviour, repented of transgression of God's law and come back to loyalty, eating with no flaming sword to debar the way. After Adam and Eve's transgression they were deprived of the tree which perpetuated immortality, and an angel with flaming sword turning every way guarded it so that man in sin should not approach it and sin become immortalized.
The speaker is Jesus as King and Lord of the marriage, now at the door inviting guests because all things are ready, the faithful and true Witness, the bright and morning star. Preparation must be immediate by opening the door and receiving him, so as to enter the marriage feast and the mansions of everlasting rest and never-fading glory prepared for all who love him, while delay risks being turned away and shut out. The work repaid is the life lived in the Spirit, bearing love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts, and walking in the Spirit without vainglory, provoking or envying. From creation onward the Bible tells of his works and speaks with his voice, and it is his word spoken with awful majesty to end his sympathetic union with sinners. By taking human nature and dying at Calvary where mercy and truth met together and righteousness and peace kissed each other, he fastened each sinner to himself with threads of sympathy and love, taking responsibility to die in the sinner's stead and identifying his interests with every member of the human family, a union never broken until he fixes every character and then comes quickly with reward. His words are voiced by John for the benefit of his hearers.
The verse belongs to the description of life in the city of God, where those who have a place there shall see his face and have his name in their foreheads, under changed circumstances from when Moses was told no one could see God's face and live. It stands within a communication given for all who live in these last days and bears on the third angel's message, which combines the first and second messages and binds them up with the third, bringing believers down to the closing scenes and the great last warfare between those who keep the commandments of God and those who make void his law, charging all who love God and keep his commandments to lift up the standard of truth and declare the last message of mercy. Together with Revelation 3, Revelation 16:13-21, Revelation 18 and Revelation 21 it forms a most tremendous testimony about the last events made known by Christ himself to John on Patmos, to be read and understood now because the perils of the last days are upon us, for if Satan can keep minds confused now he gains a great victory and confusion now may be death unto death. It is cited in connection with Christ's coming and the followers' mission to give people God's present truth rather than devote efforts to unrelated books, and is identified with the giving of the final threefold message of warning to the world.
Coming After Probation Closes
Christ comes with reward only after probation has closed, when He rises from the most holy place, lays aside His mediatorial robes and puts on the garments of vengeance. Mercy then folds its wings and steps from the throne above the ark with the loud proclamation It is done, the last prayer for sinners has been offered, the last tear shed, and the last warning and entreaty given with the sweet voice of mercy heard no more. By then every case is decided and character is fixed as unjust and filthy still or righteous and holy still, and He gives each one according to works. Because that coming is near and His time is short, Satan has come down with great power to secure men and women, especially professing Christians, crowding their hearts with evil traits of the carnal nature and working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. The same Christ who now lives to intercede will soon end His mercy in the perils of the last days, confronting all with eternal realities rather than suppositions as Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
After He leaves there is no atoning blood to cleanse from sin and pollution, no further opportunity to repent and be forgiven, and the time of trouble commences. Those who delayed preparation cannot gain it during the time of trouble, leaving professed believers who are unprepared with a hopeless case. The judgment distinguishes those whose sins remain unrepented and unforgiven from those who repented and were pardoned before the time of trouble.
There is no probation after He comes, for every person's destiny is forever fixed at His coming when the unjust remain unjust, the filthy remain filthy, the righteous remain righteous, and the holy remain holy. People are tested by the light given them before His coming, and their choices then determine life or death, with accountability for how they use what has been entrusted to them and results expected from everyone. The time to prepare for that reckoning is now, with no second probation, no later opportunity to prepare, and soon no more appeals or warnings.
Before He appears the investigative judgment closes and every destiny is irrevocably decided, while the righteous and wicked are still living ordinary mortal lives on earth unaware the decision has been made. This is the heavenly High Priest's work of examining the books of record to determine who through repentance and faith in Christ are entitled to the benefits of His atonement, removing or blotting out His people's sins from the heavenly records. Because He comes with the reward already with Him, the examination and apportionment must be completed beforehand, represented by the king examining the guests at the gospel feast whose names are written in the book of life, with lives reviewed from the books of heaven in the courts of heaven and each destiny fixed forever. This judgment immediately precedes the second advent and follows that blotting-out work.
At that point every case is decided and character and destiny are forever fixed by decree spoken in heaven, with the unjust and filthy left as they are and the righteous and holy confirmed as they are, and the very same character possessed at His coming retained. The giving of each person's reward according to works belongs within that final judgment and follows the declaration that settled characters will remain fixed, bringing sure consequences for continuing in sin. The final reward follows resurrection and judgment and is not already enjoyed or suffered at death, for the judgment that reviews every case, character, and deed takes place before anyone enters heaven's mansions and not at death. One teaching places the setting of the verse at the close of the thousand years after the second advent.
Reward and Punishment Described
The reward he brings is eternal salvation and an immortal inheritance that cannot be destroyed or pass away, given to each person according to the course of life and deeds. It is glory, honor, immortality and peace to every one who by patient continuance in well-doing seeks for glory and honor and immortality and works good, with mansions prepared for those who love God and keep His commandments. It is entrance into the city where those who have a place there shall see His face and have His name in their foreheads, under changed circumstances from when Moses was told no one could see God's face and live, and the faithful will see the beauty and glory of the earth made new. At the final deliverance of those recorded in the Book of Life, even one long opposed like William Miller receives this reward of immortality, secure from human hostility and demonic rage. This calls all to do all the good they can and to live with a character that influences the world for good, since God gives every man his work and renders without respect of persons, not to ministers only but to every soul who believes, requiring sincere and faithful doing of temporal and spiritual duties and missionary work instead of neglecting duty, criticizing others, or fretting over evils that cannot be helped.
For those who do His commandments the reward is right to the tree of life with all the privileges of Eden and entrance through the gates into the city and New Jerusalem. Adam and Eve through transgression were deprived of the tree that perpetuated immortality, and an angel with flaming sword turning every way guarded it lest man in sin approach it and sin become immortalized, but all who believe on Christ as personal Saviour, repent of transgression of God's law, return to loyalty and keep His commandments eat with no flaming sword to bar the way. Those who enter are God's loyal people who have witnessed for Him, kept His commandments and the testimony of Jesus Christ and owned the crucified Saviour, and the promise is linked to sharing in the first resurrection and escaping the power of the second death. The setting is when character is fixed forever as unjust or filthy still and righteous or holy still, with Christ revealed as Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, and with the bright and morning star coming quickly, the prophecy unsealed because the time is at hand.
The same reckoning according to works is punishment for the disobedient, set over against the blessing on commandment-keepers. To them that are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness He renders indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soul that does evil, and those who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark drink the wine of the wrath of God and are tormented with fire and brimstone without rest, while the patience of the saints is keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. The wicked face death, and those who disregard His laws, refuse to repent and dishonor His kingdom are punished with death, with unrepentant fornicators certain to be outside the city of God when the reward is near. Those who have done little or nothing, too slothful to invest in truth and work for salvation of souls and benefit of others, who sought ease and pleasure and shunned burdens and crosses and responsibilities, will be disappointed to find they have no reward laid up in heaven, though reward was laid up for faithful investment.
Rewards are rigidly proportioned to works, purchased by Christ yet measured by faithful returns for great privileges, requiring diligence, a sure calling and election, and enlisted faith, hope, patience, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, goodness and mercy rather than listless drifting, doubt-shrouded living or false security. There are different assigned spheres and degrees of glory in the future life, as star differs from star, and even the saved receive according to works so that wasted substance, careless hours, wasted opportunities and neglected mercies lessen the crown and bring terrible eternal loss though light and truth shone all around and the peace and joy of Christ was not chosen. A person's worth is not measured by wages or property but by good done with entrusted means, talents devoted in fear and love of God to advance His glory, and only when the reward is given will it be known how much treasure was sent ahead to heaven. The amount accomplished alone does not decide it, for purity of motive and earnest desire to glorify God can bring one who does less the same reward as one who accomplishes more, since principles and spirit govern the work and men are not to measure one another. In the last great day His own estimate of character will greatly surprise those ready to judge others, giving great reward to those who in sincerity followed righteous principles, for nothing thought or said or done escapes His notice and He knows the motives prompting action.
No act of devotion or sacrifice on the altar of faith is forgotten, and Jesus remembers every good work of His children, rewarding the self-sacrificing and benevolent who live in His memory, with fuller obligation to the Saviour uniting believers to Him and expressing itself in all acts. Faithful toil and labor endured to the end share the inheritance and reward of the righteous, and humble unselfish service done without recognition is remembered, with every righteous act recorded in the book of life though its full fruit is hidden now and revealed in heaven. Hidden servants unrecognized and unhonored in this life are understood by God, have names written in the Lamb's book of life, and will be claimed as His jewels and spared in the day He rewards. The "Well done" is for those who have done well, while idleness gives no title to the righteous reward, and every effort for Christ in His name, with means returned and increased, is rewarded and brings happiness.
Humanity stands in only two parties recognized in the judgment, divided by loyalty in the last warfare. On one side are those who keep God's law and bear His signet, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus; on the other are those who violate it, who worship the beast and his image and receive his mark, who have chosen apostasy and rebellion and stand with the prince of darkness. Reward is given according as each belongs to one side in the last great day of battle, with right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city for the commandment-keepers.
Works and Motives Weighed
Every person is repaid exactly according to works, whether good or evil, when the books are opened and sentence is given from the record kept of all deeds. Angels keep a daily record of all human doings, so every transaction, every mean act and small deal, every unfulfilled duty, neglect, selfishness, deception, fraud and overreaching is written down and accumulates for that day. Every business transaction is noted by heaven, including auditing decisions and the setting of wages for workers, ministers and publishing workers, and unjust partial dealing that favors some and presses poor laborers into hard places will be met in that judgment. Every secret thing is brought into judgment, every word and act is recorded with certainty, and each life is then revealed from the record to shame and confusion of face or to approval, with good and evil bringing their corresponding harvest. Influence upon others is also counted, for God sees every action and its motive and its effects, and calls for thorough confession, conversion, humility and a life of goodness in view of certain reward.
The standard of that judgment is the law spoken from Sinai amidst awful grandeur, written by the finger of God and given to Moses to be deposited in the ark. Those tables are in the heavenly sanctuary where the ark is and will be brought forth in the day of judgment, when every case is tried by a law emanating from the mind of Jehovah and deeds are compared with the ten holy precepts engraved by Omnipotence. That law is the transcript of His character, expressing His justice, goodness, mercy and benevolence, and no one is fit for the society of saints in light unless he walks in its light. Knowing and doing the will of God according to every word proceeding out of His mouth is the test of true religion that determines standing in the reckoning, so obedience is rewarded and transgression receives its due. All business among believers must therefore be done in high, holy, sanctified rectitude with no unrighteousness in judgment and no vestige of oppression or selfishness, altogether unlike worldlings and unlike injustice sustained by a lawyer's interpretation, for all actions are weighed in unerring scales and every room and meeting has its record to present. Workers for God are tested by the same law, and those who have labored with integrity and diligence receive a just reward even if regarded poorly by men, while professed children fitted by that criterion are made ready for every work as heirs of the immortal inheritance.
What is weighed is not profession alone but purity of motives and obedience to God's law, for as probation closes each destiny is fixed on that ground. Profession of faith or church membership will not be the test, but the character developed in life, and only those faithful in well-doing receive commendation. God sees every action and the motive behind it, including secret wrongs and results upon others, and reward is measured according to the motives that prompted the action. Human beings cannot read the heart or rightly measure one another by human standards, and God alone distinguishes human inventions from the true doctrines of grace that come through Jesus Christ and judges without mistake. Neglect of opportunities to save souls matters in that reckoning, as when unwillingness to accept inconvenience closes a door to evangelistic work, while work for others' salvation has eternal value with glory reflected both on the saved and on the one who helped lead them.
The reward is not given because of human merit but is bestowed in proportion to work done in Christ's name, and those works testify to the character developed. Its eternal riches were purchased by Christ's self-denial, self-sacrifice, humiliation, toil and shameful death, yet are still rigidly proportioned to each person's works. Men are justified by faith but judged and rewarded according to works, with every case decided at the general judgment according to faithfulness in the work left for each to do, from which no one can plead excuse. The parable of the talents illustrates this proportion, for God gives great privileges and expects corresponding returns, and each may strive for the highest reward by improving what is entrusted. Neglect or lack of zeal affects the decision, so every soul must be roused to diligence, make calling and election sure instead of living in doubt, and show true religion by its decided marks and fruits in faith, hope, patience, longsuffering, gentleness, meekness, goodness and mercy rather than drifting listless with circumstances in false security.
To those who by patient continuance in well-doing seek glory, honor and immortality He renders eternal life, with glory, honor and peace to every one working good without respect of persons. To those who are contentious and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness He renders indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish upon every soul doing evil. God takes account of words and actions, and the loyal and obedient receive rich blessings while those who disregard known law, refuse to repent and dishonor His kingdom are punished with death. Retribution must come upon those who disregard laws He has made known, for as Governor of the universe from whom every blessing comes He knows whether each deserves praise or condemnation. The cross of Calvary will make plain the love offered and the dishonor of continued sin, showing that obedience to His law would have brought life, health, prosperity and eternal good.
Christ alone is judge of righteousness because He created and redeemed at infinite cost to Himself, and He is infinite in righteousness, goodness and truth, knowing all things. He has power over principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places, covers with His righteousness all who love and trust Him, and as Captain of the Lord's host leads the heavenly host to stand as a wall of fire about His people. By taking human nature and dying where mercy and truth met together and righteousness and peace kissed each other, He fastened each sinner to Himself with threads of sympathy and love, taking responsibility to die in the sinner's stead and identifying His interests with every member of the human family. That sympathetic union can never be broken until He fixes every character as unjust or filthy still and righteous or holy still and then comes quickly with His reward to give every man according as his work shall be.
Stewardship and Daily Conduct
The work that will be repaid is faithful use of every entrusted capability, talent and gift of mind, body, influence, time, strength, property and professional skill to win people to him, to improve every capability, to give light to those in darkness, and to return increase with interest in proportion to gifts bestowed. Both use and disuse are counted, what is done heartily and what is left undone through unbelief, worldliness and indolence, talents put to use and talents left unused, words as well as actions, each answering individually for the time of probation. Idleness in his work gives no title to the reward of the righteous, and the final reward is proportioned to development of Christian character and to results of work entrusted. The “Well done” is for those who have done well by wise and faithful labor in many places, as the Lord expects a return from his servants.
This stewardship includes money and means, for the tithe belongs to God to support his work and withholding it is robbing God and delaying his work, to be accounted for when he comes unexpectedly with reward according to works. Self-denying liberality, economy, and investment in his cause, missions, houses of worship, and relief of suffering are recorded in heaven and bring reward now and in eternity, with blessed results in this world and full consequences known when judgment sits and each is recompensed. Giving up gratifications of appetite and dress such as tobacco, tea, coffee, rich food and needless expense, and putting the money thus saved into the Lord’s treasury to advance truth, is a sacrifice that brings greater blessing in this life and reward in heaven. Using his money for self-pleasing, worldly enterprise, needless expense, dress, furniture, ornaments, stored treasure, and locking up means or living for self brings disappointment, anxiety and loss, and neglect of opportunities through failure to seek his will and claims must also be answered for. Giving regularly to ministers or the church does not by itself fulfill every duty or earn entrance to heaven, since obligations to family and fellow beings remain and works reveal character as God sees use of wealth, whether oppressing the poor or showing true generosity.
Honest dealing matters eternally, for every transaction is recorded and will be reckoned with when he comes to give each according to deeds, including decisions about workers’ wages, auditing committee decisions, and the setting of ministers’ and publishing workers’ wages noted by heaven and recorded by angels. All business among church members must be done in high, holy, sanctified rectitude, with no unrighteousness in judgment and not one vestige of oppression or selfishness, altogether different from worldlings and from injustice sustained by a lawyer’s interpretation of the law. Every action is weighed in scales that are unerring, motives and words tried by a law emanating from Jehovah’s mind, God’s perfect standard, the ten holy precepts engraved by Omnipotence’s finger and kept in the ark to be brought forth and compared with deeds. Selfishness, neglect, deception, fraud, overreaching, oppression of the hireling and the poor, and unjust partiality that favors some and presses poor workers into hard places misrepresent the Lord of heaven, break his commandments, and will be met in that judgment when every room and meeting has its record to present and each life is revealed to shame or approval. Every mean act and small deal, every unfulfilled duty, is written down daily and accumulates for that day, bringing shame and confusion of face to those whose evil works are exposed.
Daily conduct is weighed, for angels watch character development and weigh moral worth, and an impartial Judge views character stripped of all outward gloss and gives to all on the basis of what was done in the body. God sees every action and the motive behind it, including secret wrongs and secret acts, and the reward is measured according to motives that prompted action and includes the result of influence upon others and words and acts that help or hinder souls. This testing proves each man and woman until true character is developed and revealed, calling for thorough confession, conversion, humility and a life of goodness, since good and evil deeds bring their corresponding certain harvest. Those who by example and counsel encourage departure from Bible simplicity, worldliness in dress, wearing of jewelry, gold and costly adornment, and conformity to customs and fashions of the world, will meet the result of that influence in judgment and will not be pleased with it. Lasting family influence is also counted, for parents’ character and choices shape children and later generations for good or evil, and doing evil can bring consequences upon future generations, alongside hasty temper, diet and temperance of the body as his temple, neglect of the fatherless, widow, hungry and shelterless, selling liquor that tempts appetite, and perverting the vine into stupefying drink.
Ministers, elders, evangelists, physicians, teachers, canvassers and institutional workers are accountable for bearing responsibility, preaching only God’s Word rather than suppositions, correcting error, and laboring with humility, economy and self-sacrifice, and faithful acceptance of responsibility and standing for right will be rewarded while avoidance brings loss. The reward of ministers is proportionate to successful labor, so neglecting counsel, leaving errors uncorrected, creating doubt, opposing missionary workers from finite judgment, dividing believers with discordant teachings and false gifts, and hindering truth endanger eternal interests. Those in churches who seek preeminence, lack true self-sacrifice, oppose private judgment and hinder missionary workers will see that God has honored the workers they refused to unite with when he renders to every person according to work. Those who work iniquity while claiming prophesying and healings will receive according to those works and lose everlasting life.
God keeps a faithful record of offerings dedicated to him, including amount, proportion as with the widow’s mite, willingness or reluctance, motive and results, valuing sacrificial trust above large gifts. Those who give sincerely and self-sacrificially for his glory will not lose reward even if others mismanage the offering and it fails to achieve the intended purpose. At the judgment when books are opened and reward is given, each work is given all the credit it deserves, so patient toil that is unappreciated and without apparent or applauded success is regarded when done from duty with right purpose and faithful integrity, to be done for the Master and not for praise. Some with ordinary abilities will have pursued self-denial and sacrifice more earnestly than those entrusted with greater responsibilities and will outrank them, while failure to use abilities given loses eternal life and faithful labor to save others through suffering and trials is repaid with welcome into his joy.
Urgent Preparation and Mission
Because cases will soon be fixed forever, the present is sowing time that demands immediate preparation of character in this life rather than gratifying desire and inclination, forming characters day by day after the divine likeness. That preparation requires thorough humbling of the soul before God, deep searching of heart, cleansing, refining and transforming of the heart, and cleansing of the soul temple, especially by those bearing responsibility in office and church so a wrong spirit does not develop and permeate the work. It means most thorough work for repentance, heartfelt purification, earnest prayer and untiring labor, asking forgiveness for unfaithful discharge of duty, leaving the unprepared state, opening the door of the heart, living by every word, abiding in Christ, overcoming defects, submitting the will, and purifying the soul by obedience to truth. The certain reckoning forbids carelessness and indifference and serving an unsanctified will, for living with him in the future life and wearing the crown of glory requires working the works of God here, revealing his goodness, mercy and holy character in every action through the Holy Spirit. Character cannot be transferred and the opportunity to prepare will end, so the light must shine now, and every church, school and sanitarium should long since have been placed on a much higher platform with fruit appearing in every teacher and worker in proportion to light given.
The nearness of his coming makes present service urgent, for his coming is near and certain with reward accompanying him to recompense each according to work, and the time to use and share light and truth will end when the final decree fixes people in their condition. Those who taste the water of life have the privilege of telling others to come, sounding the invitation to take the water of life freely as a link drawing others toward heaven and a channel through which he communicates to the world, in keeping with keeping his commandments to have right to the tree of life and entrance through the gates into the city. Workers should therefore humbly do what they can now rather than spend years preparing for a larger work and fail to bring people to God, lest neglected fields leave minds unenlightened including the young. The call is for immediate heaven-appointed work without wasting another day: a decided stand for the right, coming out from the world and being separate, turning from worldly ambition and selfish indulgence, acting the appointed part in the closing scenes, carrying gifts where they are new, educating and training the neglected, putting away racial prejudice, and laboring in neighborhood, home, school, sanitarium, city and foreign field. Delay leaves people lamenting that harvest is past and the soul is not saved, receiving heavier condemnation for refusing present truth and perishing with the wicked and with worshipers of worldly idols who get no comfort from them, while those who make him refuge find him living, conquering and their defense, and those who heed his invitation to rest, peace and light and do his commandments enter to take the water of life freely.
Believers are to answer his promise with Even so, come, Lord Jesus, longing for his coming, talking of it, praying for it, and living as pilgrims and strangers in unity and renewal. That faith must be held firm while infidelity stalks abroad and Satan works through men in prominent positions to sweep away the foundations of faith in the history of the cause and work of God, trusting him with heart and soul, for he will do much more for his people if they have faith. His return is therefore a warning to remain watchful and prayerful without setting a definite time, since it will come at an hour not expected. Readiness is connected with keeping God's commandments and entering the city to receive right to the tree of life.
His coming is good tidings to be proclaimed with strength from the high mountain without fear, saying to the cities of Judah, Behold your God, with strong hand to rule. It is a wonderful message written for the present to have influence in life, a wonderful incentive not to be satisfied with a low standard but to reach perfection through earnest striving and increase in fervency and genuine love. Expecting his coming and reward gives reason for good cheer, diligence to make calling and election sure, and continued labor for salvation despite opposition, discouragement or unseen fruit. Even when workers cannot see fruit, unselfish service in fellowship with him brings blessed recompense now, sharing his sufferings and sympathies, increasing his joy and honoring his name, with a future reward that will astonish by its greatness.
Readiness means dwelling with him now, obeying God's commandments as he obeyed, striving for perfection through Scripture, doing God's works, developing his character, bearing the fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance, crucifying the flesh with its affections and lusts, and walking in the Spirit without vainglory, provoking or envying. The whole life work is connected with his second appearing, a solemn thought, and he loves his people and wants them to be partakers of his trials and sufferings so they may be partakers of his glory, for they that suffer with him shall reign with him in his kingdom. Only those who live by every word, suffer with him, let truth transform them, keep his commandments and take part with him in proclaiming the third angel's message will reign with him, enter the holy city, and be fitted for fellowship with him, remaining on his side rather than yielding to indulgence, dissipation, worldly allurements or ambition as faithful stewards of his grace.
The reckoning forbids judging others with Pharisaic condemnation, for those who condemn must examine themselves lest they be guilty of greater sins in his sight. Each day adds to the history recorded in heaven's books so judgment may be known, making faithful care and instruction in the home urgent day by day, since sickness or death may come suddenly to parents or children. He will not pass over present injustice with silence but will repay every transgressor, keeping strict account of every lie framed and dealing with each according to secret and hidden plans, though he has borne long and is not deceived. This covers false dealing over literature funds that starved the Southern field, masterful power taken to rule men and gain wealth by underhand deception under the great deceiver, oppressive man-made unions bringing confusion, violence and strife, and deceptive sharpness, answered by earthquake, fire, flood, devastation and death upon cities full of extreme transgression.
Particular applications name those addressed: Eleanor sorely tempted by having to labor constantly while other children are free should remember all will be rewarded as works have been. His watchful judgment before the whole universe of heaven was evident in Joseph's faithfulness and in the wicked conduct of Eli's sons, observing both righteous and wicked conduct to reward each according to deeds. John warned Herod of this future retribution while reproving him for his conduct. At the final deliverance of those recorded in the Book of Life, William Miller will receive immortality secure from human hostility and demonic rage. The message to the Laodicean church presses the lukewarm to heed him as the Amen and true witness, to face being wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked despite claiming riches, to buy gold tried in fire and white raiment and eyesalve, and to be zealous and repent under loving rebuke and chastening.
The reckoning hastens when his work is made supreme, for completing the entrusted work of third-angel proclamation and Sabbath reform receives his people to reward, while division and opposition delay his coming. It is foolish to spend life anxiously pursuing worldly gain and commercial interests; life and work should instead be directed toward God and his truth, handling money as the Lord's and freeing his house from debt through united self-denial as a current flowing heavenward. He holds people accountable for how they used money and influence, recording selfishness and indifference toward the afflicted, widows, fatherless and suffering, neglecting duty to him as guilt and lawbreaking, and charging against those who withheld resources that could have relieved suffering. Rich men who are unfaithful stewards, neglecting the great Owner, making self their idol, putting justice and mercy out of mind for greed and strife, and storing up wrath against the day of wrath by robbery before God in getting and using money, will be visited for these things, including those who sell liquor and answer for tempting appetite that harms.