The First Angel’s Message part 4

The Hour of His Judgment Is Come

In this study, we will confirm the Biblical teaching of the judgment and show that everyone is a part of it.

1. Based on Revelation 14:7, why must we fear God and give glory to Him?

2. Does the Bible speak about a judgment? 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Peter 2:9; Daniel 7: 10, 11; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Hebrews 9:27; Daniel 8:14

3. By what will we be judged? James 2:10, 12; Exodus 20:3-17; Matthew 12:36, 37

4. When did the judgment officially begin? Daniel 8:14; 9:24-27 

Answer: October 22, 1844. Study the aforementioned scriptures and the 2300 Days Prophecy. For further study, read Chapter 23 – What is the Sanctuary? & Chapter 28 – Facing Life’s Record of the book The Great Controversy.

The Great Controversy, 435: Those who had accepted the light concerning the mediation of Christ and the perpetuity of the law of God found that these were the truths presented in Revelation 14. The messages of this chapter constitute a threefold warning (see Appendix) which is to prepare the inhabitants of the earth for the Lord’s second coming. The announcement, “The hour of His judgment is come,” points to the closing work of Christ’s ministration for the salvation of men. It heralds a truth which must be proclaimed until the Saviour’s intercession shall cease and He shall return to the earth to take His people to Himself. The work of judgment which began in 1844 must continue until the cases of all are decided, both of the living and the dead; hence it will extend to the close of human probation. That men may be prepared to stand in the judgment, the message commands them to “fear God, and give glory to Him,” “and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” The result of an acceptance of these messages is given in the word: “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” In order to be prepared for the judgment, it is necessary that men should keep the law of God. That law will be the standard of character in the judgment. The apostle Paul declares: “As many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law, … in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ.” And he says that “the doers of the law shall be justified.” Romans 2:12-16. Faith is essential in order to the keeping of the law of God; for “without faith it is impossible to please Him.” And “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Hebrews 11:6; Romans 14:23. (GC 435.2) 

5. Do the judgment of the righteous and the wicked happen at the same time? 1 Peter 4:17. For the judgment of the wicked see Revelation 20:12-15 & 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3. 

The Great Controversy, 480: In the typical service only those who had come before God with confession and repentance, and whose sins, through the blood of the sin offering, were transferred to the sanctuary, had a part in the service of the Day of Atonement. So in the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. The judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work, and takes place at a later period. “Judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel?” 1 Peter 4:17. {GC 480.1} 

The Great Controversy, 483: As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance. The Lord declared to Moses: “Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book.” Exodus 32:33. And says the prophet Ezekiel: “When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, … all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned.” Ezekiel 18:24. {GC 483.1} 

6. How many record books are there in heaven, and what are their names?

a) Revelation 3:5; 20:27; 22:19; Philippians 4:3; Luke 10:20; Psalm 69:28 
b) Malachi 3:16; Psalm 56:8; Nehemiah 13:14
c) Ecclesiastes 12:14; Isaiah 65:6, 7; Isaiah 43:25

The Great Controversy, 481: There is a record also of the sins of men. “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Says the Saviour: “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36, 37. The secret purposes and motives appear in the unerring register; for God “will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.” 1 Corinthians 4:5. “Behold, it is written before Me, … your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 65:6, 7. {GC 481.2} 

The Great Controversy, 482: Every man’s work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered with terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling. Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel. {GC 482.1} 

Note: In an earthly court room, there is a prosecuting attorney, who brings charges upon the defendant, and there is a defense attorney, who tries to prove the defendant innocent. Likewise in this judgment, there is someone who is bringing charges against us to prove us guilty of breaking God’s ten commandments. This same person is also accusing Jesus, our defense attorney, of being unjust because He desires to pardon guilty sinners.

7. Who is accusing us of breaking God’s law? Revelation 12:10,12; Zechariah 3:1-3

8. Are Satan’s claims that we have broken God’s commandments false? Romans 3:23; Isaiah 64:6

9. Since we are guilty of breaking God’s law, what must we give to Jesus and what must we receive from Him? Zechariah 3:4, 5; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 3:18; Revelation 19:8

Jesus, the Desire of Ages, 762: The law requires righteousness,—a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God’s holy law. But Christ, coming to the earth as man, lived a holy life, and developed a perfect character. These He offers as a free gift to all who will receive them. His life stands for the life of men. Thus they have remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. More than this, Christ imbues men with the attributes of God. He builds up the human character after the similitude of the divine character, a goodly fabric of spiritual strength and beauty. Thus the very righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the believer in Christ. God can “be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:26. {DA 762.2}

10. After we receive Christ’s righteousness through faith and confession of our sins, what does God expect of us? Zechariah 3:7; 1 Peter 2:21-24

Note: While Zechariah 3 shows us a class of people who will pass the judgment because they forsake their sins, Matthew 22 brings to view a different class of people who will fail the judgment. Let’s study why.

11. The parable of Matthew 22 is also a scene of judgment. Why did the King come in to the place where the guests were? Matthew 22:11

12. Was the man without a wedding garment ignorant of God and His requirements? How do we know? Matthew 22:12

13. What was the result of his willful disobedience to God’s requirements? Matthew 22:13, 14; Matthew 7:21-23

Christ’s Object Lessons, 310: By the king’s examination of the guests at the feast is represented a work of judgment. The guests at the gospel feast are those who profess to serve God, those whose names are written in the book of life. But not all who profess to be Christians are true disciples. Before the final reward is given, it must be decided who are fitted to share the inheritance of the righteous. This decision must be made prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven; for when He comes, His reward is with Him, “to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12. Before His coming, then, the character of every man’s work will have been determined, and to every one of Christ’s followers the reward will have been apportioned according to his deeds. {COL 310.1} 

Christ’s Object Lessons, 310: It is while men are still dwelling upon the earth that the work of investigative judgment takes place in the courts of heaven. The lives of all His professed followers pass in review before God. All are examined according to the record of the books of heaven, and according to his deeds the destiny of each is forever fixed.” {COL 310.2} 

How shall you stand when God shall close the work on Investigative Judgment?

The Great Controversy, 489: We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be put away. There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth. Everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. (GC 489.3)