Review and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 60. (12/8/1915)

Earlier text: The Judgment

And it is of that time which Daniel speaks:— "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." Dan. 7:27. See Isa. 65:17-25; 35:1-10.

The First Dominion Restored

Adam, through yielding to the power of Satan, lost his glorious dominion. His posterity, together with his Paradise home, passed under the power of sin. This dominion God purposes to restore. Not alone will man be redeemed from the curse of sin, but the material creation as well. See Rom. 8:14-23. To Christ, the second Adam, the Tower of the flock, shall the dominion be restored:— "And thou, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem." Micah 4:8.

At that time "the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord." Num. 14:21. And "the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." Ps. 37:11. Not one discordant note will be heard throughout God's universe, but one universal anthem of praise shall arise from every creature:— "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, forever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that liveth forever and ever." Rev. 5:13, 14.

To a part in this blessed state the Spirit of God invites us, in the closing chapter of God's Word:— "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst, come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17.

if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:2, 3. 16. How many of the dead will be raised? "For the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:28, 29. See also Acts 24:15.

The Saints Take Part in the Judgment

17. What time intervenes between the two resurrections? "And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." Rev. 20:4, 5. 18. What work did Daniel see finally assigned to the saints? "I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." Dan. 7:21, 22. See also 1 Cor. 6:1-3.

"Fear God, and give glory to him." Verse 7. 27. What special reason is given for this? "For the hour of his judgment is come." Same verse. 28. Whom are all called upon to worship? "Him that made heaven, and earth." Same verse.

The 2300 Days

29. What prophetic period extends to the time of the cleansing of the sanctuary, or the investigative judgment? "And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." Dan. 8:14. 30. When did this long period expire? In A. D. 1844.

The Standard in the Judgment

31. How many are concerned in the judgment? "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Cor. 5:10. 32. What will be the standard in the judgment? "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10. See also verses 11, 12; Eccl. 12:13, 14.

THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO AND CONNECTED WITH THE END OF THE WORLD AND THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS

The twenty-three hundred days (years) of Dan. 8: 14 begin with “the commandment to restore and build Jerusalem” (Dan. 9: 25), which was issued by Artaxerxes Longimanus, 457 B. C. (Ezra 6: 14; 7: 7, 12-26), and extend to A. D. 1844.

The seventy weeks (490 years) of Dan. 9: 24 begin at the same time, and extend to A. D. 34. The remainder of the full period, 1810 years, covers the time from A. D. 34 to A. D. 1844.

In 1844 our great High Priest began his ministry in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. This marks the beginning of the judgment hour in which the eternal destiny of all the inhabitants of the earth is decided. While this work is in progress, the judgment-hour message (Rev. 14: 6-12) is proclaimed.

The close of this period, whose limits are not definitely fixed, which is also the close of probation, will usher in the events connected with the personal coming of Christ to this earth. At this time will occur the resurrection of the dead in Christ, the overthrow of the wicked then living, and the entrance of the saved into the heavenly Jerusalem, while Satan is left upon a desolate earth without access to any living being.

The coming of Christ to this earth for the saints indicates the beginning of the one thousand years (the millennium) during which the earth remains in a desolate condition, while the saints unite in determining the punishment of evil angels and of those inhabitants of the earth who have been accounted unworthy of eternal life. 1 Cor. 6: 2.

At the close of the millennial period Christ will return to this earth, accompanied by the saints. The wicked dead will then be raised, and with Satan as their leader, will attempt the capture of the New Jerusalem, which has come down from God out of heaven. The rebellious host is destroyed by fire, which purifies the earth. Rev. 20: 7, 9. The new earth, upon which the saints will dwell eternally, becomes in a special sense the dwelling place of God. Rev. 21: 3.

The Judgment and the Judgment-Hour Message

1. WHAT ASSURANCE have we that there will be a judgment? “God . . . hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world.” Acts 17: 30, 31.

2. Was the judgment still future in Paul’s day? “As he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled.” Acts 24: 25.

3. How many must meet the test of the judgment? “I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked.” Eccl. 3: 17. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Cor. 5: 10.

4. What reason did Solomon give for urging all to fear God and keep his commandments? “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Eccl. 12: 14.

Daniel’s Vision of the Judgment

5. What view of the judgment scene was given Daniel? “I beheld till the thrones were cast down [‘placed,’ R. V.], and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool; his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Dan. 7: 9, 10.

6. Out of what will all be judged? “And the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Rev. 20: 12.

7. For whom has a book of remembrance been written? “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” Mal. 3: 16. See Rev. 20: 12.

8. Who opens the judgment and presides over it? “I beheld till the thrones were cast down [‘placed’], and the Ancient of days did sit.” Dan. 7: 9.

9. Who minister to God and assist in the judgment? “Thousand thousands [of angels] ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.” Verse 10. See Rev. 5: 11.

Christ Receives His Kingdom

10. Who is brought before the Father at this time? “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.” Dan. 7: 13.

11. What does Christ, as the advocate of his people, confess before the Father and his angels? “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Rev. 3: 5. See Matt. 10: 32, 33; Mark 8: 38.

12. After the subjects of the kingdom have been determined by the investigative judgment, what is given to Christ? “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him.” Dan. 7: 14.

13. When he comes the second time, what title will he bear? “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords.” Rev. 19: 16.

14. What will he then do for each one? “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.” Matt. 16: 27. See also Rev. 22: 12.

He Rewardeth the Righteous

15. Where will Christ then take his people? *“In my Father’s house are many mansions, to

with the saints, and prevailed against them; and until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.” Dan. 7: 21, 22.

19. How long will the saints engage in this work of judgment? “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: . . . and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” Rev. 20: 4.

20. Who will thus be judged by the saints? “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” 1 Cor. 6: 2, 3.

The Executive Judgment

21. How will the decisions of the judgment be executed? “And out of his [Christ’s] mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Rev. 19: 15.

22. Why is the execution of the judgment given to Christ? “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.” John 5: 26, 27.

The Judgment-Hour Message

23. What message announces the judgment hour come? “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14: 6, 7.

24. In view of the judgment hour, what is proclaimed anew? “The everlasting gospel.” Verse 6, first part.

25. How extensively is this message to be proclaimed? “To every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” Same verse, last part.

26. What is the whole world called upon to do?

33. In view of the judgment, what exhortation is given? “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Eccl. 12: 13, 14.

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