HOME•GOD’S MERCIFUL JUDGMENT Study Topics
•In a previous lesson we discovered that the judgment has already begun in Heaven. The word JUDGMENT fills the mind with questions: Who will be judged? How is evidence gathered? Must I defend myself with my stammering mouth or does Heaven provide legal help?
•Who decides satan’s sentence? Why does God need a judgment anyway? Doesn’t He already know everything about everyone? Do I have even the slightest chance of being pronounced innocent in the judgment - in light of my conduct?
•The judgment is such a crucial part of God’s great plan that Holy Scriptures refer to it nearly 1,000 times. Revelation proclaim God’s judgment loudly! May God’s Spirit impress us as we study this vital topic.
1.Who will face Heaven’s judgment? 2 Cor. 5:10
•Answer:
•"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."
2.When did the judgment begin in Heaven? Daniel 8:14
•Note:
The judgment began in 1844. Jesus then entered the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary to begin the heavenly Day of Atonement. Rev. 11:19 fits the same time period. It also speaks of the judgment beginning in Heaven.3.Who are the judges?
Psalm 50:6, John 5:22
•Answer:
•"God is judge Himself."
•"For the Father judgeth no man,but hath committed all judgment to the Son."
•Note:
•Though God presides at the judgement, He has turned over the leading role to His Son. Is Jesus your friend? If he is our friend, it is exciting to know that we will have our best and truest friends (Father, Son & Holy Spirit) as our judges!
4.What attitude do the Father and the Son have toward us?
•Answer:
•John 16:27 "For the Father Himself loveth you…"
•1Tim, 2:3,4 "God our Saviour…would have all men to be saved."
The Three Phases of God’s Judgment
Ο1.Phase # 1: Pre-Second Advent Judgement.
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2. Phase # 2: Judgment During the 1,000 Years.Ο
3. Phase # 3: Judgment at the Close of the 1,000 Years.Phase # 1:
•5.Who faces God in the Pre-Advent judgment? 1 Peter 4:17
•Answer:
•"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"
•Note:
• The house of God is His church
•(1 Tim. 3:15). The judgment now in progress centers first on those who have confessed themselves to be God’s servants.
6.Who is the advocate or attorney for the righteous? 1 John 2:1, Heb. 9:24
•"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."
•Note:
It seems incredible, but our judge is also our advocate. Praise God! The Bible is clear that He is merciful and faithful (Heb. 2:17,18). He who gave His life for us now serves as our attorney to represent us in Heaven.7.What evidence is considered in the judgment? Eccl. 12:14 (v.13)
•"God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil."
Matt. 12:36
8.What is God’s standard in the judgment? James 2:10-12
•"…they… shall be judged by the law of liberty."
•Note: The ten commandments are God’s standard in the judgment. This is logical because God’s law is His standard of conduct for our lives today. Transgression of God’s law is sin.
•(1 John 3:4).
God’s Great Record Books
•9.The angels keep the records. What book is most important?
•Rev. 3:5
•Answer: "The book of life."
•Note: When we accept Jesus as our Saviour from sin, then our names are recorded in Jesus’ great Book of Life. If our names remain then we too will have entrance into the City of God
•(Rev. 21:27; Luke 10:20; Heb. 12:23).
10.What is the source of evidence in the judgment? Rev. 20:12.
•Answer:
•"The dead were judged out of those things which were written in the book."
•Note: The records are accurate and complete. They even contain our thoughts and motives.
11.Who presents the case against us?
Zech. 3:1,2•Answer:
•Satan, the dragon, that old serpent, the accuser of the brethren, the father of lies, the wicked & evil one, called the devil.
•Note:
Satan, the old accuser of the brethren (Rev.12:10) who disputed with God regarding the body of Moses (Jude 9) and who made wild accusations against Job, is the enemy who accuses us.12.While judgment proceeds in Heaven, what happens on earth?
Rev. 11:18,19•"The nations were angry …"
•"…and shouldest destroy them that destroy the earth."
•Note:
•
This is true today. The nations are angry. Mankind is capable of destroying the earth with NUCLEAR weapons.13.Does God need books or a judgment to find out about me?
•Answer:
•
No! God knows "the hearts of all the children of men."•Note:
•The judgment is for the benefit of others. The Bible says sinners are already condemned before God. It is us who need to know why God saves some and destroys others.
Phase # 2:
•14.When will the wicked be judged?
Rev. 20:4•"And judgment was given unto them … and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
•Note: The wicked will be judged by the saints in Heaven during the 1000 years of Revelation 20. This is the second phase of the judgment.
15.Who helps judge the wicked, including satan and his angels?
•"The saints shall judge the world … we shall judge angels."
•Note: This judgment is for the benefit of the righteous. Many will be lost whom the righteous thought were good Christians. Looking on the records will remove doubt of God’s fairness. It will be seen that the lost chose to ignore God’s many loving appeals and persisted in sin.
Phase # 3:
•16.Will every person who has ever lived stand before God in judgment?
•Matt. 25:31-46
•"And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another."
•Note: This takes place at the close of the 1000 years because it is the only time in earth’s history when for a short time all who have ever lived will be alive either inside or outside the Holy City (Rev. 20:11-15).
•What a time that will be!!
17.What will everyone know when God announces rewards and punishments?
Rev. 15:3,4; Rom.2:5; 1 Cor. 4:5"Thy judgments are made manifest."
Note: Everyone -the lost, the redeemed and the angels- will clearly know because God’s judgements are made manifest.
Assurance of Salvation Now
•18. Since I must face judgment, can I have assurance of salvation now? Dan. 7:22; Rev. 3:5.
•Answer: "I will not blot out his name from the book of life."
•
Note: God promises to pronounce favorable sentence on all who truly love Him. He says you will "overcome" or be vindicated when you are judged. Romans 3:4.19.When are sins blotted out of God’s record? Acts 3:19-20.
"
Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out."•Note: Sins, although forgiven, remains on the books of record until Jesus returns so that no one can accuse God of a cover up.
God’s People Teach Judgment
•
When we compare Rev.10:1-3 and Rev. 1:13-15 with Dan. 10:5,6 we discover that these passages refer to the same heavenly being. This being told Daniel to close or seal his book of Daniel until the time of the end. Daniel 12:4. This same being came to John with a prophecy showing that the book would be open. The "time of the end" (Dan.12:4-9) specifically refers to the 1260 years (time, times & 1/2 a time) of Papal persecution (A.D. 538-1798).•The book of Daniel was not to be opened until after after 1798, which begins the time of the end.
•In the early 1840’s Christian people all over the world began to study the prophecies of the books of Daniel and Revelation, and especially the 2300-year Judgment Hour prophecy of Daniel 8 & 9. They figured the date correctly but the event wrong.
•They thought 1844 referred to the second coming of Jesus, instead of the beginning of God’s judgement in Heaven. When Jesus did not return, the disappointment was bitter. In Rev. 10 God pictures this disappointment by asking the prophet John to eat the book of Daniel, which had been closed but was now open (v. 8). It was sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach, as was the disappointment when Jesus did not return in 1844.
20.What was the church to do after the disappointment? Rev. 10:11
•"Thou must prophesy again before many nations and kindreds and kings."
•
Note: God told His people they must take the truth about this prophecy to the entire world.21.What must God’s church preach as part of the everlasting gospel? Rev.14:6,7
•"Fear God and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment is come."
•Note:
•God mandates that this church must include in the gospel the wonderful truth that the judgment is now in session in Heaven. In saving lost sinners God has put himself on trial. The church’s work today is to let the world know the truth about the beautiful character of a loving God
.God’s Judgment is Fair and Final
•22.How will men and angels praise God for His justice?
Rev.16:7; 19:2; 15:3•They shall say, "true and righteous are thy judgements."
23.How will everyone express their feelings about Jesus?
Phil. 2:10,11"That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow... And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."
•Note: Everyone who has ever lived will stand before God at the end of the 1000 years. The saved of all ages stand before purified by Jesus’ Righteousness. They are proof of power to restore God’s image in man. Never again will questions be raised regarding God’s character or His handling of the problem of sin. The lost, satan, his angels and man, all confess their guilt and proclaim God’s absolute justice in the final judgment.
24.How can I have Jesus for my attorney? 1 John 2:1,2; Rev.3:20
•"Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."
•I must open my heart to Him.
•25.Are you willing to be totally committed to Jesus so He can represent you in the judgment?
Jesus IS coming soon. If we love Jesus and He loves us … He is our friend (John 15:14) … if He will be our judge and advocate / lawyer in the judgment … we will be very happy about the judgment. Make Jesus your friend, Saviour and Lord today. Now. PLEASE.