The Great Judgment Day
George Burnside
DANIEL 7:9-11 “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, 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.
I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.”
What a majestic awesome picture of the throne room of our God is here presented. In the midst of this splendor the judgment is set and the books opened.
God’s throne is like a “fiery flame”. It is terrible to the wicked, but awesome comfort to His saints, like the pillar of cloud that was light to Israel, but darkness to their enemies. As also the river of life proceeds from the throne of God for His people, to His enemies it is as a fiery stream. “A fire shall devour before Him.”
ISAIAH 33:14 “Sinners” in the church are then afraid and “fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites.” To the Overcomer the promise is:
ISAIAH 33:17 “Your eyes shall see the King in His beauty”. ISAIAH 33:22 “The Lord is judge” and King.
On earth the “little horn” wages “war with the saints” and speaks “great things”. But here in glory far greater things are spoken and the mouth of the Lord speaks. This scene is for the comfort and support of the people of God. It is through the comfort of the Scriptures that we have hope. It is a comfort to know that God exercises wise and righteous judgments.
PSALM 9:7- 8 “The Lord “has prepared His throne for judgment.”
P5ALM 103:18-20 “The Lord has prepared His throne in the heavens.”
What kind of judgment is here revealed? The facts of Holy Writ clearly reveal.
“THE BOOKS WERE OPENED”
This significant statement of the Word of God reveals much. Books are used in this judgment. They reveal just what kind of judgment is being described. In every judgment this an investigation of evidence. This is then followed by a verdict and then the execution of that judgment. Books are not used in the execution of judgment but they are used in the investigation of evidence. As “books” are here revealed, this phase of judgment could be well called the “Investigative Judgment.”
As the sure word of prophecy clearly reveals this judgment; this study could well be called the Investigative Judgment in Bible Prophecy.
DANIEL 7:11 “I beheld then because of the voice of the great lords which the horn spoke: I beheld even till the beast was slaii-5 and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.”
While we are dealing with the nature of this judgment it is worthy of note that the Scriptures confirm our position regarding the time of the judgment. After the judgment has began the “Little Horn continues to speak “great words”. The facts of history confirm this prophecy.
1844 Begins the Investigative Judgment.
1855 The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception.
1870 The Infallibility of the Pope.
1950 The Assumption of Mary. That means that Mary was bodily resurrected and taken to heaven.
The “Son of Man” is there at the Judgment. Daniel 7:13. According to the preceding verses, this is when the Papacy is active. Therefore it is when Jesus is Mediator, our High Priest and Advocate. “There shall be given Him (“Son of Man”) a kingdom which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” When Christ receives His Kingdom and becomes “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”. He then executes the judgments of His Father. Christ then comes to earth to “execute judgment”
JUDE 1:14-15 “Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of His saints to execute judgment upon all.”
Jesus is the One who executes the verdict of the investigative judgment. To the Overcomer He gives immortality. To those who live in sin, He is the destroyer.
MATTHEW 13:40,41 “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.”
You will notice, that it is when He has “His Kingdom” that “His angels” gather out of His Kingdom all things that offend and them that do iniquity. It is when Christ Jesus becomes King that He “executes judgment”. This wonderful prophecy gives a wonderful, if outline of the judgment, both in its investigation phase and then the execution of that judgment.
This is vital information. So much so that a heavenly interpretation is sent to reveal the full facts.
THE INTERPRETATIONOF THESE THINGS
DANIEL 7:17 The “beasts” are political powers that will rule on the earth, each for its brief period.
DANIEL 7:18 “But!” Here is the contrast! “The Saints of the Most High shall take the Kingdom, and possess the Kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” The “Saints” are joint heirs with their King.
ROMANS 8:l7 As children of God, they are “heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.”
What a future our Lord prepares for His saints. How much better to be a joint-heir with Christ, than a mere millionaire in this dying land.
DANIEL 7:21This “same horn made war with the saints and prevailed against them.”
DANIEL 7:22 “Until The Judgment!”
It is worthy of note, the repeated reference to the judgment. That decides where eternity will be spent. Persecution falls on the saints “Until the Judgment!” Thus the promise of the coming Judgment is good news to the saints. The judgment message is part of the Everlasting Gospel. Sinners dread the judgment but Saints welcome it.
REVELATION 6:9-10 Those “Slain for the Word of God,” like the blood of Abel cry for the judgment. “How long, 0 Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge.” They died as fanatics and heretics, but they know the judgment will give them “white robes” and they will be justified. “The Hour of His Judgment is come,” is certainly good news. The gospel to the persecuted. The persecuted includes all of God’s saints. For “all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:l2.
After an explanation is given regarding the “Fourth Beast” the ten kingdoms, and the little horn the Judgment is again emphasized.
DANIEL 7:25 The “Little Horn” would rule “until a time, times and dividing of time.” This period ended in 1798. After 1798 the next big event is the Judgment, commencing in 1844.
DANIEL 7:26 It should be noted, that the judgment and the kingdom are repeatedly mentioned together. For as a result of the judgment, the kingdom is given to the saints. The judgment proclaims to the universe who the saints are. That is the purpose of the judgment, as the following Bible facts clearly reveal.
The visions of Daniel were of world empires and church history. They all climax with the Judgment and Christ’s eternal Kingdom. No one goes into the Kingdom except he is judged first. Each of these visions grows in detail. Daniel 8 fixes the exact time when the great judgment will open. Remember, it is Jesus the “Great Numberer” that gave us the 2,300 days Prophecy. Therefore the devil hates it. But let us consider it very reverently and carefully.
DANIEL 2 DANIEL 7 DANIEL 8
Babylon Babylon
Medo-Persia Medo-Persia Medo-Persia
Greece Greece Greece
Rome Rome
Ten Horns Little Horn Little Horn
Kingdom Judgment & Judgment
Kingdom Cleansing Sanctuary
THE GREAT NEWS OF THE JUDGMENT
REVELATION 14:6,7 “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.”
This Judgment or Gospel Message was due in 1844 according to “the sure word of prophecy.”
In 1844 God raised up the message, with this Judgment Gospel. The idea of Gospel and Judgment seems a contradiction to many. To them the Judgment could not be “Good News.” The Judgment is to them a time of terror, fear and anything but “good news”. How then can the coming of the Judgment be good news - the Gospel? The Word of God calls the message of the Judgment the Everlasting Gospel and God’s Saints agree.
THE SCRIPTURES OF TRUTH TESTIFY
PSALM 119:84-86 “How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? The proud have dug pits for me, which are not after thy law. All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.”
PSALM 149:9 “To execute upon them the judgment written.”
JEREMIAH 23:5,6 “A righteous Branch and a King shall reign-and execute judgment.
MICAH 7:9 “Until He shall execute judgment for me, He will bring me forth in the light.”
What a day! Cod will. then reveal His saints. Today Christ’s saints are called “trouble-makers” and “perfectionists.” The saints welcome the judgment.
ISAIAH 33:14 “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites.” Sinners are those who are not it overcomers.” They Continue in sin. Hypocrites are in the church for personal gain or position.
ISAIAH 33:22 This is when Jesus “is our Judge” and “our King.”
MATTHEW 10:26 Jesus the coming King and Judge assures His people, “Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.”
1 CORINTHIANS 3:13 “The day” when Christ “executes judgment” reveals all. Every man’s work shall be made manifest for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”
ROMANS 2:5 “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasured up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”
Let us linger for a few moments in these verses.
ROM.2:5 “The revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”
The Advent of Christ will reveal, it is “the revelation of the righteous judgment.” It reveals the results of God’s judgment.
ROMANS 2:6 “Who will render to every man according W his deeds.”
The Scriptures never say you will be judged by your faith but always by your deeds - your works. The faith that our Lord wants is one that works by love.”
ROMANS 2:7 “To them who by patient continuance in well do seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.”
Note! Those redeemed at “that day” will be those who continue in well doing.” “The sinners in Zion” - those in the church, who “continue in sin.” and who proudly boast that they will continue in sin till the end - will be then afraid. With the hypocrites the terror of doom grips their hearts.
ROMANS 2:8 “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath.”
For those who “do not obey the truth” that day when judgment is executed will bring nothing but “Indignation and wrath.” Is that not the plain statement of Scripture? The Scriptures that cannot be broken.
ROMANS 2:9 “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.”
For those that “doeth evil” or continue in sin, there is nothing ahead but tribulation and anguish.” The fearful tragedy of the Jews is a lesson book before us. They were God’s people. They had the truth. They had the Sabbath and the Law, but instead of keeping God’s commandments they disobeyed.
ACTS 7:53 “Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.”
They were given the -law, but they did not keep it. They were given the Gospel but went their own way to continue in sin.”
“To the Jew first” - May we heed the lesson of the Jews.
ROMANS 2:13 “For not the hearers of the law are just before Cod, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” None but the doers of the law shall be justified on that great day, when Jesus comes to execute judgment.
JOHN 5:27 The Father “has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.”
WHO WILL BE JUDGED?
Nominal Christians dread the judgment. This is seen in their denials.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:10 “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body.”
Who are the “WE”? “We” occurs in these passages many times.
2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 “We” are changed:
5:7 “We” walk by faith.
5:20 “We” are ambassadors for Christ.
5:21 “We” are made the righteousness of God.
ROMANS 14:10 “We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” ROMANS 14:12 “So then everyone of us shall give an account of himself to God.” True Christians want the judgment. The martyrs pray for the judgment. REVELATION 6:10 “How long 0 Lord does Thou not judge and avenge our blood.”
ISAIAH 59:14,15 The saints long for the true judgment. Today “he that departs from evil makes himself a pray”. Margin, “is accounted mad.”
To “depart from evil” is to stop sinning! The Judgment is in keeping with the Commandments of God.” To do this, is today to be “accounted mad.”
HOW ARE THEY JUDGED?
ISAIAH 59:18 “According to their deeds.”
2 CORINTHIANS 5:10 “That everyone may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done, Whether it be good or bad.”
REVELATION 20:13 “They were judged evelt1 man according to their works.”
REVELATION 20:12 “Judged out of those things written in the books, according-to their works.”
REVELATION 20:13 All stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
All the drowned breathe again All the dead rise again. All the graves are opened. “The grave delivered up” - The grave yields to its Conqueror.
REVELATION 20:14 “This is the second death.”
It is also the end of death.
It is the death of death.
It is the death of sin.
It is the death of sin’s wages.
It is not only the second death it is the last death.
WHAT IS THE STANDARD OF THE JUDGMENT?
JAMES 2:10-12 “Judged by the law of liberty.”
ECCLESIASTES 12:13,14.
“The only question asked, in the judgment will be – ‘Have they been obedient to My commandments?” Gospel Workers, page 315.
“On the great judgment Christ does not present before men the great work He has done for them in giving His life for their redemption. He presents the faithful work they have done.” Desire Of Ages, page 637.
The reason is, obedience reveals our faith and love. No obedience reveals no love and little faith. Thus all are judged by their works.
ALL ARE JUDGED BY THE LAW AND TESTIMONY
REVELATION 20:12 “Judged out of those things written in the books.” “The books,” the same word from which the word “Bible” comes. “Comparing their acts with the statute-book, the Bible.” Great Controversy, page 661. All are therefore judged by the ‘Law and the Testimony.”
Those that pass the test of Judgment are pointed out by Christ in:
REVELATION 12:17 “They that keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”
BEFORE GOD WITHOUT A MEDIATOR
HEBREWS 8:12 “There sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
JEREMIAH 50:20 “In those days, and in that time, said the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.”
ISAIAH 43:25 “I, even I, am he that blots out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember their sins.”
MICAH 7:18,19 “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retains not his anger for ever, because he delights in mercy.”
When these prophecies are fulfilled Christ will have accomplished His work as our Savior, Advocate, Mediator, and High Priest. Our sins will no longer exist. Then our Redeemer decrees:
REVELATION 22:11,12 “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is-filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
When our Lord shall declare “He that is holy, let him be holy still”, He immediately follows with His statement” And behold I come quickly; and my reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Therefore, it is clear that the blotting out of the sins of His saints, precedes His return in glory to reward every man according to his works. This judgment of investigation and the “blotting out” of either sins, or names takes place prior to the glory day of our lard’s return.
DANIEL 12:1 “When He leaves the sanctuary darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth. In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor.” Great Controversy, page 614.
“Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion. All the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.” Great Controversy, page 614.