“I beheld till thrones were placed, and One that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:9, 10, R.V.
(HF 295.1)
Thus was presented to Daniel’s vision the great day when the lives of men pass in review before the Judge of all the earth. The Ancient of Days is God the Father. He, the source of all being, the fountain of all law, is to preside in the judgment. And holy angels as ministers and witnesses, attend.
(HF 295.2)
“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. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away.” Daniel 7:13, 14.
(HF 295.3)
The coming of Christ here described is not His second coming to the earth. He comes to the Ancient of Days in heaven to receive a kingdom which will be given Him at the close of His work as mediator. It is this coming, and not His second advent to the earth, that was to take place at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844. Our great High Priest enters the holy of holies to engage in His last ministration in behalf of man.
(HF 295.4)
In the typical service only those whose sins were transferred to the sanctuary had a part in the Day of Atonement. So in the great final atonement and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. The judgment of the wicked is a separate work at a later period. “Judgment must begin at the house of God.” 1 Peter 4:17.
(HF 296.1)
The books of record in heaven are to determine the decisions of the judgment. The book of life contains the names of all who have ever entered the service of God. Jesus bade His disciples: “Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Paul speaks of his fellow workers, “whose names are in the book of life.” Daniel declares that God’s people shall be delivered, “every one that shall be found written in the book.” And the revelator says that those only shall enter the City of God whose names “are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Daniel 12:1; Revelation 21:27.
(HF 296.2)
In “a book of remembrance” are recorded the good deeds of “them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.” Every temptation resisted, every evil overcome, every word of pity expressed, every act of sacrifice, every sorrow endured for Christ’s sake is recorded. “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” Malachi 3:16; Psalm 56:8.
(HF 296.3)
There is a record also of the sins of men. “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.”“By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Secret motives appear in the register, for God “will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.” Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36, 37; 1 Corinthians 4:5. Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin. Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, the influence exerted for good or for evil with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel.
(HF 296.4)
The law of God is the standard in the judgment. “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment.”“So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14; James 2:12.
(HF 297.1)
Those “accounted worthy” will have part in the resurrection of the just. Jesus said: “They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, ... are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.”“They that have done good” shall come forth “unto the resurrection of life.” Luke 20:35, 36; John 5:29. The righteous dead will not be raised until after the judgment at which they are accounted worthy of “the resurrection of life.” Hence they will not be present in person when their records are examined and their cases decided.
(HF 297.2)
Jesus will appear as their advocate, to plead in their behalf before God. “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.”“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 9:24; 7:25.
(HF 297.3)
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. Every name is mentioned, every case 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. The Lord declared to Moses: “Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” Exodus 32:33.
(HF 297.4)
All who have truly repented and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice have had pardon entered in the books of heaven. As they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they will be accounted worthy of eternal life. The Lord declares: “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will ... confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Isaiah 43:25; Revelation 3:5; Matthew 10:32, 33.
(HF 298.1)
The divine Intercessor presents the plea that all who have overcome through faith in His blood be restored to their Eden home and crowned as joint heirs with Himself to “the first dominion.” Micah 4:8. Christ now asks that the divine plan in man’s creation be carried into effect as if man had never fallen. He asks for His people not only pardon and justification, but a share in His glory and a seat upon His throne.
(HF 298.2)
While Jesus is pleading for the subjects of His grace, Satan accuses them before God. He points to the record of their lives, the defects of character, the unlikeness to Christ, to all the sins he has tempted them to commit. Because of these he claims them as his subjects.
(HF 298.3)
Jesus does not excuse their sins, but shows their penitence and faith. Claiming for them forgiveness, He lifts His wounded hands before the Father, saying: I have graven them on the palms of My hands. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:17.
(HF 299.1)
And to the accuser He declares: “The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” Zechariah 3:2. Christ will clothe His faithful ones with His own righteousness, that He may present them to His Father “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” Ephesians 5:27.
(HF 299.2)
Thus will be realized the complete fulfillment of the new-covenant promise: “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”“In those days, and in that time, saith 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.”“And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem.” Jeremiah 31:34; 50:20; Isaiah 4:3.
(HF 299.3)
The work of investigative judgment and blotting out of sins is to be accomplished before the second advent of the Lord. In the typical service the high priest came forth and blessed the congregation. So Christ, at the close of His work as mediator, will appear “without sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9:28.
(HF 299.4)
The priest, in removing the sins from the sanctuary, confessed them upon the head of the scapegoat. Christ will place all these sins upon Satan, the instigator of sin. The scapegoat was sent away “unto a land not inhabited.” Leviticus 16:22. Satan, bearing the guilt of sins he has caused God’s people to commit, will for a thousand years be confined to the desolate earth and will at last suffer the penalty of fire that shall destroy the wicked. Thus the plan of redemption will reach its accomplishment in the final eradication of sin.
(HF 299.5)
At the time appointed—the close of the 2300 days in 1844—began the work of investigation and blotting out of sins. Sins not repented of and forsaken will not be blotted out of the books of record. Angels of God witnessed each sin and registered it. Sin may be denied, covered up from father, mother, wife, children, and associates; but it is laid bare before heaven. God is not deceived by appearances. He makes no mistakes. Men may be deceived by those corrupt in heart, but God reads the inner life.
(HF 300.1)
How solemn is the thought! The mightiest conquerer on earth cannot call back the record of a single day. Our acts, our words, even our secret motives, though forgotten by us, will bear their testimony to justify or condemn.
(HF 300.2)
In the judgment the use made of every talent will be scrutinized. How have we used our time, our pen, our voice, our money, our influence? What have we done for Christ in the person of the poor, the afflicted, the orphan, or the widow? What have we done with the light and truth given us? Only the love shown by works is counted genuine. Love alone in the sight of Heaven makes any act of value.
(HF 300.3)
Hidden selfishness stands revealed in the books of heaven. How often were given to Satan the time, thought, and strength that belonged to Christ. Professed followers of Christ are absorbed in the acquirement of worldly possessions or the enjoyment of earthly pleasures. Money, time, and strength are sacrificed for display and self-indulgence; few are the moments devoted to prayer, to the searching of Scripture, to confession of sin.
(HF 300.4)
Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds. The archdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice and an all-powerful Mediator. With him everything depends on diverting minds from Jesus.
(HF 301.1)
Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour’s mediation should permit nothing to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God. The precious hours, instead of being given to pleasure or to gain-seeking, should be devoted to prayerful study of the Word of Truth. The sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood. All need a knowledge of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible to exercise the faith essential at this time.
(HF 301.2)
The sanctuary in heaven is the center of Christ’s work in behalf of men. It concerns every soul living on earth. It opens to view the plan of redemption, bringing us down to the close of the contest between righteousness and sin.
(HF 301.3)
The intercession of Christ in man’s behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death on the cross. By His death He began that work which He ascended to complete in heaven. We must by faith enter within the veil, “whither the forerunner is for us entered.” Hebrews 6:20. There the light from the cross is reflected. There we gain a clearer insight into the mysteries of redemption.
(HF 301.4)
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13. If those who excuse their faults could see how Satan taunts Christ with their course, they would confess their sins and put them away. Satan works to gain control of the whole mind, and he knows that if defects are cherished, he will succeed. Therefore he constantly seeks to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it is impossible for them to overcome. But Jesus declared to all who would follow Him: “My grace is sufficient for thee.”“My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” 2 Corinthians 12:9; Matthew 11:30. Let none regard their defects as incurable. God will give faith and grace to overcome.
(HF 301.5)
We are now living in the great day of atonement. While the high priest was making atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now afflict their souls before God by true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The frivolous spirit indulged by so many must be put away. There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for mastery. Every one must be found without “spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” Ephesians 5:27.
(HF 302.1)
At this time above all others it behooves every soul to heed the Saviour’s admonition: “Watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.” Mark 13:33.
(HF 302.2)
Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. Christ, looking forward to that time, declares: “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.” Revelation 22:11, 12.
(HF 302.3)
Men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above. Before the Flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people continued their pleasure-loving life and mocked the warnings of judgment. “So,” says the Saviour, “shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the hour which marks the fixing of every man’s destiny. “Watch ye therefore: ... lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.” Matthew 24:39; Mark 13:35, 36.
(HF 302.4)
Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world. While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure-lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments—it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.” Daniel 5:27.
(HF 303.1)