The Hour of His Judgment is Come 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 . As we by faith enter THE MOST HOLY PLACE we see the Father. His eyes are too pure than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity. “All things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do”. Before the Father are the sinless angels. They are the witnesses. These holy watchers, who have recorded all the deeds of our lives, are anxious that not one sinner enters heaven. They have seen what sin has cost. The books are open. In these ledgers there is an exact account of our whole life. Here God keeps a perfect photograph of our characters SDA 5BC pg. 1085. “The temple of God was open in heaven, and there was seen in this temple the ark of His testament”. Rev. 11:19. When God brought ancient Israel out of the land of Egypt, He brought them, to Mount Sinai and gave them His law with an awful demonstration of His glory and majesty. The people quaked exceedingly. In order that the people might appreciate the breadth of the laws demands, He gave them additional instructions, in the writings of Moses. Paul says: Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound, that sin by the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. Rom. 5:20; 7:13. The revelation of Gods infinite holiness was thus given that the people might recognize their sinfulness and despair of being able to fulfil the law. The law was a schoolmaster to lead them to Christ (Gal . 3 :24) . He alone could save them from its terrible penalty, and put the righteousness of the law in their hearts. Christ is the Lawgiver . The righteousness of the law is in Christ. Men could receive righteousness only by receiving Him. Only then could the righteousness of the law be fulfilled in them. When God brought us out of the house of bondage (October 22, 1844) He brought us to Mount Zion and gave us His law, not now amid the lightning and thundering of Sinai, but in view of the more terrible lightning and thundering of the eternal judgment bar (Rev.11:19). And with His law He has given us the writings of the end time prophetess to the remnant church and the world to magnify the ten words, and to show us the exceeding holiness of the laws demands. From THE MOST HOLY PLACE OF THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY, there shines upon our pathway the fullest revelation of obedience that has ever shone upon any people. As we faithfully compare our characters with that perfect law in full view of the judgment, we will realize our sinfulness, and despair of being able to fulfil the law. “Woe is me, for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.” Isa. 6:5. But as we cry out for a Saviour, we look again into THE MOST HOLY PLACE and “Lo, in the midst of the throne stands a Lamb as it had been slain”. Precious Saviour, torn and bruised on our account! The arms of the cross extend to the judgment. We do not have to look back to Calvary ; we may look up . and there is Jesus Christ…set forth. crucified among us. Gal.3:1. Jesus said: “If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” John 12:32; 3:14. “The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His love is drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Saviour .” DA 176. We will despise our pride, hate our sins which have crucified the Saviour, and with heartbroken repentance begin to afflict our souls as the Jews did on the typical Day of Atonement. (Lev. 23:27-32). In His message to Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-20), Christ brings against us the heavy charge of spiritual pride, blindness, and poverty. The Lord calls us to zealous repentance. We will never see our desperate need and come to that repentance until we enter that veil. Then as we understand our true condition in the light of the judgment, and look upon Him Whom we have pierced, Christ will pour upon us the spirit of grace and of supplication (Zech.12:10). Repentance is self-emptying. It leads us to die to self, to be crucified with Christ, that Christ may live in; us (Gal. 2:20; Rom. 6:6). Then, and only then, does the blood of Christ justify us from all sin. (Rom. 3:24-26). But this experience is not perfection (Heb. 6:1). “Christs character stands in place of [our] character.” SC 62. “He becomes our righteousness.” 1 SM 368. “The righteousness of Christ, as a pure, white pearl, has no defect, no stain.” COL. 115. This precious gift from Jesus is ours by faith . But let us remember that while He is perfect, we are not perfect. “The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in your own eyes; for your vision will be clearer, and your imperfections will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to his perfect nature…The soul that is transformed by the grace of Christ will admire His divine character; but if we do not see our own moral deformity, it is unmistakable evidence that we have not had a view of the beauty and excellence of Christ.” SC 64-5. We live in the hour of Gods judgment. The law demands of us a perfect character as perfect as God is perfect. There are sincere souls who trust in Christ to justify them, but imagine that they must either develop the ultimate in character perfection before the judgment or be lost. The nearer they come to Jesus or the more they endeavour to become perfect, the more faulty they see themselves to be . But worst of all, they realize with dreadful alarm that the judgment is right upon them, and they therefore struggle on in their fruitless endeavour. Let these poor struggling ones not only look to the Saviour as the Lamb in the most holy place, but also as their great High Priest. He stands in the judgment for everyone who will put their trust in Him (Heb. 9:24). Is not the Saviour our righteousness? Indeed! He has a righteousness to pass the judgment. He is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Cor . 1:30. God does not expect us to enter into the judgment to present our measure of sanctification to satisfy the demands of infinite holiness. He has given us the righteousness of Christ. It is given to every repentant, believing soul.” COL. 311. It has no defect, no stain, and no guilt. It meets every claim of the law. Wonderful Redeemer! Provided the repentant believer does not practise one known sin, or neglect on known duty, He may rest in Christs righteousness . It is His by faith as long as he hides his life in Christ (Phil. 3:9; Col. 3:1-3). He may rest in the finished work in Christ. The Sabbath is the sign of this rest in the all-sufficient righteousness of Christ. The ancient Day of Atonement also pointed to this rest. No work was to be performed on the Day of Atonement. Even so, on this great antitypical day of atonement, the believer must cease from his own works, and rest in the perfect work of Christ (Heb. 4:10, 11). This is his only hope. Not that this rest will lead to inactivity; on the contrary, this true faith of Jesus will manifest itself in works of obedience, and a diligent co-operation with Christ by fulfilling all the conditions of the Day of Atonement Let it be thoroughly understood that God does not expect His people to attain to the ultimate in sinless perfection before they come by faith to the judgment. He does not want us to come to the judgment as the Pharisee came to the temple to present before God his measure of righteousness. Oh, how many are trying to open the book themselves, and look thereon (Rev. 5:3-4)! How many are endeavouring to enter the marriage by living up to all the standards of the law! Christ is robbed of His glory. There is only one Man who can stand in the judgment-the Man Christ Jesus. We are to enter the judgment in Christ. The law cannot condemn us in Him. There is therefore now [in the presence of the judgment] no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Who shall lay any charge to, Gods elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Rom. 8:1, 33, 34. Let it be known by all the saints with all the certainty of gospel truth that in Jesus Christ there is no condemnation, there is no accusation, and there is no separation . Wonderful Saviour! Reader, flee to Jesus, and hide your life in Him…NOW ! We should fear God (have humility and afflict our souls before Him) and give glory to Him (as Abraham did when he considered his own body being dead, and the deadness of Sarahs womb-Rom.2 :19-21), because in the judgment Christ will have regard to the poor and needy (Ps.40:17; 70:5; 72:4,12,13), those who are destitute and have no strength (Ps.102:17; Deut.32:36), those who have a broken and contrite spirit, and, those who with brokenness of heart supplicate the great judge (Ps.51:17; Ps.43; Job 9:15). The revelation of law and love in the most holy place is perfectly designed to lead us into this experience. “He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and they poor with judgment…He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor…For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth the poor also, and him that bath no helper…He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.” Ps. 72:2, 4, 2, 13. “Save me, 0 God, by thy name, and judge me by thy strength. Hear my prayer, 0 God; give ear to the words of my mouth… For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul.” “Judge me, 0 God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God, and my Lord . Judge me, 0 Lord my God, according to thy righteousness ; and let them not rejoice over me. Ps. 54: 2, 3; Ps. 43:1; Ps. 35: 23, 24. The judgment is declared to be good news (Rev. 14:6), but heretofore the veil has been heavily upon our hearts in our concept of the judgment. As far as Gods people who are in this attitude of the Day of Atonement are concerned, the final judgment brings them final justification, or as the end time prophetess to the remnant church and the world says, Christ now asks …for His people justification, full and complete (GC.484). Justification and judgment are complimentary words in the salvation of Gods people. Justification is a judicial word, signifying an act of judgment on the part of God in declaring a man righteous by virtue of his faith in Christ. The closing work in the sanctuary brings to view the final justification or judgment of Gods people. The final judgment of God will declare them righteous for eternity. When Christ judges His people who manifest the spirit described in the above paragraph, it means that He will – 1. hear their prayer (Ps.54.1; Gen.30:6) 2. plead their cause (Ps.43:1 ; Isa.43:26- entire book of Hebrews) 3. save them (Ps.54:1; Ps.35:19-24) 4. deliver them (Ps.72 :2-6; 82:3-4). 5. defend them (Ps.82:3-4 margin; 1 Sam.24:15- entire book of Hebrews; 2 Sam.18:19, 20). 6. break in pieces the oppressor (Ps.72:14). This is particularly the meaning of the judgment as it is seen in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 and 14. In Daniel 7, a great conflict with the man of sin is depicted, but the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion. Dan. 7:26. This conflict and final deliverance is enlarged upon in Revelation 13 and 14. In Revelation 13 the satanic deceptions reach their height, and a decree is made unto all them that dwell on the earth that they should worship the beast and his image. But the angel comes, with the good news to all them that dwell on the earth that the hour of his judgments is come. The judgment sits to take away his dominion, that Gods people might get the victory over the beast, his image his mark and the number of his name. The judgment announced in Revelation 14, being the judgment of THE MOST HOLY PLACE, brings to Gods people everlasting salvation, everlasting defence, everlasting deliverance, everlasting justification, and all this full and complete through the power of the cross of Jesus. This is the good news of the judgment. It presents the gospel of Romans 3 to 5 in its fullness . Written by: Herold Wong
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 03:05:28 +0000
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