Bible Study Guides – Judgment

December 16 – 22, 2001

“The Hour of His Judgment is Come”

MEMORY VERSE: “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:2.

STUDY HELP: The Great Controversy, 423–432.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: “God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing.” Ecclesiastes 12:14.

Introduction

“The message of salvation has been preached in all ages; but this message [that the hour of judgment has come] is a part of the gospel which could be proclaimed only in the last days, for only then would it be true that the hour of judgment had come. [Revelation 14:6-7.] The prophecies present a succession of events leading down to the opening of the judgment. This is especially true of the book of Daniel. But that part of his prophecy which related to the last days, Daniel was bidden to close up and seal ‘to the time of the end.’ Not till we reach this time could a message concerning the judgment be proclaimed, based on a fulfillment of these prophecies. But at the time of the end, says the prophet, ‘many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.’ Daniel 12:4.” The Great Controversy, 356.

“Is There Knowledge in the Most High?”

1 What is there about this world that requires a judgment to take place? Psalm 73:3–12.

NOTE: “There are times when under adversity and sorrow, the servants of God become discouraged and despondent. They brood over their circumstances, and, contrasting their condition with the prosperity of those who have no thought or care for eternal things, they feel aggrieved. They manifest a spirit of reproach, and murmur and repine at their lot. They seem to consider that God is under special obligation to bless them and prosper their undertakings, and therefore, as they are placed in situations of trial, they grow rebellious, and look with envy on the wicked who flourish in their iniquity. They seem to regard the condition of the transgressor as preferable to their own. These bitter thoughts are suggested to the mind by the deceiver of mankind.” Signs of the Times, February 3, 1888.

2 As the psalmist struggled with this problem, where did he find the solution? Psalm 73:16, 17.

NOTE: “But when he [David] went into the sanctuary, and communed with the Lord, he no longer desired the portion of the wicked; for then he understood their end. He saw that their way led to destruction at last, and their pleasure was but for a season. Envy had no more a place in his heart. His rebellious spirit bowed in humble submission to his God, and he declared, ‘Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.’ He saw that the guidance of the Lord was of infinitely more value than all the temporal prosperity of the world; for the way of the Lord kept the feet in the paths of righteousness that lead to eternal glory.” Ibid.

“Thy Way, O God, is in the Sanctuary”

3 How did God teach the truth about the judgment and its outcome to His people of old? Exodus 28:29, 30. Compare Isaiah 59:15–20.

NOTE: “The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise, it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time, or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill. Every individual has a soul to save or to lose. Each has a case pending at the bar of God. Each must meet the great Judge face to face. How important, then, that every mind contemplate often the solemn scene when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, when, with Daniel, every individual must stand in his lot, at the end of the days.” Evangelism, 221. See also Patriarchs and Prophets, 351.

4 What picture of the judgment was Daniel shown? Daniel 7:9, 10.

NOTE: “Thus was presented to the prophet’s vision the great and solemn day when the characters and the lives of men should pass in review before the Judge of all the earth, and to every man should be rendered ‘according to his works.’ The Ancient of days is God the Father.…It is He, the source of all being, and the fountain of all law, that is to preside in the judgment. And holy angels, as ministers and witnesses, in number ‘ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands’ (Revelation 5:11), attend this great tribunal.” The Faith I Live By, 209.

5 Whose intervention in the judgment was crucial to the outcome of the judgment? Daniel 7:13, 14, 18, 27. Compare Malachi 3:1–4; John 5:22.

NOTE: See The Great Controversy, 480.

“Judgment Must Begin at the House of God”

6 With who is the work of judgment first concerned? 1 Peter 4:17.

NOTE: “In the typical service only those who had come before God with confession and repentance, and whose sins, through the blood of the sin offering, were transferred to the sanctuary, had a part in the service of the Day of Atonement. So in the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. The judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work, and takes place at a later period. ‘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?’ 1 Peter 4:17.” Ibid.

7 Which people are protected in the time of God’s judgment? Ezekiel 9:1–6. Compare Revelation 7:1–4.

NOTE: “He who presides over His church and the destinies of nations is carrying forward the last work to be accomplished for this world. To His angels He gives the commission to execute His judgments. Let the ministers awake, let them take in the situation. The work of judgment begins at the sanctuary. ‘And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar.’ Read Ezekiel 9:2–7. The command is, ‘Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.’ Saith God, ‘I will recompense their way upon their head.’ The words will soon be spoken, ‘Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.’ One of the ministers of vengeance declares. ‘And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because Thou hast judged thus.’” Testimonies to Ministers, 431.

8 What is the significance of the mark or seal placed upon God’s faithful people? 2 Timothy 2:19.

NOTE: “The seal of God will be placed upon the foreheads of those only who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. Those who link in sympathy with the world are eating and drinking with the drunken, and will surely be destroyed with the workers of iniquity. ‘The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry;’ but ‘the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.’ Psalm 34:15, 16.…Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul-temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost.…The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God,—candidates for heaven. Search the Scriptures for yourselves, that you may understand the fearful solemnity of the present hour.” Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White, 187, 189, 191. See also Review and Herald, July 13, 1897.

“With What Judgment Ye Judge, Ye Shall be Judged”

9 What is a fundamental principle in the judgment? Matthew 7:2. Compare Matthew 6:14, 15; Matthew 5:19; Romans 2:3.

NOTE: “We are not forgiven because we forgive, but as we forgive. The ground of all forgiveness is found in the unmerited love of God, but by our attitude toward others we show whether we have made that love our own. Wherefore Christ says, ‘With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.’ Matthew 7:2.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 251.

“He who takes upon himself the work of judging and criticizing others, lays himself open to the same degree of judgment and criticism. Those who are ready to condemn their brethren, would do well to examine their own works and character. Such an examination, honestly made, will reveal the fact that they, too, have defects of character, and have made grave blunders in their work. If the great Judge should deal with men as they deal with their fellow workers, they would regard Him as unkind and unmerciful.” Christian Leadership, 59.

10 What warning did Christ give about the judgment? Matthew 12:36, 37. Compare Ecclesiastes 12:13.

NOTE: See Desire of Ages, 323.

“The Righteous Judge”

11 How did Paul express his confidence in Christ as his Judge? 2 Timothy 4:7, 8. See also Matthew 25:31–40.

NOTE: “In the account of the judgment scene, when the reward is given to the righteous, and sentence is passed on the wicked, the righteous are represented as wondering what they have done that they should receive such reward. But they cherished an abiding faith in Christ. They were imbued with His Spirit, and, without conscious effort, they performed for Christ, in the person of His saints, those services that bring a sure reward. But their motive in working was not to receive compensation. They regarded it as the highest honor to be allowed to work as Christ worked. What they did was done from love to Christ and to their fellowmen, and He who has identified Himself with suffering humanity accredited these acts of compassion and love as though done to Himself.…Our every endowment, our every talent, we owe to the Lord. Every victory gained is gained through His grace. Therefore, it is entirely out of place for us to boast.…” Lift Him Up, 343.

12 How does Christ announce the verdict of the judgment and what will He do immediately after this? Revelation 22:11, 12.

NOTE: See The Great Controversy, 490, 491.

By Gordon Anderson