Key Thought: The whole process of the judgment had three main phases: pre-Advent judgment, millennial judgment, and the executive judgment which vindicates the righteous, and culminates in the second death of the lost.
December 24, 2022

1. Have a volunteer read Matthew 25:31-46; John 5:21-29..

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. How did Jesus point to the ideas of both condemnation and vindication in the final judgment?
3. Personal Application: Knowing that we are going to face the judgment, how should that influence how we act, live, and interact with others? Share your thoughts..
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “I thought the saved in Christ won’t be judged or come into judgment. How can you say that Christians will be judged?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Revelation 14:6,7

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why does everyone have to be judged before Jesus comes back to the earth?
3. Personal Application: Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “We are going to be sinning until Jesus comes and changes our nature. Because no one is sinless. But if Jesus is going to destroy sin when He comes, how are we to be saved if we are still holding on to sin?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Acts 8:4-24.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Why does God allow the saved to participate in the judgment process? He doesn’t need to do that, does He?
3. Personal Application: Do you think we will experience any culpability or responsibility for some who are lost? How can we have that experience? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “How do the saved judge the lost? Do they make the determination if one is saved or lost? Do they sit as spectators as the cases of the lost are brought up? Why does it take a 1,000 years to be finished?” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read 2 Peter 3:10-13.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How effective are the lake of fire and the second death?
3. Personal Application: What is wrong with the concept of universalism – the God is going to save everyone in the end? Share your thoughts?
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!(0)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/12-the-judging-process-teaching-plan/

Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “Without a Wedding Garment,” Pages 307-319, in Christ’s Object Lessons; “Desolation of the Earth,” Pages 653-661; “The Controversy Ended,” Pages 662-673, in The Great Controversy.

Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com

“In the day of final judgment, every lost soul will understand the nature of his own rejection of truth. The cross will be presented, and its real bearing will be seen by every mind that has been blinded by transgression. Before the vision of Calvary with its mysterious Victim, sinners will stand condemned. Every lying excuse will be swept away. Human apostasy will appear in its heinous character. Men will see what their choice has been. Every question of truth and error in the long-standing controversy will then have been made plain. In the judgment of the universe, God will stand clear of blame for the existence or continuance of evil. It will be demonstrated that the divine decrees are not accessory to sin. There was no defect in God’s government, no cause for disaffection. When the thoughts of all hearts shall be revealed, both the loyal and the rebellious will unite in declaring, ‘Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints. Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? … for Thy judgments are made manifest.’ Revelation 15:3-4.” — Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 58.

Discussion Questions:

<–Thursday

Amen!(5)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/friday-further-thought-judging-process/