The prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation are companion volumes pointing us to the unfolding events in the last days of earth’s history. The book of Revelation announces that the hour of God’s judgment has come. The book of Daniel reveals when the judgment began.

In Daniel 7:1-28, God revealed the history of the world to the prophet. Nations rise and fall. Persecuting powers oppress the people of God. After describing Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, Rome, the breakup of the Roman Empire, and the persecution of the church for the 1,260 years depicted in the text (Daniel 7:25; see also Revelation 12:6, Revelation 12:14),

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God focuses Daniel’s mind on a glorious celestial event that will set all things right. The prophet’s attention is directed from the rise and fall of nations and the oppressive powers of earth to the throne room of the universe and God’s final judgment, when He will right every wrong and establish His everlasting kingdom of righteousness.

God took Daniel in prophetic vision from the chaos and conflict of the earth to the glories of heaven’s sanctuary and the sitting of the supreme court of the universe, where Christ, the Rightful Ruler of this world, would receive from His Father the kingdom that was rightfully His.

Read Daniel 7:9-10, Daniel 7:13 and describe what Daniel saw in these verses. What, too, is the final result of this judgment? See Daniel 7:14, Daniel 7:26-27.

The destiny of all humanity is decided in heaven’s courtroom. Right prevails. Truth triumphs. Justice reigns. This is one of the most amazing, most marvelous, most spectacular scenes in all of Scripture. And the good news is that it ends very well for God’s faithful people, those clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

Jesus approaches His heavenly Father in the presence of the entire universe. Heavenly beings crowd in around the throne of God. The entire universe of unfallen beings stands in awe of this judgment scene. The long conflict that has waged for millenniums is soon to be over. The battle for the throne of the universe is fully, completely decided.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

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The cross and judgment both reveal that God is just and merciful. The broken law demands the death of the sinner. Justice declares, “The wages of sin is death.” Mercy responds, “The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23, NKJV). If God’s law could be changed or abolished, it would be totally unnecessary for Jesus to die. Christ’s death establishes the eternal nature of the law, and the law is the basis of judgment.

Read Revelation 20:12. How are we judged? What relationship do our good works have to our salvation?

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Our works reveal our choices and our loyalty to God. According to Ephesians 2:8-9, “by grace you have been saved through faith … not of works, lest anyone should boast” (NKJV). But when Christ saves us, He changes us. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10, NKJV).

Our good works, empowered by the Holy Spirit, do not save us, but they do testify that our faith is genuine. God’s final judgment strips away all pretense, all hypocrisy, all falsehood, and pierces into the very depth of our being. In depicting our position before God in the judgment, Ellen G. White provides this powerful insight into how the gospel and judgment go hand in hand.

“The fact that the acknowledged people of God are represented as standing before the Lord in filthy garments should lead to humility and deep searching of heart on the part of all who profess His name. Those who are indeed purifying their souls by obeying the truth will have a most humble opinion of themselves. The more closely they view the spotless character of Christ, the stronger will be their desire to be conformed to His image, and the less will they see of purity or holiness in themselves. But while we should realize our sinful condition, we are to rely upon Christ as our righteousness, our sanctification, and our redemption. We cannot answer the charges of Satan against us. Christ alone can make an effectual plea in our behalf. He is able to silence the accuser with arguments founded not upon our merits, but on His own.” — Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, Pages 471, 472.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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“Three Cosmic Messages” encourages us to 
Watch, Ye Saints – Hymn 598 as we near the end of this old world’s history to witness the Second Coming of our Lord, and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This is a wonderful hymn to give courage, dear people, and is our theme for this quarter.

 We will be noting at times throughout the quarter that
“Tis Almost Time For The Lord To Come – Hymn 212 and we should be proclaiming the message that 
Jesus Is Coming Again – Hymn 213.

 The memory text for this week rings true in 
Hymn 418 – Day Of Judgment, Day Of Wonder and 
Hymn 416 – The Judgment Has Set.

Sunday tells more of the judgment and that “God has done justice and mercy” with His 
Amazing Grace – Hymn  108, because 
God’s Free Mercy Streameth – Hymn 110 as we ask 
God Be Merciful To Me – Hymn 297.

 Ah, such mercy is shown on Monday: 
Hymn 521 – Depth Of Mercy allowing every person who chooses the Love of Jesus to see 
Jerusalem, The Golden – Hymn 419 (Tuesday) and our 
Lord, Enthroned In Heavenly Splendour – Hymn 408. This story continues on Wednesday where we all may wish to sing 
A Song Of Heaven And Homeland – Hymn 472. It is there that we have a robe awaiting us: 
Hymn 284 – For You I Am Praying (verse 3).

Revelation 5:1 – 3 remind us that “Jesus Is Worthy”: 
Hymn 246 – Worthy, Worthy Is The Lamb.

We find our defence on Friday is our prayers: 
Hymn 658 – Heavenly Father, Hear Our Prayer.

 So, dear people, be encouraged to go forward and
“Lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring, Jesus IS coming again” – Hymn 213.

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org/Search and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

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Key Thought: It is clear that God is a God of judgment, and that judgment will come, as every one of us shall give an account of Himself to God.
April 29, 2023

1. Have a volunteer read Revelation 20:12.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. What does the everlasting gospel have to do with God’s judgment?
3. Personal Application: What is the meaning and purpose of the judgment? Share your thoughts..
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “I don’t think Christians are judged. It’s only the non-believers who are judged for their evil deeds and not accepting Christ for their forgiveness.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Daniel 7:9,10,13,14,26,27.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What did Daniel see? What is the result of the final judgment?
3. Personal Application: Why is the judgment good news and not bad news? Share your thoughts
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why should I believe in an everlasting kingdom that shall never pass away as described in Daniel?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Revelation 5:8-12

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How does God’s judgment reveal the character of God?
3. Personal Application: How does the knowledge that the hour of God’s judgment has come affect our daily lives? How can we make sure it does? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your neighbors states: “What do our good works have to do with our salvation as we are saved by grace through faith? The judgment seems to contradict a faith-based gospel?” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Revelation 4:2-4.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. Who are the 24 elders seated before the throne and what do the crowns on their heads represent?
   (Note: The crowns represent victory. They were redeemed from the earth. This is the jury of your peers. The angels were painted on the blue curtains around the Most Holy Place. These are the crowd of witnesses.)
3. Personal Application: If someone asked you if you thought you would be present for your case in the heavenly court, how would you respond to them? 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).

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The Bible’s last book, Revelation, focuses on the culmination of the age-long controversy between good and evil. Lucifer, a rebel angel, challenged the justice, fairness, and wisdom of God. He claimed that God was unfair and unjust in the way that He administered the universe. Revelation’s final judgment is at the very center of this conflict over the character of God.

Revelation 14:7, reads: “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (NKJV). Why is it significant that right after we are told about the “everlasting gospel,” the first angel’s message talks about God’s judgment? What does the “everlasting gospel” have to do with God’s judgment?

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The gospel and the judgment, both parts of the first angel’s message, are inseparably intertwined. Were it not for the “everlasting gospel,” we would have no hope in the judgment. In fact, as we will see, the “everlasting gospel” is, indeed, our only hope in the judgment. There is no question that part of the content of the gospel is the announcement of judgment.

During this judgment, the unfallen worlds will see that God has done everything He can to save every human being. This judgment reveals God’s justice and mercy. It says something about His love and law. It speaks of His grace to save and His power to deliver.

The judgment is part of God’s ultimate solution to the sin problem. In the great controversy between good and evil in the universe, God answered Satan’s charges on the cross, but in the judgment, He reveals that He has done everything possible to save us and to lead us to the cross.

Heaven’s infinite, minute, exact, detailed records will be opened (see Daniel 7:10). We are so precious to God that the entire universe pauses to consider the choices we have made in light of the wooing of the Holy Spirit and the redemption so freely provided by Christ on Calvary’s cross.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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