The Bible tells us that at the Second Coming 1. both the living saints and the resurrected saints will “meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17); 2. all the saints will be taken to heaven to abide in the heavenly “dwelling places” that He Himself has prepared for them (John 14:1-3, NRSV); and 3. only at the end of the millennium will the New Jerusalem come down to this earth and become the everlasting home of the saints (Revelation 21:1-3, Revelation 21:9-11). So, during the millennium, while this earth remains desolated, the saints will reign with Christ in heaven (Jeremiah 4:23, Revelation 20:4).

Read 1 Corinthians 6:2-3,  and Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 20:11-13. Why should the saints participate in the millennial judgment?

Image © Steve Creitz at Goodsalt.com

The whole judgment process is intended 1. to vindicate God’s character against the accusations of Satan that God is unfair in the way He treats His creatures; 2. to confirm the impartiality of the rewards of the righteous; 3. to demonstrate the justice of the punishments of the wicked; and 4. to dissipate all doubts that could lead toward another rebellion in the universe. In the pre-advent investigative judgment of the righteous, only the heavenly hosts are involved (Daniel 7:9-10). But during the millennial judgment of the wicked and the fallen angels, the saints themselves will also participate (1 Corinthians 6:3, Jude 6, Revelation 20:4-6).

The pre-advent investigative judgment began in 1844 when “thrones were put in place. … The court was seated, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:9-10, , NKJV). The millennial judgment, however, will start after the saints are taken to heaven and sit on thrones, and the judgment is committed to them. Then, once more, the heavenly books are opened, and the dead are “judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (Revelation 20:4, Revelation 20:12, NKJV). This process provides an opportunity for the saints to evaluate the heavenly records and to see God’s fair treatment in all cases. He not only rewards all human beings according to what they deserve based on their own decisions, but also explains to them why He does so.

<–Monday Wednesday–>

Amen!(0)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/tuesday-millennial-judgment/

The concept of judgment before the return of Christ, or what we call a “pre-Advent” judgment, is found in many places in Scripture.

Read Daniel 7:9-14; Matthew 22:1-14; Revelation 11:1, Revelation 11:18-19; and Revelation 14:6-7. How do these passages shed light on the notion of a pre-advent investigative judgment in the heavenly courtroom? What is the significance of such a judgment?

Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com

The concept of a pre-advent investigative judgment of God’s people is grounded on three basic biblical teachings.

One is the notion that all the dead — righteous or unrighteous — remain unconscious in their graves until the final resurrections (John 5:25-29).

The second is the existence of a universal judgment of all human beings (2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:11-13).

The third is the fact that the first resurrection will be the blessed reward for the righteous, and the second resurrection will be eternal death for the wicked (John 5:28-29; Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 20:12-15).

What this means is that if all human beings will be judged, they should be judged prior to their respective resurrections, because at those resurrections they will receive their final rewards.

The book of Daniel helps us to understand both the time and the nature of that pre-advent judgment. At the end of the 2,300 symbolic days — in 1844 — the heavenly sanctuary would be cleansed (Daniel 8:14, compare with Hebrews 9:23) and the pre-advent investigative judgment would begin (Daniel 7:9-14), two different ways of expressing the same event. And the judgment is “in favor of the saints of the Most High” (Daniel 7:22, NKJV). That is, it’s good news for God’s people.

In Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus spoke of an investigation of the wedding guests before the wedding feast actually started.

And in the book of Revelation, the pre-advent investigative judgment is referred to by the task of measuring “those who worship” in the temple of God (Revelation 11:1, NKJV) and in the announcement that “the hour of His judgment has come” (Revelation 14:6-7 NKJV; compare with Revelation 14:14-16).

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

Amen!(0)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/monday-pre-advent-judgment/

For many, the idea of judgment means condemnation. And though that’s part of the process, we mustn’t forget that the idea of judgment has a positive side, in that judgment also involves the vindication of the righteous. Actually, the book of Daniel refers to an end-time judgment “in favor of the saints of the Most High” (Daniel 7:22, NKJV). God’s judgment includes both — a principle found in this Old Testament text: “Then hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness” (1 Kings 8:32, NKJV).

Read Matthew 25:31-46 and John 5:21-29. How did Christ point to the concepts of both condemnation and vindication in the final judgment?

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

Some claim that the expressions “is not judged” (John 3:18, NASB) and “will not be judged” (John 5:24, NIV) mean that those who are in Christ are not judged at all. But these expressions imply that believers are not condemned in the judgment. Hence the texts should be understood as saying “is not condemned” (John 3:18, NIV) and “shall not come into condemnation” (John 5:24).

In short, our destiny is determined in our present life. Those in Christ have their vindication at the judgment already assured, and those who are not in Christ remain under condemnation. Describing the judgment (Matthew 25:31-46), Christ mentioned the presence not only of the goats (wicked) but also of the sheep (righteous). And the apostle Paul stated explicitly, “For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10, NRSV).

While reflecting on the judgment, we should keep in mind that we are saved by grace (Isaiah 55:1, Ephesians 2:8-10), justified by faith (Genesis 15:6, Romans 5:1), and judged by works (Eccles. 12:14, Matthew 25:31-46, Revelation 20:11-13). The basis of the judgment process is God’s moral law as summarized in the Ten Commandments (Eccles. 12:13, Revelation 20:11-13; James 1:25; James 2:8-17). Our works are the external evidences of the genuineness of our saving experience and, consequently, the elements to be appraised during judgment.

Remember: there is no arbitrary decree from God electing some to be saved and others to be lost. Each one is morally responsible for his or her own destiny.

In the end, the judgment is not the time when God decides to accept or reject us, but the time when God finalizes our choice whether or not we have accepted Him — a choice made manifest by our works.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Amen!(0)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/sunday-final-judgment/

Image © Pacific Press

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Matthew 25:31-46; Daniel 7:9-14; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3; 2 Peter 2:4-6; Malachi 4:1; Revelation 21:8.

Memory Text: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10, NIV).

If Scripture is clear about one thing, it is the reality of judgment. God will judge the world. The texts, both in the Old Testament and the New, are numerous and without ambiguity. The justice so lacking here and now will one day come.

The Bible says that God has “perfect knowledge” (Job 37:16, NIV) and “knows everything” (1 John 3:20, NIV), including our most secret intentions (Ecclesiastes 12:14, Jeremiah 17:10). We can hide from everyone and everything else, but nothing is hidden from God.

What this reality implies is that He does not need a judgment for Himself to know the life of each individual. God’s judgments are, indeed, a divine accommodation, carried on for the sake of His creatures, both in heaven and on earth. This process is of a cosmic-historical nature because Lucifer began his rebellion in heaven and then spread it to this world (Revelation 12:7-9).

During this week we will consider the end-time judgment process with its three main phases: the pre-advent judgment, the millennial judgment, and the executive judgment. The whole process ends with the vindication of the righteous and the second death of the wicked.

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, December 24.

Sunday–>

Amen!(0)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/sabbath-judging-process/

Jesus Versus the Dragon

By Andrew McChesney

Something strange happened to Kue in northern Laos in late 2020. Her body, and especially her belly, started to swell up.

Her worried husband, Cheng, took her to the local shaman, who informed them that a dragon at impregnated Kue and intended to take her away to an underwater world. “You need to give animal sacrifices to appease the dragon and to call back Kue’s spirit,” the shaman said, solemnly.

Image © Pacific Press

Cheng readily gave the shaman everything that he demanded, but Kue only got worse. Cheng turned to traditional healers for multiple treatments over the next two months, but nothing helped. He spent everything on shamans and traditional healers, but Kue’s health continued to deteriorate.

Finally, Cheng thought about asking a Christian pastor to pray for Kue.

Two Seventh-day Adventist leaders happened to be visiting Kue’s village at the time and, after praying for her, decided to send her to a hospital in Laos’ capital, Vientiane. At the hospital, the physician diagnosed Kue with Nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disorder whose symptoms include swelling linked to excess fluid retention. But after a week in the hospital, Kue sank into a coma and had to be placed on life support. She was transferred to the intensive care unit, where the physician put her chances of survival at 50-50. He asked who would pay the high medical bills to keep her under his care.

Cheng spoke with his relatives and realized that they did not have the money. Adventist leaders, who had brought Kue to the capital and paid her initial hospital bills, also lacked the funds. Faced with high bills and no assurance that Kue would recover, Cheng made the difficult decision to remove her from life support and bring her home.

“It was very painful to send her back home to die, but there was nothing we could do for her,” a church leader said later. “The only hope left was that God would show mercy and perform a miracle for her.”

Days after returning home, Cheng called the Adventist district pastor to ask him to pray for Kue in their home. The pastor, who arrived with several Bible workers, lived far away. He decided to stay for a few days so he also could assist with the funeral. As the family waited for Kau to die, the pastor and Bible workers fasted and prayed daily. Instead of dying, Kue improved. She began to breathe easily on her own, and the swelling subsided. By May 2021, she was able to walk without assistance.

Today, Kue is a living testimony to the people of northern Laos that there is a God in heaven.

Thank you for your Sabbath School mission offerings that support the spread of the gospel in Laos and around the world.

Produced by the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission. Find more mission stories at adventistmission[dot]org

Amen!(0)

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/inside-story-jesus-vs-the-dragon/