What place do our works have in judgment?
(Acts 17:31; Romans 2:12; Hebrews 12:21-29; Rev. 14:6-7) Blog Apr. 23–29, 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: God’s final call to earth’s inhabitants is represented by three angels flying in mid heaven. They carry the story of Jesus’ perfect life and atoning death and begin with a call to faith in that good news. The reason given by the first angel to do this is because the time has come for God to judge. Then he outlines how to prepare for that judgment.
Its Timing
1. When were the angels of Revelation 14 released from the Euphrates River? It was during the time that God’s people blew the sixth trumpet & the fall of the Ottoman empire in the 1840s that the angels of Revelation 14 were released to give their messages (Rev. 9:13-15).
2. During which of the seven churches did God open the door to heaven’s judgment chamber? The door to heaven’s Most Holy Place was opened during the time of the sixth church (Philadelphia) (Rev. 3:7-8; 11:19).
3. Where does the judgment appear in the seven seals? The judgment is symbolized by a great earthquake under the sixth seal & results in the sealing of God’s people (Heb. 12:25-28; Rev. 6:12-17; 7:4-8).
4. What internal evidence in Revelation 14 shows us that God’s judgment occurs in the last days? The preliminary scene of the 144,000 with Jesus on Mount Zion & the scene of earth’s harvest following the three messages, show that the hour of God’s judgment is a last days’ event (Rev. 14:1, 14-15).
5. How did Paul on Mars Hill show that God was planning to conduct a last day’s judgment? Paul said that God had appointed a day in which he would judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:31).
7. In what tense of the verb do all the Bible writers refer to God’s judgment? All the Bibles writers refer to God’s judgment of his people as future (Deut. 32:36; 1 Sam. 2:10; Psa. 9:7-8; Isa. 2:4; John 12:48; Rom. 2:16; 2 Tim. 4:1; Heb. 10:30).
8. Why must God’s final judgment of his people take place before Christ’s second coming? God’s final judgment for his people takes place before the second coming for it immediately precedes earth’s harvest, it determines whose names will be retained & whose blotted out of the book of life, & when Christ comes our rewards have already been decided, for he brings them with him (Isa. 40:10; 43:25; 62:11; Acts 3:19; Rev. 3:5; 14:2; 22:12).
9. Where does Daniel place God’s final judgment? Daniel places God’s final judgment in heaven, after the kingdoms of Babylon, Medo-persia, Greece, Rome, & the “Holy Roman Empire.” (Dan. 7:3-10).
Its Content
10. What is the source of evidence in God’s final judgment? Heaven’s records of our lives are the source of evidence in the judgment (Dan. 7:10; 12:1; Rev. 20:12).
11. Who oversees God’s final judgment? God, the Father, oversees the judgment (Dan. 7:9-10).
12. Who is the judge in God’s final judgment? Jesus is both advocate & judge in the judgment (Psa. 72:1-2; Dan. 7:13; John 5:22; 1 Cor. 4:4; 1 John 2:1).
13. In the earthly service were priests also judges? Yes, the priests on earth were both advocates & judges. It was their duty to defend the accused & judge in their favor if at all possible under the law (Deut. 17:9; Eze. 44:15, 24).
14.What is the standard in God’s final judgment? The standard of judgment is God’s holy law, the Ten Commandments (Rom. 2:12; Jam. 2:12).
15. How does Zechariah portray the judgment? Zechariah depicts God’s people as entering the judgment with defective characters which Satan is quick to point to as a reason for them to be condemned. But Jesus defends them, declaring that they have been rescued from the fire, & he clothes them with his perfect righteousness (Zech. 3:1-5).
Its Hope
16. Is Revelation 4 and 5 a picture of God’s final judgment? No, Revelation 4 & 5 depict Christ’s exaltation upon returning to heaven after his time on earth & the pouring out of God’s Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:32-33; Rev. 4:5; 5:6-7; 6:1-2).
17. What similarities appear between Daniel 7 and Revelation 4? Both passages depict God on the throne & the Lamb before him while surrounded by heavenly beings, but Daniel sees God’s throne move from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place, while in Revelation the scene takes place in the Holy Place & the Lamb is not pictured as a judge (Dan. 7:9-10; Rev. 4:2; 5:6).
18. Considering God’s high standard and our unworthiness how should we approach the judgment? We should approach judgment like Israel approached Mount Sinai, with fear & trembling, for we are not worthy to enter God’s holy presence (Isa. 66:2; Jer. 5:22; Joel 2:1, 15-17; Phil. 2:12; Heb. 12:21-29).
19. Who’s story is a fitting Bible example of coming before God in judgment? The story of Queen Esther entering the king’s presence uninvited is a picture of how we are to enter a judgment where our only hope is in the mercy of God & our only defense is prayer (Est. 4:10-5:3).
20. What place do our works have in judgment? Our works testify as to whether our faith is genuine or not. If our faith is genuine then Jesus presents his life of obedience & atoning death as our Substitute & blots out our sins, giving us life eternal (Rom. 2:6-7; James 2:17-18).