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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 4
“Comfort one another with these words.” [
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
.]
How wide the contrast between these words of comfort and those
of the minister previously quoted. The latter consoled the bereaved
friends with the assurance, that, however sinful the dead might have
been, he was received among the angels as soon as he breathed out
his life here. Paul points his brethren to the future coming of the
Lord, when the fetters of the tomb shall be broken, and the “dead in
Christ” shall be raised to eternal life.
Before any can enter the mansions of the blest, their cases must
be investigated, and their characters and their deeds must pass in
review before God. All are to be judged according to the things
written in the books, and to be rewarded as their works have been.
This Judgment does not take place at death. Mark the words of Paul:
“He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in
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righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath
given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the
dead.” [
Acts 17:31
.] Here the apostle plainly stated that a specified
time, then future, had been fixed upon for the Judgment of the world.
Jude refers to the same period: “The angels which kept not
their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in
everlasting chains under darkness unto the Judgment of the great
day.” And again he quotes the words of Enoch: “Behold, the Lord
cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon
all.” [
Jude 6, 14, 15
.] John declares that he “saw the dead, small and
great, stand before God, and the books were opened;” “and the dead
were judged out of those things which were written in the books.”
[
Revelation 20:12
.]
But if the dead are already enjoying the bliss of Heaven or
writhing in the flames of hell, what need of a future Judgment?
The teachings of God’s word on these important points are neither
obscure nor contradictory; they may be understood by common
minds. But what candid mind can see either wisdom or justice in
the current theory? Will the righteous, after the investigation of their
cases at the Judgment, receive the commendation, “Well done, good
and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord,” when they
have been dwelling in his presence, perhaps for long ages? Are the
wicked summoned from the place of torment to receive the sentence
from the Judge of all the earth, “Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting