The Three Judgments

Recap

Satan accused God of being unjust, or unfair.

How can this great controversy close?

God needs to answer the accusations of Satan to everyone after enough evidence has been provided.

This occurs through “judgment.”

Romans 14:10–12 (AV 1873)

10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Paul connects a coming judgment to everyone bowing to God. Every knee will bow only when each understands that God is righteous and just in all of His ways. God won’t force everyone to submit to Him…

John 9:39 (NLT)

39 Then Jesus told him, “I entered this world to render judgment—to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”

The Three Judgments

Investigative Judgment (Daniel 7:9-10; Luke 20:35)

Millennial Judgment (1 Corinthians 6:3; Luke 22:29–30; Revelation 20:4)

Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11–13)

What’s the Need for a Future Judgment?

Future Judgment only needed in the context of the Great Controversy.

Matthew 13:24–30 (AV 1873)

24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

Good seed = Christ’s Spirit living in His children.

25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

Tares = Satan’s spirit living in his children.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

Why is there evil in the world?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

Servant asking if he should eradicate evil himself.

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

If we try to separate the good from the evil by ourselves, we will cause irreversible damage.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Wheat and Tares Comparison

Tares look just like wheat, but are poisonous. There are imposters in the Church, claiming to be representatives of God, but they are misrepresenting His character.

This is why there is…

A Polluted Sanctuary

Leviticus 20:3 (AV 1873)

3 And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.

People were claiming to worship God, but were doing child sacrifice.

Ezekiel 44:7 (AV 1873)

7 in that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.

Misrepresenting God’s character = Polluting the sanctuary.

As the spiritual sanctuary (Church) is polluted with lies about God and sin, the heavenly sanctuary is polluted.

Imposters have been misrepresenting God to the world, and those in heaven.

Who is the main stranger that has come into God’s sanctuary and polluted it with lies about God?

Masterpiece of Misrepresentation

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 (AV 1873)

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Papacy misrepresents God’s character by claiming to be His representative…

Beast from the Sea a counterfeit Christ, a counterfeit revelation of God.

Revelation 13:6 (YLT)

6 and it did open its mouth for evil-speaking toward God, to speak evil of His name, and of His tabernacle, and of those who in the heaven tabernacle,

Papacy spreads lies about God’s character via false doctrine, crusades, changing laws, etc., which leads to sin and rebellion…

Remember, whenever we misrepresent God’s character through our actions, we are just as bad as the Medieval Church.

Right after the work of the Papacy in Daniel 7 and Daniel 8, we read of the Judgment and the Cleansing of the Sanctuary:

Comparison between Daniel 7:8-10 and Daniel 8:9-14.

The Investigative Judgment

God doesn’t need to investigate who are His and who aren’t, since “The Lord knoweth them that are his” (2 Tim. 2:19)—He “knows His sheep” (John 10:14).

So who is the investigative judgment primarily for? Who is witnessing this investigation?

Daniel 7:10 (AV 1873)

10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Millions of angels are earnestly watching this judgment!

Exodus 25:20 (NLT)

20 The cherubim will face each other and look down on the atonement cover. With their wings spread above it, they will protect it.

This is where the cleansing of the sanctuary takes place!

Matthew 13:47–49 (RSV)

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind;

48 when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad.

49 So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous,

Standard of the Judgment

Judged by works (Rev. 20:12).

Matthew 25:31–40 (AV 1873)

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32 and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 for I was a hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Thus Christ on the Mount of Olives pictured to His disciples the scene of the great judgment day. And He represented its decision as turning upon one point. When the nations are gathered before Him, there will be but two classes, and their eternal destiny will be determined by what they have done or have neglected to do for Him in the person of the poor and the suffering. DA 637.1

When we don’t love our neighbors, we are crucifying the Son of God afresh.

But when we actively love our neighbors, we are helping reduce Christ’s sufferings.

In the Investigative Judgment the onlooking universe will see the works of all “Christians.” The veil shall be removed and they will see how everyone has responded to the cross of Christ in the person of His people.

Those who continue to crucified Christ obviously don’t love or trust Him, and are thus unfit to live with Him for eternity.

Those who have been crucified with Christ and have entered into His sufferings show their love for and trust in Him. Thus they have clearly declared their desire to live with Him forever.

God wants to bring everyone He can to heaven! But He won’t force anyone to come. He will only bring those who genuinely love and trust Him.

Thus the “blood of Christ” will cleanse the onlooking universe of all slanders against God.

The Millennial Judgment

Revelation 20:4 (AV 1873)

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them… and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Who are these sitting on thrones during the Millennium? Who are they judging?

Luke 22:29–30 (AV 1873)

29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

30 that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

We will do what the angels did during the Investigative Judgment: examine the record books of those who claimed to be part of spiritual Israel.

We will all be wondering why some of our loved ones aren’t there.

As we examine the record books, we will see the cross throughout all of history, seeing who continued to crucify Christ and those who came to love Him and trust Him.

One of multiple things that happen during this time (another sermon).

This is another way “judgment” will be given to us.

1 Corinthians 6:2–3 (AV 1873)

2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

During this time we will also examine the history of the fall of the angels.

We will see that their expulsion from heaven and coming self-destruction is what they wanted.

The Great White Throne Judgment

Notice what happens when the resurrected wicked surround the New Jerusalem and start to attack:

Revelation 20:11–13 (AV 1873)

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

If the previous two judgments consisted of an examination of how people treated Christ and Him crucified, what do we think the final judgment will consist of?

As soon as the books of record are opened, and the eye of Jesus looks upon the wicked, they are conscious of every sin which they have ever committed… GC 666.2

Above the throne is revealed the cross; and like a panoramic view appear the scenes of Adam's temptation and fall, and the successive steps in the great plan of redemption. . . GC 666.3

And now before the swaying multitude are revealed the final scenes—the patient Sufferer treading the path to Calvary; the Prince of heaven hanging upon the cross; the haughty priests and the jeering rabble deriding His expiring agony. . . GC 667.1

The awful spectacle appears just as it was. Satan, his angels, and his subjects have no power to turn from the picture of their own work. Each actor recalls the part which he performed. Herod. . . Herodias. . . Pilate; the mocking soldiers; the priests and rulers and the maddened throng who cried, “His blood be on us, and on our children!”—all behold the enormity of their guilt. They vainly seek to hide from the divine majesty of His countenance, outshining the glory of the sun, while the redeemed cast their crowns at the Saviour's feet, exclaiming: “He died for me!” GC 667.2

There are papist priests and prelates, who claimed to be Christ's ambassadors, yet employed the rack, the dungeon, and the stake to control the consciences of His people. There are the proud pontiffs who exalted themselves above God and presumed to change the law of the Most High. Those pretended fathers of the church have an account to render to God from which they would fain be excused. GC 668.1

Too late they are made to see that the Omniscient One is jealous of His law and that He will in no wise clear the guilty. They learn now that Christ identifies His interest with that of His suffering people; and they feel the force of His own words: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.” Matthew 25:40. GC 668.1

Investigative Judgment - For onlooking universe.

Millennial Judgment - For redeemed.

Great White Throne Judgment - For wicked.

“Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy name? for Thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest.” [Revelation 15] Verse 4. Every question of truth and error in the long-standing controversy has now been made plain. The results of rebellion, the fruits of setting aside the divine statutes, have been laid open to the view of all created intelligences. The working out of Satan's rule in contrast with the government of God has been presented to the whole universe. Satan's own works have condemned him. GC 670.3

God's wisdom, His justice, and His goodness stand fully vindicated. It is seen that all His dealings in the great controversy have been conducted with respect to the eternal good of His people and the good of all the worlds that He has created. “All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord; and Thy saints shall bless Thee.” Psalm 145:10. The history of sin will stand to all eternity as a witness that with the existence of God's law is bound up the happiness of all the beings He has created. With all the facts of the great controversy in view, the whole universe, both loyal and rebellious, with one accord declare: “Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.” GC 670.3

What are we to do with this information?

The Warning of the Third Angel

Revelation 14:9–10 (AV 1873)

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10 the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Wrath of God = withdrawal of protection

What about the tormenting with fire?

Song of Solomon 8:6 (AV 1873)

6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as the grave: The coals thereof are coals of fire, Which hath a most vehement flame.

Romans 12:20 (AV 1873)

20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

The everlasting fire is the love of God!

This fire gives life to the righteous, but causes mental anguish for the wicked:

John 18:4–6 (AV 1873)

4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

Matthew 28:2–4 (AV 1873)

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

Same for Isaiah (Is. 6:5); Daniel (Dan. 10:8); Zacharias (Luke 1:11–12); etc.—and these were relatively righteous men!

Imagine what this revelation will do to the wicked.

Luke 13:28 (AV 1873)

28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

This is why the wicked are “tormented” in the PRESENCE of God, Christ, and the angels (Rev. 14:10)! They aren’t acting like the Catholic Church in the Dark Ages, but this is the natural result of things.

Which you would cause you greater grief: losing something you undervalued, or something you knew was incredibly expensive?

Luke 12:47–48 (AV 1873)

47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

God isn’t arbitrarily turning up and down the heat for certain people and supernaturally extending their life to make certain people suffer more than others.

The degrees of punishment is natural. Those with more toxins in their body suffer longer than those with less.

In the end, the wicked behold the unveiled glory (character) of God, and the mental anguish of their self-condemnation (Acts 13:46) and regret is what ultimately kills them:

2 Thessalonians 2:8 (AV 1873)

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Psalm 34:21 (AV 1873)

21 Evil shall slay the wicked: And they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

God wasn’t lying when He said the wages of sin is death!

At this point “the slain of the Lord shall be at that day From one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth” (Jer. 25:33). After this, literal fire cleanses their dead bodies and any remnant of sin from the earth.

Just like sacrificial animals were slain and then consumed with fire after they were dead.

The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love. GC 678.3

Takeaways

Our eternal destinies are determined by our judgment of God, for as we judge, we shall be judged (Matt. 7:2).

Our duty is to present Christ and Him crucified to the world to reveal the true character of God in contrast to Satan’s character. This is the only way anyone can make a correct “judgment” of God.

There is no higher honor in the universe than helping vindicate God’s character in the eyes of the universe and reconcile them to God.

The whole gospel is a continuous explanation of misunderstandings and clearing up of difficulties which Satan manages to create to perplex minds. 6LtMs, Ms 66, 1890, par. 5