Will post something here shortly on several passages in Rev pointing to the judgment of the living.

The Judgment of the living is seen in Dan 7 where "Judgment is passed in favor of the saints" and when the judgment concludes then the persecution of the real living saints ends - so also do the real living saints (as well as the others) inherit the Kingdom at that point according to Dan 7.

So also in Rom 2:13-16 we have the much predicted Dan 7 judgment future to the days of Paul - where again no dividing line is made between the living and the dead.

And in 2Cor 5:10 - no division between judgment of the saints living vs dead.

And in Rev 14:6-7 - no division again - in a pre-advent judgment message proclaimed to all those who dwell on the earth at that time.

So the real question is - where does God point to a time where judgment excludes the sleeping saints and only looks at the living saints "in judgment"?

We know from GC 604-605 that their cases are decided between the NSL and the start of the 7 last plagues. But where do we see that fine grain detail in the Bible?

in Christ,

Bob

If you haven't done it yet, you may want to browse the thread.

One passage of Revelation that points to a paradigm shift is Revelation 11. When John, a symbol of the Elijah people/message, is recommissioned his task is to measure the church and it's worshipers. That began in 1844 but the measuring which is described as the work of the two witnesses hasn't fully begun. Peter said judgment of the house of God was underway in his day. But when it turns to the living, I believe God wants us and the world to know that 'the hour of His judgment is come'. Why?

John is told to leave out the outer court, the court of the Gentiles because the Gentile are given leave to trample it. The protective care of God shelters the church while it is being called out of Babylon and is being sealed by the blood on the posts of the sanctuary(See Ezekiel 40-48) This is the judgment hour of the church when God 'suddenly comes to His temple' and 'purifies the sons of Levi' and we all have to be sealed during that time because when the times of the gentiles ends the purification of the church is complete and then the outer court is also cleansed in the destruction of Babylon.

So, the picture of impending judgment is throughout Daniel and Revelation. This is the main reason for my making a reapplication to most of the prophecies - they all point to the final judgment and purification of the church, 'the sons of Levi', and once that's accomplished to the plagues that purge the outer court, Babylon.

Besides Ezekiel's temple vision (Ezek. 40-48) where the prophet measures the temple as John does, the other main parallel passage is the first half of Zechariah. In chapters 3 to 5 we have many of the same symbols as in Rev 11. I'll write more on that later and other judgment imagery in Daniel and Revelation.

Above I made the claim that the books of Revelation and Daniel point especially to the judgment of the living. Here’s a summary of some of the indicators that this is the case:

In Revelation 19:11-20 we have the picture of Christ going forth to battle on a white horse leading the hosts of heaven. We know this is just prior to the close of probation because the battle is between Christ and the beast and false prophet which combined are the entities behind the image beast and Babylon.

Christ and heaven are victorious over the beast:


This battle is pictured over and over again in Revelation and I’ll get to some of the parallels later. But for now keep in mind that the real reason for the battle is the latter rain which enrages the wicked. Those who dislike truth and righteousness are alarmed and aroused at the revival of primitive godliness. But here’s the point – the latter rain and the judgment of the living are inseparable: this is why the first angel can announce with the full authority of heaven that the 'hour of His judgment is come'.

Regarding the parallels, one that caught my attention recently is the picture of Christ on the white horse of Revelation 19 and as high priest ministering among the seven candlesticks/churches in Revelation 1.

Notice the similarities of the description: Christ is clothed in a vesture. His eyes are a flame of fire. A sharp sword proceeds out of his mouth. In Revelation 1 the emphasis of the imagery is the priesthood of Christ. In Revelation 19, it’s His kingship as commander of the host. But the strong similarities in the descriptions of Christ suggest they are contemporaneous.

In the past, the churches have been viewed as historical, stretching from the early church of Ephesus to the end time church of Laodicea. That is a valid application but the primary application of this must be to the end of time when Christ Himself purifies the church. The imagery here is that Christ is the faithful witness to all seven churches which, when combined, make up the remnant. (See Zech 3:9 where the spiritual Israel is described as a single stone with seven facets) He commends their faithfulness where commendation is due and admonishes and reproves where they fall short.

At church today, Beckley WV, during the service the speaker said he viewed the seven churches as applying especially to the time of the latter rain and made the point that as Christ stands among the seven candlesticks all seven are burning together at the same time, indicating they are contemporaries of one another.

That agrees with Zechariah 3:9 and 10 and Revelation 4 and 5 that describe the remnant church as a single stone with seven eyes or facets or lamps:



The seven eyes are sent out into the earth at the same time - during the time when "thrones are set" in heaven and the Ancient of Days presides (Daniel 7:9); when "out of the throne proceeds lightnings and thunderings and voices" (Revelation 4:5); this is a description of what transpires in heaven when "the hour of His judgment is come" and the life-giving latter rain falls on us, the parched earth.

You see where this leads; to the conclusion that 'the hour of His judgment" applies to the judgment of the living: that our commission is to give that message now, but at the latter rain we are to be instrumental in not only announcing that judgment began in 1844 but especially that the time or hour of judgment of mankind is a present reality.

And as I've pointed out above and many times before for the church, judgment begins with the house of God. Today, if we're asleep to that fact and destitute of the oil of the Holy Spirit, our time is up and we will only find out when the latter rain is poured out that we lack the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit. Those in the church today who do not believe in the power of Christ to overcome every sin are not sanctified. The battle over whether Christ can save us fully from our sins has been on-going in the church from the days of Cain and Abel. It's raged throughout my lifetime. Christian perfection is not optional. No one will be saved in their sins. The grace of God does not return to Him void.

I'll try to write some thoughts on Daniel 7 in the next week. Have a good Sabbath.

The above text is the first place the 1260 days are mentioned in scripture. The same period is referred to in Daniel 12 and again in Revelation 11 and 13. Regarding Revelation 13 Ellen White says all of it applies to the future:



Daniel 7 continues:



The sequence we have in Daniel 7 is that while the Little Horn speaks blasphemies against God and His people, the court of heaven convenes. This cannot be referring only to 1844 because the Man of Sin had received the mortal wound 46 years earlier in 1798 and was silent. The picture we have here is that while the mouth of the little horn is speaking great words heaven’s court convenes. This portends the transition from the judgment of the dead that began in 1844 to the judgment of the living at the latter rain.

Are there any comments/questions/thoughts?