God uses the prophecies and the sanctuary service of the Old Testament to explain the judgment.
The Day of Atonement
God’s work of salvation, judgment, and restoration can be too huge to grasp. That’s why He gave us a miniature representation: the sanctuary service, set up during Moses’ lifetime.
Everything in the sanctuary, from the articles of furniture to the rituals and practices of its services, pointed to Christ and His plan to redeem and save humanity. The sanctuary’s articles of furniture typified actual places in heaven. The Ark of the Covenant typified God’s throne in heaven. The feasts and rituals symbolized what God would do through Christ on Earth.
The Day of Atonement was the final cleansing of the sanctuary–the day God officially removed the record of sin standing between Him and His people. On that day, anyone who had not confessed his sin and made things right with God was put away from the Israelites. It was the most solemn day of the year.
Similarly, on the antitypical Day of Atonement, the heavenly sanctuary must likewise be cleansed of the record of humanity’s sins since the beginning of time. On a much grander scale, the services on the Day of Atonement will take place in real time. What took one day in the sanctuary service on Earth will take much longer in reality.
Read more about the antitypical Day of Atonement
The Prophecy of Daniel
Daniel describes this great judgment scene in heaven:
I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened (Daniel 7:9-10 NKJV).
In this scene, the judgment is set and books are opened. These books are records of the deeds of all those who are to be judged. There are a number of books mentioned in the Bible, such as the and the Book of Remembrance (Malachi 3:16, Revelation 20:12).
The Bible tells us that our lives are recorded in heaven:
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
But I say to you, That for every idle word men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy works thou shalt be condemned (Matthew 12:36-37).
And the LORD said unto Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book (Exodus 32:33 NKJV).
This judgment should not be taken lightly, and has implications for our lives today. The next article, Judging the Heart, discusses how God wants not just our actions to change, but also our hearts.
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This article is adapted from Truth Matters by Professor Walter J. Veith, an international speaker who has studied Biblical issues in-depth in his quest for truth. His popular series Genesis Conflict brings the debate between Creation and evolution to a new climax as he dissects the arguments with a scientific eye. His highly-acclaimed series Total Onslaught sheds light on the state of the world today as we move to a one-world government and an anticipated apocalypse.
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Read several authors' thoughts on papal Rome's history.
This article highlights quotes from historical and Catholic sources proving the Papacy's aggressive nature.
Persecution in the First Centuries
An Era of Spiritual Darkness The Waldenses
John Wycliffe Huss and Jerome
Luther's Separation From Rome
Luther Before the Diet The Swiss Reformer
Progress of Reform in Germany
Protest of the Princes The French Reformation
The Netherlands and Scandinavia
Later English Reformers
The Bible and the French Revolution
The Pilgrim Fathers Heralds of the Morning
An American Reformer Light Through Darkness
A Great Religious Awakening A Warning Rejected
Prophecies Fulfilled What is the Sanctuary?
In the Holy of Holies God's Law Immutable
A Work of Reform Modern Revivals
Facing Life's Record The Origin of Evil
Enmity Between Man and Satan
Agency of Evil Spirits Snares of Satan
The First Great Deception
Can Our Dead Speak to Us?
Liberty of Conscience Threatened
The Impending Conflict
The Scriptures a Safeguard The Final Warning
The Time of Trouble God's People Delivered
Desolation of the Earth The Controversy Ended
Is Revelation a Sealed Book?
Revelation 1 Commentary
Revelation 1: Jesus, The Heart of Revelation
Revelation 2 Commentary
Revelation 2-3: Letters to Seven Churches
Revelation 3 Commentary
The Lamb and the Sealed Book
Revelation 4 Commentary
Revelation 5 Commentary
Revelation 6 Commentary
Revelation 7 Commentary
Revelation 8 Commentary
Revelation 9 Commentary
Revelation 10 Commentary
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