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is not ashamed to call them brethren。〃 Hebrews 2：11。 The Christian's life
should be one of faith； of victory； and joy in God。 〃Whatsoever is born of
God overcometh the world： and this is the victory that overcometh the world；
even our faith。〃 I John 5：4。 Truly spoke God's servant Nehemiah： 〃The joy of
the Lord is your strength。〃 Nehemiah 8：10。 And Paul says： 〃Rejoice in the
Lord alway： and again I say； Rejoice。〃 〃Rejoice evermore。 Pray without
ceasing。 In everything give thanks： for this
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is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you。〃 Philippians 4：4； 1
Thessalonians 5：16…18。
Such are the fruits of Bible conversion and sanctification； and it is
because the great principles of righteousness set forth in the law of God
are so indifferently regarded by the Christian world that these fruits are
so rarely witnessed。 This is why there is manifest so little of that deep；
abiding work of the Spirit of God which marked revivals in former years。
It is by beholding that we become changed。 And as those sacred precepts in
which God has opened to men the perfection and holiness of His character are
neglected； and the minds of the people are attracted to human teachings and
theories； what marvel that there has followed a decline of living piety in
the church。 Saith the Lord： 〃They have forsaken Me the fountain of living
waters； and hewed them out cisterns； broken cisterns； that can hold no
water。〃 Jeremiah 2：13。
〃Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly。 。 。 。
But his delight is in the law of the Lord； and in His law doth he meditate
day and night。 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water；
that bringeth forth his fruit in his season； his leaf also shall not wither；
and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper。〃 Psalm 1：1…3。 It is only as the law
of God is restored to its rightful position that there can be a revival of
primitive faith and godliness among His professed people。 〃Thus saith the
Lord； Stand ye in the ways； and see； and ask for the old paths； where is the
good way； and walk therein； and ye shall find rest for your souls。〃 Jeremiah
6：16。
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Chapter 28
Facing Life's Record
〃I beheld；〃 says the prophet Daniel； 〃till thrones were placed； and One that
was Ancient of Days did sit： His raiment was white as snow； and the hair of
His head like pure wool； His throne was fiery flames； and the wheels thereof
burning fire。 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。〃 Daniel 7：9；
10； R。V。
Thus was presented to the prophet's vision the great and solemn day when the
characters and the lives of men should pass in review before the Judge of
all the earth； and to every man should be rendered 〃according to his works。〃
The Ancient of Days is God the Father。 Says the psalmist： 〃Before the
mountains were brought forth； or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the
world； even from everlasting to everlasting； Thou art God。〃 Psalm 90：2。 It
is He； the source of all being； and the fountain of all law； that is to
preside in the judgment。 And holy angels as ministers and witnesses； in
number 〃ten thousand times ten thousand； and thousands of thousands；〃 attend
this great tribunal。
〃And； behold； one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven； and
came to the Ancient of Days； and they brought Him near before Him。 And there
was given Him
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dominion； and glory； and a kingdom； that all people； nations； and languages；
should serve Him： His dominion is an everlasting dominion； which shall not
pass away。〃 Daniel 7：13；
14。 The coming of Christ here described is not His second
coming to the earth。 He comes to the Ancient of Days in heaven to receive
dominion and glory and a kingdom； which will be given Him at the close of
His work as a mediator。 It is this coming； and not His second advent to the
earth； that was foretold in prophecy to take place at the termination of the
2300 days in 1844。 Attended by heavenly angels； our great High Priest enters
the holy of holies and there appears in the presence of God to engage in the
last acts of His ministration in behalf of manto perform the work of
investigative judgment and to make an atonement for all who are shown to be
entitled to its benefits。
In the typical service only those who had come before God with confession
and repentance； and whose sins； through the blood of the sin offering； were
transferred to the sanctuary； had a part in the service of the Day of
Atonement。 So in the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment
the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God。 The
judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work； and takes place at a
later period。 〃Judgment must begin at the house of God： and if it first
begin at us； what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel？〃 1
Peter 4：17。
The books of record in heaven； in which the names and the deeds of men are
registered； are to determine the decisions of the judgment。 Says the prophet
Daniel： 〃The judgment was set； and the books were opened。〃 The revelator；
describing the same scene； adds： 〃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。〃 Revelation 20：12。
The book of life contains the names of all who have ever entered the service
of God。 Jesus bade His disciples： 〃Rejoice；
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because your names are written in heaven。〃 Luke 10：20。 Paul speaks of his
faithful fellow workers； 〃whose names are in the book of life。〃 Philippians
4：3。 Daniel； looking down to 〃a time of trouble； such as never was；〃
declares that God's people shall be delivered； 〃everyone that shall be found
written in the book。〃 And the revelator says that those only shall enter the
city of God whose names 〃are written in the Lamb's book of life。〃 Daniel
12：1； Revelation 21：27。
〃A book of remembrance〃 is written before God； in which are recorded the
good deeds of 〃them that feared the Lord； and that thought upon His name。〃
Malachi 3：16。 Their words of faith； their acts of love； are registered in
heaven。 Nehemiah refers to this when he says： 〃Remember me； O my God； 。 。 。
and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God。〃
Nehemiah 13：14。 In the book of God's remembrance every deed of righteousness
is immortalized。 There every temptation resisted； every evil overcome； every
word of tender pity expressed； is faithfully chronicled。 And every act of
sacrifice； every suffering and sorrow endured for Christ's sake； is
recorded。 Says the psalmist： 〃Thou tellest my wanderings： put Thou my tears
into Thy bottle： are they not in Thy book？〃 Psalm 56：8。
There is a record also of the sins of men。 〃For God shall bring every work
into judgment； with every secret thing； whether it be good； or whether it be
evil。〃 Every idle word that men shall speak； they shall give account thereof
in the day of judgment。〃 Says the Saviour： 〃By thy words thou shalt be
justified； and by thy words thou shalt be condemned。〃 Ecclesiastes 12：14；
Matthew 12：36； 37。 The secret purposes and motives appear in the unerring
register； for God 〃will bring to light the hidden things of darkness； and
will make manifest the counsels of the hearts。〃 I Corinthians 4：5。 〃Behold；
it is written before Me； 。 。 。 your iniquities； and the iniquities of your
fathers together； saith the Lord。〃 Isaiah 65：6； 7。
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Every man's work passes in review before God and is registered for
faithfulness or unfaithfulness。 Opposite each name in the books of heaven is
entered with terrible exactness every wrong word； every selfish act； every
unfulfilled duty； and every secret sin； with every artful dissembling。
Heaven…sent warnings or reproofs neglected； wasted moments； unimproved
opportunities； the influence exerted for good or for evil； with its
far…reaching results； all are chronicled by the recording angel。
The law of God is the standard by which the characters and the lives of men
will be tested in the judgment。 Says the wise man： 〃Fear God； and keep His
commandments： for this is the whole duty of man。 For God shall bring every
work into judgment。〃 Ecclesiastes 12：13； 14。 The apostle James admonishes
his brethren： 〃So speak ye； and so do； as they that shall be judged by the
law of liberty。〃 James 2：12
Those who in the judgment are 〃accounted worthy〃 will have a part in the
resurrection of the just。 Jesus said： 〃They which shall be accounted worthy
to obtain that world； and the resurrection from the dead； 。 。 。 are equal
unto the angels； and are the children of God； being the children of the
resurrection。〃 Luke 20：35； 36。 And again He declares that 〃they that have
done good〃 shall come forth 〃unto the resurrection of life。〃 John 5：29。 The
righteous dead will not be raised until after the judgment at which they are
accounted