God's Work with Planet Earth

“the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23

Wages are earned by work, by doing something. It’s something that is deserved. And evidently everyone in this sinful world deserves death. But as easy as it would have been for God to wipe this corner of the Universe clean and start over, He loved HIs created humans enough to develop a plan for their salvation. Part of that plan of salvation is a three-phase judgement.

In God’s universal justice system, where there is sin a price must be paid. In this case His own Son, Jesus Christ, paid that price for the whole world (1 John 2:2). The purpose of the judgement is both to “justify” those with faith in Jesus, and to rid Planet Earth of sin. Sin which causes suffering, disease, destruction, and death.

“whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:26

• God gave Christ (Jesus) as a “propitiation” (He took our wages of sin, the second death, on our behalf. Because He did not sin Himself, He could be resurrected) (Hebrews 4:15)
• Christians take hold of this gift through “faith” (if someone offers you something and you don’t reach out and accept it, you won’t receive what they’re giving)
• God forgives the mistakes we’ve made in the past
• He demonstrates His righteousness through His sacrifice and forgiveness
• Because of how God set this whole plan of salvation up…
  • He is “just” (doesn’t corrupt/compromise His moral standard)
  • He is the “justifier” (forgiver of sins, remover of guilt)

But providing a way out from the “wages of sin” is not simple. God must do this in a way that does not pervert His standard of justice. It’s closely tied to the sanctuary God instructed Moses to build in the Sinai desert, which was meant to represent God’s throne room of the Universe in Heaven. I won’t be able to outline every way the sanctuary demonstrates God’s plan of salvation in this post, but we’ll look at these three phases of judgement, understanding that it’s part of a larger process.

The Pre-Advent Judgement

That might sound like a fancy theological term, but it just means a judgement that takes place before the Second Coming of Jesus. This is logical, because before Jesus returns to resurrect and take His people, there must be a judgement which determines who will be part of that first resurrection.

This judgement is not for God’s benefit, because He knows our hearts and minds already. It is for the rest of the Universe to see that God was just and not breaking His own rules by saving those He choses. The same standard must be applied across humanity.

“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17

This first phase of the judgement is dedicated to believers, who are part of the spiritual “house of God” (1 Peter 2:5).

“until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High” Daniel 7:22

That’s interesting. The prophet Daniel in the vision given him saw that this judgement was “in favor of the saints”.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:24

The Greek word for judgement in that last verse is “krisis”, and it means an accusation, condemnation, or damnation. So while “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10), it is not God’s will that His people should be condemned. The goal here is to justify those who have faith in Jesus by covering their sins, which leads us right into the timing of this first phase of the judgement.

Time Prophecy

When does this first phase begin? Based on Ezekiel 4:5-6 and Numbers 14:34, and other passages, we understand “a day for a year” principle to apply to time prophecies in the Bible.

“And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” Daniel 8:14

So that’s 2,300 literal years. To be able to calculate the end of this time period, we need a beginning. In Daniel 9 an angel came back to give him more information.

“…from the going forth of the command
to restore and build Jerusalem…” Daniel 9:25

This is related to the 70-week prophecy, which is part of the 2300 days and starts at the same time, 457 BC when the Medo-Persian king Artexerxes gave the command to rebuild Jerusalem. There were several commands from multiple Medo-Persian kings regarding the restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple, which the Babylonians had destroyed, but this was the final command.

From 457 BC, two thousand three hundred years brings us to 1844 AD. What happened or began in 1844? The sanctuary was cleansed, which points to the Day of Atonement. This was an annual day for the Israelites (Judah/Jews were just one tribe) when the sins confessed over the past year were symbolically removed from the sanctuary. This involves forgiveness and justification, and the sealing of God’s people into the Book of Life. It makes sense this would take place before Jesus’ return. Especially when we consider that the sacrificial system given by God to Adam and Eve, and expanded with the sanctuary and the Israelites, represents God’s plan for our salvation.

Which Sanctuary?

There have been a few mistaken interpretations about which sanctuary was cleansed after 2300 days in Daniel 8:14.

Was it the second, earthly temple in Jerusalem? No, because the Romans destroyed that in 70 AD.

“…your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you” – 1 Corinthians 6:19. Could it be believers who are cleansed? This doesn’t fit with the Biblical teaching that believers are sanctified during their life, each one living and dying at different times.

What about the original, heavenly sanctuary? Because Jesus went there after His resurrection to begin a high priestly ministry as our Advocate, this is the only option that fits.

Jesus’ High Priestly Ministry

The Book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus, after being resurrected and taken up into Heaven, entered the original Heavenly sanctuary, which the earthly sanctuary and temple represented. He entered by His own blood/sacrifice, rather than the sacrifice of animals.

The Day of Atonement, when the sanctuary/temple was cleansed, was the one day of the year when the high priest went into the Most Holy place behind the veil. So in a much longer time period than one year, Jesus entered the Most Holy Place in 1844 as part of a judgement process, in which He justifies His people for salvation.

“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:11, 12

Note that the “greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands” means the real sanctuary in Heaven.

This first phase of the judgement is going on right now. 1844 has passed and Jesus has not come yet, but He will leave the Most Holy Place in the Heavenly Sanctuary when it’s time to claim His people.

“…a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” Revelation 16:17

“At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1

At the end of this first phase of the judgement, Jesus will come a second time to resurrect and take His people. He has promised to take them to Heaven in John 14:2-3.

The Millennial Judgement

This second phase of judgement is just as incredible as the first. The God of the Universe saves sinners out of a sinful world, takes them into Heaven, and invites them to review the heavenly records, confirming His judgement of who is saved and who is lost.

He is being transparent, when He could just say “I’m God, trust Me.” Sometimes He does say this to us in a spiritual sense, because of our limited perspective as earth-bound humans, but not after Jesus returns.

“Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?…”

“Do you not know that we shall judge angels?” 1 Corinthians 6:2, 3

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them… And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4

Just keep in mind that while the saints are in Heaven with Jesus, the wicked “did not live again until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:5).

But the decision of who will be saved and who will be lost has already been made before Jesus’ Second Coming (the first phase of the judgement). So what are the saints judging?

I believe they are evaluating whether God gave every human (including the wicked) a fair chance to be saved, and whether His decisions were just and fair.

“For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are judged.” Romans 3:3-4

Paul is quoting King David in Psalms 51:4, but he’s describing God Himself being on trial. In a big picture sense, the entire Universe is watching how God deals with this sin rebellion on Planet Earth.

“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not fair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not My way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?” Ezekiel 18:25

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD…” Isaiah 1:18

“Present your case,” says the LORD. “Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob.” Isaiah 41:21

These passages indicate God’s desire to be open and transparent. He is willing to be questioned and willing to show His reasons.

Examples of questions to be answered

Let me lay out some examples which should make this second phase of the judgement more clear.

I’m sure the thief on the cross (Luke 23:32-33, 39-43) victimized and hurt people during his life, but he repented in the last moments of his life and Jesus assured him of salvation. What will those people think when they see him in Heaven? They knew of him only as a criminal, so what is he doing here?

What about King Manasseh? Non-biblical Jewish tradition holds that he ordered the prophet Isaiah sawn in half while he was hiding in a hollow tree. This is referenced in Hebrews 11:37, though Isaiah’s name is not mentioned there. 2 Kings 21:16 says that King Manasseh “shed much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another”. The descriptions of his idolatry and abominations are horrible, yet he repented and reformed, and God restored him in the end.

What will Isaiah think when he sees this murderous king in Heaven? What questions will he have? God invites these questions, and He’s ready to lay out the evidence and provide the answers.

On a very personal note, my mother was killed by a drunk driver when I was only 5 years old. I had to battle lymphoma at 8 years old, and brain cancer at 51 years old, in spite of living an unusually healthy lifestyle (exercise, diet, no drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc. even once). I trust God for now, but I will want to know why God allowed these things to happen. I”m sure there were valid reasons I can’t see now, but I want to know.

Why is the person I thought was good and respectable NOT in Heaven? Why is the person who persecuted and abused me there? All of these questions will be answered and God’s judgement confirmed by the saints before the Universe.

Salvation vs. Reward

I cannot easily support this application to the Millennial Judgement from scripture, so I want to be clear and honest about that. What I DO know from scripture is that salvation and destruction are separate from reward and punishment. The saints don’t earn salvation by good works, but they are rewarded for good works.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” Ephesians 2:8

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Revelation 22:12

But while salvation is only by God’s grace, without accepting Jesus’ blood by faith, sinners do suffer destruction based on evil works. And there is also a punishment for evil works.

Is it possible that the saints will cooperate with Christ in determining the punishment of the wicked? Consider that Hitler and Stalin are responsible for the slaughter of millions, compared to a pick pocket who never killed a single person. They don’t all deserve the same punishment, and God is clearly obsessed with justice.

But while scripture does confirm salvation and destruction versus reward and punishment, it does not say plainly that the saints will judge “the world” and “angels” in this specific way. So it’s a possibility and that’s all, and we’ll have to wait for Heaven to find out.

The White Throne Judgement

This is the third and final stage of judgement. While the second stage is more administrative in nature, this last phase will be like reading a verdict and carrying out or executing a sentence.

Related to timing, this phase of judgement will occur “when the thousand years have expired” (Revelation 20:7). This is how it’s described in Revelation 20:

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15

That is a long passage so lets pull out the takeaways.

• A throne is where kings pronounce judgements and decrees from
• The wicked are resurrected from their graves to stand before God’s throne and face judgement “according to their works”. Why? They have rejected Jesus’ sacrifice and God’s grace, and there’s no blood covering their sins.
• There are heavenly record books opened and used as evidence in this judgement. Everything deviant schemers thought they were getting away with will be exposed.
• Those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will be consumed in the “lake of fire”, and “this is the second death”.

What about “Death and Hades” being thrown into the lake of fire? This is symbolic. By the way, Hades doesn’t mean Hell, as many think. To the pagan Greeks who believe in an immortal soul, it is the realm of the dead. But the Bible (through Daniel, Job, David, Jesus, Paul, among others) teaches that people experience an unconscious sleep in the grave (this is the first death). And in the Bible, the Greek word “Hades” means the grave, just like the Hebrew word “Sheol”.

So death and the grave are thrown into the lake of fire. Once the second death is finished and the wicked are “devoured” or “consumed”, there will be no more death or graves. There will only be life after that.

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

What Revelation 20 is telling us is that sin, along with the pain, suffering, destruction, and death it causes, will be eliminated at this time. These things will no longer exist:

• Sin
• Determined sinners who cling to sin
• The results of sin (pain, suffering, deception, death)

No more death, no more graves.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4

This is God finally setting everything right. He originally created a perfect world without sin, which fell into rebellion and degradation. He must eliminate sin in order to restore that harmony between humans and Himself as their Creator, and that’s what He will do at the end of the Millennium. That’s how Stage 4 ends.

Stage 5 begins with God creating “a new heavens and a new earth”, and beginning an earthly reign from His headquarters of the Universe, the holy city, the New Jerusalem. Long before Jesus was born, Christ was so excited about this, He told Isaiah:

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” Isaiah 65:17-19

But that’s for a future post.