"I SAW THE DEAD STAND BEFORE THE THRONE"
The Apostle John's next words are: "And I saw the Dead, the Great and the Little, stand before the Throne; and Books were opened; and Another Book was opened, which is the book of Life; and the Dead were judged from the Things which had been Written in the Books, according to their Works. And the Sea gave up Those Dead which were in it; and Death and Hades gave up the Dead which were in them; and they were judged each one according to their Works."--Rev. 20:12, 13.
As introductory to an examination of these words, we would again remind all that in order to a full comprehension of their significance we must appreciate what may be properly termed one of the great fundamental truths of the Bible, viz.: that all mankind have all down the stream of time had resting upon them the sentence imposed upon our first parents, "dying thou shalt die" (the only exception being that since the Advent of Christ, consecrated believers have that condemnation lifted from them and are justified freely from. all things); in other words, that in Adam, the human race originally had a representative trial for life and have been already judged as unworthy to live, and as previously stated, if they had been left in this condition, there would never have been an awakening from death. However, when we consider the plain and convincing statements of Scripture that teach that the ransom sacrifice of Christ is to fully offset the effects that the disobedience of Adam brought upon all men, this vision of the judgment or trial day of the world is seen to be a most wonderful blessing instead of a curse a blessing purchased for all by that sacrifice. "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord both of the dead and living."--Rom. 14:9.
Let us note a few of the many Scriptures that have reference to what the sacrifice of Christ secured for every man, as well as assure us that a time has been appointed in the Divine Plan when all will be permitted to benefit by that sacrifice: "As through one man [Adam] sin entered into the world [in whom all sinned], and through sin, death; so also, death passed upon all men." (Rom. 5:12.) This Scripture teaches very plainly that the cause of sin in the world was Adam's disobedience, and that this one sin of Adam brought the sentence of death to all men.
Another Scripture that teaches the same, but in addition shows God's grace or favor to all through the Man, Christ Jesus, reads:
“But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came (shall come) from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
Therefore, as through one man’s offense (father Adam) judgment (the sentence) came to all men (extensively), resulting in condemnation (the sentence death, dying thou shall die), even so through one Man’s righteous act (the man Christ Jesus) the free gift (sentence) came to all men (co-extensively), resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many (all) were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” (Rom. 5:15-19)
Continued with next post.
