A Judgment Work Precedes Christ’s Coming

We know that there must be a work of judgment in heaven above before Christ comes. When He comes, the “dead in Christ shall rise” from the graves at His call. Only the righteous dead have part in this resurrection, which takes place instantly, as the Lord appears, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52.SPIAM 12.2

There is no time there for a judgment work to decide who are righteous. But this “first resurrection” unto eternal life comes only to those who have been adjudged worthy, as described by the Saviour: “They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead.” Luke 20:35.SPIAM 12.3

There is, then, an accounting, a work of judgment, in heaven before Christ comes, determining who are righteous and worthy of a part in “the first resurrection.” This judgment review must begin with the dead of all past ages. It is “the time of the dead, that they should be judged.” Revelation 11:18. The prophet John saw the coming of this judgment hour in heaven above, as the most holy place of the temple in heaven was opened. Revelation 11:19.SPIAM 12.4

Necessarily, at its close, this judgment must come to the living, accounting those righteous whom the Lord shall change to immortality along with those who are raised from their graves. “The dead in Christ shall rise first,” says the scripture; “then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17.SPIAM 12.5

The scripture order of final events, taking place in heaven before Christ appears, shows that there is to be a judgment review fixing eternally the fate of men for life or for death. When this judgment hour opens in heaven, according to the vision of John on Patmos, there must come on earth a world-wide movement giving to all nations the message, “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.”SPIAM 13.1