The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

"The entire time supposed to be assigned to this stupendous work of judging billions is a
twenty-four hour day. . . . This is a very crude conception, and is entirely out of harmony
with the inspired Word."
The failure to properly understand this vision of the Judgment Day we believe comes from
a misunderstanding of what the Scriptures teach on this subject, namely that all mankind
have been under the condemnation to death ever since the beginning of the execution of
the sentence, "dying thou shalt die," on the occasion of the fall and the banishment of our
first parents from the life-sustaining trees of Eden. (Gen. 3.) That sentence was not only to
die, but to continue dead forever unless the great Creator would make some arrangement
to lift the penalty, and at some time exercise His Almighty power--release from death, and
awaken and restore man to life again. The Scriptures plainly teach that He has made such
an arrangement. It was in connection with the carrying out of such a purpose or plan of
release, of salvation, that the Son of God took upon Himself the form of a servant and was
made flesh, a human being, and gave Himself, His flesh, His humanity, for the life of the
world. This is all very briefly, yet pointedly stated in the words of St. Paul:
"We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels [a perfect human being, like
Adam] for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor [of perfect manhood];
that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man."--Heb. 2:9.
The only ones up to the present time released from that sentence are the Church class who
have heard, understood, and exercised faith in the Son of God as both their Savior
(Deliverer) and Lord. These have in the present life their trial, probation, judgment day,
and will not enter into judgment with the world. (John 5:24, R.V.) The successful
overcomers of this class will be associated with Christ in His divinely appointed work of
judging the world. Concerning this class, the joint-heirs with Him, Christ thus speaks:
"And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and
believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the [beginning of
the] last day [the Millennial Day of Judgment]." This will be the First Resurrection. (Rev.
20:6.) The Savior in the same discourse further informs His hearers that during that period,
the rest of mankind will be raised:
"Marvel not at this for the hour [season] is coming, when all who are in the grave [death
condition] shall hear His voice and come forth . . . they that have done evil unto the
resurrection of [by] judgment."--John 5:29, R.V.
"[This passage which contains] a precious promise for the world of a coming judgmenttrial
for life everlasting is, by a mistranslation, turned into a fearful imprecation.
According to the Greek, they that have done evil--that have failed of Divine approval--will
come forth unto resurrection (raising up to perfection) by judgments, 'stripes,' disciplines--
See the Revised Version."
Not seeing the nature of this "great white throne" Judgment Day, most all expositors have
located it at the end of the thousand years. It is evidently the teaching of the Scriptures that
this vision is to meet its fulfillment during the thousand years in connection with the reign