The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

an interpretation of St. John's vision misrepresents both God's character and plan. What a
dreadful punishment, if this were true, would come to these who thus misrepresent Him!
We are glad to know for their sake, as well as for the sake of the whole of Adam's
condemned race, that this is not true.
What then do we understand is represented by the "books"? How shall we know? We
reply that Christ gives a hint at least concerning what is meant: "The words that I have
spoken, the same shall judge him in the last [thousand-year] day." These books then are
God's Word, and all contained in it necessary for the world to know of God's great Plan
will be opened to the understanding of all who will be there. Indeed a perfectly clear
understanding of the great Plan of human salvation will then for the first time be given to
all mankind. A sufficient knowledge of the matters contained in the different books of the
Bible has been throughout this Gospel Age in possession of the Church class to enable
them to finish successfully their trial for a heavenly inheritance. Observe the following:
"The books opened, according to the rulings of which they [the world] will be tried, we
understand to be the books of the Bible. The Church, now on trial, is being judged
according to these same books--and none now are on trial, to whom those books are not to
some degree opened (understood). This too, accords with Jesus' words: 'My words shall
judge you in the last day' (period)--the Millennial Day.--John 12:48. . . .
"The words of Jesus will no longer be hidden under parables and dark sayings, that
hearing the people might hear and not understand; but the secret things will be
uncovered. 'The mystery of God'--the Church--being finished, the books will be opened,
and the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the whole earth. For God 'will have all men to be
saved [redeemed], and [then] to come unto the knowledge of the Truth.'--1 Tim. 2:4."
The words of the vision show that the dead of every generation, of every clime and
country, no matter how or when they met their death, will be awakened before that
thousand-year day is over. The Scriptures in referring to this awakening imply that they
will come forth not all at the same time, but in companies or bands.
"The succeeding verse is in harmony, and says that 'the sea [masses of mankind not under
religious restraint] delivered up the dead which were in it': i.e., mankind will be taken out
of that condition, and brought under the restraints of the white throne. Consequently,
when all are restrained there will be 'no more sea.' (See Jude 13; James 1:6.) 'And death and
the tomb delivered up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man
according to their works.' (During that Age or Day.)"
Concerning some of the features of the judgment assize, we have these words:
"The Greek word here rendered judged has the significance of tried or tested. Paul's use of
the same word will prove this. We here give a quotation, in which he uses the same word
(krino) three times. We italicize the words translated from this Greek word: 'Dare any of
you, having a matter against another, (1) go to law before the unjust, and not before the