Facing Your Past

An accurate, detailed record is being kept, and sometime, somewhere, it will have to be faced, says John Ralston.

In 1953, cutting into local programming on television in many parts of England, came the call sign of Texas station KLEE-TV. Then British broadcasting engineers received the startling news that KLEE had been off the air for three years! Where had that picture been for three years? What mysterious receiver had stored that signal to be retransmitted? No-one ever found out.

A record

Is it only obsolete TV station signals that can be stored somewhere to be replayed later? Our very personal “computer,” the brain, stores vast amounts in the form of memory. But there is even more extensive information about us stored in another archive.books of remembranceYoung man ... follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judgment... . Fear God and keep his commandments... . For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil

Judgment

A judgment is given in a court. There is the judge, the prosecutor and the defence lawyer. There also has to be the law, the basis for the judgment, and an accurate record of the evidence. Only when all these are in place can the judgment of the case begin.As I lookedthrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat... . The court was seated, and the books were openedThen I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it... . And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.the time has come for judging the deadGod's temple in heaven was opened

The schedule

The first to face the judgment bar are those who claim to be Christians. The apostle Peter declares that judgment begins with “the family of God” (1 Peter 4:17). To the Christians at Corinth, Paul stated that “all appear before the judgment seat of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:10). The records have to be examined to see if the profession has been backed up by deed (James 2:17-20). This examination necessarily must occur before Christ returns, because He comes bringing their reward (see Revelation 22:12).

The verdict

The prosecutor presents his case. Satan points to entries in the record that show the followers of Christ haven't always obeyed. The record is accurate and Christ, the defence lawyer, cannot deny it. But He has other evidence—in His hands are the scars of nails. They prove that, nailed to a cross, He has endured the punishment demanded by the law, which is death. He was to be called Jesus because “he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).Blessed and holyfirst resurrectionripenedwinepresshim who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the LambSurely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us

1000 years

Court judgments are often followed by appeals to a higher jurisdiction. Has the evidence been fairly assessed? Is the judgment fair? From the court of the Most High, such an appeal is impossible and unnecessary. But a just God still establishes a sort of “board of review” in order to show that justice is seen to be done.“the first resurrectionI looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty; and at the heavens, and their light was gone. I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. I looked, and there were no people; every bird of the sky had flown away. I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert; all its towns lay in ruins before the Lord

In prison

For a thousand years these rebels will be shut up in the prison of death to await their final fate (see Isaiah 24:21, 22).abyss“prince of this worldprison

A new capital

At the end of the 1000 years the earth is to have a new capital—a metropolis laid out on a square 2200 km on each side. It's a “golden city” with a glistening crystal wall 65 metres high each with three entrances glowing like lustrous pearls. The 12 foundations of the wall are made of colourful gemstones, so arranged that the city seems to be resting on a rainbow. Here will be the city apartments of God's people, with Christ in residence (see Revelation 21:10-27).

End of evil

One more task remains. By a “second resurrection” (see John 5:28, 29), the rebels against God's authority are brought to life to face their judgment and receive their everlasting fate. Causing them to live again releases Satan from his prison. Now there are humans, he can deceive once more. In the guise of an “angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), the deceiver claims that his power has brought them back to life and that the city is their rightful home. They should go and possess it. The multitude advance and surround it, preparing to batter down its beautiful gates (see Revelation 20:7-9).

Still time

Just as three years after it went of the air, the KLEE-TV call sign reappeared, somehow stored somewhere in space, that comprehensive and permanent record of human activity also exists. And one day, we all will have to face it. But there's still opportunity to be pardoned, for “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11, 12).