Session 2
改动思路
- 谈一下神要求人圣洁背后的心意
Topic Introduction
- Brothers and sisters, welcome back to the second day of our bible study! Our greatest hope after believing in the Lord for so many years is to be able to enter the kingdom of heaven and be with the Lord, right? But in the Bible the Lord Jesus said: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21) So why not every single believer can enter God's kingdom? What are God's conditions for believers to enter God's kingdom? We will explore these questions that determine our final destination and outcome, I hope all of you can stay until the end to learn this entire topic!
Mic and Chat
Prayer
Review of Two Ways
Let's begin by refreshing our minds on what we learned last night. Brothers and sisters, according to the Bible prophecies, how will the Lord return in the last days?
❓Question: In which way will the Lord return?
A. Come upon the clouds publicly ☁️.
B. Secretly return in spirit🌃 .
C. First, He will return in the flesh as a person a second time 🧑. Then, He will come on the clouds ☁️ in public.
D. I’m not sure 😕
✅The correct answer is C.
The Lord's second coming is a process made up of two steps. First, God will come back in flesh as a person for a second time, and then, He would appear publicly on the white cloud. Let's read where it says that in the Bible.
The Lord Jesus told us：
"For the Son of Man cometh at an hour when you think not." (Luke 12:40)
What is the meaning of the Son of Man? Does it refer to Christ as a person or as a spirit? It is referring to a person with flesh and blood. For example, angels are spiritual bodies so they cannot be called the Son of Man. God coming on the clouds is also a spiritual body so He also cannot be called the Son of Man. When the Lord Jesus tells us He will come back as Son of Man, it means He will return in the flesh as a person again.
When Christ returns as a person, He would appear ordinary and normal. Do you think everyone will notice Him right away? No, right? It wouldn't draw a lot of fanfare or catch everyone's attention.
So Lord Jesus also told us,
“Behold, I come as a thief” (Revelation 16:15)
Itmeans the Lord's return in flesh will be secret and quiet like a thief.
So, how do we recognize the Lord Jesus when He returns as a person again? The Lord Jesus said,
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).
This means we will have to recognize the Lord Jesus through His voice, through the truth He can teach and say. This prophecy is clearly referring to the Lord coming back as an ordinary person in the flesh again. If the Lord Jesus were to come directly on a cloud, everyone can see, then it is is not necessary to recognize by His voice.
When we put all these prophecies together we can see the Lord has indeed told us that He will come back as a person again before His public appearance on the cloud.
Judgment Prophecy
Some may wonder why the Lord needs to come back as a person again? When the Lord comes, He will carry out a very important work, the work of judgment, and this work will determine whether people go to heaven or hell. Let's read where it says that in the Bible.
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17)
“For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son…. And has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man” (John 5:22, 27)
“For He comes to judge the earth: with righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity” (Psalm 98:9)
“I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:12–13)
“And if any man hears My words, and believes not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejects Me, and accepts not My words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:47–48)
- The scripture tells us clearly that the Son of Man - Christ in the flesh - will come to carry out the work of judgment. It is not going to be the Father, or the spirit.
- The Bible mentions the work of judgment more than 200 times. This tells us Christ will definitely return in the flesh to do this work.
- Brothers and sisters, who do you think God will judge? Everyone? Or only non-believers? The Bible says, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17). Who is in the house of God—believers or non-believers? It is believers. Believers must be judged first. This is not optional. It is God's plan. Every believer must accept judgment work to enter the kingdom of heaven. Let us open our hearts and learn it, so we can be ready for this work of judgment!
Conditions for Entering the Kingdom of Heaven
Some may wonder: why God does the work of judgment. To answer this question, we must first know what kind of people can enter the kingdom of heaven. You may have heard people say: "Our sins are forgiven for believing in the Lord, so we can enter the kingdom of heaven. As long as we read the Bible, pray, and do good deeds often, the Lord will take us into the kingdom of heaven when He returns."
When it comes to entering the kingdom of heaven, some people say, “Our sins are forgiven for believing in the Lord, so we can enter the kingdom of heaven. As long as we read the Bible, pray, and do good deeds often, the Lord will take us into the kingdom of heaven when He returns.” Is this view correct? If we want to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must first know the conditions for entering it. Can any person decide what kind of people can enter the kingdom of heaven? No, only God has the final say. God rules over the gate of the kingdom of heaven, right? The Lord’s words are the truth, the way, and the life. Regarding what kind of people can enter the kingdom of heaven, let’s see what the Bible says.
“Not every one that said to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that follows the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and in Your name have cast out devils, and in Your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21–23)
“You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45)
“Without holiness no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14)
According to the Lord Jesus’ words, we see that only those who attain sanctification and follow the will of the heavenly Father can enter the kingdom of heaven. So, what does it mean to follow the will of the heavenly Father? It means that people no longer sin, no longer rebel against or resist God, and are able to completely follow and practice the Lord’s words.
If people believe in the Lord and their sins are forgiven, but they still live in a cycle of sinning and confessing, they are not qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven. Why can’t those whose sins are forgiven enter the kingdom of heaven? This is mainly because forgiveness of sins does not mean that people are sanctified, nor does it mean they can submit to God or follow God’s will. People believe in the Lord and their sins are forgiven, but what problem still exists? It is that they can still often sin and resist God, right? Although people’s sins are forgiven after believing in the Lord, their sinful nature has not been cast off, and their corrupt disposition has not been cast off, so people can still often sin. What sins do they often commit? They fight for fame and gain, harbor jealousy and strife, follow evil trends, worship money and status, as well as attack people, judge people, lie, and so on. Furthermore, people can still resist God. When we speak of resisting God, this includes many things: complaining about God, doubting God, judging God, condemning God, and even blaspheming God. These are all manifestations of resisting God. For example, when God’s work is not in line with people’s notions, they can develop misunderstandings and complain about God. People are full of deceit especially in their attitude toward the Lord. When life is going smoothly, they thank and praise the Lord with their lips, but once natural or man-made disasters strike and they see their hopes of gaining blessings shattered, they begin to complain. Are these not people who betray and resist God? Although mankind’s sins are forgiven, they are still filthy and corrupt. In terms of their corrupt substance, they are still hostile to God.
Now let's think about it, someone living in such a vicious cycle of confessing sins and then sinning again—that is, someone living by their corrupt disposition—are they worthy to see God’s face? Are they worthy to be caught up into the kingdom of heaven when the Lord returns? God’s word says:
“You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45).
“Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14)
So if we’re still living in sin, enjoying the pleasures of sin, yet still hoping to be caught up into the kingdom of heaven, is this not an extravagant desire? It is indeed an extravagant desire. What did the Lord Jesus say?
“Not every one that said to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that follows the will of My Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21)
There are two layers of meaning in these words: Not all who believe in the Lord can enter the kingdom of heaven; most cannot, only a few can. So those who live in sin, even if they confess their sins, pray, and repent to God every day, if their corrupt disposition has not changed and they have not been purified, such people are not qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven. And yet we still wait for the Lord to come and take us into the kingdom of heaven. Is this not wishful thinking? Is this not an extravagant desire? Therefore, those who live in sin are not qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven. This is certain beyond all doubt and is entirely determined by God’s righteous and holy disposition. Just as the Lord Jesus said:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever commits sin is the servant of sin. And the servant stays not in the house for ever: but the son stays ever” (John 8:34–35)
So, we have believed in the Lord Jesus for many years, and our sins have been forgiven. Are we now qualified to enter God’s kingdom directly?
A. No, because we can still often sin and have not yet attained sanctification.
B. Yes, since we believe in the Lord and our sins have been forgiven, we can directly enter the kingdom of heaven.
Correct Answer: A. No, because we can still often sin and have not yet attained sanctification.
At this point, some people might feel a bit discouraged. If this is the case, and no one is sanctified, does it mean that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven? Don’t worry. Entering the kingdom of heaven is God’s promise. Our fellowship of God’s words is to help us understand the conditions for entering the kingdom of heaven and find the path to it. I believe none of us want to sin. But why can't we help but sin? Hasn’t the Lord Jesus forgiven our sins? Why can we still often sin? What’s the root of this problem?
Results of the Lord Jesus’ Work
Brothers and sisters, you might ask, “The Lord Jesus finished the work of crucifixion, but why do people still live in a cycle of sinning and confessing, unable to escape the bondage of sin?” Isn’t this matter worth thinking about? People pray to God, saying, “O Lord, I am so miserable!” They shed tears in pain, but still cannot cast off their corrupt disposition. Some people can even be martyred for the Lord, sacrificing everything, yet their corrupt disposition still remains. Everyone lives in a cycle of sinning by day and confessing by night. Why is this? We will understand after reading a few passages of words.
A sinner such as you, who has just been redeemed, and has not been changed, or been perfected by God—can you be in line with God’s intentions? For you, you who are still of your old self, it is true that you were saved by Jesus, and you are not of sin because of the salvation of God, but this does not prove that you are without sin or impurity. How can you be sanctified if you have not been changed? Within, you are full of impurity, selfish and base, yet you still wish to descend with Jesus—you should be so lucky! You have missed a step in your belief in God: You have merely been redeemed, but you have not been changed. For you to be in line with God’s intentions, God must personally do the work to change and cleanse you; otherwise you could not possibly become sanctified as you’ve only been redeemed. In this way you will be unqualified to enjoy the good blessings together with God, for you have missed a step in God’s work of managing man, which is the key step of changing and perfecting. You, a sinner who has just been redeemed, are therefore incapable of directly inheriting God’s inheritance.
“For, in the Age of Grace, the demons were cast out from man with the laying on of hands and prayer, but the corrupt dispositions within man still remained. Man was healed of his sickness and forgiven his sins, but as for just how man was to be purged of the corrupt satanic dispositions within him, this work had yet to be done. Man was only saved and forgiven his sins for his faith, but the sinful nature of man was not extirpated and still remained within him… The sins of man were forgiven, and this is because of the work of God’s crucifixion, but man continued to live within his corrupt satanic disposition of old. This being so, man must be completely saved from his corrupt satanic disposition, so that his sinful nature may be completely extirpated, never to develop again, thus enabling the disposition of man to be transformed”
After reading these words, we are clear that the Lord Jesus only did the work of redemption, not the work of purifying and changing people. Therefore, when people believe in the Lord, only their sins are forgiven, but their sinful nature is not resolved. This is the root cause of why we can still often sin after our sins are forgiven. The Lord Jesus was crucified and became the sin offering for mankind, redeeming man from sin. We no longer need to offer bulls and sheep as sin offerings. As long as people confess their sins and repent to the Lord, their sins can be forgiven, and they will no longer be condemned and put to death for violating the law. People then have the qualification to come before the Lord to pray to Him and enjoy the peace, joy, and abundant grace and blessings He bestows. This is the true meaning of "being saved." It can be seen that "being saved by faith" merely refers to sins being forgiven and not being condemned and put to death under the law. However, this does not mean that people will not sin, much less that their sinful nature is gone.
The redemptive work of the Lord Jesus on the cross only forgave our sins, meaning it removed and bore the punishment we deserved for our sins, like cutting the leaves of grass. However, the Lord Jesus did not remove the root of sin within us. Our root of sin is our sinful nature, which is the nature of Satan. Satan’s nature refers to corrupt dispositions such as selfishness, arrogance, crookedness, deceitfulness, evil, greed, self-righteousness, and self-importance. For example, when our interests or reputation are involved, we cannot practice the Lord’s words. We worry that telling the truth will cause others to look down on us or despise us, so we lie and deceive. This is because we have a corrupt nature of selfishness and deceitfulness within us. Or, when people see others who are more outstanding than themselves, they feel uncomfortable and don’t want the other person to do well. This is because people have a corrupt nature of jealousy. Jealousy can lead people to engage in negative behaviors such as belittling, judging, and looking down on others. There is also arrogance. An arrogant disposition is also a satanic disposition. It can dominate people to exalt and testify for themselves, and force others to submit, just like Satan, who demands obedience from others in all things. When people have an arrogant nature, they can disobey God’s words, harbor notions about God, and commit acts of betraying God. What the Lord Jesus forgave was the punishment people deserved for sinning, not their sinful nature. As long as our sinful nature is not resolved, even if the Lord Jesus forgives us a thousand or ten thousand times, we will still be unable to stop sinning, still unable to attain sanctification, and ultimately still unqualified to enter the kingdom of heaven. This is a fact we must face.
Question: Can people resolve this sinful nature on their own? Can one gradually remove their sinful nature by reading the Bible more, attending more gatherings, and praying more?
Of course not. For 2,000 years, countless devout Christians have read the Bible more, attended more gatherings, and prayed more, but who among them has stopped sinning? Who has cast off their corrupt disposition? Not a single one. Even Paul said, “For to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Romans 7:18). Man’s nature is filled with satanic dispositions, and Satan’s words have become man’s life. That is to say, satanic dispositions have become man’s life, something in their blood, in their marrow. Can man then cast it off on their own? Man’s satanic disposition has become deeply rooted, becoming their life. In this way, no matter how hard people try or how much they restrain themselves, it is all in vain. Just take a look—which believer in the Lord has escaped the bondage of sin? Aren’t they all sinning and confessing, confessing and sinning, living in sin and struggling bitterly, finding it difficult to break free even when they weep and pray to the Lord? Therefore, if we want to break free from sin and attain sanctification, we not only need the Lord Jesus to be crucified and bear our sins, but we also need the Lord Jesus to personally come again to remove our sinful nature from within us, to thoroughly change and purify us. Only then can we attain sanctification and be qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Why God Must Do the Work of Judgment in the Last Days
So how can we truly break free from sin and be brought into the kingdom of heaven by God? Actually, the Lord Jesus has already told us the path to being purified. Let’s read a few Bible verses:
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17)
“I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:12–13)
“Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth” (John 17:17)
“And if any man hears My words, and believes not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejects Me, and accepts not My words, has one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:47–48)
In the last days, God will do the work of judgment beginning at the house of God, which is to save those who sincerely believe in the Lord and welcome His return.
So how does God do the work of judgment? The Bible verses mention, “Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth,” and “The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” This means that God will do the work of judgment by expressing the truth and speaking His words, to guide us to understand and enter into all truth, using these truths to judge us and purify us, to completely remove our sinful nature from within us, so that we can thoroughly break free from sin, escape Satan’s influence, and attain salvation.
Perhaps some brothers and sisters still have concerns: Doesn’t judgment mean condemnation? Doesn’t it mean punishment? We always thought that when the Lord returned, He would judge Satan and devils, evildoers, and those who resist God. We never expected that judgment would begin at the house of God. If God judges us, won’t we be condemned and punished? Actually, no. Let’s take a look:
“Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5)
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin to salvation” (Hebrews 9:28)
“For when Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9)
The Bible verse says, “Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time,” and “To them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin to salvation” (Hebrews 9:28). These verses clearly tell us that when the Lord returns in the last days, He will bring salvation. This salvation refers to the work of judgment by words that God will do when He returns in the last days. “Without sin to salvation” indicates that when the Lord returns in the last days, He will no longer be a sin offering for man, bearing man’s sins, much less will He directly condemn mankind. Instead, He will do the work of judgment by words to purify and save all who sincerely welcome the Lord’s return, so that they can thoroughly break free from sin, their corrupt dispositions can be cast off, and they can truly follow God’s will and enter the kingdom of heaven. Brothers and sisters, do you still think God’s judgment by words is condemnation and punishment? (No).
God’s work of judgment in the last days is most crucial and important in His work of saving mankind; it determines whether man can enter the kingdom of heaven. If man misses this crucial stage of work and does not accept God’s judgment in the last days, they cannot be purified. Then all their efforts in believing in God will be in vain, and they will have given up halfway, unqualified to enter the kingdom of heaven. Their faith in God will have been a complete failure. That would truly be a lifelong regret! Let’s read another passage of words to gain a clear understanding.
“Though Jesus came among man and did much work, He only completed the work of redeeming all mankind and served as man’s sin offering; He did not rid man of all his corrupt disposition. Fully saving man from the influence of Satan not only required Jesus to become the sin offering and bear the sins of man, but it also required God to do even greater work to rid man completely of his satanically corrupted disposition. And so, after man was forgiven of his sins, God returned to the flesh to lead man into the new age, and began the work of chastisement and judgment. This work has brought man into a higher realm. All those who submit under His dominion shall enjoy higher truth and receive greater blessings. They shall truly live in the light, and they shall gain the truth, the way, and the life.”
The Lord Jesus did the work of redemption. By believing in Him, our sins are forgiven, but we still cannot stop sinning and live constantly in sin. However, if we accept the work of judgment in the last days, we can be purified of sin, no longer bound by sin, and can stop sinning. Then we will be truly free and able to enter God’s kingdom. Isn’t this a higher realm? So this is the importance of the work of judgment, and it is also the only path for us to enter the kingdom of heaven. If we do not accept God’s work of judgment, we will never be able to enter God’s kingdom, even if we believe in the Lord for a lifetime.
Question: If we only accept the redemption of the Lord Jesus, can we enter the kingdom of heaven?
A. No, the Lord Jesus’ work only redeemed our sins; it did not remove the root of our sin. God needs to return to do the work of judgment to purify us, and only then will we have the chance to enter the kingdom of heaven.
B. We believe in the Lord Jesus and our sins are forgiven, so when the Lord comes, we can enter the kingdom of heaven.
Correct Answer: A. No, the Lord Jesus’ work only redeemed our sins; it did not remove the root of our sin. God needs to return to do the work of judgment to purify us, and only then will we have the chance to enter the kingdom of heaven.
How Does God Do the Work of Judgment?
At this point, brothers and sisters might ask, "So how does God do the work of judgment to purify man?" Let’s read two passages of words, and then we will be completely clear about God’s work of judgment in the last days.
The Lord Jesus clearly said:
“For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment to the Son…. And has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man” (John 5:22, 27)
“I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:12–13)
“Sanctify them through Your truth: Your word is truth” (John 17:17)
“The work of judgment is God’s own work, so it must naturally be carried out by God Himself; it cannot be done by man in His stead. Because judgment is the use of the truth to conquer humankind, there is no question that God would still appear in the incarnate image to perform this work among man. That is to say, Christ of the last days shall use the truth to teach people across the world and make all truths known to them. This is God’s work of judgment.”
“Christ of the last days uses a variety of truths to teach man, to expose the substance of man, and to dissect the words and deeds of man. These words comprise various truths, such as man’s duty, how man should submit to God, how man should be loyal to God, how man ought to live out normal humanity, as well as the wisdom and the disposition of God, and so on. These words are all directed at the substance of man and his corrupt disposition. In particular, the words that expose how man rejects God are spoken in regard to how man is an embodiment of Satan, and an enemy force against God. In undertaking His work of judgment, God does not simply make clear the nature of man with a few words; He exposes and prunes over the long term. All these different methods of exposure and pruning cannot be substituted with ordinary words, but with the truth of which man is utterly bereft. Only methods such as these can be called judgment; only through judgment of this kind can man be subdued and thoroughly convinced about God, and moreover gain true knowledge of God. What the work of judgment brings about is man’s understanding of the true face of God and the truth about his own rebelliousness. The work of judgment allows man to gain much understanding of the intentions of God, of the purpose of God’s work, and of the mysteries that are incomprehensible to him. It also allows man to recognize and know his corrupt essence and the roots of his corruption, as well as to discover the ugliness of man. These effects are all brought about by the work of judgment, for the essence of this work is actually the work of opening up the truth, the way, and the life of God to all those who have faith in Him. This work is the work of judgment done by God.”
After reading these passages, we become even clearer that in the last days, God becomes flesh as the Son of man to express the truth and do the work of judgment, exposing man’s various satanic dispositions and the various erroneous thoughts and viewpoints instilled in man by Satan. These words of judgment are replaced with truths that man fundamentally does not possess. Every sentence of God’s words carries authority. Only God scrutinizes the innermost heart of man. God’s words expose all the manifestations of man living by their corrupt dispositions such as arrogance, deceitfulness, and wickedness. They also incisively expose the impurities and intentions in people’s belief in God, and even many thoughts and ideas hidden deep within their hearts, as well as the intentions and purposes behind their actions. When we see our filthy, corrupt, and ugly faces so thoroughly exposed by God, we feel extremely ashamed, and truly unworthy to live before God. At this time, we will genuinely yearn to understand and gain the truth. When we are able to practice the truth, we learn to submit to God. When we understand the truth and can live by God’s words and the truth, our life disposition begins to change. When our satanic dispositions are cast off, eliminated and disintegrated, they will be shed from us, removed from our hearts, and our life disposition will begin to change. Then we will have hope of ultimately being purified by God’s words, becoming people who basically submit to God and no longer resist Him, and being brought into the kingdom of heaven by God. This process is the process of being purified by God’s words. Therefore, the work of judgment is by no means a momentary event, or something that happens in a day or two, as people supernaturally imagine. In the last days, God will personally become flesh and come to earth to express many words to do the work of judgment, using words to expose man’s corruption and to show man the path to casting off their corrupt disposition. The process of God becoming flesh to do the work of judgment is the process of expressing the truth, enabling people to reflect on and know themselves according to God’s words, thereby casting off their corrupt disposition, being able to truly submit to and worship God, and being saved by God. It can be said that the process of the incarnate Son of man expressing the truth is the process of God doing the work of judgment to save man. If people cannot see the Son of man expressing the truth or hear God’s voice, they will never be able to welcome the Lord. God expresses the truth and does the work of judgment because corrupt mankind all have a nature that resists God. Man’s corrupt disposition is the root of resisting God and is the most difficult to resolve. It must be resolved through the judgment and chastisement of God’s words, coupled with trials and refinement. Therefore, people must accept God’s work of judgment to achieve true submission to and worship of God, and to attain salvation.
Regarding God’s work of judgment, to help everyone understand, let’s use the example of a patient going to see a doctor. This will make it clearer. When a patient arrives at the hospital, the doctor cannot immediately perform surgery or prescribe medication. The doctor must first know what illness the patient has in order to know how to treat it. God’s work of judgment is the same. God expresses the truth to first let us know which manifestations are sinning and resisting God, such as lying, jealousy, arrogance, self-righteousness, and so on. Then He tells us how to resolve these corrupt dispositions, and finally, He points out how to live out the likeness of a true human being. It is by reading God’s words that we gradually find the path to breaking free from sin and attain purification. The process of God doing the work of judgment is just like the process of a doctor treating a patient. In the last days, God uses the truth to judge man, and the truth is God’s words.
Through these scriptures and words, we know that the Lord Jesus’ second coming is in the form of incarnation, and on earth, among those who believe in God, He will begin the work of judgment. Let’s consider a question: Why must God once again use the method of incarnation to do the work of judgment on earth? We all know that only by becoming flesh and coming to earth can God have actual contact with man, speak to them and fellowship the truth with them at any time and in any place, expose and judge man according to the corrupt dispositions they reveal, and water, shepherd, and support man according to their needs, telling man God’s clear intentions and requirements. Man can hear God’s words with their own ears and understand the truths He expresses. Isn’t this most beneficial for man to gain the truth and attain salvation? Furthermore, when God becomes flesh as an ordinary, normal person, would man have notions? Would they be rebellious? They certainly would. When people have notions, rebellions, resistance toward this ordinary and normal person, even if they don’t say anything, and no matter how they try to disguise it, God scrutinizes all, and man cannot hide anything. God directly and incisively exposes the things hidden within man. Therefore, the incarnation best reveals man, best reveals their rebelliousness and resistance, which is more conducive to the work of judgment. What if it were God’s Spirit speaking directly? Man cannot see or touch God’s Spirit, much less draw near to Him. If God’s Spirit spoke to man, they would surely be terrified. How then could man open their hearts to God and converse with Him? How then could man understand the truth? Moreover, in the presence of the Spirit, who would dare to have notions? Who would dare to reveal corruption? Who would dare to be rebellious or resistant? No one would dare. People would be afraid, trembling, prostrating themselves on the ground, their faces ashen. If they were frightened to this extent, how could people be revealed? If people’s notions and rebelliousness cannot be revealed, how then could the work of judgment be done? What evidence would there be to judge man? Therefore, the work of God’s Spirit cannot dig out and reveal man’s true manifestations, and God’s work of judgment cannot be done. However, the incarnation coming to do the work of judgment achieves much better results than the Spirit doing it. Isn’t that so?
Sealed Book
Then some people will ask, "Where are the truths expressed by God for judgment in the last days? Are they in the Bible? Or will God speak new words in the last days?" Regarding this question, let’s read some relevant biblical prophecies together.
The Lord Jesus said:
“I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:12–13)
These “many things” are words the Lord Jesus had never spoken before, words we have never heard, words that the Lord will express when He returns in the last days. Could these words have been recorded in the Bible in advance?
Question: From where will the Lord use words to do the work of judgment to purify us?
A. The words in the Bible that we have read before.
B. New words outside the Bible that God will express when He comes in the last days.
The correct answer is B. New words outside the Bible that God will express when He comes in the last days.
Then some people will say, "Is there other evidence to prove that God will come to express new words in the last days?" Actually, the Bible has prophesied many times that God will come to speak more new words in the last days.
🟡 Revelation 5:1, 3, 5: “And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders said to me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.”
🟡 Daniel 12:4: “But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”
🟡 Daniel 12:9–10: “And He said, Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.”
🍎 These scriptures clearly state that when the Lord returns, He will open a scroll, and this scroll is sealed, and no one can open it, nor has anyone ever read this sealed scroll.
🍎 This book can only be opened in the last days by "the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David," that is, by the returned Lord Jesus Himself.
🍎 Therefore, this scroll definitely does not refer to the Bible, which we can read every day, nor does it refer to the Book of Revelation, because the Bible has existed for thousands of years, and we can open and read it every day. Conversely, the scroll is a new book.
Question: Brothers and sisters, do you think the sealed book is the Bible or a new book?
A. The Bible
B. A new book
The correct answer is B. A new book
Through fellowship, we can understand that the Bible only includes the words God spoke in the past, while the scroll that the Lord will open when He returns definitely does not refer to the Bible we read now. The words expressed by the Lord upon His return are new words, words that God has never spoken before. Of course, they are words never recorded in the Bible, and words that people have never heard. Therefore, when the Lord Jesus returns in the last days, He will express new words, open the scroll, and do the work of judgment and purification.
Most people should see clearly that the path to entering the kingdom of heaven is very real and practical. It is not that as long as their sins are forgiven, one just waits for the Lord to come and take them up into the air, and then directly bring them into the kingdom of heaven, and that’s it. This is just human wishful thinking, far too unrealistic. If people want to be caught up into the kingdom of heaven, the most crucial thing is to accept God’s judgment and chastisement, seek the words expressed by God in the last days, and practice God’s words. Only in this way can their corrupt dispositions be purified, and they can become people who follow God’s will. Only then will they be qualified to receive God’s promises and blessings and be brought into God’s kingdom.
The Work of Judgment Includes Two Aspects
Now some people will ask, "For those who accept the judgment of God’s words, God uses the truth to judge and purify them. But for those who do not accept the judgment of God’s words, how does God judge them?" That is to say, how does God judge nonbelievers, as well as those who only believe in the Lord Jesus but do not accept the Lord Jesus’ second incarnation, and those who only believe in the Bible but reject the new words expressed by God in the last days?
Let’s read 2 passages of words.
“One aspect of God’s work is to conquer all mankind and gain the chosen people through His words; another is to conquer all sons of rebellion by way of various disasters. This is one part of the large-scale work of God. Only in this way can the kingdom on earth that God wants be fully achieved, and this is the part of His work that is pure gold.”
“All manner of disasters will befall, one after another; all nations and places will experience calamities: Plague, famine, flood, drought, and earthquakes are everywhere. These disasters are not just happening in one or two places, nor will they be over within a day or two; rather, instead they will expand across a greater and greater area, and become more and more severe. During this time, all manner of insect plagues will arise one after another, and the phenomenon of cannibalism will occur everywhere. This is My judgment upon the myriad countries and peoples.”
Therefore, judgment is divided into two types: Those who believe in God (God’s chosen people)—Judgment by new words—Purification and salvation Nonbelievers and false believers (those who resist God)—Judgment by disasters—Punishment
So, God’s work is done in steps and stages; it is not accomplished all at once. Judgment is a double-edged sword. Who are those God wants to save? Who are those to be eliminated? The judgment by words and the judgment by disasters are carried out simultaneously. God’s judgment by words is primarily to purify those who can accept His work of judgment in the last days. Through the judgment by words, the result of purifying and saving a portion of people is achieved. At the same time, those who clearly know that there are so many prophecies in the Bible about God’s work of judgment in the last days, but stubbornly refuse to accept God’s work of judgment in the last days, are all objects of God’s condemnation and elimination. They will be left in the judgment of disasters to be destroyed. God’s work of judgment is work that purifies and saves man, and it is also work that sorts each according to their kind. It does not directly condemn or destroy man. As for the work of rewarding the good and punishing the evil that we speak of, it is carried out after the work of judgment. And the work of separating the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the tares, is precisely revealed through the work of judgment. That is to say, during the period when the incarnate God expresses words to do the work of judgment, all who can accept the judgment of God’s words and attain purification can be saved, while those who reject God’s judgment, and resist and condemn God, are all objects of punishment. Therefore, the work of judgment is directly related to the future destiny and outcome of each of us; it involves the great matter of whether we who believe in the Lord can enter the kingdom of heaven. If we do not accept God’s work of judgment and purification by words in the last days, and approach it with notions and imaginings, then we will forever lose the opportunity to be purified by God and enter the kingdom of heaven. This will be an eternal regret, an eternal pain. This is how God ends this human race: saving a portion of people who love the truth and can accept the truth, while at the same time condemning, punishing, and destroying those who do not accept the truth and deny the truth. This is the work of judgment.
Consequences of Not Accepting the Judgment
Having spoken to this point, I would like to ask everyone a question:
Suppose that a pastor says, "We who believe in the Lord have already been saved by faith. The precious blood of the Lord Jesus has already cleansed us of our sins. As long as we often read the Bible, pray every day, and attend more gatherings, we can enter the kingdom of heaven. We who believe in the Lord do not need the Lord to do the judgment work in the last days to purify and save us. Reading the Bible is enough for us; we do not need God to express new words in the last days to purify us." Would you agree? ——No, I would not agree.
Now, there are many people in the religious world who say that it is impossible for God to do the work of judgment in the last days, and they are just waiting for the Lord Jesus to descend on a cloud to receive them into the kingdom of heaven. Isn't this idea of theirs unrealistic? Did the Lord Jesus say that we can enter the kingdom of heaven just by being saved by faith? The Bible clearly prophesies:
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17)
They clearly know that the Bible prophesies God’s work of judgment in the last days, yet they still deny and refuse to accept it. Do they truly believe the Bible? That God will do the work of judgment in the last days is based on biblical prophecy. If they understand the Bible, they should understand the importance of this prophecy. When we believe in God, we cannot blindly believe man’s words, but must base our faith on the words of the Lord Jesus. If anyone’s words do not conform to the words of the Lord Jesus, then we cannot listen to them. As for those who do not listen to God’s words, who blindly follow man and listen to man’s words without discernment, they also believe that they do not need to accept the judgment of God’s words to enter the kingdom of heaven. What awaits them is only endless disaster and eternal destruction. Therefore, the work of judgment is the most crucial and fundamental stage in God’s work of saving mankind. Only by accepting God’s work of judgment in the last days can one be made an overcomer before the catastrophes and be someone who has a share in the kingdom of heaven. Only by accepting and experiencing the judgment and chastisement of God’s words can people know their own nature essence and satanic disposition, know God’s righteous and holy disposition, gradually understand and gain the truth, and have their satanic disposition purified. This is the only path for man to attain salvation and enter the kingdom of heaven. If people refuse to accept God’s work of judgment in the last days, they will never gain the truth, will not be able to break free from the bondage of sin, and will not be qualified to enter the kingdom of heaven. Even if they have done much work, suffered a lot for the Lord, and paid a great price in the past, they will not receive the Lord’s approval.
What path man takes in believing in God is chosen by themselves; God does not force anyone. But we must understand that when God becomes flesh and comes to earth to express the truth to judge and purify man, if we do not accept it, then when we see the Lord descending on a cloud, it will be too late. That will be the time when the work of judgment has ended, and also the time when God rewards the good and punishes the evil. At that time, even if we are consumed with regret, God will not repeat the work of judgment for us. Once we miss the work of judgment by words done by God incarnate in the last days, we will have missed it forever. God’s disposition is merciless toward anyone who cannot keep pace with Him.
Finally, let’s read a passage of words together:
“The work of judgment is God’s own work, so it must naturally be carried out by God Himself; it cannot be done by man in His stead. Because judgment is the use of the truth to conquer humankind, there is no question that God would still appear in the incarnate image to perform this work among man. That is to say, Christ of the last days shall use the truth to teach people across the world and make all truths known to them. This is God’s work of judgment. Many have a bad feeling about the second incarnation of God, for people find it difficult to believe that God would become flesh to do the work of judgment. Nevertheless, I must tell you that the work of God often goes far beyond the expectations of man, and is difficult for human minds to accept. For people are but maggots upon the earth, while God is the supreme One who fills the universe; the mind of man is like a pit of foul water that breeds only maggots, whereas each stage of the work directed by the thoughts of God is the distillation of God’s wisdom. People are always trying to contend with God, to which I say it is self-evident who will lose out in the end. I exhort you all not to think yourselves more valuable than gold. If others can accept the judgment of God, why can’t you? How much higher do you stand above others? If others can bow their heads before the truth, why can’t you, too? God’s work has an unstoppable momentum. He will not repeat the work of judgment again just because of the ‘contribution’ you have made, and you will be overcome with regret at letting such a good opportunity slip by. If you do not believe My words, then just wait for that great white throne in the sky to pass judgment upon you! You must know that all of the Israelites rejected and denied Jesus, and yet the fact of Jesus’ redemption of mankind still extended throughout the universe and to the ends of the earth. Isn’t this a fact that God accomplished long ago? If you are still waiting for Jesus to take you up to heaven, then I say that you are an obstinate piece of deadwood. Jesus will not acknowledge a false believer such as you, who is disloyal to the truth and seeks only blessings. On the contrary, He will show no mercy in casting you into the lake of fire to burn for tens of thousands of years.”
“Do you understand now what is judgment and what is truth? If you do, then I exhort you to submit obediently to being judged, otherwise you shall never have the opportunity to be commended by God or to be brought by Him into His kingdom. Those who only accept judgment but can never be purified, that is, those who flee amidst the work of judgment, shall forever be spurned by God. Their sins are more numerous, and more grievous, than those of the Pharisees, for they have betrayed God and are rebels against God. Such people who are not worthy even to labor shall receive more severe punishment, a punishment that is, moreover, everlasting. God shall not spare any traitor who once evinced loyalty with words but then betrayed Him. People such as these shall receive retribution through punishment of the spirit, soul, and body. Is this not precisely a revelation of the righteous disposition of God? Is this not God’s purpose in judging man, and revealing him? God consigns all who perform all kinds of evil deeds during the time of judgment to a place infested with evil spirits, and lets these evil spirits destroy their fleshly bodies as they wish, and those people’s bodies emit the stench of corpses. Such is their fitting retribution. God writes down in their record books each and every one of the sins of those disloyal false believers, false apostles, and false workers; then, when the time is right, He casts them amidst the unclean spirits, letting these unclean spirits defile their entire bodies at will, so that they may never be reincarnated and never again see the light. Those hypocrites who do service for a time but are incapable of remaining loyal to the end are numbered by God among the evil, so that they fall into cahoots with the evil and become part of their disorderly rabble; in the end, God shall annihilate them. God casts aside and takes no notice of those who have never been loyal to Christ or have never contributed anything of their strength, and at the changing of the age He shall annihilate them all. They shall no longer exist on earth, much less gain passage into the kingdom of God. Those who have never been sincere to God, but are forced by circumstance into dealing with Him perfunctorily, are numbered among those who do service for His people. Only a small number of such people will survive, while the majority shall perish along with those whose labor is not up to standard. Ultimately, God shall bring into His kingdom all those who are of the same mind as God, the people and the sons of God, and those predestined by God to be priests. They will be the distillation of God’s work. As for those who cannot be classed in any of the categories set by God, they shall be numbered among the nonbelievers—and you can surely imagine what their outcome shall be. I have already said to you all that I should say; the road that you select is your choice alone. What you should understand is this: The work of God never waits for any that cannot keep pace with Him, and the righteous disposition of God shows no mercy to any man”
“The work of judgment is God’s own work, so it must naturally be carried out by God Himself; it cannot be done by man in His stead. Because judgment is the use of the truth to conquer humankind, there is no question that God would still appear in the incarnate image to perform this work among man. That is to say, Christ of the last days shall use the truth to teach people across the world and make all truths known to them. This is God’s work of judgment. Many have a bad feeling about the second incarnation of God, for people find it difficult to believe that God would become flesh to do the work of judgment. Nevertheless, I must tell you that the work of God often goes far beyond the expectations of man, and is difficult for human minds to accept...God’s work has an unstoppable momentum. He will not repeat the work of judgment again just because of the ‘contribution’ you have made, and you will be overcome with regret at letting such a good opportunity slip by. If you do not believe My words, then just wait for that great white throne in the sky to pass judgment upon you! You must know that all of the Israelites rejected and denied Jesus, and yet the fact of Jesus’ redemption of mankind still extended throughout the universe and to the ends of the earth. Isn’t this a reality that God made long ago? If you are still waiting for Jesus to take you up to heaven, then I say that you are an obstinate piece of deadwood. Jesus will not acknowledge a false believer such as you, who is disloyal to the truth and seeks only blessings. On the contrary, He will show no mercy in casting you into the lake of fire to burn for tens of thousands of years”
