I am not convinced the judgment actually began in 1844, but that is most certainly the year God spoke to draw the world’s attention to this message.
May I add, Christians are not judged by their own works in the judgment as a means to salvation. Christians are justified by the perfect works of Christ that cover their imperfections as they stand before a Holy God. The real question to be decided will be if they trusted Christ for salvation or if they relied on their own righteous obedience to get into heaven.
However, Jesus will reward Christians for the works done in the power of the Holy Spirit. These treasures will be enjoyed for eternity. This is what Jesus meant when he proclaimed: “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
In essence, there are two parts to the judgment scene. The first will decide our eternal salvation. The second will decide our rewards in the heavenly kingdom. Some Christians will receive an abundance of heavenly treasure, while others will simply be grateful to have made it through the gates of the Kingdom. Jesus said: “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Some people might question that God will reward people in heaven according to their works on earth. But the Holy Spirit clearly spoke through the apostle Paul who declared, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
Our salvation is secured by Christ as we trust Him alone for our eternal life. The blessings received now and throughout eternity will be rewarded based on our willingness to be obedient to Christ in all things. These are the three angels messages that are becoming more clear and pronounced as the time clock ticks away the final seconds of earth’s dark history.
~Stephen Beagles