And what is the nature of this heavenly judgment?

In other words, what takes place during this

investigative pre-Advent judgment? Before we can answer this question, we must ask another:
Is the judgment of Daniel 7 restricted to the little horn and those whom it oppressed during the
1260 year period or does it include all believers from all periods of human history as well?

There can be no doubt that the central focus of the judgment scene in Daniel 7 is upon the little
horn and the people whom it oppressed during the 1260 years. But does this exclude other
believers from other historical periods? Not necessarily.

Perhaps an analogy will help us understand what I mean. When we read the Sabbath
commandment as it is recorded in Deuteronomy 5:12-15 we might be led to conclude that it
was given only to literal Israel because it refers to their specific historical situation. God, in
essence, is saying to Israel: ‘I delivered you from slavery and gave you rest, therefore you are to
keep the Sabbath in commemoration of your emancipation.’ Does this restricted use of the
Sabbath commandment mean that it was given only to literal Israel? Was it not given also for
the entire human race? Other texts make it abundantly clear that the Sabbath was given for all
people of all ages (Exodus 20:8-11; Genesis 2:1-3; Mark 2:27). Does the restricted use of the
Sabbath commandment in Deuteronomy 5 cancel out its broader use in other texts of
Scripture? Absolutely not! We might just as well ask: Does the restricted use of the judgment in
Daniel 7 to the period of the little horn cancel out the broader application to the entire human
race? Of course not! At the conclusion of this judgment we are told that the saints received the
kingdom. Are we to understand that only the saints who lived during the 1260 years will receive
this kingdom? Of course not! Other texts of Scripture broaden the view by telling us that all the
redeemed will inherit the kingdom. So we conclude that the specialized view of the judgment in
Daniel 7 does not exclude the broader view in other portions of the Bible.

Now let’s return to our original question. What is the nature of the judgment? In order to
understand what takes place during this judgment we must first understand the relationship
between the ‘books’ [plural] and the ‘book’ [singular]. Let’s take a look at the ‘books’ first.

Daniel 7:10 informs us that the judgment sat and ‘the books [plural] were opened.’ And, what is
in the books? The answer is actually quite simple. The books contain a complete record of our
lives. Nothing is missingBnot a thought, a feeling, an act, a word. God keeps an exact transcript
of each person’s life from conception till death. Our life story is there (Psalm 139:16), our
secrets (Ecclesiastes 12:13), our words (Matthew 12:34-37), our works (Revelation 22:12), our
evil deeds (Isaiah 65:5-6), our tears (Psalm 56:8). Our good deeds are written in the books of
remembrance (Malachi 3:16). So to speak, God has another Stephen P. Bohr in heaven in
written form. This record of each person’s character, self-identity or individuality is carefully
preserved in the heavenly books. Regarding this, Ellen G. White remarks:

“The grand judgment is taking place, and has been going on for some time. Now the Lord says,
Measure the temple and the worshipers thereof. Remember when you are walking the streets
about your business, God is measuring you; when you are attending your household duties,
when you engage in conversation, God is measuring you. Remember that your words and
actions are being daguerreotyped [photographed] in the books of heaven, as the face is

Studies in Daniel | by Pastor Stephen Bohr | visit SecretsUnsealed.org | Page 280 of 459