Sermon Study Guide: Michael Stands Up

Daniel 12 & The Pre-Advent Judgment

INTRODUCTION

Text: Daniel 12:1

This study guide explores the profound truth of the pre-advent judgment—when Michael (Jesus Christ) stands up to deliver His people. Rather than being a doctrine to fear, this judgment is presented as wonderful news for God’s people, ensuring they are sealed and safe in Christ before the final crisis.

PART 1: THE LOCATION OF THE JUDGMENT

Key Scripture: Daniel 7:9-10, 22, 26

The Three-Fold Pattern in Daniel 7

Little Horn → Judgment → Second Coming (repeated three times)
When God repeats something three times, it demands our attention

The Three Judgment Passages

Daniel 7:9-10 — The Throne Room Scene
- “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit…”
- Location: Before the throne of God in heaven
- Myriads of angels in attendance
- “The judgment was set, and the books were opened”
Daniel 7:22 — Judgment Given to the Saints
- “Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High”
- This is GOOD NEWS—the saints are vindicated
Daniel 7:26 — Judgment on the Little Horn
- “The judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion”

Why the Open Court Matters

Earthly courts have public galleries so people can see justice done
God’s judgment occurs before “ten thousand times ten thousand” angels
The entire universe witnesses that God’s judgments are true and just
This answers future questions: “Why is my loved one lost and I am saved?”

Key Insight: The pre-advent judgment takes place in heaven, not on earth. It involves the opening of books before God on His throne with myriads of angels in attendance.

PART 2: THE TIMING OF THE JUDGMENT

Key Scripture: Daniel 8:14; Daniel 9:24-27

The 2300 Days Prophecy

Daniel 8:14: “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed”
The Hebrew idiom “evenings and mornings” = 2300 days
Following the prophetic principle: 1 day = 1 year (Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6)
Therefore: 2300 years

The Vision/Explanation Pattern

Chapter	Vision	Explanation
Daniel 2	Image	Complete explanation
Daniel 7	Four Beasts	Complete explanation
Daniel 8	Ram & Goat	PARTIAL explanation (Greece & Persia named, but time element unexplained)

The Hebrew Word Clue

Hazon (חָזוֹן) — Used for visions of earthly powers (Greece, Persia, Rome)
Mara (מַרְאָה) — Used for the time element of the vision
In Daniel 8:13, Gabriel switches from hazon to mara when referring to the 2300 days
Daniel 9 is the explanation of the mara—the missing time element

The 490 Years (70 Weeks)

Daniel 9:24-27

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people”
70 × 7 = 490 years
“Determined” = chatak — cut off from something larger
The 490 years are CUT OFF from the 2300 years

The Three Couplets of Daniel 9:24

Responsibility of the Jews	Responsibility of God	Result
Finish transgression	Make reconciliation for iniquity	Anointing of the Most Holy
Make an end of sin	Bring in everlasting righteousness

The Decree to Rebuild Jerusalem

Cyrus (538 BC) — Rebuild the Temple (not sufficient)
Ezra 6 (520 BC) — Reaffirm temple rebuilding (not sufficient)
Artaxerxes (457 BC) — Command to “restore and rebuild Jerusalem” (the correct starting point)

The 69 Weeks (483 Years)

From 457 BC to AD 27 = 483 years
Daniel 9:25: “From the going forth of the command… unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks”
7 + 62 = 69 weeks × 7 = 483 years

AD 27 — The Baptism of Jesus

Luke 3:1-2 provides multiple historical markers
15th year of Tiberius Caesar
Pontius Pilate, Herod, Philip, Lysanias, Annas and Caiaphas
The Messiah (Anointed One) was anointed with the Holy Spirit at His baptism

The 70th Week (AD 27-34)

“He shall confirm the covenant with many for one week”
Midst of the week (AD 31) — Crucifixion
“He shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease”
End of the week (AD 34) — Stoning of Stephen

Calculating AD 34

Galatians 1:18 — Paul’s first visit to Jerusalem: 3 years after conversion
Galatians 2:1 — Paul’s second visit: 14 years later (17 years total)
Acts 18:12 — Paul before Gallio in AD 51
51 – 17 = AD 34 (the stoning of Stephen)

The 2300 Years and 1844

2300 years – 490 years = 1810 years remaining
457 BC + 2300 years = AD 1844
This marks the beginning of the pre-advent judgment

The First Angel’s Message (Revelation 14:6-7)

“The hour of His judgment is come”
This message only makes sense from 1844 onward
Call to: “Fear God and give glory to Him”

Satan’s Interference in 1844

Figure	Contribution	Effect
Charles Darwin	Theory of Evolution (1844)	Denies Creator God
Karl Marx	Communist Manifesto (1848)	Atheism, class warfare
Sigmund Freud	Psychoanalysis	Denies morality, sanctification
The Bab	Baha’i Faith (1844)	Alternative messiah
Joseph Smith	Mormonism (1844)	Alternative revelation

Key Insight: The pre-advent judgment began in 1844. The first angel’s message calls the world to worship God as Creator—exactly when Satan launched attacks on creation, morality, and faith.

PART 3: THE SUBJECTS OF THE JUDGMENT

1. God Himself is on Trial

The Great Controversy is about God’s character
Is God a God of love, or a dictator who rules by fear?

The Cherubim on the Ark

Positioned looking DOWN at the mercy seat
Represent the interest of unfallen worlds in God’s government
They are the “public gallery” of the universe

Romans 3:4 — “Let God be true, and every man a liar… that Thou mightest be justified in Thy sayings”

Revelation 16:5-7 — The angelic commentary:

“Thou art righteous, O Lord… true and righteous are Thy judgments”

Key Insight: God has nothing to hide in the final judgment. He opens His court to the entire universe.

2. The Saints of God are Vindicated

Daniel 7:22 — “Judgment was given to the saints of the Most High”

This is NOT:

A torturous examination
An “all-points” inspection to find fault
A cause for fear

This IS:

“My day in court”
Vindication of the righteous
God declaring, “Not guilty!”

Zechariah 3:1-5

Satan accuses Joshua the high priest
God says, “Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?”
God clothes Joshua with clean garments

Isaiah 61:10

“He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation”
“He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness”

Romans 8:1

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus”

Justification vs. Sanctification

To be IN CHRIST = Justification (declared righteous)
For Christ TO BE IN YOU = Sanctification (made righteous)
Both are necessary for salvation

Key Insight: We don’t look to our own righteousness in the judgment—we look to Christ’s righteousness covering us.

3. The Oppressors of God’s People are Judged

Daniel 11:45 — “He shall come to his end, and none shall help him”

Who is Judged:

Every earthly kingdom opposing God
Every ideology against God’s truth
Every system of persecution
Spiritual Babylon
The papacy

1 Kings 8:32 — Solomon’s prayer:

“Condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head”
“Justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness”

Key Insight: God’s judgment involves both vindication of the righteous AND punishment of the wicked.

PART 4: THE RESULTS OF THE JUDGMENT

When Probation Closes

Revelation 22:11

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still… he that is righteous, let him be righteous still”

Great Controversy, p. 490

“When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death”
“Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord”

The Short Time:

Seven final plagues
Jacob’s time of trouble
Social collapse and civil war

The New Civil War in America

Ellen G. White, 1895:

Hunger and poverty in cities
Rich holding food from the poor
This will lead to a new civil war in America
This ushers in the time of trouble (Daniel 12:1)

The Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25)

All are Adventists (waiting for the Bridegroom)
All have lamps (the Word of God)
All have some oil (the Holy Spirit)
The foolish have no EXTRA oil (no daily living relationship with God)
The foolish are SHUT OUT of the wedding feast

Great Controversy:

“The nominal Adventists will receive the plagues of God as surely as the wicked”

Jacob’s Time of Trouble

Jeremiah 30:6-7

“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble”
“But he shall be saved out of it”

The Significance of Jacob’s Struggle:

Jacob (deceiver) → Israel (prince of God)
The saints receive a new name (Revelation 2:17)
Demonstrates worthiness for the Promised Land

Great Controversy:

“All the depths of satanic skill and subtlety… will be brought to bear against God’s people in the final conflict”

CONCLUSION

Summary of the Pre-Advent Judgment

Question	Answer
Where?	In heaven, before God’s throne
When?	Began in 1844
For Whom?	God’s character is vindicated; saints are justified; oppressors are condemned
Why?	To demonstrate God’s justice before the universe

The Gospel Application

The Marriage Covenant:

We are in a marriage covenant with the heavenly Groom
Bad days don’t mean the marriage is over
The covenant is only broken when we say, “Get out of my life”

Assurance of Salvation:

Not based on MY righteousness
Based on CHRIST’S righteousness
“Just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation… so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all” (Romans 5:18)

Zephaniah 2:1-3

“Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth… seek righteousness, seek meekness”
“It may be that ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger”

The Pre-Advent Judgment Should:

Drive us TO Christ, not FROM Him
Give us assurance of salvation
Remind us to take our faith seriously
Encourage daily investment in our walk with God

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

Why is the pre-advent judgment described as “wonderful news” rather than something to fear?
How does knowing that the judgment takes place before the entire universe affect your understanding of God’s character?
What does it mean to you personally that “judgment was given to the saints of the Most High”?
How do the events of 1844 (Darwin, Marx, Freud, etc.) show Satan’s opposition to the first angel’s message?
In what ways does the judgment vindicate God’s character before the universe?
How can you live with the assurance of salvation while still taking your faith seriously?
What is the difference between being “in Christ” and having “Christ in you”? How does this relate to the judgment?
Why do you think the foolish virgins in Matthew 25 are described as Adventists?
How does viewing salvation as a marriage covenant help you understand assurance of salvation?
What practical steps can you take to maintain a daily living relationship with God?

MEMORY VERSES

Daniel 7:9-10

“I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”

Daniel 7:22

“Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”