Twitter

$10,000 REWARD OFFERED FOR AN
INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT BIBLE TEXT

This letter was originally drafted in response to the offer mentioned above, which was put out by the web master of an ex-SDA website. I had intended that my readers be able to keep track of our dialogue on this page, and so be made aware of the arguments people often raise against the Biblically presented topic of a judgment of the living; this taking place just before the return of the Messiah.

The individual did not wish to continue speaking to me, however, after he discovered that I did not wish to post his URL here. My reasons for that were several, including that after I had read some of his site I discovered information – and links to other persons’ information – which was incorrect, and in some cases directly misleading. Not wishing to have completely lost the time, I present here my first response to him, having modified it slightly to remove any specific references to him or to his site, at his request.

---

Dear Sir,

I have been made aware of your offer for a Bible text that gives evidence for the Adventist belief in an Investigative Judgment. I am not sure what your motive is for offering such a reward, and in truth I am far less interested in the financial gain (it will all go to the Church in the event you make good on your offer) than in setting before you, and all, the truth of this matter. If your motive is to disprove the doctrine, or to hold up SDAs in a negative light by supposing that there is no Biblical basis for their faith, it may be that the words I write to you will not be judged to fit your criteria. In any case, I am also posting this letter on my website and forwarding it to several individuals whom I would imagine are interested parties, that they may have the opportunity to read and judge for themselves. In this way, regardless of how they are received in terms of your offer, my efforts may be of benefit to some.

Having said that, I intend to furnish you with not one, but several texts upon which the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment rests. First, however, allow me to state for the record what this belief entails:

At the SDA Church’s inception, it became apparent though a study of the books of Daniel and Revelation, and the Epistle to the Hebrews that Christ did not ascend into Heaven merely to await the day He should return, but in fact to enter into an active role on behalf of humanity: that of a “faithful High Priest.” (Heb 2:17) Not only is He a Priest on our behalf, but also a Judge, for it is written, “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son.” (John 5:22)

The basics of the Investigative Judgment are, briefly summarized, this: at some point before Christ returns, the cases of all men will have been decided for good of for ill. When the Messiah returns, therefore, He comes to gather home those already judged faithful, and those who remain wicked are destroyed by the brightness of His coming. (2Th 2:8)

Here then are the Scriptures I will use to establish firmly the principle that before Christ returns, all men will already be judged, and explanations follow: Dan 7:9-10, Dan 12:1-2, Rev 20:12, Gen 7:10, Ezek 9:1-6, Rev 7:1-3, Isa 62:11, Mat 16:27, Heb 9:27, 1Th 4:17, 1Tim 5:24, Rev 22:11-12, Mat 25:31-34.

Why so many Scriptures? Several of these could stand alone as a “proof text” for the Investigative Judgment, particularly Dan 7:10 and 1Tim 5:24. If it was a set of proof texts you were looking for, I have already given that to you. However, Scriptures can be interpreted many ways, often (sadly) dictated by the whim of the interpreter. One may easily say, “This Scripture means thus and so,” providing support for his position, and another may deny the premise entirely, citing other Scriptures which seem to back up his point. Therefore, I have found it is not very effective to base any belief on “proof texts.” Rather, we must examine each Scripture in its context, in its rightful setting – understanding author, time and audience – and therefore the Scriptures become more than just a set of statements to support someone’s doctrine, but a unified whole, with one Spirit running through It, explaining who our Father is, and how it is He deals with His children. I have provided this many Scriptures (from Genesis to Revelation, through the Prophets, Gospels and Epistles), in order to show that Dan 7:10 and 1Tim 5:24 do not stand alone, but are in perfect harmony with the several others I will cite, that there be no mistake that they do indeed mean what Adventists have taken it to mean, and cannot reasonably mean anything else, despite the claims of their critics.

Allow me to begin with the words of Daniel: “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.” (Dan 7:9,10) Here we find an interesting scene. The judgment is set (established, made manifest), and this is done by opening the “books.” We find a reference to this again in the last book of the Canon, Revelation, where it is written, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” (Rev 20:12)

What may cause confusion is a misunderstanding of the word “judged.” Some may feel that at this point, (judgment day) the cases of those assembled are to be decided. However, it is written that the dead are judged out of those things already written in the books. In other words, the books are completed, and closed, before this day, and on this day the books are merely “opened” in order to pronounce sentence on those gathered before the Throne. In both Hebrew and Greek, the words used for the verb “to judge” are “diyn” and “krino” respectively. Particularly in the case of the latter word, this is not a process of deciding, but of sentencing. Even today, the word is sometimes used in this sense: when a jury “hands down its judgment” it is not in the process of deciding, that took place in the deliberations before – but their judgment is their final sentence and conclusion of the matter.

So are the words used in Daniel and Revelation. When the books are opened, the cases are already decided, and the “judgments” or destinies of those who were judged are now merely being pronounced. This is further illustrated in another passage from that same Daniel: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. “ (Dan 12:1,2) Again, those whose names are already written in that book are delivered during the time of trouble (this is before death), and at that time also the dead are resurrected – some to life, and some to the second death. In all these cases, however, the books are already written and closed, only to be opened again at this point in time.

The next set of three passages demonstrates this paradigm as it has been used in the Bible: Often in the Word, judgment may already be completed, but there is a time of waiting before those judged righteous are visibly justified. I speak primarily of the Flood, and then there are two passages that speak specifically of the last days, following the same pattern. In Genesis it is written, “And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.” (Gen 7:10) Noah and his family entered into the ark, and were sealed in (Gen 7:16) but the waters did not come immediately. An entire week went by before the rains began. Those inside the ark were already judged righteous, and those outside were entirely lost... but the judgment (sentence) was not made manifest until the rains began 7 days later.

Peter writes that the last days will follow the pattern of the pre-flood world, (2Pet 2:4-9) and we find this is indeed supported by the prophecies. In Ezekiel 9 we have another picture of the Investigative Judgment:

”And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon He was, to the threshold of the house. And He called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side; And Yahweh said unto him, ‘Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.’ And to the others He said in mine hearing, ‘Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary.’ Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.” (Ezek 9:1-6)

Notice, these people are being marked while alive, and it is also pointed out that, “judgment must begin at the house of God.” (1Pet 4:17a) This again is clearly a pre-death judgment, and those who are sealed are spared the destruction to come. Revelation echoes this sentiment, “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, ‘Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.’” (Rev 7:1-3) We find therefore conclusive evidence again for a judgment that takes place while the last generation is still alive, so that when Christ returns the words of the prophet may be fulfilled, “Behold, Yahweh hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, ‘Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him.” (Isa 62:11)

When Christ returns, His reward is with Him already to give to the redeemed; it is not to decide the cases at that point, but to dole out the sentences. “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to His works.” (Mat 16:27) This can be demonstrated still further:

In general, this is the case, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Heb 9:27) However, some men will never die! Just as “by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death,” (Heb 11:5a) so “then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1Th 4:17) This is where my original “proof text” fits in, and I have shown that it is a continuous thought in Scripture. Some men will not die, and therefore judgment must come first for these, while they are still alive. The text reads, “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.” (1Tim 5:24) That phrase “they follow after” is one word in Greek, “epakoloutheo,” which means some will imitate the example of these pre-judged ones, and likewise be saved or lost, depending on whose example they imitate. Verse 25 continues this thought, speaking of “good works” that “cannot be hid.”

If therefore “some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment,” it is apparent that some of these, who are judged righteous before, will comprise that “glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish,” (Eph 5:27) for which the Messiah is returning. And why? Because, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9) Those who have been made pure by the blood of the Lamb have had their sins cleansed from them, judged righteous while still alive; like Enoch, like Elijah, they are suited for Heaven without seeing death.

Finally, we have Christ Himself as our authority on this matter. At the very end of Revelation, He declares through His prophet, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” (Rev 22:11,12) I do not think it could be more clearly put than this... some time before He returns (behold, I come quickly) He will pronounce this statement: those who have been found faithful will remain so, and those judged (already) unfaithful will remain so. Just as the door of the Ark was shut a week before the rains fell (Gen 7:10), so shall human beings be either sealed for Yahweh or marked for Satan before He returns.

When this has taken place, and He makes His second Advent, “When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of his glory: And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, ‘Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” (Mat 25:31-34) Once more, as in Daniel and Revelation, we see the Son of Man returning to give out His reward to those already judged. At His coming, there is a separation of the two classes, some to life, and some to death. This takes place when the Books are opened, which were written during the time of Investigative Judgment, and have closed when human probation is ended as symbolized in Gen 7:10 and declared outright in Rev 22:11,12.

Those are the verses I have used, going through the list above. The main texts again are 1Tim 5:24, Dan 7:10 and Rev 22:11. These three alone provide enough Scriptural basis for a proper Adventist understanding of the Investigative Judgment, for “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” (2Cor 13:1) What I have provided you with, however, is not only the texts themselves, but something far better: a comprehensive understanding of the principles at work and running through all of Scripture, so there may be no doubt that the verses provided are to be so understood. As I made mention of, they were indeed so understood by Paul, who wrote about the living receiving their reward at the return of Christ, having been judged righteous already (1Th); and by Peter who wrote of the wicked being destroyed when He comes back, the ungodly having been judged wicked already. (1Pet 4:17, 2Pet 2:9)

I do not know if this has satisfied the criteria you have set forth, for it is often the case that criteria are dictated by motive. If, therefore your motive is conducive to an honest seeking of the truth of Scripture, I will have furnished you with a large amount of evidence for a proper understanding of this matter. Whatever the case may be, I have written all to the honor of my Father, in the hopes of advancing a right understanding of His character and His dealings with men in the last days. Whatever may come of this, I may say to my Lord with a clear conscience just what the “man in linen” said to Him when he had completed his mission to mark (pre-death) such individuals as would be saved: “I have done as thou hast commanded me.” (Ezek 9:11)

Your servant in the Messiah,
David.

Home | Contact | More Articles