The SDA Investigative Judgment

You are correct - that "ALL must appear" not just "some" -- before the Judgment Seat of Christ. 2Cor 5

And obviously we see the judgment of Daniel 7 where the ancient of days comes prior to the end of the world - and WHILE the little horn is causing great persecution - and the court sits - the books are opened and judgment begins.

It is not until "judgment is passed in favor of the saints" and Christ takes possession of the kingdom that the saints are then awarded that kingdom - (at least if we have faith in the text of scripture).

In both cases those judged - include the saints.

This is the obvious and "easy" part.

You are also correct in saying that this is not the post-millenial great white throne judgment.

Adventists give this judgment the name "The Investigative Judgment" because of the explicit mention of books in Daniel 7 and the fact that this takes place BEFORE the post-millenial judgment of Rev 20.

In Christ,

Bob

 

The scriptures state very clearly, that there will be many who profess to be Christ's followers, but Christ himself never knew them ( Matt 7:21-23 ). For this reason, and because of the freedom of choice that all of us have to change our minds, those who profess to be Christ's followers, will be examined as well as all others.

1 Pet 4:17 "17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"

Apparently, the apostle Peter understood that God's people would be judged. According to him, the judgement begins at the house of God.

Rev 22:12 "12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

Jesus Christ says that when he comes, he will bring his reward with him. If there are two different rewards, for two different classes of people, then obviousely, before Christ returns, all people have been examined and seperated into the class that they belong in. This is basic. The investigative judgement is not about God deciding our cases, He already knows the end from the beginning. It is about us deciding our cases. Which camp will we be in. Day by day we make choices that will ultimately put us in one camp or the other.

Rev 3:5 "5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

The book of life is mentioned several times in the book of Rev. ( 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12&15, 21:7, 22:19). If your name can be taken out of the book of life, it must be because you have not met certain requirements needed to remain in this book. Of course, if this is so, then your life must have been under some sort of examination that revealed this information. Again, this is basic.

Rom 5:18 "18 Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."

Because of Adam and Eve's disobedience in the garden, condemnation came upon all. On the other hand, because of the righteousness of Christ, the free gift of justification came upon all. Christ came to save the entire world. This he did. All humanity has been justified in Christ. Now it is up to each and every one of us, individually, to decide if we will accept what has been done for us in Christ. Will we make Christ the Lord of our lives? Or will we reject him as our Lord and live unto ourselves. This is the judgment of the world. Not that God is watching us taking everything into account to hold against us, but that we are making our own choice in the matter day by day with the decisions we make in life.

2 Cor 5:14-15 "14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."

Again, the death of Christ was applied to all. All are saved, if they would just care to accept it. When Christ, THE LAMB OF GOD, was sacrificed for all of humanity, then his cleansing blood was applied to all. Those whose names are not written in the book of life, will not enter into heaven. The only way to be lost, is to reject what has been done for you in Christ. This is the unpardonable sin, rejection of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is working in each and every individual life. Only those who have, and will reject His conviction, will be lost. These people will have their names removed from the book of life. They will be cast into the lake of fire.

Rev 20:12-15 "12 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.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

This is the judgment that must be finished before Christ returns, for he brings his reward with him. Again, these are basics. Who is sentenced without first being tried and judged. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. The brethren will demonstrate by the way they live their lives, that is in or out of Christ, if they are Christ's or not. For this reason, the gospel message must first go out to all the world before the end comes. In this way every person will have made their decision.

Matt 24:14 "14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

Bye for now. Y. b. in C. Keith