Investigative judgment made simple
By Robert K. Sanders
Note: LeRoy Froom, an Adventist leader wrote that if the church didn't have the Investigative Judgment message that, "One would have no justifiable place in the religious world, no distinctive denominational mission and message, no excuse for functioning as a separate church entity today." Movement of Destiny, p. 542.
Preface
The Investigative Judgment is a complex doctrine, unique only to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is complex because the Scriptures have been twisted and manipulated to make this doctrine appear Biblical. Most SDA Church members probably would not be able to explain it without SDA/EGW material in front of them to guide them.
The doctrine of I J has been the most controversial and debated doctrine within the SDA Church since it's invention. Ellen White put her visionary stamp of approval on the I J. and the SDA Church cannot discard this doctrine without admitting Ellen G. White was a false prophet. They have a tiger by the tail.
I hope to make the EGW's Investigative Doctrine simple to understand so that sincere Christians can see that it is without Bible foundation, and that it was the invention of religious fanatics.
Part 1
How Did the Investigative Judgment Begin?
Thousands of people from all denominations took part in the "Advent Movement" also known as "The Millerite Movement" and also "The Great Disappointment". These misguided people believed that Christ would return to earth and save them and destroy the wicked including those that rejected William Miller's "date setting" with hell fire raining down from heaven. The first date set for the "end of the world" was in the fall of 1843, then the spring of 1844 and finally they settled on October 22, 1844.
Needless to say all these failure dates passed without the Savior's return. Hence the term, "The Great Disappointment". The failure of Christ not returning to earth divided the Millerites into two groups. The largest group was led by Wm. Miller who renounced his belief of anything prophetically happening in 1844 and also renounced the SHUT DOOR DOCTRINE. The Millerites went back to holding evangelistic meetings and winning souls for Christ.
The splinter group led by Ellen G. Harmon (later the wife of James White), James White, Captain Joseph Bates and others held on to the SHUT DOOR DOCTRINE, that the door of salvation to the world was closed. They called themselves, "The Little Flock".
There was a rift between the Millerites and the Whites/Bates group. "The Little Flock" were trying to prove to the Millerites that they were not mistaken about the 1844 date and THE SHUT DOOR and that something happened. Ellen White blamed God for the failure for Christ not returning, as she claimed that God put his hand over the figures of the chart and they could not see their mistake. EGW claimed the figures were correct, but the event was wrong. She went on to say that instead of Christ coming to earth to cleanse the Sanctuary on earth, he move from the holy to the most holy apartment in 1844 to begin an Investigative Judgment to cleanse the Sanctuary in Heaven.
It was shortly after the October 22, 1844 DISAPPOINTMENT that the Investigative Judgment theory developed. The I J is not an ancient doctrine from the Bible but is of modern origin.
Ellen White Explains The Investigative Judgment
Please read carefully and understand what Ellen White says to us from her book, The Great Controversy. In the chapter which deals with the event "that was foretold in prophecy to take place at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844," she writes:
"Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the holy of holies, and there appears in the presence of God, to engage in the last acts of His ministration in behalf of man - to perform the work of investigative judgment, and to make an atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits.
"...So in the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment, the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. The judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work, at a later period" (The Great Controversy, 1950 edition, page 480).
"As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected". (The Great Controversy, 1950 edition, page 483). "At the time appointed for the judgment –the close of the 2300 days, in 1844– began the work of investigation and blotting out of sins. All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass Its searching scrutiny. Both the living and the dead are judged 'out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works ". (The Great Controversy, 1950 edition, page 486).
"Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the cases of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth. Every one must be tested, and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing". (The Great Controversy, 1950 edition, page 490).
"The Judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. Forty years has this work been in progress. Soon—none know how soon—it will pass to the cases of the living." (The Great Controversy, 1884 edition, page 315).
From the foregoing statements EGW makes four points and we will examine each one and compare it to Scripture.
Comparing EGW's I J With the Bible
Point 1: Determining Who Are Prepared For the Kingdom
EGW: "This work of examination of character, of determining who are prepared for the kingdom of God, is that of the investigative judgment" (The Great Controversy (p. 489, 1939 Ed.) (p. 428, p.1950 Ed.)
Did Jesus need the 1844 Investigative Judgment for the purpose of "determining who are prepared for the kingdom of God"? The Bible tells us that Jesus already knew who are prepared for his kingdom. This is an attribute of God which is called omniscience or having foreknowledge.
The Bible answers this question and tells us that Jesus knew who were his sheep 1810 years before 1844. On the other hand EGW tells us that Jesus needed the I J to determine who they are. Did Jesus forget who were his sheep since the first century and then have to schedule an 1844 I J to refresh his memory?
John 10:14 (NIV) I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
Jesus says in the first century, "I know my sheep". According to EGW, he should have said, I will not know my sheep until after 1844. Jesus told the disciples that when he sat on his throne, the disciples would be worthy of judging the twelve tribes. Jesus did not have to wait till 1844 to see if the disciples passed the I J test to see if they could judge the twelve tribes.
Matt 19:28 (NIV) Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes...
Paul writing to Timothy, did not say the Lord will not know till after 1844 who are his, now did he? Paul said, "The Lord knows those who are his".
2 Tim. 2:19 - (NIV) Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
Paul did not say that he would have to pass the I J test in 1844 first, to make sure his forgiven sins have been blotted out before God would award him the "crown of righteousness".
2 Tim 4:7-8 (NIV) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
It is clear that the I J is not to enlighten Jesus who are worthy. It is not to show the angels who are worthy as they record the deeds of mankind. It will not help the dead to know who the saved will be as they will not know the saved till the resurrection. There is no Biblical reason for the I J.
Point 2. The Closing Work of Atonement and Who Are Entitled To Its Benefits?
EGW: "...In 1844 Christ then entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, to perform the closing work of atonement, preparatory to His coming" (The Great Controversy, page 481); ". . . To make an atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits" (Ibid., page 456).
EGW states that Jesus entered the most holy place in 1844 to "perform the closing work of atonement" and to make an atonement for all "who are shown to be entitled to its benefits". There is not one Bible text that tells us that Jesus entered the "Most Holy" in 1844 or that his atonement was only for those "entitled to its benefits."
The Bible tells us that Jesus entered the Most Holy after his resurrection and sat on the Father's Throne.
The Word of God proves Ellen G. White and the SDA Church a liar when they say Jesus was not in the Most Holy place till 1844!
Eph 1:20(NIV) which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
Col 3:1 (NIV) Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
1 Pet 3:21-22 (NIV) ...and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Heb 1:3 (NIV) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Heb 9:12 (NIV) He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.
Heb 10:12 (NIV) But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.
Heb 10:19 (NIV) Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 12:2 (NIV) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
In the following two EGW quotes, she says "The Atonement is complete" and that it was a "perfect atonement", which was at Calvary.
EGW: He [Christ] planted the cross between Heaven and earth, and when the Father beheld the sacrifice of His Son, He bowed before it in recognition of its perfection. "It is enough," He said. "The Atonement is complete." —The Review and Herald, Sept. 24, 1901.
EGW: Type met antitype in the death of Christ, the Lamb slain for the sins of the world. Our great High Priest has made the only sacrifice that is of any value in our salvation. When He offered Himself on the cross, a perfect atonement was made for the sins of the people . We are now standing in the outer court, waiting and looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. —The Signs of the Times, June 28, 1899.
How then can Jesus be doing "a closing work of atonement" beginning in 1844 when it was a finished and perfect atonement at the cross???? It is heresy to believe that Jesus' had an incomplete atonement at the cross and he needed to finish his atonement someday in the future.
Keep in mind that there is just "one atonement" and it was completed at the cross.
EGW said that the 1844 I J atonement was just for people "that have taken the name of Christ", "who are entitled to its benefits". The Bible says differently. The atonement of Christ is not for people that are "entitled to its benefits" but for those that are not entitled to it which are his enemies which includes all sinners.
Paul speaking to the Roman Christians tells them the atonement was made for them while they were sinners, not in the future beginning in 1844 as EGW would have us believe.
Rom 5:6-11 (NIV) You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
The apostle Paul always speaks of the atonement as finished work in his day when he said "we have now received reconciliation" which means atonement. Listen to Paul (writing in 56-57 A.D.)!
Rom 5:11 (NIV) Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Paul is saying that Christians in his day have reasons to rejoice because they "have now" received atonement from sin. He did not say that Christians would have to wait till 1844 to receive a "final atonement" to see if they have been reconciled to God.
It is plain from Hebrews that Jesus, "after he provided purification for sins" at Calvary, he sat down at the right hand of God. The atonement was complete.
Heb 1:3 (NIV) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
EGW Moves the Father's Throne!
EGW: I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and sit down...Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by angels, came to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. There I beheld Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father. .. Early Writings, page 55.
How is this possible, the Father being in the holy apartment with Jesus "on a throne" for 1800 years till 1844?
Did the Father have two thrones, one in the holy and one in the Most Holy? Of course not! The mercy seat in the Most Holy must have been vacant for 1800 years according to EGW's vision.
EGW then moves Jesus in a flaming chariot to the "holy of holies" to be united with the Father.
Revelation 4 makes it clear that the Father was on the throne in the Most Holy and creatures were praising God saying "holy holy holy" in the first century when this was revealed by John in vision. Did the creatures move with the Father into the holy to praise God on another kind of throne. Only Adventists could believe this fairy tale.
Point 3. Investigating the Names
EGW: As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected" (The Great Controversy, 1950 edition, page 483).
According to EGW all the names of the people who first lived upon the earth that believed in Jesus will kickoff the 1844 Investigative Judgment to see if they are worthy, then after that God will start judging the living.
Lets look at the names recorded in the Bible, "that first lived on the earth" and see if God has already decided if they have been "accepted or rejected". If they have been accepted by God, is God going to retry them in EGW's Investigative Judgment?
Adam: Rom 5:14 (NIV) Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
Adam was a pattern of one to come, Jesus. How could God say this about Adam before judging him in 1844 to see if Adam was worthy? Lets face the facts, God knew before 1844 the character of Adam.
Abel: Heb 11:4 (NIV) By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
God called Abel "a righteous man". Now is God going to send Abel through the 1844 I J to check to make sure he did not made a mistake in calling him a righteous man?
Enoch: Heb 11:4-5 (NIV) By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
Enoch was "commended as one who pleased God." Was God mistaken? Will God have to drag Enoch through EGW's I J to make sure "his sins were blotted out"? Poor Enoch, if he fails the I J test he will have to leave heaven and burn in Hell at the end of the world.
Noah: Heb 11:7 (NIV) By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
It is amazing that EGW believes Noah will have to be tested in 1844 to see if he can enter heaven when in the first century God said that he became an "heir of righteousness". If Noah fails the I J 1844 test, he will be toast.
Elijah: 2 Kin 2:11 (NIV) As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
We could ask God why he took Elijah to heaven because according to Ellen White all those "that first lived on the earth and believed in Christ", their names would come up in the 1844 I J. This means that Elijah's name would have to come up in the I J. It seems God got the cart before the horse by taking Elijah to heaven before the 1844 I J.
We could add the rest of the saints in Hebrews 11 that were determined worthy and missed out on the 1844 I J. Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jephthan, David, Samuel and the prophets.
God prepared them a city in the first century declaring them all worthy? Why is it that God will have to investigate them in the 19th century? EGW must have believe that God was absent minded! EGW did not see this from vision as it contradicts the Bible. She lied to us by saying all the names of the saints that first lived on the earth will come up in the I J as their cases have not been decided.
Point 4. Time Almost Finished In 1850! How soon is soon?
EGW: "Forty years has this work been in progress. Soon—none know how soon—it will pass to the cases of the living" (The Great Controversy, page 315, edition of 1884).
EGW changed her inspired words from "Forty years" in 1884 to "many years" found in the 1911, 1939 and 1950 Edition.
"The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. For many years this work has been in progress. Soon—none know: how soon—it will pass to the cases of the living" (The Great Controversy, 1950 edition, page 490).
When EGW says "soon" what does soon mean? Thus in 1884 the I J had been in progress forty years. We are naturally led to wonder how the word "soon" should be interpreted or what relationship exists between forty years and the thought that "soon" it would pass to the cases of the living.
By saying, "soon," after having stated that the work had been in progress for 40 years, one would logically conclude that "soon" would be a much shorter period of time than 40 years. Therefore, Christ should have been here a long time ago, because when it comes time to judge the living and the dead, Christ will have returned.
The Bible support for this statement:
2 Tim 4:1 (NIV) In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
(Incidentally, this verse says that the living and the dead will be judged in view of his appearing (Second Coming) and not before hand in a 1844 I J!
Now in (2010) it is 166 years since 1884, and Christ has not returned. Therefore, "soon" must mean a period longer than 120 years, or else the investigating and judging process was slowed up tremendously right after 1884 and Mrs. White was not advised by God that this was going to happen.
Here is the truth of the matter—the Investigative Judgment theory is entirely erroneous, and no judgment is going to take place until Christ returns and not beforehand. In an earlier chapter of the same book the following statement occurs:
EGW: "This work of examination of character, of determining who are prepared for the kingdom of God, is that of investigative judgment, the closing work in the sanctuary above" (Ibid., 1939 edition, page 489).
The foregoing statements invite attention to a very important feature of the doctrine of the investigative judgment. The original proponents of the theory had no idea that the supposed judgment would continue so long. When Mrs. E. G. White wrote this paragraph, she spoke of the work having been in progress for forty years. But now those, to whom has fallen the burden of continuing the Investigative Judgment teaching, are confronted with the fact that not forty years but well over a century has elapsed since October 22, 1844. In the year 2044, Christ would be 200 years judging the saints. Wow!
And still no one knows If the judgment has passed to the cases of the living! This being the case, the Seventh-day Adventist denomination has been preaching for four generations, to living men, a judgment hour message that referred (so far as they know) to the cases of the dead only, and not as yet to the case of one man living upon the earth! This is indeed a disturbing thought!
Furthermore, Inasmuch as "the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God," it follows that the judgment hour message preached all these years has not directly concerned unconverted men. To them it could only mean that if they would "take on themselves the name of Christ" they would eventually have to meet the issues of an investigative judgment. If they could "pass its searching scrutiny," and thus be "shown to be entitled to its benefits," Christ would then "make an atonement" for them! This is, indeed, far removed from "the gospel of the grace of God."
Ought not Christians to be preaching of living issues to living men?
Why the change of "nearly 40 years" to "many years"?
In the year 1850 Mrs. E. G. White wrote:
"I saw that the time for Jesus to be in the most holy place was nearly finished, and that time can last but very little longer" (Early Writings, page 58). On the same page she writes: "The sealing time is very short, and will soon be over." Again, on page 67 of the same book, she writes: "But now time is almost finished, and what we have been years learning, they will have to learn in a few months."
This was written in the middle of the year 1850. The pioneers, especially Captain Bates, were teaching that the seven times that blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16:14) represented seven years which would be used by Christ in making atonement in the most holy place. This period would terminate October 22, 1851, at which time they confidently expected that Christ would return. They had been nearly six years arriving at their conclusions, but the Laodiceans who came in after this, would have to learn in a "few months" what they had been six years learning.
Inasmuch as, according to the teaching, Christ had at that time been in the most holy place for six years, and the time for Him to be in that place was then nearly finished, how is it that He has continued there well over a century longer? A period is not "nearly finished" when only six years have passed away out of over a hundred. If Mrs. White had said in 1850 that time was nearly finished, that would have been different; but she did not say that. It was "the time for Jesus to be in the most holy place" that was "nearly finished."
Those that had to learn in a "few months" are now dead, and the SDAs are still trying to learn what EGW and the pioneers knew in six years". Are they slow learners or what?
Part 2.
Bible Texts Used to Support the Investigative Judgment Theory
Dan 8:14 (KJV) And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Dan 8:14 (NIV) He said to me, “It will take 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary will be reconsecrated.”
"The sanctuary being cleansed" in the KJV is not an accurate rendering. Modern translations are more accurate such as the NIV using "reconsecrated" and the NRSV in using the term "restored."
Dan 8:14 (NRSV) And he answered him, “For two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.”
The sanctuary service of Daniel 8:14 has nothing to do with the "Day of Atonement" services or any future event in 1844. How was the sanctuary defiled? Vs. 9-12 tells us it was the little horn that defiled the sanctuary. This would never be cleansed by the Day of Atonement services. This defilement was Antiochus Epiphanies in the second century B. C. as recorded in 1Maccabees 4:36, 41-45, 52,53. This cleansing by Judas and the Jews, was completed on the ninth month, the 25 day. Not the seventh month the tenth day, which is the Day of Atonement.
Cleansing of the Sanctuary that was not done on the Day of Atonement.
2 Chr 29:4-5 (NIV) He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east side and said: “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary.
2 Chr 29:15-18 (NIV) When they had assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves, they went in to purify the temple of the LORD, as the king had ordered, following the word of the LORD. The priests went into the sanctuary of the LORD to purify it. They brought out to the courtyard of the LORD’S temple everything unclean that they found in the temple of the LORD. The Levites took it and carried it out to the Kidron Valley. They began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and by the eighth day of the month they reached the portico of the LORD. For eight more days they consecrated the temple of the LORD itself, finishing on the sixteenth day of the first month. Then they went in to King Hezekiah and reported: “We have purified the entire temple of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table for setting out the consecrated bread, with all its articles.
Dan 7:9-10 (NIV) As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.
EGW and the SDA Church interprets the judgment of Daniel 7 as the 1844 Investigative Judgment of the saints. If you will look closely at this chapter you will find that is a judgment by God against the beast power that was persecuting the saints. The saints are not judged for their sins but are vindicated by God. Read Daniel 7: 21-26. There is nothing in this Scripture that describes Ellen White's I J. This is a perversion of Scriptures to try to make this fit EGW's non-Biblical teaching of the I J.
Rev 14:7 (NIV) He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Revelation 14:7 does not tell us the the hour of God's judgment came in 1844. When John was writing this to the seven churches of his day "the hour of his Judgment has come." This was not a future event but a present event. This was a judgment against the beast that was currently persecuting his church which was Imperial Rome.
James White agrees that this text does not apply to a judgment that began in "1844." "The advent angel (Rev. 14:6,7) 'saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him: for the hour of his judgment is come,' does not prove that the day of judgment came in 1840, or in 1844, nor that it will come prior to the second advent." Advent Review of Sept. 1850.
PART 3
How EGW changed the I J in 1898.
This change included not just those that professed being Christians, but everyone in the world!
When speaking to congregations, there is always before me the final judgment, which is to be held in the presence of the world, when the law of God's government is to be vindicated, His name glorified, His wisdom acknowledged and testified of as just to believers and unbelievers. This is not the judgment of one person, nor of a nation, but of a whole world of intelligent beings, of all orders, of all characters. The judgment takes place first upon the dead, then upon the living, then the whole universe will be assembled to hear the sentence. I feel as if I were in the presence of the whole universe of heaven, bearing my message for time and for eternity.--Letter 109, 1898, p. 4. (To Brother Moon, November 29, 1898. Manuscript Releases Volume Eight, page 244, paragraph 2.)
James White in 1850, did not believe in an I J
"Some have contended that the day of judgment was prior to the second advent. This view is certainly without foundation in the word of God...
"Daniel, 'in the night visions' saw that 'judgment was given to the Saints of the Most High,' but not to mortal saints—not 'until the Ancient of days came,' and the 'little horn' ceased prevailing, which will not be until he is destroyed by the brightness of Christ's coming.
"'I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at (not before) his Appearing and his kingdom.' —2 Tim. 4:1.
"The advent angel (Rev. 14:6,7) 'saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to him: for the hour of his judgment is come,' does not prove that the day of judgment came in 1840, or in 1844, nor that it will come prior to the second advent." Advent Review of Sept. 1850.
"It is not necessary that the final sentence should be given before the first resurrection as some have taught; for the names of the saints are written in heaven, and Jesus, and the angels will certainly know who to raise, and gather to the New Jerusalem." James White, A Word to the Little Flock, 1847, p. 24.
If the Investigative Judgment is without foundation in the Word of God in 1850 and before, then it is always without foundation in the Word of God. James changed his Biblical view to support his wife Ellen's non-Biblical visions.
Ellen White "misinterpreted" her 1844 Shut Door vision admits Robert Olson of the White Estate
Ellen White "misinterpreted" her 1844 Shut Door vision admits Robert Olson of the White Estate and acknowledged this in the booklet, One Hundred and One Questions on The Sanctuary and On Ellen White, p. 58. He explains on page 65, "The Shut Door":
"Ellen was shown three groups of people:
(a) The living saints, 144,000 in number, who maintained their faith in the October 22 experience,
(b) Former Millerites who looked upon the 1844 movement as a mistake and who claimed that "it was not God who led them out so far," and
(c) "the wicked world which God had rejected."
Ellen misinterpreted this vision. She correctly understood that the day of salvation for the latter two groups was past. For them, the door was shut. (See Selected Messages, book 1, p. 62.) But she incorrectly concluded that no one could accept Christ after October 22, that only the little flock remaining in the household of faith would be saved, and that everyone else would be lost. She somehow failed to see that the figure 144,000, however interpreted, must surely include more than a few small groups of the advent bands. " One Hundred and One Questions on The Sanctuary and On Ellen White, p. 58.
Robert Olson is also wrong when he said that, "She correctly understood that the day of salvation for the latter two groups was past. For them, the door was shut".
Was the day of salvation really past for the latter two groups? God has never closed the door of salvation. It was EGW that "SHUT THE DOOR" of salvation on the world.
Olsen tells us EGW believed for groups (b) & (c) the door was shut.
The (b) group, "the Millerites" started holding evangelistic meetings and winning souls to Christ after 1844, while the Whites held that the door of salvation was closed till to all but their little group. EGW did not open the door of salvation till 1851.
The (c) group, "the wicked world". God did not reject anyone that did not believe in Miller's false date setting message. The door of salvation has never closed since Calvary. EGW did not have anything correct in her vision of the Shut Door!
The Investigative Judgment does not enlighten God.
Heb 4:13 (NIV) Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
The Investigative Judgment does not enlighten Angels. Angels know what is written in the Books.
The Investigative Judgment does not enlighten the dead or the Living of their status with God.
What the I J does do is this: It keeps the Adventist members in a state of uncertainty to whether or not their sins have been forgiven. The I J robs them of the assurance of their sins being forgiven and blotted out immediately. EGW tells her followers that their "repentant" sins are not canceled and will not be blotted out till the White Throne Judgment in Revelation 12. This is heresy! The sins of repentant sinners are forgiven and blotted out immediately by Christ.
EGW: The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel the sin; it would stand on record in the sanctuary until the final atonement; so in the type the blood of the sin offering removed the sin from the penitent, but it rested in the sanctuary until the Day of Atonement.
In the great day of final award, the dead are to be "judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Revelation 20:12. Then by virtue of the atoning blood of Christ, the sins of all the truly penitent will be blotted from the books of heaven. Thus the sanctuary will be freed, or cleansed, from the record of sin. In the type, this great work of atonement, or blotting out of sins, was represented by the services of the Day of Atonement--the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary, which was accomplished by the removal, by virtue of the blood of the sin offering, of the sins by which it had been polluted. Patriarchs and Prophets, pp, 357,358.
The SDA Church has used EGW's non-Biblical doctrine to explain the failure of Christ Second Coming in 1843,1844 and in 1845 and to support their prophet's vision.
There will be a Judgment after the Second Coming of Christ, called The a "Great White Throne" where the books are opened and where the wicked were thrown in the lake of fire. See, Revelation 20:11. Opening the books is not to inform God or Angels of the saved or the lost, but as a witness against those that are lost.
The passages of Scripture relied upon to justify the I J teachings under consideration are by no means numerous. A careful examination of the few that are relied upon will reveal that these passages either entirely disprove the theory, or else provide for it no support whatever.
Acts 3:19 (NIV) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
Acts 2:38 (NIV) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Peter was not telling his listeners that "blotting out of sins" was a future event, but a present event when the times of refreshing would take place. This is when they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. This was not an 1844 event for the dead in an I J.