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The Investigative Judgment

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 13, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 28.

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The Investigative Judgment

By A. L. MANOUS

(Continued)

The Judgment Scene

A. L. MANOUS
1. WHAT scene was presented to the prophet Daniel? “I beheld,” says he, “till the thrones were cast down [“placed,” R. V.], 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.
2. Who presides in the judgment? “And the Ancient of days [God the Father, Ps. 90:2] did sit.” Dan. 7:9.
3. Whom did the prophet see the angels escort to the Father? “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, One like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him [the Son] near before him.” Dan. 7:13.
4. What is said of the number of the angels? “The number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.” These “ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.” Rev. 5:11; Dan. 7:10.
5. Out of what are the dead judged? “And the books were opened.” Dan. 7:10; Rev. 20:12.
6. What is the standard in the judgment? “The law of liberty,” the “ten commandments” of God. See Eccl. 12:13, 14; Rom. 2:12-16; James 2:8-12.
7. Where does the judgment begin? “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?” 1 Peter 4:17.
8. As the investigation proceeds with those who compose the “house of God,” what will be ascertained? It will be found who “shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead.” Luke 20:35. “This is the first resurrection.” Rev. 20:5.
9. While we do not appear in the judgment in person, what do we have there? “We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1.
10. Why has our Advocate appeared before the Father? “To make intercession for them;” that is, “for us.” See Dan. 7:13; Heb. 7:25; 9:24.
11. Whose name does Christ promise to retain in his book of life? “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.” Rev. 3:5.
12. What will our Advocate do for the overcomer? “I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Rev. 3:5; Matt. 10:32, 33.
13. What will be blotted out for those who repent, are converted, and overcome? “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3:19.
14. After the sins of the overcomers are blotted out of the book, will the Lord remember them any more? “I, even I,” says the Lord, “am he that blotted out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” Isa. 43:25; see also 44:22; Jer. 50:20.
15. Whose name will the Lord blot out of his book? “Whosoever hath sinned against me,” says the Lord, “him will I blot out of my book.” Ex. 32:33; see also Eze. 18:24, 26.
16. When the investigative judgment is over, and Christ ceases to intercede for us, what decree goes forth? “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.” Rev. 22:11.
17. When the judgment is over, what will Christ receive? “And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom.” Dan. 7:14.
18. What dominion is this that is now given unto Christ? “And thou, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion.” Micah 4:8; see also Luke 19:12.
19. Who will be joint heirs with Christ in this kingdom? and where will it be located? “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Dan. 7:27.
20. What does Christ say will take place immediately after the judgment is over, and the decree goes forth? “And, behold, I come quickly,” says he, “and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work is.” Rev. 22:12, R. V.
21. In view of these solemn events, what admonition is given? “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shallbe dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” 2 Peter 3:11, 12.
22. Even though this great burning day is near to come, what may we look for when it is over? “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Verse 13.
23. Was the revelator permitted to see this new heaven and earth? “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.” Rev. 21:1.
May the Lord help us so to live that we may have a part in this new heaven and earth, with Christ, our Elder Brother. The judgment will now soon close, and every case will then have been decided forever.
Greensville, S. C.