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The Investigative Judgment

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 29, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 26.

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The Investigative Judgment

By Arthur L. Manous

ARTHUR L. MANOUS
I. HAS God a specific time for the judgment?
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” “I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.” Eccl. 3:1, 17; see also Acts 17:31.
2. Was the time of the judgment still future in Paul’s day?
“As he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled.” Acts 24:25.
3. At the end of what specific time was the investigative judgment, or cleansing of the sanctuary, to begin?
“And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Dan. 8:14; see Lev. 16:19.
4. What definite work was begun at the end of the 2300 days?
“Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” Dan. 8:14.
5. How do other versions render the original of the word that is translated “cleansed” in this passage?
(a) “Then shall the sanctuary be vindicated.”—Rotherham’s Translation.
(b) “After which the sanctuary will be sanctified.”—Fenton’s Translation.
(c) “Then is the holy place declared right.”—Young’s Translation.
(d) “When the sanctuary shall be cleansed justified.”—Leeser’s Translation.
6. What specific period is cut off from the 2300 days, or years?
“Seventy weeks are determined.” Dan. 9:24.
7. How do others render the original of the word “determined” in this verse?
(a) “Seventy weeks are decreed.”—Revised Version.
(b) “Seventy weeks are fixed.”—Fenton’s Translation.
(c) “Seventy weeks are apportioned out.”—Darby’s Translation.
(d) “Seventy weeks are shortened.”—Douay Version.
(e) “Seventy weeks are cut out.”—The Newberry Bible.
(f) “Seventy weeks are cut off.”—Hengstenberg (in Noyes’s Translation).
8. What is said of this word “determined” in Dan. 9:24?
“The word here translated ‘determined,’ literally signifies ‘cut off.’ Seventy weeks, representing 490 years, are declared by the angel to be cut off, as specially pertaining to the Jews. But from what were they cut off? As the 2300 days was the only period of time mentioned in chapter eight, it must be the period from which the seventy weeks were cut off; the seventy weeks must therefore be a part of the 2300 days, and the two periods must begin together.”—“Great Controversy,” page 326.
9. From what point did the 2300 days and the seventy weeks date?
“From the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem.” Dan. 9:24-27.
10. When did the “commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem” go forth?
“In the seventh chapter of Ezra the decree is found [Ezra 7:12-26]. In its completest form it was issued by Artaxerxes, king of Persia, B. C. 457. But in Ezra 6:14 the house of the Lord at Jerusalem is said to have been built ‘according to the commandment [margin, ‘decree’] of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.’ These three kings, in originating, reaffirming, and completing the decree, brought it to the perfection required by the prophecy to mark the beginning of the 2300 years.”—“Great Controversy,” pages 326, 327.
11. When did the 2300 years end, at which time the investigative judgment began?
“The beginning of the seventy weeks is fixed beyond question at B. C. 457, and their expiration in A. D. 34. From this data there is no difficulty in finding the termination of the 2300 days. The seventy weeks—490 days—having been cut off from the 2300, there were 1810 days remaining. After the end of 490 days, the 1810 days were still to be fulfilled. From A. D. 34, 1810 years extend to 1844. Consequently the 2300 days of Dan. 8:14 terminate in 1844. At the expiration of this great prophetic period, upon the testimony of the angel of God, ‘the sanctuary shall be cleansed.’”—Id., page 328.
12. About this time what message was due, and was actually being proclaimed to the world?
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give to glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14:6, 7.
From the foregoing considerations we may see that we have been living in the judgment-hour since 1844. Just how soon our cases will be called, we know not, but it must be very soon. May God help us to live in harmony with the solemnity of the hour.
Greenville, S. C.