by
The Church of God(Seventh Day)
Thousands of people of all denominations took part in William
Miller's "Advent Movement" in the early 1800's. The Millerites,
as they were called, predicted that Christ would return to this
earth: first, in the fall of 1843, then in the spring of 1844,
and finally on October 22,1844. Needless to say these dates all
passed without the Savior returning, but the bitter
disappointment which followed left its mark on those who so
ardently believed that Jesus would return on October 22,1844.
After the disappointment, a theory was developed that the
"judgment" began on that date, an "investigative judgment" which
was to last from then until the second advent of Christ.
The doctrine of the investigative judgment is not, therefore, of
ancient but of very modern origin. It began to be taught shortly
after 1844 by a few former Millerites who were seeking an
explanation for why Christ had not returned to earth that year.
In considering this doctrine and endeavoring to test it by
comparison with Scripture, it seems necessary to first of all
review the outstanding features of this teaching as advocated by
its leading exponents.
Mrs Ellen G. White, one of the founders of the Seventh-day
Adventist denomination, describes the investigative judgment very
simply and clearly in 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, 1939 edition, page 546).
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 (Ibid, page 549).
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" (Ibid, page 552).
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 (Ibid, page 556).
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 (Ibid, page
556).
In the 1884 edition by the same author, this passage reads:
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.
Finally, in an earlier chapter of the same book, the following
statement occurs:
This work of examination of character, of determining who
are prepared for the kingdom of God, is that of the
investigative judgment, the closing work in the sanctuary
above (Ibid., 1939 edition, page 489).
From the foregoing statements we extract the following teaching:
1. That the investigative judgment is for the purpose of
determining who are prepared for the kingdom of God.
2. That it either precedes or coincides with the making of the
atonement (or an atonement), for the latter is said to be made
"for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits."
3. That it pertains to the righteous only, and began in 1844 with
"those who first lived upon the earth."
4. That no one knows when it will pass to the cases of the
living.
Let us now take the leading features of this teaching in order
and examine them in the light of Scripture.
NUMBER ONE
"This work ... of determining who are prepared for the
kingdom of God, is that of the investigative judgment" (The
Great Controversy, 1939 edition, page 489).
The idea thus expressed seems to be in radical conflict with some
very plain Bible teaching. If an investigative judgment is
necessary to determine "who are prepared for the kingdom of God,"
how was it that Christ was able to assure the disciples
beforehand that:
In the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the
throne of his glory, ye shall also sit upon twelve thrones,
judging the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28)?
The truth is that Christ knows right now "who are prepared for
the kingdom."
The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord
knoweth them that are his (2 Timothy 2:19).
I... know my sheep, declares the Good Shepherd, and am known of
mine" (John 10:14).
The apostle Paul was not contemplating an investigative judgment,
for he wrote:
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I
have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me
a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but
unto all them also that love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:
7,8).
NUMBER TWO
"....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 his benefits"
(Ibid., page 546).
Noted Seventh-day Adventist evangelist and author, Carlyle B.
Haynes (1882-1958), supports Mrs. Ellen White in this teaching.
Writing on the same subject, he says:
"Before the sins of God's people are completely disposed of,
our Lord engages in a very close examination of the
characters of His people. By this examination, He discloses
which of them are worthy to have their sins blotted out. In
1844 Jesus began a work of judgment, not executive judgment,
but investigative judgment; a work which is plainly
necessary before sin can be finally disposed of" (The Hour
of God's Judgment, page 92).
These quotations teach that the atonement began in 1844, that it
continues until just before Christ's coming, and that it is only
for those who are "entitled to its benefits." This is not the
teaching of Scripture! Were not the sins of God's people
"completely disposed of" on Calvary's cross? The apostle Paul
always speaks of the atonement as a finished work:
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement
(Romans 5:11).
... When he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the
right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3).
The Bible plainly shows further that the death of Christ and His
atoning work was for those who at that time were not serving the
Lord. The atonement was made by Christ, and its benefits come to
those who accept Him and thus become entitled to those benefits.
Christ died for the ungodly.....While we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.....When we were enemies, we
were reconciled to God by the death of his Son ... (Romans
5:6,8,10).
In regard to sin, God does not conduct an investigation first,
and then afterward make an atonement for those whom He finds
worthy. He made the atonement first, on behalf of the unworthy
(which included the whole human race), and henceforward has from
moment to moment judged men(as to their standing before Him)
according to the attitude they assume toward that atonement. That
is the gospel of salvation, and it is indeed good news for all
who accept it.
NUMBER THREE
"Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our
Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation.
....Every name is mentioned, every case closely
investigated" (The Great Controversy, 1939 edition, page
549).
Carlyle B.Haynes further elucidates on the teaching in the
following paragraph:
"The judgment opened with the cases of those who are dead.
When, in 1844, the book of life was opened, the name of
Abel, the first man who ever died, appeared. His life's
record was carefully examined, every act, word, and thought
being investigated. This was done not in order to discover
character, but to manifest it, to disclose it. Whether his
sins had been all confessed and forgiven was noted in the
record" (The Hour of God's Judgment, page 102).
Let us turn to God's Word and see what the Bible has to say in
Abel's case:
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice
than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was
righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being
dead yet speaketh (Hebrews 11:4).
Can it be possible that "every act, word, and thought" of Abel
needed to be investigated on October 22,1844 in order to
"disclose" or "manifest" his righteousness, when the Bible speaks
of "God testifying of his gifts" and that "he was righteous" at
the time of his martyrdom?
"THE PAGE WAS TURNED"
"Following the decision made in this case," writes Caryle B.
Haynes, "the page was turned, and there came up in judgment
another case, that of the next man who had died; and this
case was similarly weighed, and examined, and decided."
But let us now turn another page of Holy Writ and see
what that record will tell us. We come now to the case of Enoch.
While not "the next man who died," this saint is the next in the
list of worthies spoken of in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews,
and his case will serve just as well by way of illustration.
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and
was not found, because God had translated him: for before his
translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God (Hebrews
11:5).
Is it conceivable that the salvation of this man, translated in
the first millennium of earth's history, should come up for
reconsideration in heaven near the close of the last millennium
of time? When it is written in the Bible, for all to read, that
Enoch "had this testimony, that he pleased God," is it reasonable
to teach that God and the angels needed in A.D.1844 to conduct an
investigation to "disclose" the standing of that saint?
"AGAIN THE PAGE WAS TURNED"
"Again the page was turned," Haynes continues, "and in this
way through the years that have elapsed since 1844, this
work has been carried forward" (Ibid., page 103).
But when we continue to turn the pages of the epistle to the
Hebrews, what do we find? First, that Noah "became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith" (Hebrews 11:7). Next, speaking
of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that "[God] hath prepared for them
a city" (verse 16). Now if God already had prepared for them a
city by the first century of our era, how can it be that their
cases must be investigated in the nineteenth century?
The writer of Hebrews continues to call the roll of the Old
Testament worthies. He speaks "of Gideon, and of Barak.....and of
the prophets," and a host of others, "(Of whom the world was not
worthy:)," and concludes that "these all ... obtained a good
report through faith" (verses 32,38,39). How dare anyone qualify
that good report, recorded of those saints in the Bible itself,
by suggesting that it is subject to confirmation in an
investigative judgment!
Christ himself has spoken on this subject. He warned the
unbelieving Jews that they would "see Abraham, and Isaac, and
Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God" and
themselves thrust out (see Luke 13:28). According to Christ these
cases were already settled - "beginning with those who first
lived upon the earth."
SAINTS IN THE CHRISTIAN
DISPENSATION SECURE ALSO
As he drew near the close of his life of toilsome labor, Apostle
Paul spoke with confidence concerning his eternal future:
I have fought a good fight I have finished my course, I have
kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall
give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them
also that love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:7,8).
There is no investigation needed in Paul's case. The crown was
laid up for him from the moment he had finished his course! That
is the meaning of the word "henceforth." Neither is there any
investigation needed to decide the cases of all those who,
throughout the Christian dispensation, have died in the flesh.
The apostle testifies that the crown of righteousness is just as
sure for them as for himself.
As for the other apostles, their names are written in the
foundation stones of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:14). Do the
names so gloriously emblazoned there come up for review in an
investigative judgment? They must, if "all who have ever taken
upon themselves the name of Christ must pass its searching
scrutiny." But no, the apostles' names will never be considered
in that way. The investigative judgment theory is entirely out of
harmony with the Scriptures.
NUMBER FOUR
"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).
Later this quotation was changed to read: "For many years this
work has been in progress," in the 1911 and 1939 editions of The
Great Controversy.
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 Ellen 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. And still no one knows if the
judgment has passed to the cases of the living! This being the
case, adherents of this theory have been preaching for several
generations, to living men and women, a judgment-hour message
that referred (so far as they knew) to the cases of the dead
only, and not as yet to the case of one person living upon the
earth! This is indeed a disturbing thought!
Furthermore, in-as-much 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 the unconverted. 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
- the good news that God has already acted on behalf of sinners
through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The
moment one believes and accepts what God has already done, he is
"disclosed" as righteous. No other investigation is necessary.
............
This article was excerpted and edited from the booklet, "A
Scriptural Examination of the 1844 Investigative Judgment
Doctrine," published by the Bible Advocate Press. For a more
detailed study on this subject, write for this free booklet to:
Bible Advocate Press, The Church of God (7th Day),P.O.Box 33677
denver, Colorado 80233, USA
END NOTE:
WILLIAM MILLER AND THE ADVENT MOVEMENT
In the early 1830's, a New York Baptist minister by the name of
William Miller began preaching that Christ's second coming was
imminent. Miller's convincing presentations soon attracted an
interdenominational following, and the Millerite or Advert
Movement as it was called, spread rapidly throughout the
Northeast. Within a short period of time, Miller's name had
become a household word. Newspapers frequently featured reports
of his meetings. In fact,the March 2,1843 edition of Horace
Greeley's "New York Tribune" ran a front page explanation of
Miller's views.
Without setting a specific date, Miller predicted that Christ
would return to earth sometime between March 21,1843 and March
21,1844. According to Miller's understanding, the second advent
would occur at the end of the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14. After the
1843-44 time period passed, certain of Miller's followers
re-evaluated the data and offered October 22,1844 as the correct
date for the fulfilment of the 2300 days prophecy. On that date,
Millerites met in their local gathering places and awaited the
Lord's return.
By the next morning, the "Great Disappointment" had set in. Many
Millerites left the movement and returned to their respective
denominations. Miller himself admitted his error and
disassociated himself from the movement. Others went away
disillusioned with religion altogether. And still others began to
seek a different explanation for the miscalculation.
One such Millerite was Hiram Edson. On the day following the
"Great Disappointment," it dawned on Edson that October 22,1844
marked not the second advent but Christ's entrance into the holy
of holies in the heavenly sanctuary. On that date, according to
Edson, Christ began a new phase of His ministry of redemption.
Edson's new understanding would ultimately be defined as the
Adventist doctrine of "the investigative judgment."
