= 1 = THE INVESTIGATIVE
JUDGMENT
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.
Ecclesiastes 3:17
The judgment of the great day is an event certain to take place. "He
hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in
righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained." Acts 17:31. What God
hath appointed is sure to come in due time. The resurrection of Christ
is an assurance to all men of the final judgment. It is not the fact of
the judgment, however, but the order of its work, that at this time
engages our attention. The work to be accomplished is of immense
magnitude. The judgment relates (1) to all the righteous; (2) to all
the wicked; (3) to all the evil angels. The number of cases, therefore,
to be acted upon at this grand tribunal exceeds our powers of
conception. We must not, however, suppose that there will be any
difficulty on the part of the Judge in acting upon every case
individually. Far from this, "there is a time there for every purpose
and for every work." The judgment, indeed, pertains to an immense
number of beings; yet every one of them shall give account of himself to
God. Romans 14:12. It will not relate to so vast a number as to make
it otherwise than a strictly personal matter. Nor will there be aught
of confusion or disorder in that final reckoning. God has plenty of
time for the work, and he has no lack of agents to do his bidding. That
he has order in this work, the Scriptures clearly teach.
1. The righteous are to judge the wicked; yet the righteous are
themselves to pass the test of the judgment. Whence it follows that the
judgment must pass upon the righteous before they can sit in judgment
upon the wicked.
This is a very important proposition. That it is truthful we know
from the express testimony of the Scriptures.
Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the
world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest
matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things
that pertain to this life? 1 Corinthians 6:2-3
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given
unto them; and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the
witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped
the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their
foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a
thousand years. Revelation 20:4
I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed
against them; until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given
to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints
possessed the kingdom. Daniel 7:21-22
Here is the exalted work of the saints in the judgment. They are to
take part in the examination of the cases of all wicked men and fallen
angels. But this is not to be till they have been changed to
immortality, and exalted to thrones of glory. They do not, therefore,
have their cases decided at the same time with the wicked. We believe
the reader will acknowledge the justice of this reasoning. Let us state
another proposition:-
2. The trump of God sounds as the Saviour descends from heaven. When
that trump is heard, all the righteous are, in the twinkling of an eye,
changed to immortality. There can be no examination after this to
determine whether they shall be counted worthy of eternal life, for they
will then have already laid hold upon it. From this it follows that the
examination and decision of the cases of the righteous takes place
before the advent of Christ. The resurrection of the righteous to
immortality is decisive proof that they have then already passed the
test of the judgment, and have been accepted of the Judge. That they
are thus raised to immortality the following texts plainly teach:-
"So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in
corruption; it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonor; it
is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power; it
is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a
natural body, and there is a spiritual body." "Behold, I show you a
mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet
shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall
be changed." 1 Corinthians 14:42-44, 51-52
These passages are certainly convincing. The resurrection of the
saints is to immortal life, and they are made immortal in the very act
of the resurrection. The decision of their cases is, therefore, passed
before their resurrection, for the nature of their resurrection is
declarative or eternal salvation. But the fact that the decision of the
judgment in the case of the righteous precedes the advent is proved by
another proposition, as follows:-
3. The righteous are to be raised before the wicked have their
resurrection. This shows that the examination of their cases takes
place before they are raised, for the final discrimination is made in
the very act of raising the just and leaving the unjust to the
resurrection of damnation.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years
were finished. This is the first resurrection Blessed and holy is he
that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death
hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and
shall reign with him a thousand years. Revelation 20:5-6
But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and
the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in
marriage; neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the
angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the
resurrection. Luke 20:35-36
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
(Literally "the resurrection out from the dead ones.") Philippians
3:11
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
But every man in his own order; Christ the first-fruits; afterward
they that are Christ's at his coming. 1 Corinthians 15:22-23
There is a resurrection which bears the inspired designation of the
"first resurrection." All who have part in this resurrection are
pronounced "blessed and holy." On them "the second death hath no
power." This resurrection is out from among the dead. Paul earnestly
labored to attain unto it. It is to be at the coming of Christ. Only
those who are Christ's shall have part in it. All that have part in it
are the children of God because they are the children of the
resurrection to life. These facts clearly prove that the examination of
the cases of the righteous precedes their resurrection at the advent of
Christ, that event being really declarative of their innocence in the
sight of God, and of their eternal salvation. Such as are accepted of
God are raised; the others sleep till the resurrection to damnation.
These facts are decisive proof that the righteous are judged before they
are raised.
But we have a still more explicit statement yet to notice. Says our
Lord: "But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world,
and the resurrection from the dead," etc. Then it is certain that the
act of accounting worthy to obtain the resurrection from among the dead,
and a part in the world to come, does precede the resurrection of the
righteous. But this act of accounting men worthy of a part in the
kingdom of God is the very act of acquitting them in the judgment. The
investigative judgment in the cases of the righteous is, therefore, past
before their resurrection. As the resurrection of the just is at the
advent of Christ, it follows that they pass their examination, and are
counted worthy of a place in the kingdom of God, before the Saviour
returns to the earth to gather them to himself.
It is proved, therefore, that the resurrection of the saints to
immortal life is declarative of their final acceptance before God.
Whatever of investigation is requisite for the final decision of their
cases, must take place before the Saviour in mid-heaven utters the word
of command to his angels. "Gather my saints together unto me." Psalm
50:5; Matthew 24:31. The act of accounting them worthy must precede all
this. The saints alone are to be caught up to meet Christ in the air.
1 Thessalonians 4:17. But the decision who these saints are, who shall
thus be caught up, rests not with the angels who execute the work, but
with the Judge, who gives them their commission. We cannot, therefore,
avoid the conclusion that the investigation in the cases of the
righteous precedes the coming of the Saviour. Let us now consider an
important proposition.
1. This period of investigative judgment is ushered in by a solemn
proclamation to the inhabitants of the earth; and this investigative
work embraces the closing years of human probation. This is a very
important statement. But it is susceptible of being clearly proved.
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 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. Revelation 14:6-7
The gospel of Christ is "the power of God unto salvation to everyone
that believeth." Romans 1:16. No other gospel than this can be
preached, not even by an angel from heaven. Galatians1:8. Whence it
follows that the angel of Revelation 14:6,7, preaching the everlasting
gospel, represents some part of the great gospel proclamation. It is a
part of that preaching which is the power of God unto salvation to
everyone that believeth. This fact alone is decisive that this
proclamation concerning the hour of God's judgment must be made while
human probation still lasts. Two other solemn announcements follows.
And it is evident that the human family are still upon probation, when
the third angel declares that "if any man worship the beast . . . the
same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God. . . . Here is the
patience of the saints." This is a consecutive prophecy, as several
expressions plainly indicate. And it is to be observed that the Son of
man is seen upon the white cloud after all these solemn proclamations
have been made.
That this announcement of the hour of God's judgment precedes the
advent of Christ, and is addressed to men while yet in probation, the
fourteenth chapter of Revelation clearly proves. That this is not some
local judgment is proved by the fact that "every nation, and kindred,
and tongue, and people," are concerned in it. It is evidently that part
of the judgment work which precedes the coming of Christ, and, as has
been already shown, this is the work of determining who shall be
accounted worthy to have part in the resurrection to immortal life, and,
we may add, who also of the living shall be accounted worthy to escape
the troubles that shall come in the conclusion of this state of things,
and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 20:35; 21:36.
2. When the sins of the righteous are blotted out they can be no more
remembered. They are blotted out before Christ comes. There can be,
therefore, no act of calling them to account for their sins after the
advent of Christ. Thus we read:-
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence
of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached
unto you. Acts 3:19,20
Mr. Wesley, in his "Notes on the New Testament," gives a different
translation, which may be more accurate:-
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out, that the times of refreshing may come from the presence
of the Lord, and he may send to you Jesus Christ, who was before
appointed.
Albert Barnes, in his "Notes on the Acts," speaking of these two
translations, says, "The grammatical construction will admit of
either." One of these represents the blotting out to be when the times
of refreshing arrive; the other makes it the cause of that refreshing.
But neither of them gives the idea that this blotting out takes place
when the sinner turns to God. Both of them throw it into the future.
Each of them represents it as preceding the second coming of the Lord.
But this is especially true of the latter translation, which follows the
original in using a conditional verb respecting Christ's advent; not as
though that were a doubtful event, but rather as if his coming to the
personal salvation of the ones addressed depended upon their having part
in the refreshing, and as if that refreshing was to come in consequence
of the blotting out of sins.
The sins of the righteous are blotted out before the coming of
Christ. They cannot be called to give account of their sins after they
have been blotted out; whence it follows that whatever account the
righteous render to God for their sins must be before the advent of the
Saviour, and not at, or after, that event.
3. The sins of men are written in the books of God's remembrance.
The blotting out of the sins of the righteous does therefore involve the
examination of these books for this very purpose. That the sins of men
are thus written, is plainly revealed in the Scriptures.
"For though thou wash thee with niter, and take thee much soap, yet
thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God. Jeremiah 2:22
And thus the Lord speaks of the guilt of Israel: "Is not this laid up
in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?" Deuteronomy
32:34. And Paul speaks in the same manner: "But after thy hardness and
impenitent heart treasureth up unto thyself wrath against the day of
wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render
to every man according to his deeds." Romans 2:5,6. These statements
of wrath being treasured up can have reference only to the fact that God
takes notice of men's sins, and that every sin is marked before him. To
this fact all the texts which speak of the blotting out of sins must
have reference. Thus David prays that God would blot out his
transgressions. Psalm 51:1,9. And Nehemiah, and David, and Jeremiah,
pray respecting certain persons, that their sin may not be blotted out.
Nehemiah 4:5; Psalm 109:14; Jeremiah.18:23. And Isaiah, in prophetic
language, speaks of this blotting out as if it were a past event, just
as in the next verse he speaks of the new creation, and the final
redemption. Isaiah 44:22,23. And in the previous chapter he speaks in
a similar manner of this blotting out as necessary in order that the
sins of the people of God may be no more remembered. Isaiah 43:25.
These texts plainly imply that the sins of men are upon record, and that
there is a time when these are blotted out of the record of the
righteous
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