9. The Sliver—The Investigative Judgment

Cultic Doctrine of Seventh-day Adventism, Dale Ratzlaff, Feature, Investigative Judgment

The Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary and the Investigative Judgment

We have looked briefly at the historical development of the “sliver,” the SDA Doctrine of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment.1 This doctrine2 is unique to the SDA church and is the very center of SDA theory more so than most Seventh-day Adventists realize or will admit. This fact will become evident in later chapters. While this is the “central pillar of Adventism,”3 it remains the most difficult doctrine to explain, support, or understand. The explanation for this, if not already apparent, will become evident in later chapters. The purpose of this chapter is to help the reader understand—as much as possible—the doctrine of the cleansing of the heavens sanctuary and the investigative judgment. 

The current4 Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists, item number 24, describes this doctrine as follows:

Christ’s Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary

There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at the time of His ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with the perfect sacrifice of the good of Jesus. The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who, among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Adventist. (Heb. 8:1–5;4:14–16; 9:21–28; 10:19–22; 1:3; 2:16–17; Dan. 7:9–27; 8:13, 14; 9:24–27; Num. 14:34; Eze. 4:6; Lev. 16; Rev. 14:6, 7; 20:12, 14; 22:12)5

No doctrine is more confusing than this one. We will, howe her, give you a second chance to attempt to comprehend it. October 22, 1994, marked the 150th anniversary of the 1844 disappointment of William Miller’s prediction of the second coming of Christ and the Seventh-day Adventist “reinterpretation” of this “event.” To celebrate this “event,” the SDA Adult Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly6 for October through December 1994, was devoted to this and kindred doctrines, here called The Three Angels’ Messages—Last Call for Heaven. On page 52 of the teacher’s edition we read these questions under the general heading: “The Hour of His Judgment (Rev. 14:7).” “What does the first angel’s message tell us about the time of the judgment?”7 What light do Daniel 8:9–14 and 9:22–27 shed upon this time?” Then follows this “clear, concise, logical” answer!

These verses in Daniel tell us when the “hour” of His judgment arrives. Daniel 8:14 calls the pre-Advent judgment of Daniel 7:9–15 the cleansing of the sanctuary. The cleansing of the sanctuary was to begin after 2300 days. The Hebrew phrase translated “days” means “evening-morning.” It refers to a twenty-four-hour days, which are used as a prophetic symbol of 2300 years. The prophet was told that the work of the little horn would continue till the end of time (Dan. 8:17, 19, 25, 26). Twenty-three hundred literal days would not reach to the end of time. The “days” are intended to be symbolic of years.

The vision of Daniel 9 was given in 538 B.C., 13 years after the vision of Daniel 8 (551 B.C.). Gabriel told Daniel that “seventy weeks” (Hebrew: “seventy sevens”) were to be “cut off” (Hebrew) from the 2300 days. These “seventy-sevens” must refer to 490 years, because they were to reach to the time of the Messiah (Christ)). The 490 years were to be cut off from the beginning of the 2300 days. You cannot have 490 years cut off from 2300 literal days. The 2300 days are a prophetic symbol of 2300 years.

The beginning date of the 490 years and the 2300 years is given in Daniel 9:25: “the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem.” Ezra 6:14 indicates that God’s command for the complete restoration of Jerusalem was put into effect by the decrees of three Persian monarchs: Cyrus’ decree (537 B.C.); Darius 1’s decree (519 or 518 B.C.); Artaxerxes 1’s decree (457 B.C.). 

Counting 2300 years from 457 B.C brings us to 1844. Since the decree of Artaxerxes was put into effect in the autumn of 457 b.C., the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, the pre-Advent judgment, began in the autumn of 1844.

457 B.C.—————————–2300 years—————————-A.D. 1844
Command to restore Jerusalem………………………………………Pre-Advent judgment begins

This reasoning is set forth as proof that the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment started in 1844. We will evaluate the above reasoning in later chapters. But for now, simply remember the importance of 1844: the beginning of the SDA cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment.

The next question we must ask is, What is the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative  judgment and what does it encompass?

Here Adventists link the word “cleansed” in Daniel 8:148 to the “cleansing” of the sanctuary on the day of atonement in Leviticus 16. The “evidence” for this is given as follows:

There are many interesting linguistic connections that exist between Daniel 8:14 and Leviticus 16. Following are two examples: (1) The Hebrew word for “sanctuary” in Daniel 8:14 is the same as the word used in Leviticus 16 to specify the sanctuary as the object of cleansing. The sanctuary mentioned in Daniel 8:14 refers to the heavenly sanctuary because the vision reaches to “the time of the end” (Dan. 8:17). The earthly sanctuary ceased to have significance at the cross. (See Hebrews 8.) (2) In Daniel 8:14, the Hebrew word translated as “cleansed” is nitsdaq. It comes from the word tsadaq, which means “to justify, to be or are righteous, pure or clean.” In Leviticus 16:30 the verb “to cleanse” translates taher. In the Old Testament tsadaq and taher are used synonymously. For example, Job 4:17, “Can a mortal be more righteous [tsadaq] than God? Or can a man be more pure [taher]? Thus, the idea of “cleansing” can be attributed to the word nitsdaq. This is why the Septuagint (the Greek OT) translates the Hebrew of Daniel 8:14: “and the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” As both the sanctuary and the people were cleansed (or justified, put right) on the Day of Atonement, so they will be in the antitypical Day of Atonement referred to in Daniel 8:15.9

It is important to note at this point that Adventists must make a connection between Daniel 8:14 and Leviticus 16. Without such a connection, even if it is not good exegesis, there is absolutely no basis whatsoever to the Seventh-day Adventist 1844 cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment.

We know now that Seventh-day Adventists believe the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment started in 1844. We know that SDAs believe the doctrine of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment deals with the day of Atonement. Now, we must ask the next question, What does that have to do with Christians? 

And as during the typical Day of Atonement the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary removed the sins accumulated there, so the heavenly sanctuary is cleansed by the final removal of the record of sins in the heavenly books. But before the records are finally cleared, they will be examined to determine who through repentance and faith in Christ is entitled to enter His eternal kingdom The cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, therefore, involves a work of investigation or judgment that fully reflects the nature of the Day of Atonement as the day of judgment.10

If I tried to explain and document all the minutiae of the doctrine of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment, most readers would get bogged down and lose interest. Therefore, I have chosen to give a brief summary of this teaching with the supporting documentation in the footnotes rather than in the text. 

Summary of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment

The Seventh-day Adventist doctrine of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment teaches that at the ascension Christ entered the outer apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. From that time until 1844, he performed a ministry of intercession and forgiveness analogous to that of the earthly sanctuary’s outer apartment.11 in 1844 Christ entered into the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary for the first time12,13 to begin a work of investigative judgment.14 This judgment deals only with those who have professed to believe in God.15 The wicked, according to SDA theology, will be investigated during the 1000 years16 and executed shortly after the close of the 1000 years of Revelation 20.17 The investigative judgment starts with the cases of the dead, reaching clear back to Adam and reviews the life records of ever person who has professed faith in God. Every deed is closely examined. Each succeeding generation is investigated and judged.18 At some time, none know when, the cases of the dead are completed and God then moves to the cases of the living.19 SDAs believe they will not know when their name comes up in judgment.20 Therefore, it is extremely important that they engage in no frivolous activity or sin. Every sin must be confessed. Sins which have been forgotten and unconfessed will stand against them in the judgment.21 Their characters use demonstrate perfect obedience to the Ten Commandment law,22,23 especially the Sabbath of the fourth commandment.24,25 Some names in this list of professed believers will be accepted, others will be rejected.26 When every person confessing faith in God has come up in review, Jesus then pleads his blood before the Father on behalf of those who are found worthy, and blots out the record of their sins from the books of heaven.27,28 Then, not knowing if, or when, then work of investigative judgment has been completed, the righteous, still in their humans state, before the second coming of Christ, will have to live in the sight of a hoy God without an intercessor.29 This, then, completes the atonement.30 Jesus then takes the sins of God’s people and transfers them to Satan who is represented by the Day of Atonement scapegoat in Leviticus 16.31 Satan then bears the ultimate responsibility for all the sins he has caused the righteous to commit. He will suffer for these sins in the lake of fire and then be blotted from existence.32 The investigative judgment is onducted before all the intelligences of the universe. This then, vindicates the character of God before all the unfilled beings.33,34 Then everyone will know the immutability of the law of God and the righteous character of God.35 

This doctrine lies a the foundation of Historic Adventist theology36 and it remains then central pillar and problem, not only of SDA theology, but also of its history, ethics, and religious experience. The following chapters will show how the Seventh-day Adventist doctrine of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment is intertwined with other SDA distinctive “truths” to such a degree that it permeates all of Adventism. To remove this “sliver” will be no easy task. †

Endnotes

  1. While the SDA doctrine of then cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary was taught shortly after the disappointment of 1844, the investigative judgment doctrine was not taught until about 1847. [See Paul A Gordon, The Sanctuary, 1844, and the Pioneers, (Washington D.C: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1983) p. 87m 88] However, Adventists teach that the investigative judgment started in 1844. After 1857 these two unique SDA diatribes are inseparably connected in the writings of EGW. 
  2. From now on in this book we will usually consider the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary and the investigative judgment as one doctrine. Both are taught in the Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists, No. 24. Today most Adventists—especially Evangelical Adventists—call the investigative judgment the “pre-advent judgment,” and some may even give this term a different meaning.
  3. “The scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and the central pillar of the advent faith was the declaration: ‘Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall then sanctuary be cleansed.’ Daniel 8:14.” Ellen G White, The Great Controversy, p. 409. See also Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p 258.
  4. 2009.
  5. For a complete listing of the Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists, see Appendix A.
  6. From personal conversations with Evangelical SDA pastors, it is evident that Evangelical Adventists do not consider the Sabbath School Lessons to speak for all Adventists. 
  7. The investigative judgment is here called the “pre-advent judgment,” a term that is more acceptable to contemporary Adventists. Howe er, it is clear that the same judgment is in view. 
  8. See Ford, Daniel 8:14, p. 1–113, for Dr. Raymond Cottrell’s discussion of the word “cleansed.”
  9. Adult Sabbath School Lessons, The Three Angels’ Messages, p. 50.
  10. Seventh-day Adventists Believe, p. 320. Quoted in Ibid. 
  11. “The ministration of the priest throughout the year in the first apartment of the sanctuary, ‘within the veil’ which formed the door and separated the holy place from the outer court, represents the work of ministration upon which Christ entered at His ascension. It was the work of the priest in the daily ministration to present before God the blood of the sin offering, also the incense which ascended with the prayers of Israel. So did Christ plead His blood before the Father in behalf of sinners, and present before Him also, with the precious fragrance of His own righteousness, the prayers of penitent believers. Such was the work of ministration in the first apartment of the sanctuary in heaven.” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 420. See also Early Writings, p. 252; Review and Herald, 1850-03-01; 1905-11-09; Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, p. 158.
  12. It is clear from the earliest records that this was the teaching and belief of early Adventists. In the Hiram Edson Manuscript Fragment, Mr. Edson relates his experience in the field the day after the great disappointment which laid the foundation for the reinterpretation of Miller’s 1844 prophecy which, in turn, laid the foundation for the SDA investigative judgment. “Heaven seemed open to my view, and I saw distinctly and clearly, that instead of our High Priest coming out of the Most Holy of the heavenly sanctuary to come to this earth on the tenth day of the seventh month, at the end of the 2300 days, that he for the first time entered on that day the second apartment of that sanctuary; and that he had a work to perform in the Most Holy before coming to this earth.” See Knight, Rise of Sabbatarian Adventism, p 126. Ellen White states, “Thus those who followed in the light of the prophetic word saw that, instead of coming to the earth at the termination of the 2300 days 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, p. 422. “As foreshadowed in the type, and foretold in the Scriptures, Christ, at the time appointed, entered the most holy place of the temple of God in heaven. He is represented by the prophet Daniel as coming at this time to the Ancient of days: ‘I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came’—not to the earth, but— ‘to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.’” Ellen G. White, Southern Watchman 1905-01-24. (In recent years Seventh-day Adventists have recognized this blatant disagreement with Scripture and now state that Christ “was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at the time of His ascension.” See the SDA belief statement listed in the main text at the beginning of this chapter. Note, however, that all this says is that Christ became our High Priest at that time. It does not say that He entered the Most Holy Place. I believe this statement is designed to be somewhat nebulous. By itself it does not explicitly contradict Hiram Edson and Ellen White, which SDAs would not want to do, yet it also allows room for individual interpretation for those who want to make this doctrine agree with Scripture and want Christ in the Most Holy Place at the ascension as taught in Hebrews.)
  13. Some Adventists make yet another reinterpretation in trying to harmonize EGW’s statement that Christ entered into the Most Holy place in 1844 with the teaching of Hebrews 6:19. They state that Christ entered the Most Holy Place at the ascension to dedicate the Most Holy Place and then withdrew to the Holy Place until 1844.
  14. “In 1844 our great High Priest entered the most holy place of the heavenly Sanctuary, to begin the work of the investigative Judgment.” Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, 1887-03-22. “Attended by a cloud of 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.” Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy Vol. 4, p. 308.
  15. “In the typical service only those who had come before God with confession and repentance, and whose sins, through the blood of the sin offering, were transferred to the sanctuary, had a part in the service of the Day of Atonement. So in the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God.” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 480. See also Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p. 420. 
  16. “The judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work, and takes place at a later period.” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 480. “After the judgment of the wicked dead had been finished, at the end of the one thousand years…” Ellen G. White, Early Writings, p. 292.
  17. “At the close of the thousand years, Christ again returns to the earth. He is accompanied by the host of the redeemed and attended by a retinue of angels. As He descends in terrific majesty He bids the wicked dead arise to receive their doom.” Ellen G White, The Great Controversy. p. 662.
  18. “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.” Ibid., p. 483. 
  19. “Solemn are the scenes connected with the closing work of the atonement. Momentous are the interests involved therein. The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. For many hears this work has been in progress. Soon—none know how soon—it will pass to the cases of the living.” Ibid., p. 490. 
  20. “How perilous is the condition of those, who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world. While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure-lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments,—it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence, ‘Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.’” Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p. 315. 
  21. “Day after day passing into eternity, bears its burden of records of the books of Heaven. Words once spoken, deeds once done, can never be recalled. Angels of God have registered both the good and the evil. The mightiest conqueror upon the earth cannot call back the record of even a single day. Our acts, our words, even our most secret motives, all have their weight in deciding our destiny for weal or woe. Though they may be forgotten by us, they will bear their testimony to justify or condemn. They go before us to the Judgment. The use of every talent will be scrutinized.” Ibid., p. 331. 
  22. “Christ lived a life of perfect obedience to God’s law, and in this He set an example for every human being. The life that He lived in this world we are to live through His power and under His instruction.” Ellen G. White, Ministry of Healing, p. 180. “God requires perfect submission and perfect obedience. Eternal life is worth everything to us. You may come in close connection with God if you will agonize to enter in at the strait gate.” Ellen G White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, p. 218. 
  23. “Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept his Father’s commandments, and there was no sin in him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, 1888 edition, p. 623.
  24. “Many and earnest were the efforts made to overthrow their faith. None could fail to see that if the earthly sanctuary was a figure or pattern of the heavenly, the law deposited in the ark on earth was an exact transcript of the law in the ark in Heaven, and that an acceptance of the truth concerning the heavenly sanctuary involved an acknowledgment of the claims of God’s law, and the obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment.” Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p. 257. 
  25. “The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty, for it is the point of truth especially controverted. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not.” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 605. 
  26. “Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record unreported of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance.” Ibid., p. 483. 
  27. “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 to be judged ‘out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works’” Ibid., p. 486. See also Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p. 266.
  28. “Each one of you needs to awake and face square about to get out of of the cart rut of selfishness. Improve the short, probationary time given you by working with your might to redeem the failures of your past life. God has placed you in a world of suffering to prove you, to see if you will be found worthy of the gift of eternal life.” Ellen G White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, p. 530.
  29. “When he [Christ] leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth. In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor.” Ellen G. white, Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p. 432. See also Early Writings, p 280; Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, p. 198; The Great Controversy, pp. 614, 647.
  30. “Thus those who followed in the light of the prophetic word saw that instead of coming to the earth at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844, Christ then entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform the closing work of atonement preparatory to His coming.” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 422. 
  31. “When Christ, by virtue of His own blood, removes the sins of His people from the heavenly sanctuary at the close of His ministration, He will place them upon Satan, who, in the execution of the judgment, must bear the final penalty.” Ibid., p. 422. See also Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p. 266.
  32. “The scape-goat was sent away into a land not inhabited, never to come again into the congregation of Israel. So will Satan be forever banished from the presence of God and his people, and he will be blotted from existence in the final destruction of sin and sinners.” Ellen G. White, Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p. 267.
  33. “With covering timeliness we study the subject of God’s investigative judgment on the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary (sesquicentennial) of its commencement in the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary on October 22, 1844. Through this judgment work God has committed Himself to explain completely to the universe of unfilled beings His work of redemption, and His perfectly fair and loving way of dealing with sin and sinners. The judgment settles all accusations, doubts, and concerns about the justice and goodness of God.” Commentary, Adult Sabbath School Lessons, Three Angel’s Messages, First quarter, 2008, p. 47.
  34. Adventists, like the Mormons, believe that there are other populated worlds. According to the CD of her writings, Ellen White uses “unfallen worlds” over 100 times. This belief is an important factor in understanding the investigative judgment and the Adventist eschatology. 
  35. “The final judgment is a most solemn event, which must take place before the assembled universe. When God honors His commandment-keeping people, not one of the enemies of truth and righteousness will be absent. And when transgressors receive their condemnation, all the righteous will see the result of sin. God will be honored, and His government vindicated; and that in the presence of the inhabitants of the universe.” Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, 1901-06-18.
  36. “The scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and the central pillar of the advent faith was the declaration: ‘Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.’ Daniel 8:14.” Ellen White, The Great Controversy, p. 409. See also Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, p. 258. Note: this quotation by EGW was written in 1911 in the chapter “What is the Sanctuary?”

 

Dale Ratzlaff
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