There's a good book that deals with that very question. You can get it at the ABC or order it online. It presents the Bible evidence for the Pre-Advent Judgment, and is entitled, The Silencing of Satan, the Gospel In the Investigative Judgement.

http://www.investigativejudgmentgospel.org/default.htm

http://www.investigativejudgmentgospel.org/My_Homepage_Files/Page3.html

http://www.investigativejudgmentgospel.org/My_Homepage_Files/Page1.html

There have been very good and interesting Online discussions about this topic and this book.

Later I'll come back and add to this post.

Yes, there's an IJ...but

The question we need to ask is why?

Is it to see who is good enough?

No, because no one is good enough. Like the Bible says: "There's none righteous"..."All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"..."If we say we have no sin..." etc

So if the IJ is about who is measuring up, well, you can forget heaven.

Then what is the IJ about?

Well, there's an accuser who accurately points your sins out to God and he tells Him, "You have no right to let ______ in because your own law requires, 'The person who sins must die'"!

What does Christ do with believing sinners? I'll even use Ellen to answer my question:

The tempter stands by to accuse them, as he stood by to resist Joshua. He points to their filthy garments, their defective characters. He presents their weakness and folly, their sins of ingratitude, their unlikeness to Christ, which has dishonored their Redeemer. He endeavors to affright [scare] them with the thought that their case is hopeless, that the stain of their defilement will never be washed away. He hopes so to destroy their faith that they will yield to his temptations, and turn from their allegiance to God.

Satan has an accurate knowledge of the sins that he has tempted God's people to commit, and he urges his accusations against them, declaring, that by their sins they have forfeited divine protection, and claiming that he has the right to destroy them. He pronounces them just as deserving as himself of exclusion from the favor of God. "Are these," he says, "the people who are to take my place in heaven, and the place of the angels who united with me? They profess to obey the law of God; but have they kept its precepts? Have they not been lovers of self more than lovers of God? Have they not placed their own interests above His service? Have they not loved the things of the world? Look at the sins that have marked their lives. Behold their selfishness, their malice, their hatred of one another. Will God banish me and my angels from His presence, and yet reward those who have been guilty of the same sins? Thou canst not do this, O Lord, in justice. Justice demands that sentence be pronounced against them."

But while the followers of Christ have sinned, they have not given themselves up to be controlled by the satanic agencies [i.e., they haven’t given themselves totally over to the flesh, to live according to it]. They have repented of their sins and have sought the Lord in humility and contrition, and the divine Advocate pleads in their behalf. He who has been most abused by their ingratitude, who knows their sin and also their penitence, declares: "The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan. I gave My life for these souls. They are graven upon the palms of My hands [that’s the “in Christ” motif]. They may have imperfections of character; they may have failed in their endeavors; but they have repented, and I have forgiven and accepted them."

You've quoted Ellen White as an authority regarding the Investigative Judgment. I believe it's important to support the doctrine from the Bible, but I do agree with you that what Ellen White wrote about it is also important.

Here's a very important quote from GC on the subject:

The subject of the sanctuary was the key which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. It opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God's hand had directed the great advent movement and revealing present duty as it brought to light the position and work of His people. As the disciples of Jesus after the terrible night of their anguish and disappointment were "glad when they saw the Lord," so did those now rejoice who had looked in faith for His second coming. They had expected Him to appear in glory to give reward to His servants. As their hopes were disappointed, they had lost sight of Jesus, and with Mary at the sepulcher they cried: "They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him." Now in the holy of holies they again beheld Him, their compassionate High Priest, soon to appear as their king and deliverer. Light from the sanctuary illumined the past, the present, and the future. They knew that God had led them by His unerring providence. Though, like the first disciples, they themselves had failed to understand the message which they bore, yet it had been in every respect correct. In proclaiming it they had fulfilled the purpose of God, and their labor had not been in vain in the Lord. Begotten "again unto a lively hope," they rejoiced "with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

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Both the prophecy of Daniel 8:14, "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed," and the first angel's message, "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come," pointed to Christ's ministration in the most holy place, to the investigative judgment, and not to the coming of Christ for the redemption of His people and the destruction of the wicked. The mistake had not been in the reckoning of the prophetic periods, but in the event to take place at the end of the 2300 days. Through this error the believers had suffered disappointment, yet all that was foretold by the prophecy, and all that they had any Scripture warrant to expect, had been accomplished. At the very time when they were lamenting the failure of their hopes, the event had taken place which was foretold by the message, and which must be fulfilled before the Lord could appear to give reward to His servants.

Christ had come, not to the earth, as they expected, but, as foreshadowed in the type, to 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." Daniel 7:13.

This coming is foretold also by the prophet Malachi: "The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts." Malachi 3:1. The coming of the Lord to His temple was sudden, unexpected, to His people. They were not looking for Him there. They expected Him to come to earth, "in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel." 2 Thessalonians 1:8.

But the people were not yet ready to meet their Lord. There was still a work of preparation to be accomplished for

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them. Light was to be given, directing their minds to the temple of God in heaven; and as they should by faith follow their High Priest in His ministration there, new duties would be revealed. Another message of warning and instruction was to be given to the church.

Says the prophet: "Who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness." Malachi 3:2, 3. Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God's people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.

When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His appearing. "Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years." Malachi 3:4. Then the church which our Lord at His coming is to receive to Himself will be a "glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." Ephesians 5:27. Then she will look "forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners." Song of Solomon 6:10. GC 423-425

The IJ will also reveal the wise who built on the Rock and had plenty of oil, and the foolish who built on sand and did not have enough oil; and the genuine faith that works from the faith that is dead.

Gerry

It begs the question "Does the Catholic church actually apoligize for any specific action" -- while it appears to "assume" that the answer must be "yes".

In fact Dr Carroll former owner of the church history section of EWTN's Q&A board has argued conclusively that the RCC never actually apologized for any specific action during the dark ages. Anyone who understands RC doctrine immediately recognizes why they would have to take that position.

As for Glacier View -- it is hardly a "new thing" for a denomination to insist that it's OWN doctrine be taught at it's OWN institutions. I don't see how that obvious point would ever make the news.

in Christ,

Bob

This is another great point. Ellen White was very firm on her insistence that doctrinal argument be derived sola scriptura -- "the Bible and the Bible only".

in Christ,

Bob

More Bible please.

in 2Cor 5:10 we have the IJ.

In Romans 2:4-16 we have the IJ

In Daniel 7 we have the IJ

In Matt 7 we see a clear allusion to the IJ

Take your pick.

in Christ,

Bob

Robert,

I have read thru this whole thread with great interest as the Investigative Judgement has always, at some level, struck terror in my heart. From the quotes you shared here, it sounds to me that the IJ is more of a situation where, again, it is between God and Satan, not between God and us. It is Jesus arguing on behalf of those who have loved and served Him and have rejected Satan over the course of their lives.

I appreciate all the comments given here as this has always been somewhat of a question for me. I remember being taught as a child that it was Jesus legally arguing the case of His followers w/ Satan. However, it has always been concerning for me, because like someone else stated: I won't know when my name comes up, and have I forgotten to confess some sin that may affect the outcome of this proceeding?

I also agree that since God is all knowing, He doesn't need the IJ to make His decision. However, this is a fight between God and Satan, unfortunately, we are drug into it without our consent. So, even tho God doesn't need to "investigate" anything, this is a Legal battle fought by Satan, and must be handled in a Legal manner.

Thank God for His unending Love for us, and for His supreme wisdom and sacrifice to secure out salvation for all time!!

Morning Glory

The IJ is alternate characterized as a huge non-event or as a huge event depending on the agenda and POV of the one describing it -- let the reader be informed.

in Christ,

Bob

What I find curious is that those who say it should be supported from the Bible .... then go and quote Ellen White. Curious.