Dd-68. Is the INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT BIBLICAL

Now, some Christians may have never heard of the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment and that is because this doctrine is ONLY taught by Adventist Christians, and more particularly, the Seventh Day Adventist Church. I have been a Christian for some over 40 years and I only became aware of this doctrine last month. So do not feel bad about never hearing of any church doctrine called the “Investigative Judgment of Jesus and the Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary” It is a unique and sole doctrine of Adventist Christians. The largest group of Adventist Christians is the Seventh Day Adventist Church which I will abbreviate as the SDA Church and the SDA Christians throughout the remainder of this study in God’s word.

So then, what is “Adventism”? The word advent means the arrival of an important person, thing, or event. In Biblical terms it means the coming of Jesus. Also, know that the “name” or title of “Adventist” Christians came to be termed or at least popularized in the early to mid 1800s. Adventism was also known as the Millerite Movement. The “heart” of Adventism is that there was a great interest in calculating the return of Jesus that was termed the “Advent” of Jesus, hence, the term Adventist Christians.

But what about the SDA doctrine of the Investigative Judgment of Jesus and the Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary? When did it begin to be taught? Why did it begin to be taught? And WHAT does it teach? Here is a little background that anyone seeking the truth can clearly see WHEN it began and WHY it began.

Most of the Adventist Christians sincerely believed with all their hearts that Jesus would return on October 22, 1844 that some of them even sold their homes. And when Jesus did not return there was a great disappointment. Many of the Adventist Christians concluded that the leaders of the Adventist Movement simply made an error in their calculations or they incorrectly interpreted the Scriptures. But some of the Adventist Christians were so SURE that they were right about the DATE that they felt strongly that SOMETHING major MUST have happened on October 22, 1844. And that is WHEN the SDA doctrine of Investigative Judgment of Jesus and the Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary was formed. Ellen G. White prayed and searched the Scriptures and the rest is history, as in, SDA Church history BEGAN because that is when the SDA church was founded upon the teachings of Ellen G. White. Please understand that this relatively small group of Christians were ALREADY saved BEFORE this so-called doctrine of the Investigative Judgment of Jesus and the Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary was formed by Ellen G. White.

The Adventist true born-again Christians were already in existence but the SDA Church ITSELF as a church denomination was founded on the Ellen G. White teaching of the Investigative Judgment of Jesus and the Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary as their central pillar of faith that separated them from every other church denomination. But BEFORE the great disappointment the Adventist Christians were the same as every other Christian. My point is that these few Adventist Christians who were NOT willing to admit that the calculation of the coming of Jesus was WRONG simply created a NEW church doctrine that never existed before in all of church history so that their calculated DATE would be correct about SOMETHING. They did not know WHAT happened at that time in history but they were SURE that SOMETHING MUST have happened on October 22 1844.

But what they CONCLUDED that happened on that date is wrong. How can we know for SURE that the SDA Church doctrine of the Investigative Judgment of Jesus and the Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary that was formed by Ellen G. White is WRONG? We can know beyond any shadow of a doubt that it is wrong because it CONTRADICTS the Scriptures all over the place. Now, whether they fabricated this doctrine to save face so to speak is not the issue at hand. The real issue at hand is whether or not the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment is found in the Scriptures.

So then, some Christians argue that WHY the doctrine came into being was to cover up the fact that the date was wrong and the Adventist interpretation of Daniel 8:13 is in ERROR. And the Adventist Christians who held fast to the date being correct argue that it was Almighty God who REVEALED this NEW doctrine of the Investigative Judgment to Ellen G. White. And thus, this new doctrine became the CENTRAL PILLAR of the SDA Church. Here are just a few of the testimonies from the horse's mouth so to speak that the doctrine of the “Investigative Judgment” is the central pillar of the church. And they openly admit that if this doctrine is proven wrong by the Scriptures then their entire teaching of the SDA Church falls with it. These are THEIR words, not mine, but the emphasis is mine. The first two quotes are from Ellen G. White herself. And the third quote is the SDA Church's foundational position and belief that Ellen G. White's teachings are on the same level as the Bible itself.

“God is either teaching His church, reproving their wrongs and strengthening their faith, or He is not. THIS WORK IS OF GOD, OR IT IS NOT. God does nothing in partnership with Satan. MY WORK ... BEARS THE STAMP OF GOD OR THE STAMP OF THE ENEMY. There is no half-way work in the matter. THE TESTIMONIES ARE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD OR OF THE DEVIL.”

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 230

“IF THE TESTIMONIES SPEAK NOT ACCORDING TO THIS WORD OF GOD, REJECT THEM. Christ and Belial cannot be united.”

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 691

“The writings of Mrs. white were never designed to be an addition to the canon of Scripture. They are, nevertheless, the messages of God to the remnant church and should be received as such, the same as were the messages of the prophets of old. As Samuel was a prophet to Israel in his day, as Jeremiah was a prophet to Israel in the day of the captivity, as John the Baptist came as a special messenger of the Lord to prepare the way for Christ's appearing, so we believe (Speaking of ONLY the SDA Christians) that Mrs. White was a prophet to the church of Christ today. And the same as the messages of the prophets were received in olden times, so her messages should be received at the present time. (R&H, Oct. 4, 1928)

But what if Ellen G. White is WRONG? Remember Ellen G. White’s OWN words that if her teachings do NOT SPEAK what God’s word speaks then REJECT her teachings as being from Satan and NOT from God. With that being said, let us closely examine the teachings of Ellen G. White that is the central pillar of the SDA Church. We will take her quotes one point at a time and compare what she teaches to what the Bible ITSELF teaches. Again the emphasis is mine. What I highlight in green is not sound Biblical teaching and what I highlight in yellow is Biblical truth but the SDA “interpretation” contradicts other parts of the Bible.

“If the atonement was made on Calvary, by whom was it made? The making of the atonement is the work of a Priest; but who officiated on Calvary? Roman soldiers and wicked Jews. The slaying of the victim was not making the atonement; the sinner slew the victim, Lev. 4:1-4, 13-15, &c., after that the Priest took the blood and made the atonement. Lev. 4:5-12, 16-21. Christ was the appointed High Priest to make the atonement, and he certainly could not have acted in that capacity till after his resurrection, and we have no record of his doing anything on earth after his resurrection, which could be called the atonement.

Let us pause right here and read the sound Biblical RECORD of Jesus ASCENDING into heaven on the morning of the first day of the week soon after his resurrection.

Please read John 20:7.

“Jesus said unto her, (Mary Magdalene) Touch me not; FOR (Or because) I am NOT YET ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”

And Jesus ASCENDED to his Father in Heaven that very morning of his resurrection. And then, according to John 20:19,20 and Luke 24:39 Jesus descended back down to the earth that same day in the evening and specifically told his disciples to TOUCH him.

John 20:19,20.

“Then the SAME DAY at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

20. And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.”

Now read the same account in Luke 24:39.

“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: HANDLE ME, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see me have.”

So something happened up in Heaven when Jesus ASCENDED to his Father for several hours before descending back down to the earth to show himself alive never to die again. Then after forty days of showing himself alive in his new glorified immortal body Jesus ascended into heaven and SAT DOWN at the right hand of Almighty God the Father. The scapegoat in Leviticus chapter 16 is a figure of the RESURRECTION of Jesus being PRESENTED ALIVE before Yahweh. And the sins laid on Jesus to bear at the ATONEMENT made on the cross were then carried away to the Father and RELEASED never to be remembered against us again. Jesus said his new body has flesh and bones but Jesus said nothing about his new body having any blood. So to me, the shed blood of Jesus IS the atonement offer to God for the forgiveness of ALL sin, past, present, and future. In other words, our FAITH in the shed blood of Jesus CLEANSES us from ALL our sins.

1 John 1:7-9.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the BLOOD of Jesus Christ His Son CLEANSES us from ALL sin. (Including the sins that a Christian commits after they are initially saved)

8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (Or if we argue against the conviction of the Holy Spirit to try and reason away our sin that that is not obeying the truth that is in us, But)

9. If we confess our sins, he is FAITHFUL and just to forgive us our sins, and to CLEANSE us from ALL unrighteousness.”

So, then ATONEMENT has ALREADY been made and Jesus is in heaven as our high priest from day one of the beginning of the church on the Day of Pentecost. Jesus is alive forever and he IS and has always been making intercession for us from the first sin committed by the first Apostle.

Romans 8:33,34.

“Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies.

34. Who is he that condemns? (Or judges against SIN) It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

Now go back to the beginning of Romans chapter 8 to know and understand that Jesus died on the cross to condemn or judge AGAINST sin by fulfilling the law FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. And you cannot get anymore righteous than what God Himself MADE you righteous IN Jesus Christ. So our only obligation is to walk after the leading of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. If a preacher says you must stop every sin right NOW do not allow his judging you affect you. Simply work on the ONE sin at a time that the Holy Spirit is leading you to work on and overcome in His STRENGTH.

Romans 8:1-4.

“There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

3. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Or judged AGAINST SIN)

4 THAT (Or in order THAT) the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled IN us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

So then, so long as we are walking after the Holy Spirit dwelling in us the BLOOD of Jesus CONTINUALLY cleanses us. And IF we should sin then God KNOWS our NEW Heart that He created in us did NOT want to sin. So do not allow Satan to deceive you to try and hide any sins you may commit. But rather, be quick to repent and confess your sins and God is ALWAYS faithful and just to forgive you of ALL your sins and CLEANSE you from ALL your unrighteousness. So every time we have godly sorrow to repent and confess our sins then we are made Holy EVEN AS our Father in heaven is Holy. God cleanses us when we confessor sins and we are MADE PERFECT in the eyes of God so do not allow others judging you to affect you. God alone knows your new heart that He created in you.

Let us move on to Ellen G. White and the SDA Church argument for the doctrine of the Investigative Judgment.

The atonement was made in the Sanctuary, but Calvary was not such a place. He could not, according to Heb. 8:4, make the atonement while on earth. If he were on earth, he should not be a Priest.” The Levitical was the earthly priesthood, the Divine, the heavenly.

Always read the CONTEXT! Take a close look at Hebrews 8:12

Hebrews 8:12.

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember NO MORE.”

Therefore, he did not begin the work of making the atonement, whatever the nature of that work may be, till after his ascension, when by his own blood he entered his heavenly Sanctuary for us. Now put by the side of this text another on this point from his [Peter’s] discourse at the 9th hour of the same day, Ac. 3:19, “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.” Everyone can see that the blotting out of sins does not take place at repentance and conversion; but follows and must of necessity be preceded by them.

Let us pause here to go ahead and read Acts 3:19 from the King James Version of the Bible again so I can show you the true sound Biblical meaning of Acts 3:19 in the LIGHT of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. And then we will read Acts 3:19 from a few other translations that clearly teach us that the word “WHEN” in the KJV also means THAT and SO THAT or IN ORDER THAT.

Acts 3:19 from the King James Version.

“Repent you, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”

So then, the King James TRANSLATION makes it sound as IF our sins will NOT be blotted out UNTIL the coming of Jesus. At least that is how the SDA Church INTERPRETS Acts 3:19. Peter did not get to finish his sermon here in Acts chapter 3 before he was arrested in Acts chapter 4. But we know what Peter preaches by his words in 2 Peter 3:14.

2 Peter 3:14.

“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, (Speaking of the coming of Jesus) be diligent that you may be found of him IN PEACE, without spot, and blameless.”

So then, those of you who are SDA Christians, are you living in PEACE knowing that you ARE without any spot of sin and that you ARE blameless before God and His Son, Jesus? You should be! For you see, if you are a Christian, then right NOW there is NO CONDEMNATION to those of us who are IN Jesus Christ. Are you IN Jesus Christ? Are you obeying the Holy Spirit? If you sin do you repent and confess you sin? If you answer yes to these three questions then you ARE Holy even as our Father in heaven is Holy. You are not going to be made Holy and righteous someday in the future, you ARE made Holy and righteous by God right NOW if you are IN Jesus Christ resting in him as your Holiness.

Now let us read a few other translations of Acts 3:19 so you can see that the Greek word “hopos” translated as “when” in the KJV also means AND, THAT, SO THAT, FOR, THEN, and IN ORDER THAT. And even the New King James Version says SO THAT instead of when.

Acts 3:19 from the Bible in Basic English.

“So then, let your hearts be changed and be turned to God, so that your sins may be completely taken away, and times of blessing may come from the Lord;”

Acts 3:19 from the New International Version.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,”

Acts 3:19 from the Revised Standard Version

“Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,”

Acts 3:19 from the American Standard Version.

“Repent you therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that so there may come seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord;”

Acts 3:19 from the Holman Christians Standard Bible.

“Therefore repent and turn back, that your sins may be wiped out so that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,”

Acts 3:19 from the New King James Version.

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,”

Acts 3:19 from the Jubilee Bible 2000

“Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, for the times of refreshing of the presence of the Lord are come;”

Acts 3:19 from the New Century Version.

“So you must change your hearts and lives! Come back to God, and he will forgive your sins. Then the Lord will send the time of rest.”

Acts 3:19 from the New American Standard.

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;”

The Greek word “hopos” is a compound word and together the Greek words “ho” and “pos” mean how, so, that or so that IN THAT WAY of having your sins blotted out SO THAT times of refreshing may come to you. So the SDA Church argument for the blotting out of sin AT the coming of Jesus is based upon incorrect interpretations of the Scriptures. Let us move on to the next SDA Church argument for the core doctrine called the Investigative Judgment of Jesus in the Heavenly Sanctuary which they dogmatically insist BEGAN on October 22,1844 based SOLELY on the THEIR “interpretation” of Daniel 8:13 being taken OUT of its CONTEXT

Repentance, conversion, and baptism had then become imperative duties in the present tense; and when performed, those doing them “washed away” (Ac. 22:16,) remitted or sent away from them their sins. (Acts 2:28;) [(sic.) Acts 2:38] and of course are forgiven and have “received the atonement;” but they had not received it [the atonement] entire at that time, because their sins were not yet blotted out.…

Quoted from O.R.L Crosier in the Day Star Extra, See Knight, Rise of Sabbatarian Adventism, p. 126.

As you can see, the WHOLE doctrine is based upon ONE verse of Scripture, Acts 3:19 which you have just seen does NOT mean what the SDA Church has interpreted it to mean, by using ONLY the King James Version of the Bible. You can clearly see how the SDA Church cannot argue against other Scriptures like Acts 22:16 and Acts 2:38 that clearly teach us that we have ALREADY received the atonement for our sins. So they TRY to explain away every verse in the Bible by their quickly adding BUT, but, but, but you do not understand that we have NOT received the ENTIRE atonement for our sins BECAUSE Acts 3:19 teaches us WHEN our sins will be blotted out and that is not UNTIL the coming of Jesus.

Yes, we do understand that Ellen G. White and the SDA Church does not know how to interpret the Scriptures CORRECTLY. Let me show you an example of how they ABUSE the Scriptures by taking verses out of their context and twisting them to mean what they need them to mean. Notice that they give Acts 2:28 as their support to prove that we do not yet have the FULL forgiveness of sins.

Acts 2:28.

“You have made known to me the ways of life; You SHALL MAKE me FULL of joy WITH Your countenance.”

Countenance also means presence. So the SDA Church uses this verse of Scripture to mean that God SHALL MAKE the FULL blotting out of sin WITH the PRESENCE of God and THEN we can rejoice and be full of joy.

But this verse of Scripture is NOT speaking about us as Christians. Peter is quoting a prophecy about Jesus praying to God while he was in Hell saying to God the promise in that You O God will not leave my soul in Hell, You have made known to me the ways of life so I know that you will resurrect me and glorify me with Your glory just as you promised me with the JOY you set before me to endure the cross.

Let me remind you what Ellen G. White herself said which other leaders in the SDA Church confirm by openly admitting that the SDA Church could be WRONG.

Dr. Angel Rodriguez states.

“If this doctrine is wrong, there is no reason for us to exist…We are simply wrong.”

And Ellen G. White states.

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 230

“IF THE TESTIMONIES SPEAK NOT ACCORDING TO THIS WORD OF GOD, REJECT THEM. Christ and Belial cannot be united.”

Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 691

This is like saying that a Christian author has published many books and those Christian books were never designed to be additions to the canon of Scripture. NEVERTHELESS, you MUST receive and believe those books the SAME AS you receive and believe every book in the Bible.

NO! Every Christian knows or SHOULD know that we are never to blindly accept any Christian teaching. But rather, we are to search the Scriptures for ourselves to see if the teachings we are reading or listening to at church are in complete AGREEMENT with what the Bible ITSELF teaches us in simplicity with no interpretation needed.

So then, is Jesus up in heaven “investigating our every work so that he can judge whether or not we are worthy to have our sins blotted out at his coming?” NO! Not according to the Scriptures when they are correctly interpreted.

John 5:24.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall NOT come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

And all we have to do to RECEIVE eternal life in the world to come is to endure unto the end and to NOT depart from being IN Jesus Christ. And by walking after the Holy Spirit dwelling in us to walk in LOVE, then we FULFILL ALL the Law of God that Yahweh requires of us. And IF we sin we have God’s promise of complete assurance that if we confess our sins then he is always faithful and just to forgive us and CLEANSE us from ALL unrighteousness. If you have any doubts that you might have missed a sin that you did not specifically confess, then ask God to forgive you of ALL your sins and he is always faithful to forgive ALL your sins.

Concerning the sins of the unsaved, they are already condemned to perish, according to John 3:18, UNLESS they BELIEVE in Jesus.

John 3:18.

“He that believes on him is NOT CONDEMNED: but he that believes NOT is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

So the very moment we first BELIEVED we went DIRECTLY from once being condemned to now IN Christ NOT being condemned.

Again, the SDA doctrine of the Investigative Judgment of Jesus and the Cleansing of the Heavenly Sanctuary teaches that Jesus did NOT enter into the Holy of Holies in the heavenly sanctuary UNTIL October 22, 1844, the END of the 2300 days, according to SDA Church doctrine.

But the Bible ITSELF clearly teaches us in Hebrews 6:19,20 that Jesus has ALREADY ENTERED through the veil into the Holy of Holies in the heavenly sanctuary.

Also, read Hebrews 9:11-15.

“But Christ having come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but BY his own blood he ENTERED IN ONCE into the holy place, having OBTAINED eternal redemption for us.

13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh:

14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15. And for this cause he is the mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”

Now, clearly seeing that the Bible ITSELF teaches us that Jesus has ALREADY ENTERED into the Holy of Holies ONCE to PURGE our dead conscience from SIN then that means beyond any shadow of a doubt that Jesus did NOT enter in AGAIN on October 22, 1844 as the SDA Church CLAIMS.

Again, many if not most of the Adventist Christians simply accepted the FACT that the DATE of the coming of Jesus was an ERROR. But a few felt sure that the calculation of the ending of the 2300 days in Daniel 8:13 were accurate. So the CORE belief of the SDA Church is their INTERPRETATION of Daniel 8:13 as being the ONLY possible interpretation. So then, the entire SDA Church either stands or falls completely apart based on the INTERPRETATION of ONE verse of Scripture which they have TAKEN out of its CONTEXT.

I will end this study here and you can continue reading the study called Dd-67. DID the 2300 DAYS in DANIEL END in 1844? And also read the study J-34. A NEW LOOK at the 2300 DAYS in DANIEL! And if you are seeing from the Scriptures that the SDA Church doctrine of the Investigative Judgment of Jesus and the Heavenly Sanctuary is NOT a sound Biblical teaching but you would like to learn more concerning the SDA Church and other seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping church doctrines then please read all the studies under the heading >>>Dd-0. What is the TRUE Sabbath?<<<

Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to read ALL the studies that I gave links to throughout this study concerning this subject on Sabbath TRUTH.

My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century. So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.

To learn more TRUTH, then please return to

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If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me.

My contact email is MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail .com.

Some Sabbath-keeping Christians CLAIM that the early church kept the Sabbath as the Jews, but I assure you that the early first-century church was accustomed to gathering together BEFORE the light of daybreak on the FIRST day of the week that THEY called the Lord's day.

Please read all the studies linked within this study and all the studies linked below. This study was just the TIP of the iceberg of exposing the ERRORS of interpretation made by the Saturday seventh day of the week Sabbath-keeping churches, and the Sunday first day of the week Sabbath-keeping Christians. All of the studies listed under the subject heading >>>Dd-0. What is the TRUE Sabbath?<<< And also read Dd-20. Did The Early Church KEEP the Sabbath day to learn the truth of what the early church believed.

Thanks again for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the truth of the whole word of Almighty God.

Your Brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,

Brother Mark.

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Dd-68. Is the INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT BIBLICAL