A) HUMAN ACCOUNTABILITY.

B) TO THE CONCEPT THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT.

C) OTHER THAN THE VERSES GIVEN, LET’S PROVE IT BIBLICALLY.

 

 

A) HUMAN ACCOUNTABILITY

 

 

Let’s get something straight before people argue about this doctrine; which argument is that why have this Investigative Judgment since God knows everything.  Please discover and remember the principle set forth in Revelation 15:4, that this Investigative Judgment is not for God to know or learn something.  It is for the cosmos of beings, including ourselves, to know that God will “have shown that You [God} judge with fairness.”  Compare with Revelation 16:5 (Isa. 26:9).  Plus, according to Malachi 3:16, the “Book of Remembrance” was “written. . . for them that feared the LORD.”  Obviously, not for God’s knowledge.

 

In some of His parables, Christ illustrates the principle of human accountability at the final judgment.  For examples, in the Book of Matthew, three parables are given following the Olivet Discourse (Matthew, Chapter 24) which illustrate areas of accountability.  These are, in the parable of the “Ten Virgins,” the emphasis is on the accountability for ourspiritual preparation (Matthew 25:1-13).  In the parable of the “Talents,” the area of accountability is the stewardship of our resources, such as time, money, and skills (Matthew 25:14-30).  In the parable of the “Sheep and Goats,” the area of accountability is our social responsibility toward the needs of others (Matthew 25:31-46).

 

“Common Sense” tells us that it must be decided who will go to Heaven and who will not.  That in-and-of-itself, tells us that some type of “Investigation” must be going on in order to come to a decision from that judgement.  And what would be the purpose of a “Recording Angel” (Job 16:19; Psa. 56:8; Mal. 3:16; and more), if not needed?  Consider other verses (Deu. 30:19; 31:28; 1Sa. 12:5; Ecc. 12:14; Dan. 7:10; Mat. 12:36; Rom. 1:9; 2Co. 1:23; Php. 1:8; 1Th. 2:5; 1Jo. 5:7; Rev. 20:12).

 

Lastly, by what standard are people judged?  By the Law of God (Rom. 2:12).

 

 

B) TO THE CONCEPT THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT

 

 

Genesis 18:25:  “That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked:  and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from Thee:  Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

And Deuteronomy 25:1:  “If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.”

And Deuteronomy 32:36:  “For the LORD shall judge His people, and repent Himself for His servants, when He seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.”

And First Kings 8:32:  “Then hear Thou in Heaven, and do, and judge Thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.”

And Psalm 7:9:  “Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth [“H974; bachan,” meaning, “proves; examine; scrutinize; to make a trial; figuratively to INVESTIGATE”] the hearts and reins.”

And Psalm 7:11:  “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.”

And Psalm 9:8:  “And He shall judge the world in righteousness, He shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.”

And Psalm 11:4-5:  “[4] The LORD is in His holy Temple, the LORD’S throne is in Heaven:  His eyes behold, his eyelids try [“H974; bachan,” “figuratively to INVESTIGATE”], the children of men. [5] The LORD trieth [H974] the righteous:  but the wicked and him that loveth violence His soul hateth.”

And Psalm 17:2-3:  “[2] Let my sentence [judgment] come forth from Thy presence; let Thine eyes behold the things that are equal. [3] Thou hast proved [H974; “bachan,” meaning, “figuratively to INVESTIGATE; to test; examine; prove; try”] mine heart; Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried [“H6884; tsâraph,” meaning, “to refine; test; make pure] me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.”

And Psalm 26:1-2:  “[1] Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity:  I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. [2] Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.”

And Psalm 37:33:  “The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.”

And Psalm 51:4:  “ Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight:  that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest, and be clear when Thou judgest.”

And Psalm 69:28:  “Let them be blotted out of the Book of the Living, and not be written with the righteous.”

And Psalm 76:8-9:  “[8] Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from Heaven; the earth feared, and was still, [9] When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth.  Selah.”

And Psalm 89:14:  “Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne:  mercy and truth shall go before Thy face.”

And Psalm 96:13:  “Before the LORD: for He Cometh, for He Cometh to judge the earth:  He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.”

And Psalm 98:9:  “Before the LORD; for He Cometh to judge the earth:  with righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity.”

And Psalm 139:23:  “Search [H2713; “chaqar,” meaning, “search out, examine, INVESTIGATE”] me, O God, and know my heart:  try [H974; “bachan,” meaning, “to INVESTIGATE; to test; examine, prove, try”] me, and know my thoughts.”

And Ecclesiastes 3:17:  “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.”

And Ecclesiastes 12:14:  “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

And Isaiah 3:14:  “The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of His people, and the princes thereof:  for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.”

Note:  This actually takes place during the millennium.  See my Bible Study:  “MILLENNIUM, THE.”

And Jeremiah 11:20:  “But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest [H974; “bachan,” meaning, “to INVESTIGATE; to test; examine, prove, try”] the reins and the heart, let me see Thy vengeance on them:  for unto Thee have I revealed my cause.”

And Jeremiah 12:1:  “Righteous art Thou, O LORD, when I plead with Thee:  yet let me talk with Thee of Thy judgments:  Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?”

And Daniel 5:27:  “TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”

And Daniel 7:9-10:  “[9] I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit [upon the judgment seat], Whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool:  His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire. [10] A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him:  thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him:  [NOTICE this next line] the judgment was set, and the books were opened [The Recording Angel’s Books which will now be INVESTIGATED from].”

And Daniel 7:22:  “Until the Ancient of days Came, and judgment was given to [in favor of] the saints of the most High [This Investigative Judgment is in favor of the righteous; because]; and the time came that the saints possessed the Kingdom.”

And Malachi 3:5:  “And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against. . .”

And Malachi 3:16:  “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another:  and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a Book of Remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His Name.”

Note:  Who is this “Book” for?  “For them that feared the LORD.”  The Investigative Judgment is not for God; but for those who want to know why so-and-so is, or isn’t, in Heaven.

And Malachi 3:18:  “Then shall ye [the righteous] return, and discern [Hebrew “H7200; ra’ah,” meaning, “discern; perceive; determine; consider; learn about; distinguish; figuratively, to INVESTIGATE] between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not.”

 

And Matthew 12:36-37:  “(36) But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (37) For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned [“G2613; katadidazo,” meaning, “condemn; to give judgment against.”].”

Note:  This would be at the “Sentencing Judgement.”  This is not the “Investigative Judgment,” but the results of it.

And Matthew 16:27:  “For the Son of Man shall Come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works.”

And Luke 18:8:  “I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless when the Son of Man Cometh, shall He find [“Greek; heurisko;” meaning, “find; find out; to detect; discover; acquire (knowledge); obtain; gain (information); comprehend; observe; gather (information); search out; seek after; examine; figuratively to INVESTIGATE] faith on the earth?”

And Luke 20:35:  “But they which shall be accounted worthy [through an INVESTIGATIVE Judgment] to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage.”

Note:  Based upon the recording angels notes during the Investigative Judgment.

And Luke 21:36:  “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

Note:  The Greek for “accounted worthy” is, “G2661; from G2596 and G515; “kataxioo,” meaning, “to deem entirely deserving; to account (as) worthy.”  According to Moulton and Milligan this Greek word does not mean to “make worthy,” but to “count worthy.”

Note:  Or better, Accounted worthy enough to be able “to stand” before God.

And John 3:19:  “And this is the condemnation [“G2920; krisis,” meaning, “judgment”], that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

And John 5:22:  “For the Father judgeth [“G2919; krino,” meaning, “determine; condemn; sentence; judge; decide”] no man, but hath committed all judgment [“G2920; krisis,” meaning, “damnation judgment”] unto the Son.”

Note:  This is not the Investigative Judgment; this is the Sentencing Judgment; based upon the results of the Investigative Judgment.

And John 12:31:  “Now is the judgment of this world:  now shall the prince of this world be cast out.”

And Acts 17:31:  “Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man Whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead.”

And Acts 24:25:  “And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.”

Note:  Paul tells us that the hour of “judgment” is “to come;” whereas John tells us that “the hour of His judgment is come,” in Revelation 14:7.

And Romans 2:5:  “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”

And Romans 2:16:  “In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”  See John 5:22.

And Romans 3:4:  “God forbid:  yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written,  That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

Note:  Paul is quoting Psalm 51:4.

And Romans 14:10:  “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”. See John 5:22.

And First Corinthians 4:4:  “For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified:  but He that judgeth [Greek; G350; “anakrino;” meaning, “INVESTIGATES; interrogates; judges”] me is the Lord.”

And Second Corinthians 5:10:  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

And Second Thessalonians 1:5:  “Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer.”

And Hebrews 10:30:  “And again, the Lord shall judge His people.”

NOTE:  Paul is quoting Deuteronomy 32:36.

And James 2:12-13:  “[12] So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the Law of Liberty [which is the Ten Commandments]. [13] For He shall have judgment without mercy that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”

And First Peter 1:17:  “And if ye call on the Father, Who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning [future tense] here in fear.”

And First Peter 4:17:  “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:  and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

And First John 4:17:  “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment:  because as He is, so are we in this world.”

And Revelation 2:23:  “And I will kill her children with death; and all the Churches shall know that I Am He which searcheth [Greek; G2045; “ereunao;” meaning, “to search out; figuratively to INVESTIGATE”] the reins and hearts:  and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.”

And Revelation 11:18:  “And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward [based upon the INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT] unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy Name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.”

NOTE:  Continuing on to Verse 19, we learn that the “Investigative Judgement” takes place in the Most Holy Place,” where “the Ark of His Testament” is.  And that fact teaches us that we will be judged by what is in the “Ark of His Testament,” which is the Ten Commandments.

And Revelation 14:7:  “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.”

Note:  Notice that this takes place before the Second Coming, which means that an INVESTIGATION took place prior to this futuristic event.  Also notice that verse 6 tells us that “the everlasting gospel [still needed at this point; is] to [be] preach[ed] unto them that dwell on the earth.”

And Revelation 15:4:  “Who shall not fear Thee, O Lord, and glorify Thy Name: for Thou only art holy:  for all nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest.”

Note:  “made manifest” not for God to learn something.  But for the Cosmos to affirm that God’s evaluations are just.  And if we continue on to verse 5, we can see that God’s judgments are based upon adherence to the “testimony in Heaven;” which is the Ten Commandments.

And Revelation 22:12:  “And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

Note:  Based upon the “Investigative Judgment” that took place prior to this.  The purpose for this Investigation is to warn you and win you over (see Psa. 76:8-9; Dan. 7:22; 1Jo. 4:17), and not to condemn you.  You condemn yourself by not adhering to the eternal requirements for living forever.

 

AND MANY MORE.

 

The fact that God already knows who are His (John 10:14; 2Ti. 2:19), shows us that this judgment is not for God, but for later justification to the universe (us) as to why someone is or isn’t in Heaven for eternity.  To reason differently is to assume the false doctrine of Predestination/Election.  See my Bible Studies:  “CALVINISM” and “ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SALVED.”

 

 

C) OTHER THAN THE VERSES GIVEN, LET’S PROVE IT BIBLICALLY

 

 

Keep in mind that this judgment is not to inform our Omnipotent, i.e., all-knowing God; but rather, to justify to all of the intelligences that will later go over the Books to see why someone is not in Heaven, or why someone is.  Rather, it is to justify/vindicate or Lord’s choices for who is ultimately saved or lost.

 

To prove Biblically that there is an “Investigative Judgment,” let’s read Daniel 7:10:  “A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him:  thousand thousands ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him:  the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”  WHEN?  Please discover Genesis 16:13; Second Chronicles 16:9; Job 31:4; 34:21; PSALM 7:9 & 11; 44:21; 139:1-3; Proverbs 5:21; 15:3; Jeremiah 16:17; 32:19; Zechariah 4:10; Romans 2:5; Hebrews 4:13; Revelation 15:4; 20:4.  And many others.

 

These verses presuppose that some prior process of “Investigative Judgment” is to take place before the Second Coming of Christ.  And according to Isaiah 40:10; 62:11; Matthew 16:27; Revelation 22:12; and many others, when Jesus Christ Comes the Second Time, “His reward is with Him.”  This also indicates that a prior judgment has taken place in order to decide who it is that will receive the/a “reward” and inhabit Heaven Itself, and who will not.  You cannot “give to every man according to his works,” Revelation 22:12, unless you have prejudged what that “reward” entails.

 

From 4SP:266:  “The cleansing of the Sanctuary therefore involves a work of Investigative Judgement.  This work must be performed prior to the Coming of Christ to redeem His people; for when He Comes, His reward is with Him to give to every man according to his works [Revelation 22:12].”

 

In Matthew 13:30, we notice that the reapers are simply told:  “Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them:  but gather the wheat into My barn.”  There will be no need for the angels to ascertain which person is “wheat” and which is a weed (“tare”), because by harvest time (Second Coming) the distinction between the two has already been established, by a prior “Investigative Judgment.”

 

In Matthew 13:47-49, our Lord speaks of separating out of the net the good fish from the bad.  Here is verse 49:  “the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.”  In order to do this, there must first have been an evaluation (“Investigative Judgment”) of who it was that was a good fish and who was not.

 

From GC:428 we read:  “In the parable of Matthew 22 the same figure of the marriage is introduced, and the investigative judgment is clearly represented as taking place before the marriage.  Previous to the wedding the king comes in to see the guests, to see if all are attired in the wedding garment, the spotless robe of character washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.  Matthew 22:11; Revelation 7:14.  He who is found wanting is cast out, but all who upon examination are seen to have the wedding garment on are accepted of God and accounted worthy of a share in His kingdom and a seat upon His throne.  This work of examination {the “Investigative Judgement”} of character, of determining who are prepared for the kingdom of God, is that of the Investigative Judgment, the closing of work in the Sanctuary above.”

 

Also, when Jesus is speaking of the day of “the Coming of the Son of man,” in Matthew 24:40-41, He states: “[40] Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. [41] Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”  The sudden separation between the saved and the unsaved presupposes a previous determination (“Investigative Judgment”) of their respective destinies.  The Advent separation (“Investigative Judgment”) is also compared by Christ to a shepherd who “separates the sheep from the goats,” as depicted in Matthew 25:32-33, by placing the former at the right hand and the latter at the left.

 

Before there can be a “Sentencing Judgment” of any kind, there first must have been an “Investigative Judgment.”  “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Second Corinthians 5:10.  

 

Note:  This actually takes place during the millennium.  See my Bible Study:  “MILLENNIUM, THE.”  “To execute upon them the judgment written [previously via the “Investigative Judgment”]:  this honour have all His saints.  Praise ye the Lord,” Psalm 149:9.

 

Notice also that the people are “judged out of those things which were written in the Books,” Revelation 20:12, which is a CLEAR indication that “the Books were opened,” “ibid,” and an “Investigative Judgment” had already been made “out of those things which were written in the Books,” “ibid.”  And now a “Sentencing Judgement” can take place, then the “Execution” of that judgement, i.e., the “Executive Judgement.”

 

Another interesting fact is that in order to have your name “written in the Book of Life,” Revelation 20:15, you must have at some point lived a righteous life and professed Jesus Christ as your Lord.  Thus, to have your name “be blotted out of the Book of the Living,” Psalm 69:28 (see also Exodus 32:32; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 20:15; and especially Revelation 3:5), indicates that there was some prior investigation (the “Investigative Judgement”) going on in order for that name to be obliterated from the Book.

 

Let’s look at the process in order using the old west style.  A man is accused of being a horse thief.  An INVESTIGATION is made.  He is found (based upon the “Investigative Judgment”) to have stolen the horse.  He is sentenced (“Sentencing Judgment”) to hang.  Then he is hanged (“Executive Judgment”).

 

In a side note, When Aaron put on the “Breastplate” which has the twelve stones which depict the 12 tribes of Israel, and has the Urim and Thummim attached on each shoulder, it is referenced as the “Breastplate of Judgment.”  Therefore, “judgment” of one’s character is always taking place and will culminate in the judgment that decides who will dwell in Heaven and who will not.