What Does Investigative Judgment Mean in the Bible? When Did It Begin?
For example, in Psalm 9:7-8, the psalmist writes, "The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity."
Investigative judgment is a concept that is central to the beliefs of many Christian denominations, particularly Seventh-day Adventists. The idea is that at some point in the future, God will judge every person who has ever lived to determine who will be saved and who will be lost. In this blog post, we will explore the concept of investigative judgment, its biblical origins, and when it is believed to have begun.
Introduction to Investigative Judgment
The belief is that God is currently reviewing the lives of every person who has ever lived to determine their ultimate fate. This judgment is said to be based on each person's faithfulness to God's commandments and the choices they have made throughout their lives. Those who are deemed worthy will be saved and receive eternal life, while those who are found wanting will be lost.
Biblical Origins of Investigative Judgment
The concept of investigative judgment is based on several biblical passages, including Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 and Revelation 14:6-7. These passages describe a heavenly judgment scene in which God sits on a throne and reviews the lives of those who have lived on earth. In Daniel 7, the prophet describes a vision of God sitting on a throne with "books" being opened before him. He notes that "the court was seated, and the books were opened" (Daniel 7:10). In Revelation 14, an angel is seen proclaiming the "eternal gospel" and announcing that "the hour of his judgment has come" (Revelation 14:6-7).
The concept of investigative judgment is also based on the idea that the Bible is a book of judgment. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, there are many references to God judging the actions of individuals and nations. For example, in Psalm 9:7-8, the psalmist writes, "The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity."
When Did Investigative Judgment Begin?
The question of when investigative judgment began is a matter of debate among theologians. Some believe that it began at the time of Christ's ascension, while others believe it began in 1844. Seventh-day Adventists, in particular, believe that investigative judgment began on October 22, 1844. This date is significant because it was the day that William Miller, a Baptist preacher, predicted that Christ would return to earth. When Christ did not return, many of Miller's followers were disillusioned and began to search for a new interpretation of the Bible.
One of those followers was a woman named Ellen G. White, who became one of the founding members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. White claimed to have a vision in which she saw Christ entering the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary to begin the process of investigative judgment. This vision became the basis for the Seventh-day Adventist belief in investigative judgment.