Chapter One: What is the Investigative Judgement?

Teachings about Daniel 8:14 are the pillars on which Seventh-day Adventism is built.  Without this teaching there would have been no Adventist church.  It is interesting to note that since the Glacier View Sanctuary Review Conference in 1980 and Desmond Ford’s presentation, many Adventist theologians, scholars and pastors have ceased to believe in or preach this doctrine.  An Adventist pastor from one of the largest Adventist churches recently told me “None of the staff believes that crap anymore.” Sorry for the slang, but that is an exact quote.

Before diving into some of the history, here is a recap of the teaching for those of you who are a bit fuzzy on the doctrine. When Christ failed to return to Earth on October 22, 1844, the group led by Ellen White was not ready to admit they were in error. Conveniently, “Hiram Edson had a ‘vision’ which took place in a cornfield on October 23, 1844, revealing that Jesus, instead of appearing for his second coming, had entered the Most Holy Place of the heavenly sanctuary to begin a work of judgment, as previously explained in the prophecy of 2300 days. This vision, shared with other Millerites, led to a shift in understanding of the 2300-day prophecy and the role of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary.” Lineage Journey

Here's a more detailed look at the vision:

The Setting:

“Edson and a group of Millerites, who were awaiting the Second Coming, gathered on Edson's farm near Port Gibson, New York, after the Great Disappointment of 1844. Wikipedia

The Vision:

“Edson had a vision where he saw Jesus, not coming to earth, but entering the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary.” Adventist Pioneer Library

The Impact:

“This vision, along with subsequent studies by Edson and his friends, led to a reinterpretation of the 2300-day prophecy. They began to believe that the prophecy did not refer to the Second Coming but to a work of judgment that Christ would begin in the heavenly sanctuary, which is known as the "investigative judgment.” Wikipedia

The 2300 Day Prophecy in Daniel 8:14  reads: “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”

Further Development:

Edson, O.R.L. Crosier, and Franklin B. Hahn, along with other early Adventist leaders, developed a fuller understanding of the sanctuary and its role in the prophetic timeline. Their findings were published in a paper called The Day Dawn, which explored the concept of the sanctuary and Christ's work there.” Lineage Journey

Here is the timeline they had worked out based on the day equals a year principle. They determined that the prophecy began in 457 BC based on their interpretation of Dan. 9:24-27.

Influence on Adventism:

“This vision and its subsequent development played a crucial role in the early development of Seventh-day Adventism, particularly in the understanding of the sanctuary, judgment, and Christ's role in the heavenly sanctuary, according to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.” Wikipedia

So, on October 22, 1844, Christ, who had been in the Holy section of the Heavenly Sanctuary, moved into the Most Holy apartment to begin going over the books of all who had lived on Earth from the beginning of time. The purpose was to investigate whether or not they had confessed and repented of every sin before dying. If any sins remained on the books, they were deemed lost. If they had, in fact, confessed and repented of all of their sins, they would be put into the saved category. At some point, Jesus would move to the living. Once He reviews their cases, their fates are sealed and their “probation” is closed. Once Jesus has gone over the books of all living humans, probation is closed for all humanity and no one can change camps.

It is this fearful teaching that leads so many Adventists to be uncertain of their salvation. It is for this reason that Ellen White stated that, “We are never to rest in a satisfied condition, and cease to make advancement, saying, “I am saved.” When this idea is entertained, the motives for watchfulness, for prayers, for earnest endeavor to press onward to higher attainments, cease to exist. No sanctified tongue will be found uttering these words till Christ shall come, and we enter in through the gates into the city of God. Then, with the utmost propriety, we may give glory to God and to the Lamb for eternal deliverance. As long as man is full of weakness—for of himself he cannot save his soul—he should never dare to say, “I am saved.” Selected Messages, Vol. 1, p. 314

In case anyone reading this study still believes that and has doubts about your salvation, I feel that I must share a few scriptures which soundly refute that teaching.

 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.” John 6:47

“that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:15, 16

“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Rom 10:13

This teaching of the Investigative Judgment, of course, also necessitated the related doctrine of soul sleep. This is dealt with in great depth in the study on Spirit. But one could not have people going to be with God or to Hades immediately upon death if Jesus was still in the Most Holy Place deciding their fate. Hence, they took scripture our of context to teach that upon death, people go into a state of suspended animation until the Second Coming.

Most Adventist ministers have stopped preaching the Investigative Judgement doctrine but are not able to be forthright in their denunciation of the teaching for fear of being fired and placed in the unenviable camp of dissenters. They have, however, clung to the doctrines of soul sleep and Saturday Sabbath. What does one do with this kind of schizophrenia? 

Most, if not all, of the other Adventist distinctives are tied in with the sanctuary teaching, investigative judgment, or 1844 movement in some way.  Take, for instance, the Sabbath.   Review the quotation given in Chapter Three  entitled “Isolation From the Body of Christ” taken from A Word to the Little Flock.  In it, and many other writings, the three angel’s messages are defined in light of the investigative judgment.  Angel #1: The pronouncement that the time for the “investigative” judgment has come;  Angel #2: The churches who do not heed the warning to come into agreement with the doctrine of the investigative judgment and change from going to church on Sunday to keeping the Sabbath (Saturday) were dubbed “the fallen churches of Babylon”; Angel #3: As the fallen protestant churches (all other churches but Adventists) become settled in their refusal to accept those teachings, they receive the mark of the beast. And it is made clear that the judgment will be based keeping the ten commandments with the fourth commandment shining brightest of all. 

Nowhere in that “vision” or elsewhere is the teaching that those who believe in Jesus Christ will be saved by that faith alone.  “After Jesus opened the door of the most Holy the light of the Sabbath was seen, and the people of God were to be tested and proved, as God proved the children of Israel anciently, to see if they would keep his law.” Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, p. 164.

Even the movement toward the teaching of righteousness by faith in 1888 did not cause the denomination, then or now, to renounce the blasphemous revision of Daniel 8:14   Until recently the only text I knew as the base for the October 22, 1844 date was Daniel 8:14.