It's often asserted that Adventists build their belief of the Investigative Judgment on inconsequential information and on one misunderstood text.
But this is a straw man!
In reality, the Investigative Judgment is based on a broad understanding of scripture, and it is in agreement on an understanding of the Protestant gospel.

However, there is more than one way to understand the gospel within the broader scope of Protestantism ? There are several basic Biblical doctrines which determine how we understand the gospel which in turn determine our understanding of the Investigative Judgment -- indeed the Pre-Advent judgment is a logical and fully Biblical conclusion when those OTHER biblical doctrines are understood.

What are these beliefs that must first be understood before the Investigative Judgment becomes a logical conclusion, and necessary event in salvation's story?

1. The understanding of the great controversy between Christ and Satan (the dragon).
This includes the whole understanding of creation and the beginning of sin, Satan's enmity against God's commandments, yet accusing people as not savable sinners before God.
Revelation 12, Isaiah 14:12-15, Genesis 1-3, Zechariah 3, Matt, 4:1-11, Luke 10:18; Luke 22:31; Acts 26:18; Rev. 20:2; Ephesians 6:11-12

2. The understanding of freedom of choice. Arminianism not the Calvinism's concept of God's fixed predetermined predestination of who is to be saved and who is to be left unsaved.
We need to understand the Biblical call to all, whosoever will, may come.
Rev. 22:17, Mark 8:34; Joshua 24:15

3. Once saved is not necessarily always saved. The understanding that a person is free to turn away and stop following Christ even if at some point in their lives they accepted Him.
Luke 8:14, Heb.6:4-6; Heb. 10:26; 2 Peter 3:17, Matt. 7:21-22, Ez. 18:24

4. The understanding that the dead are really dead until the resurrection. No immortal soul. All are asleep in their graves having not yet received their "eternal rewards" .
Acts 2:35; 1 Thess 4:16-17; Eccl 9:5, Ps.146:3-4, Ps. 115:17, Rev. 11:18, Rev. 22:12


5. The understanding that God does judge.
Daniel 7:9-10; Heb 10:26-27; 1 Peter 4:17; Romans 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10; Eccl 3:17; Ez. 18:30-31; Acts 10:42; Romans 2:16; 2 Tim.4:1

Adventist doctrine of the Investigative Judgment is the natural outgrowth of the Arminian concept of people's choice as to whether they accept the offered salvation, as well as the doctrine of Soul Sleep.
Everything else in our study of the investigative judgment is useful in understanding the doctrine and its relevance. Once those doctrines are understood the pre-Adventist Judgment is seen as a logical part of the salvation process, and the doctrine does not rest solely on the usual arguments discussed.

The necessity for a - judgment stands or falls on how salvation itself is understood. The scope of the sin problem as it relates on a cosmic scale, the aspect of our choice to follow Christ faithfully and the Biblical concept of the dead asleep in their graves awaiting a resurrection all fit with an investigative judgment.

Since Adventists have a biblical foundation for these concepts, it is easy to understand the essential nature of the Investigative or Pre-Advent Judgment.

So if people agree on those point, other details supporting the IJ become relevant as well.
But if any of the five above points are denied, then the waters get more muddy.

So let's look at these five basic beliefs one by one.
How does understanding them lead us to acknowledge the need for a Pre-Advent Judgment?
How does denying them make accepting the Pre-Advent any issue?

First Belief
1. The understanding of the great controversy between Christ and Satan (the dragon).
The belief this world is involved in a huge controversy of cosmic proportions presents a far bigger picture of the whole salvation process. This includes the whole understanding of creation and the beginning of sin, Satan's enmity against God's commandments, and his accusations that people are not savable sinners before God.

Of course we should first of all establish people firmly in the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus our Savior, and there is much more concerning the gospel that is very important.

But even the most basic Christian beliefs are under attack as the first chapters of Genesis are cast aside or replaced with an evolution theistic counterfeit, and the great controversy theme is lost.

THE MAIN OBJECTION
When we hear people saying: "But God knows everything, He knows who has accepted Him and who has not, thus there is no need for an investigative judgment."

Those who argue that point -- well it is pretty safe to assume those people do not understand the great controversy issues.
They tend to see salvation as simply a matter between the individual and God and nothing/nobody else is concerned. Thus, as long as God knows (and He does know) why have a judgment at which a thousand million angels are present and the books are opened? (Daniel 7:9-10) And Jesus presents names to the Father and the angels as to whether they stay in the book of life or not (Rev. 3:5)

Col. 1:20 Having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Eph. 1:10 gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him

There was reconciliation needed in heaven as well. Satan was a mighty angel in heaven, he implanted doubts in the minds of the heavenly hosts, drew one third of the angels away from God, and they were all cast out of heaven with him. (Isaiah 14 and Rev. 12) Satan lied to Eve and coaxed her into rebelling against God. (Gen. 3) Humanity fell deep into sin. Could they be redeemed? Are they any safer to bring into heaven, than Lucifer/Satan was when he was cast out?


Christ, the Son of God, that One that was God and was with God,. John 1:1 came to this earth to redeem mankind. Yes, that's the very core of the gospel.
But Satan argues that we are all far to sinful to be saved. However, there is a cleansing fountain in Christ Jesus, and He will rebuke Satan's accusation and vindicate all who come to Christ for cleansing. (Zechariah 3, Ephesians 1:6-7)

When it's all over,
Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those in earth, and under the earth;
Rev. 19:1-2 I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous [are] his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

God has a purpose in letting sin manifest itself in the earth.
Many doubts were planted even in the minds of angels (and people) who remained faithful.
When this is all over everyone will have seen the enormity of Satan's lies, and in stark contrast ot the awesome glory, justice and love of the Savior.
Everyone, in heaven and on earth will praise the justice of God.
All doubts will be removed. Sin will completely have lost it's appeal and never rise again.

How could this be the result if people and angels were questioning God's judgment as to why He saved some and not others?
Judgment times -- to lay open the reason some are saved and some not, will reveal the awesome fairness, goodness, of God and forever settle the issue -- God is love, He is just, He is righteous and everything else that is good and holy.

The first point is understanding the Great Controversy Issues, which gives the big picture as to how the Investigative judgment fits in with the bigger picture of Christ bringing into unity not just people on earth, but all in heaven and on earth.. (Eph. 1:10; Col.1:16,20)

Second point

2. The understanding of freedom of choice. Adventists see the Arminian view that everyone has the choice to respond to Christ for salvation, we do not accept the Calvinism's concept of God's fixed, predetermined predestination of who is to be saved and who is to be left unsaved.
We need to understand the Biblical call to all, whosoever will, may come.
Christ died for ALL, the provisions for salvation is for all, the invitation to come is for all, but each individual has the choice to respond.



Calvinism, in it's more extreme form, leaves mankind no choice in whether they will be saved or lost. Their theory is that God predestined some to be redeemed. Those are the ones Christ died to save. The rest are left in their lost state. Since everyone is hopelessly trapped in sin, those who were chosen to be saved will be overwhelmed with an irresistible force of grace to come to Christ for salvation.
Those predestined to be lost, would be left in their carnal state, nothing they could do would change that, they are lost.

If there is no choice, then a judgment as to whose name is to be retained in the book of life, is pointless. It was all decided before we were even born.

Yet scripture speaks often of Christ coming to save everyone who would come to Him. His sacrifice is all sufficient to save every sinner, the only thing standing in the way of our salvation is our own rejection of His love and grace, and insisting on being our own gods.

When mankind is given freedom of choice then judgment is needed to differentiate between those who made a real choice, and those who just claimed the name but their hearts were unchanged.


If you are sharing the Pre-Advent judgment message with a Calvinist who believes in their version of pre-destination, you will hit a road block. At this juncture, the debate is not so much about the Investigative Judgment texts and details . Rather the problem is that they don't understand the Arminian concept of free choice, and salvation's availability for all, which is one of the Investigative Judgment's foundations.

The third belief which makes the belief in an Investigative Judgment a logical part of salvation.

3. Once saved is not necessarily always saved. Thus there is the understanding that a person is free to turn away and stop following Christ even if at some point in their lives they accepted Him.

The concept of once saved always saved, takes God's promises of salvation to all who believe and the abiding power of the Holy Spirit into the realm of removing the person's choice.

Now conversion is an important and powerful experience as a person accepts Christ it changes the whole direction of their life through the power of the Holy Spirit. There are many promises of God's keeping and transforming power. There is security in being in Christ and following Him. He doesn't just cast us off when we stumble, but picks us up and encourages us to walk closer with Him.
But it's still a personal choice. A person can still ignore or turn off the voice of the Holy Spirit and drift away, or even allow circumstances to turn them away from Christ in open rejection.
Living "in Christ" and being "filled with the Holy Spirit" includes a life of prayer and seeking to know Christ better; to be in daily relationship with Him and following Him in His paths of righteousness.

When it comes to the Investigative Judgment those who are strong believers in once saved always saved will dismiss it as taking away their "security" which in reality may be a presumptuous false security that their worldliness is OK since they once accepted Christ.

Some who believe in the "once saved always saved" will often admit that some Christians do "fall away" but their explanations is that "they were never really saved in the first place."

Here there is a possible meeting of ideas, as the Pre Advent judgment does reveal who is really saved, (that is -- they are in that saving relationship with Christ) and who isn't.
The difference is in thinking that once saved, some believe at that point it's forever settled. The concept that those who fall away were never really saved in the first place, actually takes away all assurance, as they would always worry if they they were really saved?
Thus the belief of free choice gives assurance, as we believe at the point of surrender to Christ we are in a saved condition. As long as our lives remain in that relationship with Christ and seek and worship Him, we are in that saved relationship, we are "in Christ". It's only when we separate ourselves from that relationship that we separate ourselves from the One Who saves. And that always remains our choice.

The doctrine of the Pre-Adventist Judgment is the natural continuation of the belief that God always gives us free choice. He desires a relationship freely given, never one that is programed or forced.

4. The understanding that the dead are really dead until the resurrection. No immortal soul. All are asleep in their graves having not yet received their "eternal rewards" .
This one is crucial to understand.
If people go to heaven as soon as they die -- why would there be a need for a Pre-Advent judgment?

But if there is a resurrection of all the saved at the second coming, and another resurrection of wicked after the 1000 years. It makes perfect sense that a list of the saved is finalized in the book of life, of all who will be raised in that resurrection!

I don't have much, if any, disagreement with what you said but I didn't see you address anything to do with the parable of the 10 virgins, Uriah Smith's comments on this parable of Jesus is the best explanation of it I have seen. It is better than Ellen White's, His article, titled Parable of the 10 Virgins, can be found in the APL. What caused me to read it is a sermon from Doug Batchelor in his Amazing Facts prophecy series, Panorama of Prophecy.

The point of this thread is mainly to point out why many Christian?s don?t see any need for a pre advent judgement. Even Uriah smiths explanation of the ten virgins won?t mean anything to them if they believe people go straight to heaven or hell when they die

I don't see hoe it can hurt as Jesus told the parable as He was telling His disciples what was coming in the last days. He interrupted His discourse on prophecy to tell both the parables of the 10 virgins and the talents,

It?s a good parable especially when studying with people who believe in the once saved always saved teaching.
Those ten virgins all had oil and light in the beginning. But five didn?t make it in the end their lights had gone out

I always use the following verses to help people see how the Investigative Judgement has to happen.

Matthew 25:32-34
King James Version
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

How can Christ separate the goats from the sheep and they inherit the kingdom if they have not been judged..