John, please quote where the SOP agrees with your ideas regarding the IJ of the dead and the living.

Tom, I believe knowing about the sanctuary message makes it possible for people to exercise faith, especially if they are among those who are alive when their case comes before God, because knowing what is happening to them while their sins are being scrutinized enables them to trust Jesus with the outcome. The IJ of the living will be a very powerful experience, taxing their faith and endurance to the max.

How does knowing one's sins are being scrutinized help one to have faith in Jesus? Why is this knowledge essential to the faith necessary in the end?

It seems to me that the necessary faith would more likely have something to do with God's character, rather than with our sin's being scrutinized. Does that make sense to you?

Tom, Sister White describes the experience of the living during the IJ judgment of the living in 5T 472-476. Read it and then share your thoughts. It starts off like this:

"Zechariah's vision of Joshua and the Angel applies with peculiar force to the experience of God's people in the closing up of the great day of atonement."

John, in the SOP quotes posted above Sister White plainly says the IJ judgment of the dead didn't begin until 1844. Obviously, therefore, it didn't happen while they were alive. She also makes it clear that the purpose of the IJ is to examine the thoughts, words, motives, and deeds of those who have ever professed faith in God, and this is done to demonstrate to all those concerned (i.e., citizens of God's unfallen universe) whether or not they are worthy of eternal life. Given the purpose of the IJ it cannot possibly happen before they die, or in the case of the final generation it cannot happen before they demonstrate their loyalty during the MOB crisis.

The bible tells us when the "blotting out" of sins takes place.... During the Times of refreshing....Latter rain.

The Great Controversy---The Final Warning
-PG- 611

The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the
former rain at the opening of the gospel are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close. Here are "the times of refreshing" to which the apostle Peter looked forward when he
said: "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; and He shall send Jesus."
Acts 3:19, 20.

The Great Controversy--- Facing Life's Record
-PG- 485

The work of the investigative judgment and the blotting out of sins is to be accomplished before the second advent of the Lord. Since the dead are to be judged out of the things written in the books, it is impossible that the sins of men should be blotted out until after the judgment at which their cases are to be investigated. But the apostle Peter distinctly
states that the sins of believers will be blotted out "when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus Christ." Acts 3:19, 20. When the investigative judgment closes, Christ will come, and His reward will be with Him to give to every man as his work shall be."

Note:
The sins are not blotted out until the ij is completed and the sanctuary cleansed by putting the confesed sins of the saints on Satan/scape goat that is bound for the thousand years.

- The Great Controversy [1888 edition]--Desolation of the Earth -PG- 657

"Now the event takes place, foreshadowed in the last solemn service of the day of atonement. When the ministration in the holy of holies had been completed, and the sins of Israel had been removed from the sanctuary by virtue of the blood of the sin-offering, then the scape-goat was presented alive before the Lord; and in presence of the congregation of high priest confessed over him "all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat."[1 LEV. 16:21.] In like manner, when the work of atonement in the heavenly sanctuary has been completed, then in the presence of God and heavenly angels, and the host of the redeemed, the sins of God's people will be placed upon Satan; he will be declared guilty of all the evil which he has caused them to commit. And as the scape-goat was sent away into a land not inhabited, so Satan will be banished to the desolate earth, an uninhabited and dreary
wilderness."


I didn't read the entire thread so i hope this is not a repeat of what has already been posted.

Greetings,

The investigative judgment:

Christ is examining the hearts of mankind according to our knowledge reveiled to us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This began in 1844. The dead in Christ Jesus were judged first and then the living began.

The blotting out of sins is also referred to as the sealing of God's people.

At the time appointed for the Judgment--the close of the 2300 days, in 1844--began the work of investigation and blotting out of sins. All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass its searching scrutiny. Both the living and the dead are to be judged "out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."
The Great Controversy 486.1.(1888)


At the time appointed for the judgment--the close of the 2300 days, in 1844--began the work of investigation and blotting out of sins. All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass its searching scrutiny. Both the living and the dead are to be judged "out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Great Controversy, 486.1.(1911)

Biblically, how do I know that Mrs. White is honest here?

Revelation
14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
14:13 "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed [are] the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them."

I would like you to visit this link and read this letter from WC White.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sdareformmovement/message/154

And Brother Mike, the understanding of afflicting our souls:

Men of courage are wanted now; men who will venture something for the truth's sake; men who will be sober, but not gloomy and desponding; men who will watch unto prayer, and whose prayers will be mingled with living, active faith. We may be cheerful and even joyful. Even under temptation, our language may be that of faith and hope and courage. But no lightness, no trifling, should be indulged in; no low witticism should escape our lips, for these things give Satan great advantage. And we are living in the solemn hour of the Judgment, when we should afflict our souls, confess our errors, repent of our sins, and pray for one another that we may be healed. Gospel Worker {GW92 436.2} Gospel Workers, 436.2.

The tenth day of the seventh month was the day of atonement. (Lev. 23:27) It was regarded as more sacred than any other day in the yearly round of service. It was a ceremonial sabbath and a fast day. (Lev. 23:30) The Israelite who did not afflict his soul upon that day was cut off from among the people. (Lev. 23:28-30) So sacred is the day regarded, even at the present time, that although the Jews have rejected Christ and few have any regard for the Sabbath, yet when the tenth day of the seventh month comes, no Jew will do any business or work upon that day! The Cross and Its Shadow, page 209.1.

Thank you,
Your Sister in Christ Jesus,
Cheri Fritz