JUDGEMENT TIME AND THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGMENT - ARE YOU READY?
PART 2/4
Who is our Advocate (Defense Attorney) in the Judgment of the professed Saints?
HEBREWS 9:24 [24], For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God [the Father] for us:
1 JOHN 2:1 [1], My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1 JOHN 2:2 [2], And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
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CONCLUSION: Jesus Christ is our Defense Attorney before God the Father.
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Who is the Accuser (Prosecuting Attorney) of the professed Saints?
REVELATION 12:9 [9], And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
REVELATION 12:10 [10], And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
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CONCLUSION: Satan is the Accuser (Prosecuting Attorney).
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How will evidence be given in the Judgment of the professed Saints?
DANIEL 7:10 ... the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Mal 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.
Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
EXODUS 32:33 [33], And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
HEBREWS 12:1 [1], Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
REVELATION 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
REVELATION 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
REVELATION 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
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CONCLUSION: The record books of heaven on the professed saints will be opened in evidence before the court: the Lamb's book of life, and the book of remembrance of their deeds in service to the Lord, faithfully recorded by witnessing angels. The book with 7 seals in Revelation chapters 5 thru 8 is the Lamb's book of life (Phil. 4:3, Rev. 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12,15, 21:27, 22:19). It is the
last will and testament of Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:14-17), the new covenant, that lists those who will inherit eternal life and the kingdom of God. When the reading of the Lamb's book of life ends, probation for humanity has come to a close, as all those who inherit have been identified.
God does not need to keep books for Himself, but rather they are kept for others who do not have His omniscience. These books are available to the heavenly hosts in the court for their
investigation, that they may know that God is just.
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What events follow the beginning of the Investigative Judgment of the professed people of God?
DANIEL 7:10 [10], ... the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
DANIEL 7:11 [11], I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
DANIEL 7:12 [12], As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
DANIEL 7:13 [13], I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
DANIEL 7:14 [14], And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
2 THESSOLINIANS 2:8 [8], And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
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CONCLUSION: In
Daniel 7 the destruction of the little horn power comes after the opening of the books for the judgment of the Saints. So the books are opened for investigation, and judgment begins before the Second Advent, which is when the little horn / antichrist will be consumed. This judgment then is rightly called a
Pre-advent Investigative Judgment. The kingdom parable of the wedding of the King's Son in Matt 22:1-13 illustrates this clearly when the King examines the wedding guests for the garment that He provided. Those not wearing the wedding garment are not permitted to attend the wedding supper, and are cast into outer darkness instead. This parable refers to the wedding supper of the Lamb, and the garment is Christ's righteousness, which is provided to those with faith. This examination, or judgment for fitness to attend the wedding supper, precedes the second coming, which is when the goats will be separated from the sheep.
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Is there a specific day set for the revelation of God's judgment?
ACT 17:31 [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.
ROMANS 2:5 [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;
ROMANS 2:16 [16], In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
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CONCLUSION: A day has indeed been appointed for the judgment of God to be revealed.
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When is that day of judgment, when the Saints of God are judged righteous and rewarded by inheriting the Kingdom of God forever?
MATTHEW 25:31 [31], When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
MATTHEW 25:32 [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:
MATTHEW 25:33 [33], And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
MATTHEW 25:34 [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:
JOHN 6:39 [39], And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
ACT 3:19 [19], 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;
ACT 3:20 [20], And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
2 TIMOTHY 4:1 [1], I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick [living] and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
REVELATION 11:18 [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 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.
REVELATION 14:6 [6], And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
REVELATION 14:7 [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; This warning that the hour of judgment is come; precedes the second coming, and warns those living that their judgment is underway, but will soon come to a close.
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CONCLUSION: The Saints will have been judged righteous
before the second coming of Jesus (Mat 25:31), which is when the righteous (sheep) and the wicked (goats) will be forever separated, and God's judgment revealed, and His true Saints rewarded with eternal life.
to be continued...