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While Seventh-day Adventists hold a number of distinctive doctrines only one of the fundamental beliefs of Seventh-day Advenstists is unique to that denomination. This is the the teaching of the investigative judgment beginning in 1844. Here is the fundamental belief statement:
https://szu.adventist.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/28_Beliefs.pdf
Christ’s Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary
There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle that the Lord set up and not humans. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. At His ascension, He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and, began His intercessory ministry, which was typified by the work of the high priest in the holy place of the earthly sanctuary. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry, which was typified by the work of the high priest in the most holy place of the earthly sanctuary. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Advent. (Lev. 16; Num. 14:34; Ezek. 4:6; Dan. 7:9-27; 8:13, 14; 9:24-27; Heb. 1:3; 2:16, 17; 4:14-16; 8:1-5; 9:11-28; 10:19-22; Rev. 8:3-5; 11:19; 14:6, 7; 20:12; 14:12; 22:11, 12.)
This is an invitation to examine this doctrine, and see why Adventists believe it.
I would invite Adventists to explain, step-by-step, from the Bible how they reach the conclusions above, and especially how they get the date 1844 for Jesus entering the Most Holy Place from the 2,300 day prophecy.
The rest of us can then examine this and see if this unique Adventist teaching is biblical.
End of original post.
-----------
EDIT
In consultation with Bob I am including a link for those who are already familiar with the doctrine to jump right to the discussion of the details:
Per Bob's request I am placing links here to key arguments:
Tall73:
There is an investigative judgment of professed believers in God, but it is not in absentia as Adventists indicate, but is before the judgment seat of Christ, in person, at Jesus' coming.
Click Here
Adventists have changed the type regarding the work of the high priest in the sanctuary on the Day of Atonement, from application of blood to investigation of books.
Click Here
The sin offering does not transfer sin to the sanctuary as Adventists claim, but makes atonement in the holy place
Part 1
Click Here
Part 2
Click Here
Daniel 7 does not show an investigative judgment of individual professed believers
Click Here
Daniel 8 points to cleansing from the activity of the little horn, not the Day of Atonement cleansing.
Click Here
The claimed start of the 2,300 day prophecy in 457 BC is not supported
Click Here
Jesus already completed the activity which the high priest undertook in the sanctuary on the Day of Atonement in the first century, long before 1844.
Click Here
Jesus completed all of the various blood ministrations for every sacrifice or appointed time in the law. He then ministers as High Priest on the basis of that completed blood ministration.
Click Here
Hebrews 9:25 references the day of Atonement.... high priest, yearly, with blood
Click Here
Response to Bob's claim that only the inauguration is in view with the cleansing of Hebrews chapter 9:
Click Here
Response to Bob's arguments regarding the meaning of the word "offer" in Hebrews 9:25
Click Here
A response to Bob's argument that Jews recognize the Day of Atonement as judgment
Click Here
BobRyan:
1. Differences and similarities regarding Heb 9 #103 #114 #107
2. Transfer of sin from sinner to sanctuary in Leviticus - #88 #48
3. Start point for the vision in the Dan 8 and Dan 9 vision - #84
4. Sin offerings "offered up in smoke" on the altar - #139 #90
5. Dan 7 shows investigative judgment (out of books) of individuals #147
6. Saints are not physically in heaven for this pre-advent judgment #4
7. The Day of Atonement is accepted even by Jews as "day of judgment" #54
8. "Cleansing" refers to cleansing from sin #88
"18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it; he shall take some of the blood from the bull and some of the blood from the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar on all sides. 19 With his finger he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it seven times and cleanse it, and consecrate it from the impurities of the sons of Israel."
9. Dan 8 cleansing of the sanctuary that restores/justifies/identifies the position of the saints (Judgment passed in favor of the saints) - vs- the second coming that ends the work of the Little Horn of Dan 7 and 8 - #34
10. First Christ offered the sin offering on the cross “bearing the sins of many” – then he sat down to do the work of High Priest in heaven. #86
https://szu.adventist.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/28_Beliefs.pdf
Christ’s Ministry in the Heavenly Sanctuary
There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle that the Lord set up and not humans. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. At His ascension, He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and, began His intercessory ministry, which was typified by the work of the high priest in the holy place of the earthly sanctuary. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry, which was typified by the work of the high priest in the most holy place of the earthly sanctuary. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Advent. (Lev. 16; Num. 14:34; Ezek. 4:6; Dan. 7:9-27; 8:13, 14; 9:24-27; Heb. 1:3; 2:16, 17; 4:14-16; 8:1-5; 9:11-28; 10:19-22; Rev. 8:3-5; 11:19; 14:6, 7; 20:12; 14:12; 22:11, 12.)
This is an invitation to examine this doctrine, and see why Adventists believe it.
I would invite Adventists to explain, step-by-step, from the Bible how they reach the conclusions above, and especially how they get the date 1844 for Jesus entering the Most Holy Place from the 2,300 day prophecy.
The rest of us can then examine this and see if this unique Adventist teaching is biblical.
End of original post.
-----------
EDIT
In consultation with Bob I am including a link for those who are already familiar with the doctrine to jump right to the discussion of the details:
Per Bob's request I am placing links here to key arguments:
Tall73:
There is an investigative judgment of professed believers in God, but it is not in absentia as Adventists indicate, but is before the judgment seat of Christ, in person, at Jesus' coming.
Click Here
Adventists have changed the type regarding the work of the high priest in the sanctuary on the Day of Atonement, from application of blood to investigation of books.
Click Here
The sin offering does not transfer sin to the sanctuary as Adventists claim, but makes atonement in the holy place
Part 1
Click Here
Part 2
Click Here
Daniel 7 does not show an investigative judgment of individual professed believers
Click Here
Daniel 8 points to cleansing from the activity of the little horn, not the Day of Atonement cleansing.
Click Here
The claimed start of the 2,300 day prophecy in 457 BC is not supported
Click Here
Jesus already completed the activity which the high priest undertook in the sanctuary on the Day of Atonement in the first century, long before 1844.
Click Here
Jesus completed all of the various blood ministrations for every sacrifice or appointed time in the law. He then ministers as High Priest on the basis of that completed blood ministration.
Click Here
Hebrews 9:25 references the day of Atonement.... high priest, yearly, with blood
Click Here
Response to Bob's claim that only the inauguration is in view with the cleansing of Hebrews chapter 9:
Click Here
Response to Bob's arguments regarding the meaning of the word "offer" in Hebrews 9:25
Click Here
A response to Bob's argument that Jews recognize the Day of Atonement as judgment
Click Here
BobRyan:
1. Differences and similarities regarding Heb 9 #103 #114 #107
2. Transfer of sin from sinner to sanctuary in Leviticus - #88 #48
3. Start point for the vision in the Dan 8 and Dan 9 vision - #84
4. Sin offerings "offered up in smoke" on the altar - #139 #90
5. Dan 7 shows investigative judgment (out of books) of individuals #147
6. Saints are not physically in heaven for this pre-advent judgment #4
7. The Day of Atonement is accepted even by Jews as "day of judgment" #54
8. "Cleansing" refers to cleansing from sin #88
"18 Then he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord and make atonement for it; he shall take some of the blood from the bull and some of the blood from the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar on all sides. 19 With his finger he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it seven times and cleanse it, and consecrate it from the impurities of the sons of Israel."
9. Dan 8 cleansing of the sanctuary that restores/justifies/identifies the position of the saints (Judgment passed in favor of the saints) - vs- the second coming that ends the work of the Little Horn of Dan 7 and 8 - #34
10. First Christ offered the sin offering on the cross “bearing the sins of many” – then he sat down to do the work of High Priest in heaven. #86
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