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Silver Surfer
Emperor of the World
Joined: 12 Jul 2003
Posts: 3255
Location: Hayden, Idaho, USA
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 Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 4:20 am Post subject: Investigative Judgment ....for Christians ? |
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How many people in the modern Christian world understand the purpose of an 'Investigative Judgment" for Christians ?
Isn't the belief in Christ's Death, Burial and Resurrection enough, to get a person into heaven ?
The Bible says....NO!
Why is the Book of Job, so important to understand, in regards to God's Investigative Judgment of Christians ?
_________________
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. |
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45degreeN
King Kong
Joined: 02 Aug 2005
Posts: 2672
Location: Salem Oregon
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:06 am Post subject: |
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| I've never heard of any "investigative judgment" anywhere. Tell me what you think it is |
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Silver Surfer
Emperor of the World
Joined: 12 Jul 2003
Posts: 3255
Location: Hayden, Idaho, USA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:05 am Post subject: |
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| dim12trav wrote: | | I've never heard of any "investigative judgment" anywhere. Tell me what you think it is |
Question: Is it a wise thing to know and understand what is going to happen ...BEFORE...the Day of Judgment, or wait until it happens, when it is too late, to have changed the way one has lived their life ?
" My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee...seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God.." (Hosea 4:6).
Does this describe you ?
The books of record in heaven, in which the names and the deeds of men are registered, are to determine the decisions of the judgment.
When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for Eternal life or eternal death.
Probation, is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven.
Every man's work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness.
Says the prophet Daniel: "The judgment was set, and the books were opened." The revelator, describing the same scene, adds: "Another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Revelation 20:12.
The book of life contains the names of all who have ever entered the service of God.
Jesus bade His disciples: "Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:20.
The Apostle Paul speaks of his faithful fellow workers, "whose names are in the book of life." Philippians 4:3.
"A book of remembrance" is written before God, in which are recorded the good deeds of "them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name." Malachi 3:16.
Their words of faith, their acts of love, are registered in heaven.
Nehemiah refers to this when he says: "Remember me, O my God, . . . and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the cause of my God." Nehemiah 13:14.
In the book of God's remembrance every deed of righteousness is immortalized.
There every temptation resisted, every evil overcome, every word of tender pity expressed, is faithfully chronicled.
And every act of sacrifice, every suffering and sorrow endured for Christ's sake, is recorded. Says the psalmist: "Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book?" Psalm 56:8.
There is a record also of the sins of men.
"For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
"Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
" Says the Saviour: "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36, 37.
The secret purposes and motives appear in the unerring register; for God "will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts." 1 Corinthians 4:5.
Every man's work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness.
Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered with terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling.
Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel.
The law of God (10 Commandments, as found in Exodus 20:3-17) is the standard by which the characters and the lives of men will be tested in the judgment.
Says the wise man: "Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
For God shall bring every work into judgment." Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14. The apostle James admonishes his brethren: "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:12
Those who in the judgment are "accounted worthy" will have a part in the resurrection of the just. Jesus said: "They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, . . . are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." Luke 20:35, 36.
And again He declares that "they that have done good" shall come forth "unto the resurrection of life." John 5:29.
Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated.
Names are accepted, names rejected.
When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God's remembrance.
The Lord declared to Moses: "Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book." Exodus 32:33. And says the prophet Ezekiel: "When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, . . . all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned." Ezekiel 18:24.
All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life.
The work of the investigative judgment and the blotting out of sins is to be accomplished before the second advent of the Lord.
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.
Sins that have not been repented of and forsaken will not be pardoned and blotted out of the books of record, but will stand to witness against the sinner in the day of God.
He may have committed his evil deeds in the light of day or in the darkness of night; but they were open and manifest before Him with whom we have to do.
Angels of God witnessed each sin and registered it in the unerring records.
Sin may be concealed, denied, covered up from father, mother, wife, children, and associates; no one but the guilty actors may cherish the least suspicion of the wrong; but it is laid bare before the intelligences of heaven. The darkness of the darkest night, the secrecy of all deceptive arts, is not sufficient to veil one thought from the knowledge of the Eternal.
God has an exact record of every unjust account and every unfair dealing. He is not deceived by appearances of piety.
He makes no mistakes in His estimation of character.
Men may be deceived by those who are corrupt in heart, but God pierces all disguises and reads the inner life.
How solemn is the thought!
Day after day, passing into eternity, bears its burden of records for the books of heaven. Words once spoken, deeds once done, can never be recalled. Angels have registered both the good and the evil.
The mightiest conqueror upon the earth cannot call back the record of even a single day.
Our acts, our words, even our most secret motives, all have their weight in deciding our destiny for weal or woe.
Though they may be forgotten by us, they will bear their testimony to justify or condemn.
As the features of the countenance are reproduced with unerring accuracy on the polished plate of the artist, so the character is faithfully delineated in the record books above.
Yet how little solicitude is felt concerning that record which is to meet the gaze of heavenly beings.
Could the veil which separates the visible from the invisible world be swept back, and the children of men behold an angel recording every word and deed, which they must meet again in the judgment, how many words that are daily uttered would remain unspoken, how many deeds would remain undone.
In the judgment the use made of every talent will be scrutinized.
How have we employed the capital lent us of Heaven ?
Will the Lord at His coming receive His own with interest ?
Have we improved the powers entrusted us, in hand and heart and brain, to the glory of God and the blessing of the world ?
How have we used our time, our pen, our voice, our money, our influence ?
What have we done for Christ, in the person of the poor, the afflicted, the orphan, or the widow ?
God has made us the capable of understanding of His holy word; what have we done with the light and truth given us to make men wise unto salvation ?
No value is attached to a mere profession of faith in Christ; only the love which is shown by works is counted genuine.
Yet it is love alone which in the sight of Heaven makes any act of value.
Whatever is done from love, however small it may appear in the estimation of men, is accepted and rewarded of God.
The hidden selfishness of men stands revealed in the books of heaven.
There is the record of unfulfilled duties to their fellow men, of forgetfulness of the Saviour's claims.
There they will see how often were given to Satan the time, thought, and strength that belonged to Christ.
Sad is the record which angels bear to heaven. Intelligent beings, professed followers of Christ, are absorbed in the acquirement of worldly possessions or the enjoyment of earthly pleasures.
Money, time, and strength are sacrificed for display and self-indulgence; but few are the moments devoted to prayer, to the searching of the Scriptures, to humiliation of soul and confession of sin.
Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds (sports, jobs, entertainments, ect), that they may not dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted.
The archdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice and an all-powerful mediator.
He knows that with him everything depends on his diverting minds from Jesus and His truth.
Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour's mediation should permit nothing to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God.
The precious hours, instead of being given to pleasure, to display, or to gain seeking, should be devoted to an earnest, prayerful study of the word of truth.
The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God.
All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest.
Otherwise it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill.
Every individual has a soul to save or to lose.
Each has a case pending at the bar of God.
Each must meet the great Judge face to face.
How important, then, that every mind contemplate often the solemn scene when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, when, with Daniel, every individual must stand in his lot, at the end of the days.
All who have received the light upon these subjects are to bear testimony of the great truths which God has committed to them.
The sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ's work in behalf of men.
It concerns every soul living upon the earth. It opens to view the plan of redemption, bringing us down to the very close of time and revealing the triumphant issue of the contest between righteousness and sin.
It is of the utmost importance that all should thoroughly investigate these subjects and be able to give an answer to everyone that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them.
The intercession of Christ in man's behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross.
By His death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in heaven.
We must by faith enter within the veil, "whither the forerunner is for us entered." Hebrews 6:20. There the light from the cross of Calvary is reflected.
There we may gain a clearer insight into the mysteries of redemption.
The salvation of man is accomplished at an infinite expense to heaven; the sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands of the broken law of God.
Jesus has opened the way to the Father's throne, and through His mediation the sincere desire of all who come to Him in faith may be presented before God.
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13.
If those who hide and excuse their faults could see how Satan exults over them, how he taunts Christ and holy angels with their course, they would make haste to confess their sins and to put them away.
Through defects in the character, Satan works to gain control of the whole mind, and he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed.
Therefore he is constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it is impossible for them to overcome.
But Jesus pleads in their behalf His wounded hands, His bruised body; and He declares to all who would follow Him: "My grace is sufficient for thee." 2 Corinthians 12:9.
"Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matthew 11:29, 30.
Let none, then, regard their defects as incurable.
God will give faith and grace to overcome them.
There must be deep, faithful searching of heart.
The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many people must be put away.
There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery.
The work of preparation is an individual work.
We are not saved in groups.
The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another.
Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth.
Everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.
Solemn are the scenes connected with the closing work of the atonement. Momentous are the interests involved therein.
The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. For many years this work has been in progress. Soon--none know how soon--it will pass to the cases of the living.
In the awful presence of God our lives are to come up in review.
At this time above all others it behooves every soul to heed the Saviour's admonition: "Watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." Mark 13:33.
"If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." Revelation 3:3.
When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven.
Christ in the Revelation, looking forward to that time, declares: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:11, 12.
The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state--men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above.
Before the Flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life and mocked the warnings of impending judgment.
"So," says the Saviour, "shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24:39.
Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man's destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy's offer to guilty men.
"Watch ye therefore: . . . lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping." Mark 13:35, 36.
Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world.
While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments--it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence: "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." Daniel 5:27.
God will want to know whether the reader of this letter has placed priority, on the contents of this message, or has allowed satan, to persuaded them, to think there will be another time ...later ?
Will you read this letter again, in 7 days from now.....more carefully ?
_________________
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. |
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lone-traveler
Emperor of the Universe
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 6365
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 6:10 am Post subject: |
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good morning Silver,
do you see a reoccuring event here:
Probation, is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven.
Deu 4:11 And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.
Exd 16:10 And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.
Exd 19:9 And the LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD.
and believe thee for ever.....
You think God meant forever when he said forever??
There is no new thing under the sun....round and round....
can we know the times and the seasons?
all you have to do is look behind you to see where your headed.. 
the eyes before and behind...
Joe 2:3 A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land [is] as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
Phl 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Rev 4:6 And before the throne [there was] a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, [were] four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
before and behind...circular thinking..LOL
God Bless
Lone
No difference between the Jew and the Greek, we're all going to face the Lord "in the clouds"..huh?
_________________
Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. |
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Silver Surfer
Emperor of the World
Joined: 12 Jul 2003
Posts: 3255
Location: Hayden, Idaho, USA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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| lone-traveler wrote: | | No difference between the Jew and the Greek, we're all going to face the Lord "in the clouds"..huh? |
You do mean just the Righteous people ...will join Jesus in the air, right ?
You used the word: 'all'....so I just wanted to clarify things OK ?
The UNsaved, will be destroyed, when Jesus returns for the Righteous people.
_________________
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. |
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lone-traveler
Emperor of the Universe
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 6365
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2007 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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if they are all righteous then why are the books opened for judgment?
When God came down in the clouds and landed utop mt. sinai...
were all the people righteous that met with him there?
could be...he did a lot of weeding in the desert before they got there huh?
If only the righteous meet the Lord in the air, then there is only a very few from time to time...Enoch walked with God, Noah was lifted up in the ark, Moses climbed the mountain, Ezekiel was taken away in a chariot...
and Jesus was caught up in the air.
The only time I find a whole mass of people "going" anywhere, is when the Israelites cross over Jordan, or when the hebrews "mass" out of Egypt to the desert, or when they are taken captive into Babylon.
From the frying pan to the fire to the pleasant land, back to the frying pan..LOL..
I guess my question was....do you see history repeating itself??
I do.
God Bless
Lone
_________________
Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. |
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Silver Surfer
Emperor of the World
Joined: 12 Jul 2003
Posts: 3255
Location: Hayden, Idaho, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 5:34 am Post subject: |
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| lone-traveler wrote: | if they are all righteous then why are the books opened for judgment?
When God came down in the clouds and landed utop mt. sinai...
were all the people righteous that met with him there?
could be...he did a lot of weeding in the desert before they got there huh? |
The 'Mark of the Beast' scenerio, soon to come will be the 'weeding process'.....as the Gospel message includes the 'Mark of the Beast scenerio.
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If only the righteous meet the Lord in the air, then there is only a very few from time to time...Enoch walked with God, Noah was lifted up in the ark, Moses climbed the mountain, Ezekiel was taken away in a chariot...
and Jesus was caught up in the air.
The only time I find a whole mass of people "going" anywhere, is when the Israelites cross over Jordan, or when the hebrews "mass" out of Egypt to the desert, or when they are taken captive into Babylon.
From the frying pan to the fire to the pleasant land, back to the frying pan..LOL..
I guess my question was....do you see history repeating itself??
I do.
God Bless
Lone |
Remember at the time of the flood in Noah's time ?
One group was saved, and the other group destroyed ?
When Jesus Christ returns the same thing will happen again......the UNsaved destroyed, the Righteous saved.
_________________
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. |
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