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Chapter 23—The Investigative Judgment
“I Beheld,” says the prophet Daniel, “till the thrones were cast
down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as
snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool; his throne was like
the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued
and came forth from before him; thousand thousands ministered
unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the Judgment was set, and the books were opened.” “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. 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.” [
Daniel 7:9, 10,
13, 14
.]
Thus was presented to the prophet’s vision the opening of the
investigative Judgment. The coming of Christ here described is not
his second coming to the earth. He comes to the Ancient of days in
Heaven to receive dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, which will
be given him at the close of his mediatorial work. It is this coming,
and not his second advent to the earth, that was foretold in prophecy
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to take place at the termination of the 2300 days, in 1844. Attended
by a cloud of heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the holy
of holies, and there appears in the presence of God to engage in the
last acts of his ministration in behalf of man,—to perform the work
of investigative Judgment, and to make an atonement for all who are
shown to be entitled to its benefits.
“The dead were judged,” says John, “out of those things which
were written in the books, according to their works.” [
Revelation
20:12
.] Angels of God have kept a faithful record of the lives of all,
and they are to be judged according to their deeds. In view of this
Judgment, Peter exhorted the men of Israel: “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
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