Page 603 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM

United States] will ... be humbled into the all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits ... in the
dust” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 259). great day of final atonement and investigative
In fact, England did not declare war and the United judgment the only cases considered are those of the
States was not humbled into the dust. professed people of God. The judgment of the wicked
Enoch on Jupiter or Saturn is a distinct and separate work. of men are registered,
are to determine the decisions of the judgment. be
“The Lord has given me a view of other worlds, wings clearly understood by the people of God ... every
were given me, and an angel attended me from the city individual has a soul to save or to lose. Each has a case
to a place that was bright and glorious. The grass of pending at the bar of God is as essential to the plan of
the place was living green, and the birds there warbled salvation as was His death upon the cross” (Ellen
a sweet song. The inhabitants of the place were of all White, The Great Controversy, pp. 422-423).
sizes; they were noble, majestic, and lovely. ... Then I 2. The investigative judgment is based on the Mosaic
was taken to a world which had seven moons. There I law (particularly the Ten Commandments); the
saw good old Enoch, who had been translated” (Early character of each person will be tested by the standard
Writings, pp. 39-40).
Ellen White’s husband, James, said that this vision of this law.
was of the planets Jupiter and Saturn (A Word to the “Every man’s work passes in review before God and is
Little Flock, p. 22). registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Opposite
each name in the books of heaven is entered with
Martin remarks, “To date, excellent satellite pictures terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act,
of Jupiter and Saturn have not revealed any life every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every
forms” (Seventh-day Adventism and the Writings of Ellen artful dissembling. heaven-sent warnings or reproofs
White, p. 18). neglected, wasted moments, unimproved
9. Ellen White’s writings were plagiarized from other opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for
people (Je. 23:30). That Ellen White plagiarized from evil, with its far-reaching results, are all chronicled by
the recording angel. The law of God is the standard by
other people’s writings has been extensively which the characters and the lives of men will be
documented by Walter Rea and others. Initially Rea, tested in the judgment. ... Those who in the judgment
author of The White Lie, did not set out to disprove are ‘accounted worthy’ will have a part in the
White’s prophetic calling and was anything but an resurrection of the just. ... Every name is mentioned,
antagonist. Rather, from a young age he was a dedicated every case closely investigated. Names are accepted,
Adventist and he even published some volumes of Ellen names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon
White’s commentaries on Bible passages that sold by the the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven,
thousands through Adventist bookstores. But that was their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and
before his discovery of White’s plagiarisms and other the record of their good deeds will be erased from the
deceptions ruined his faith in the Adventist system. book of God’s remembrance. ... All who have truly
repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of
Adventists have attempted to answer this charge in Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon
various ways. They have claimed that Mrs. White was entered against their names in the books of heaven; as
merely selectively quoting from other writings as God they have become partakers of the righteousness of
led her. They have also concluded that she did not Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony
practice plagiarism by eighteenth century standards, but with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and
the fact that she claimed divine inspiration for her they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal
“testimonies” refutes these attempted justifications. life. ... Sins that have not been repented of and
Further, she quoted other writers without giving them forsaken will not be pardoned and blotted out of the
any credit, which is dishonest. books of record, but will stand to witness against the
sinner in the day of God” (The Great Controversy, pp.
Heresy #6—Investigative Judgment 424-425, 428).
The major tenets of the Adventist doctrine of 3. This judgment determines the eternal destiny of
Investigative Judgment are as follows: every professing believer. No one can be sure of eternal
1. In October 1844, Jesus Christ entered the life until this judgment is complete.
heavenly holy of holies to begin an investigative “The righteous dead will not be raised until after the
judgment of the records (deeds, thoughts, attitudes, judgment at which they are accounted worthy of ‘the
etc.) of those who have professed salvation. resurrection of life.’ Hence they will not be present in
“Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest person at the tribunal when their records are examined
enters the holy of holies and there appears in the and their cases decided. ... Every name is mentioned,
presence of God to engage in the last acts of His every case closely investigated. Names are accepted,
ministration in behalf of man—to perform the work of names rejected ... all who would have their names
investigative judgment and to make an atonement for retained in the book of life should now, in the few
remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls

Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity 603